The process of writing allows for introspection and reflection of experiences in your life. This, in some respects, is perhaps the most important aspect of your coursework for ADV110 in that it allows for you to think about how your experiences relate to you and your goals. This semester you have been assigned various blog/journal assignments covering different aspects of your expeditions. Now is the opportunity to reflect on your experiences as a whole, and consider the influence they have had on you.
Think back on all of the experiences you have had this semester (in this course and others). Compose a post that expresses how you feel those experiences have affected you. Address five of the personal growth issues listed below. This should be of significant length (3-5 pages in a word processor) and should show evidence of “deep” reflection, introspection, and transfer of experiences to your everyday life.
Select Five (5) of the Following:
- Doing something I didn’t think I could
- Feeling proud
- Challenging myself
- Asking for help
- Sharing information
- Talking to each other
- Choosing not to participate
- Dealing with frustration
- Putting each other down
- The same people always leading
- Relating to the natural world
- Having a vision
- Looking at a problem in a new way
- Not completing a task
- Complacent about safety
- Not following the rules
- Making a unique contribution
- Trusting
- Working as a team
This final blog entry is due by 5:00 pm, Wednesday, December 17.
8 comments:
A reflection on my thoughts, feelings, and adventures that have happened and how they’ve changed my life, how these things will effect me in the future with my decisions. Well I think I can do.
Well I guess maybe I should start with are first and funniest trip, the sea kayaking adventure. I actually really enjoyed that trip exactly as I stated in my first blog. I had so much and learned somethings I never thought I’d actually really enjoy. The sea kayaking changed me my look on things, to be honest I actually have a fear of the ocean, just the whole shark thing and kayaking in the dark with the unknown all around you. Kinda scary but I actually loved going out and seeing the glowing water, it subsided the fear a lot being out on the ocean all day long, actually for the full two days, and it made me realize sometimes the unknown is the funniest of all! I feel a lot better about the sea now. I’m not as intimidated as I was about it.
I guess you could say that that’s not a very good life changing experience but still it was extremely life changing for me and it actually makes me feel more confident in the things involved with the sea. I also like the fact that in the future. I actually wanna be involved with animal rehabilitation, so if I ever have to do something involving the sea and work with it, I will deff be able to handle it with a clear headJ
I think during this trip I stayed communicative with everyone there was never really a conflicted. I think we have a great group and they all get a long in the long run but I think everyone does their part in the group and everyone pretty much shares the same views on things that involve adventure rec. but we’re all different at the same time keeps us as individuals.
The sailing trip honestly was terrible. I honestly learned nothing. Nothing changed except for the fact that I’m more afraid of sail boats now then I ever thought I could be in a life time. Sailing foe me is not a joy and the fact that I almost died the first time I stepped foot in a sailboat kinda set me over the edge and I don’t think ill step foot in a sailboat anytime soon. That trip and that class kinda destroyed my whole look on being on a boat with sailing as a mode o f moving through the water. Im done on a sail boat so ill never have to worry about it ever again and that’s honestly how strongly I feel about sailing and tha t whole trip. I liked the Boston part that was my favorite part but the only thing tht did for me was made me realize I need to get out and travel more.
I cant talk about the AT trip cause I wasn’t on it. It obviously did nothing for me and didn’t change anything for me in the long run. I honestly don’t think even if I went it wouldnt have changed anything for me, maybe it would have changed the fact that I would have never been about to stand the cold anymore after that.
I cant really state the things this class changed for me, but it really didn’t change much for me except it changed my look on the ocean but that’s all I can think of.
Well, its hard for me to believe that this semester is pretty much already over. I feel like I just walked into class on my first day getting ready to go kayaking with Tess and Steve. It was exciting waiting to see who else had signed up for the program as well. Not knowing anyone except my bud Sam. The three expeditions that we have gone on so far have definitely been a great experience even if I have no desire to do some of them again. My favorite trip and one that I enjoyed and felt I learned the most was the kayaking trip. I really enjoy kayaking and having the second year students with us as well made it seem funnier because there was a lot more of us and we could ask them questions about their trips the year before. Ultimate Frisbee was also a lot of fun. It gave everyone an opportunity to just let lose and relax running around the field. It was also nice to have Tess and Steve on the trip with us and I also enjoyed sitting around the camp fire just talking. Me and Sam almost had a chance to take a shower too! I felt that we all got along really well on that trip and worked well getting up in the morning and packing especially on the last morning when the tide was coming in and we had to be out on a certain time so we wouldn’t be caught in the reversing falls!
