30 Year Reflections

We've been sending our sophomores into the woods for just 7 years, but Hurricane Island Outward Bound has been doing it for many more years than that. A colleague of mine John Vonk, sailor, educator and outdoors-person, just sent me this story from the Alumni Director at Hurricane Island. Although it has to do with a sailing trip rather than a hiking expedition, there are many parallels to the SophX. I would wish a similar experience for our students.

"Maybe it was the challenges . . . . or maybe my success against those challenges. Maybe it was the introspection during solo (alone during a terrible storm). At 16 years old, I couldn't measure the changes--but I did change.

Now that I am 52, I am certain it was a turning point . . . . but, over 30 years later, those memories are still strong: young strangers forced into teamwork, seeing the ocean for my first time, the excitement of a humming centerboard as we sailed, endless hours of rowing in calmed seas, the surprise/fear of hearing waves crashing on a rocky shoreline in the dense fog (navigation by ear?), climbing the granite on Hurricane Island, the shock of cold water after the morning’s run, being truly alone for the first time in my life (3-day solo).

I’m not trained in the psychology that makes [experiential education] life-changing for some, such as me. This wasn’t summer camp, and I did not develop a “life-long friendship” with others in my watch. I wasn’t mature enough for that. It was hard for me, and I hated some of it. But wasn’t that the point? The obstacles were significant, but not impossible--designed to test us, not to break us.

A group of boys, some rich and spoiled, a few from the ghetto, and me from nowhere--all forced to work together. Rowing until my arms ached, seasickness, homesickness, sunburns beyond belief (there was no sunscreen in 1971), and lesson after lesson, with each success enabling another. From all that, a seed of self-confidence was planted, allowing dreams and a man to grow.

The rest of life’s challenges were no longer insurmountable, and failure wasn’t pre-destined . . . . I do not owe my success to Outward Bound—only my BELIEF in success. And I owe my thanks to a caring counselor, Bonnie Bartels, to my Mom for fighting for me, to Peter Willauer for fostering such a difference in a young man’s life, and to Peter Fairbanks for his guidance to our watch."