The sailing trip is a totally different story. Sailing is not my thing. I found this out on the second day of sailing class. I was not looking forward to this trip at all and was dreading that morning that we left. I don’t enjoy being stuck on a boat where I cant go for walks or you cant sit around a fire. To me, that’s just not fun. The sleeping conditions were okay but I was kind of mad that the hot water broke so we couldn’t even take a shower and then some pipes broke so me and Sam’s room stank really bad! It was so gross. I didn’t enjoy being sick it was awful! The best part of that trip was when we ended up into Boston and got to walk around. That was great! Plus I was on land. I know some people enjoyed the sailing trip like Casey and I felt kind of bad that we had to get off a day early because I know he really liked it but I was really happy we got off when we did and now I can say I was on a sail boat and will never do it again. The AT trip was okay . I enjoyed the hiking part that came really easy for me, but I did not like the pouring rain and cold. Also waking up sick was no fun at all. I also went to bed at like five every night because I was just to cold to stay up and just wanted to get warm. The AT experience reminded me that I am in better shape then I thought and also made me realize that I can get into better shape if I just put my mind too it which I plan on working on. I want to be a personal trainer and I think it would be awesome to do day hikes with people. Get them in the outdoors and moving. I also learned that I need a better sleeping bag because I was cold in mine. The last night was so cold I really just wanted to get back to a warm house. If I ever decide to do something like that again I will defiantly do it when it is in the summer time. I think it would be much more enjoyable that way. Through all these experiences I believe that I have learned a lot about myself and the outdoors. Mostly more about myself. When I came back from the first trip I felt more confident and ambitious to do other things. It has also made me appreciate a lot more.
Dana Marble:
One of the major things I have learned about is fleece, I've always spent a great deal of time outdoors. For twenty years I worked as a logger, many times working in sub zero weather. Even in zero degree weather a person sweats. There were times when my t-shirt would be wringing wet. Of course I always wore cotton, when I sat down to take a break I became chilled. This sets a person up for the common cold and I had my share of them. Now I know the difference and seldom wear cotton under garments at all.
There were many negative things in the blog to write about. I chose not to dwell on the negative aspects of my overall experiences this semester. The second day of the Appalation Trail it rained all day and it was mostly uphill. Everything we did was a bit of a challange and I think that was just part of the total experience. Everyone was challanged in one way or another.
As the semester progressed it became evident that most everyting we did was interrelated. One of the first things we did was put together an emergency kit. Not until recently did I realize that a Maine State Guide is required to provide an emergency kit to his clients. Starting a fire with wet wood is another example of the pratical application of what we learned. LNT is another example, before enrolling in this course I had never heard of LNT. With the amount of trash found in the woods is it obvious that a lot of others haven't heard of LNT either.
Our group as a whole has gotten along well together. Usualy when ther are a group of people working closely together there are personality conflicts. Our group up to this point has been an exception. I understand this has not alwyas been the case in the past.
As far as team work is concerned I think everyone in the group will agree that we have all worked well together as a team. Filling water bottles, setting up camp and gathering firewood are just a few examples. There is only one regret, we will be loosing some members next semester.
I think I have developed a vision in some respects. I can see where a lot of the skills we have learned can be used as a Maine State Guide. Many of the clients could benefit and enjoy any one of the skills we have learned. Geocatching, GPS, building a fire without a match, or just learning some basic survival techniques can make their overall experience in the Maine woods that much more rewarding.
I am looking to the challanges next smester.
Samantha Sutton
Well I have mixed feelings about these past expeditions. When I first herd of what we would be doing I really thought that sailing sounded awesome, but as you know I would never step foot on a sail boat again if I had the choice. And I wasn’t really thinking the kayaking trip would be as much fun as it was, but I liked that one the most. And hiking the AT I figured I would be out of shape and way behind, but for the most part I kept right up with everyone. So I guess you really just don’t know until you actually go and experience things for yourself, if your going to like it or not. For example I expect Kahtadin to be ridiculously cold and miserable, but who knows maybe it won’t be as bad as I’m thinking. I won’t know till I actually go for myself.
Well I guess I really didn’t think I would make it on the AT trip but besides being cold, it was alright. And I really didn’t want to go on the sailing trip, and well…that was actually pretty awful. But I did two things I didn’t really think I could. And once I climb Kahtadin that will be one more thing I did that I didn’t think I could do.
One thing that I have noticed about myself this year, not only in school but in life in general, is that I won’t ask for help…at least not very often. Some people have pointed this out to me this year, or I probably wouldn’t have even noticed it about me. But I hate bothering people for help. I would rather be miserable than bother someone for a few minutes to ask for help. I feel that if you need help from people all the time then that shows a weakness in that particular area. And I hate to have people look at me like I can’t do something, even if I know that I probably can’t do it either. I don’t know I guess I can just be stubborn, but I would like to know that if I had to do certain things I could do them on my own. I really hate relying on others to help me do things.
Also I guess a few times I have not participated to your or other teachers expectations, but its not like I just choose not to do something, there’s always reasoning behind what I do or don’t do. For example the orienteering games. I’m sorry that I didn’t run like everyone else. But it was a race and I had the furthest one away, I know cause I put it there, so it’s not like I would have been able to run way up that hill behind the dorms and back before someone else ran to the side of the road for there point. I still did what I needed to do in the spirit of the game for everyone else, but I wasn’t going to run. It was cold, wet, and I had to work right after class till twelve o’ clock. So I wanted to be the least wet as I could. And I know your going to say well why didn’t you bring extra clothes, well I’m in the process of moving my stuff to Calais because I just got an apartment up here so I forgot. You need to realize that sometimes crap happens and there’s other stuff going on in there life right then. I’m not just lazy or trying to give you a hard time, I promise. Sometimes there is just other stuff I have my mind on, or other priorities I have at that particular moment. Also for the past three weeks I have been getting migraines almost every day, therefore I have been taking Excedrin like candy which is stupid I know that now anyways. But I really screwed up my stomach it hurts all the time and certain things I can’t eat because I can’t keep them down. But yah I really didn’t want to run just then, but then you called me out on it and said I was lazy, so I attempted to run on the next game, and it made my stomach hurt really badly. So then I felt crapy and got all wet when I had been trying so hard the entire time not to, and then I had to go to work like that. So I have reasoning, sorry if it’s not a good enough reason to you.
Throughout these trips or even just class I have had to deal with frustration a few times. For example in Terry’s class some people in the group wanted to talk about an activity forever before attempting it, but I really hate that. I like to just go with the flow and work everything out as you go, not plan for hours and hours on how we are all going to get across a rope. I understand that some planning should take place, but some people really over do it. Also some times if people just listened the first time to things we could be done a lot quicker, and not keep asking the same questions over and over. And sometimes we had to explain stuff several times before people got it, which is just frustrating and time consuming. And I’m sure there were other times I was frustrated but those are just some things that I can think of now.
And I guess there have been times where I didn’t follow the rules perfectly, like the one I mentioned before with the race to the orienteering points. Also on the Kayaking trip they sent us out to get fire wood again and I stumbled upon Jake’s hammock, so I just crawled right in and took a little nap instead. It’s a pretty sweet hammock, you understand. I mean who wouldn’t jump in and take a little nap. Just little things like that, that are harmless, are the only times I didn’t follow the rules.
So overall I have learned a lot about myself through taking this program. I have had a lot of good experiences, and a lot of good ones, but at least I can learn from them all.
CASEY RYDER
This year has been one of the most adventuress and fun years of my life. I’ve gotten to do so many things that I thought I never would at least at this time and age. Each trip this year has brought new realizations and new hope for my oncoming future. Starting in the fall with our amazing sea kayaking trip I got to experience so many new things. Like playing in the reversing falls, coming face to face with a harbor seal, and seeing my teachers boat sink to the bottom of the ocean. But these experiences brought out something new for me and that is trust. What I’m talking about is the instance when we were playing in the rapids and mat looked me in the eye and said…go for it Casey, I no it looks intimidating but just do it…TRUST ME. So I trusted him and how amazing it was. This trust leads me to believe in myself and to trust others when it comes to trying new things. This experience deff opened my eyes to the fun and excitement that is sea kayaking. I think one day it could be an option that Id be willing to explore.
Another marvelous experience was that in which we call the AT adventure. This really opened my eyes to how great back packing for days at a time can be. Many times during this adventure I felt a great feeling of achievement and overall proudness if that’s even a word for a lot of what I did and accomplished. One instance imparticular was the summiting of the first peak I belive it was boardman mountain. During that semi steep incline I felt I wouldn’t be able to continue many times. But through it all I prevailed and reaching that summit gave me a feeling of achievement that should almost be illegal. This trip has got me thinking about one day maybe completing the entire AT trail but I start here in Maine and walk south so time wouldn’t be much of an issue.
Lastly my most favorite and inspirational trip of all was sailing to mass. I really loved everything about this trip and I feel so lucky to have experienced it in such a way that I did. Before the trip I really hated the ocean and basically everything to do with it. But once I got out there on that boat I felt like my whole outlook on everything had instantly changed. One night imparticular had the biggest influence on me and that was the night of the really high seas. When I was up there with greg and buster I saw that they really loved what they were doing and could tell there wasn’t a place they would rather be at that point and time. This gave me a vision and some self realization that I to felt the same way and that there was no place Id rather be myself. This made me feel amazing inside and totally changed me outlook on the ocean. THANK YOU SCOTT!!!!
Looking back on the following semester and breaking down all my experiences one by one I would have to say I have learnt a lot more than I thought was possible starting with the kayak trip. I didn’t think that I could pack all the gear I had into such a tiny kayak after having a trunk full of gear and getting to the boat school that morning seeing that I had to fit ALL my equipment into such a small place I didn’t think I could do it. After a little while of negotiating with the boat it finally cooperated and decided that it could accept all the gear I wanted it to take in. once we got to the campsites and unpacked I didn’t really think that I was going to be able to get all the gear back in the boat for the first time let alone a second or third time. But it happened after the first time of packing and unpacking it got easier and easier, knowing where everything was supposed to be and after the last time packing it I ended up having more room than I did the first time I packed just because of the experience. I kept thinking that I need to put everything I need for four days in a backpack that I can carry on my back and having a hard time fitting this all into a boat was hard I didn’t think I was going to be able to get by with what I would be able to fit in my bag. I didn’t think I could pack so much gear into such a small place but I accomplished it. When things came up where participation was key like working together on the leave no trace principles got me really thinking. I really didn’t think that I was going to be able to work with a person to come up with a play. I have a hard time agreeing with people when I get something set in my mind I like to do it and not let anyone else’s ideas get in my way. But all and all I think that it went really well it wasn’t really planned that well and we sort of got it all pulled together last minute and I think it came out pretty well. We participated in the group for the main goal of teaching all the principals. When very easily we could have chosen not too and given up on the group. The sailing trip was by far my favorite. From the second I stepped on the boat I could tell it was going to be a whole new experience. Something that I have never experienced before. After the first night of good sleep I new that we were getting really lucky and that it could only be worse and it was to get that way. The following night I remember how the chain on the tiller broke and the boat started being taken by the waves. It was being thrashed around and everyone didn’t know what to think. This was pretty frustrating to me because I didn’t know what was going to happen and earlier that day the guys talked about there being a hole in the side of the motor that was making the oil leak out. There were people that got sea sick and everything just was pretty crappy for awhile. I remember sitting in the galley thinking when is all this madness going to stop. But I don’t think looking back on it I would have it any other way. It takes a frustrating and scary experience like that for you to learn. If everything everyday was good you wouldn’t have any respect for the powers of the world. I feel that it was really easy to relate to the natural world on the backpacking expedition. I never thought for one second that it would actually be fun and relaxing to walk with a giant pack on your back for miles. But it was a whole new experience and gave me a whole new perspective on the woods and the powers of the ocean. Once we hit the water and I saw all the waves breaking over the rocks and the spray shooting in the air I new it was something to remember. I challenged myself to do this. I got almost three quarters of the way down to the coast and I remember thinking is this ever going to end. It was up and down rocky cliffs and up and down weird stairs that were so vertical you would think they were ladders. Me and Travis talked about everything that we was going to do on the trip before we even went and we also talked about things while we were there. We communicated and shared common knowledge to remind each other what was going on . Even when we didn’t want to know. We even did a little geocaching on the way in and out. What could be better?
Coming into this course I was not sure what I was going to be learning about and I was unsure of what I wanted to do in the future. Taking this course was a new experience, I was now in college and my mom wasn’t with me, but I have learned to be a little more independent. When we started planning and going on are expeditions I had no idea what we were in for because I have never done expeditions before and the weather and other things are unpredictable.
The kayaking trip was fun it wasn’t that hard to learn because I have kayaked before but not for a three day trip. It was an amazing trip we all connected and learned about each other, learned how to pack the right things that we needed, and learned how to gather wood and how to cook things with fire.
The second trip will be a trip to remember especially when some people were not feeling great but not everyone gets to go on a sail boat, but this trip we didn’t need that much supplies except for food that we took turns on cooking for meals, water to drink, clothes, and a sleeping bag. The trip didn’t last very long but it was a fun time even the taxi ride and the bus ride.
The third trip was tough it was cold, rainy, the hills were steep, and it was a long walk at times. This trip you really had to be prepared for because it was for four days, such as, having band aids for blisters so you would not be grumpy the hole trip, warm clothing because at night it was pretty cold, and extra clothing and socks because we did get soaked even walking in those puddles and stream. I definitely learned a lot on this trip and I had a fun time doing it.
The personal growths that I have felt and had were feeling proud this happened when I finished the expeditions it just made me happy, making a unique contribution such as making people laugh at times and having a good time, asking for help I felt that I have worked on that a little during this semester and in the future I would like to work on it more, I liked working as a team because you get different ideas, dealing with frustration was hard for me I am not good at controlling my anger I need to work on that. I am not regretting coming to school here I am glad I did even though I am not staying I know a lot of people are not happy that I am leaving, but I am a little home sick and I think I should work on my other skills.
This last semester of Adventure Recreation and Tourism has gone better than I imagined. Although I already had a great interest in it, I wasn’t sure how much I would actually enjoy the full spectrum of the program. The sea kayaking and small boat sailing were completely new experiences for me. I was a bit apprehensive only because I don’t like water all that much, not afraid of it, but don’t enjoy being submerged in it or soaked by it; its like my kryptonite. Maybe I drowned in a past life? Whatever the reason I prefer the solid ground activities like some biking, hiking, and climbing (and not in the rain if at all possible). After trying them all out I really didn’t mind the sailing and kayaking and would like to continue on with them. In fact I can’t wait to try out some whitewater canoeing next semester.
Having trudged through the University of Maine academics in order to receive the degree that western society deems necessary, I found this program refreshing. You could say its because I didn’t have to take some heavy courses like Organic Chemistry, Physics, Philosophy, etc, but I think its more than that. I don’t think I could ever remember a semester going by as quickly as this one has. Must be all those trips, and six hour classes in the beginning of the semester. Or constantly having projects to do. Also, the required inflections after every trip or activity only reinforced the feeling that I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. Whereas at the University, I was constantly waiting for the weekend or wondering why I still went for the first few years to which I had no real answer. Towards the end my answer was because I’m almost finished, just a few more semesters. I’m not arguing against getting an education, but I don’t believe the University experience is necessary or even practical for everyone. After trying out four different majors I was just unable to find the one I really liked. I can say now that being in the right program really does make all the difference in the world, regardless of what is traditional or said to be “a good idea“. I wish I could have chosen this program sooner.
Also, I am glad there was such a great group of people enrolled in the program this year. There were no major clashes or issues that seriously divided the group during our expeditions or activities. The ropes and orienteering course really got us working together relatively quickly, we learned names and facts about each other much faster than we would in a traditional classroom setting. I suppose that was the point of it, show us some group activities that focus on building certain qualities in a group. Such as, patience, cooperation, and the ability to listen and communicate with everyone in the group. Being able to work together in a group is paramount to this field of work, but in general its something very important no matter what your path in life. The lessons I have learned from this class specifically, were good for me as I have always been a sort of an individualistic oriented person. So the lessons in patience, cooperation, and listening were very helpful to me.
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