February 15th, 2010
By Joel Holtzman
Learning to work together with others as a team is a life skill that every young man needs to acquire. The Mountain Wisdom wilderness camps aim to provide team-building experiences from year to year but 2009 was special. One of last year’s challenges, a low ropes course, required the young men to communicate, depend on and trust each other to be successful.
The camp was divided into two teams. Each team had to separately complete the ropes course. I was the course master of ceremony and as such I was always the final word if a rule had been broken. To start the teams were led through the course and the rules were explained. The last rule being, that if any one member of the team broke a rule, the whole team was required to start over from the very beginning. Simple enough. Of course each team started off like a ball of fire. One or two young men were always jumping to the front trying to complete the course without any help. Very quickly it was discovered that they couldn’t do it alone – the members of the team had to communicate and work together to be successful.
The first obstacle was to walk a 2” wide ratchet strap tightly stretched between two trees about 3’ off the ground while holding onto another strap stretched above their heads. As they moved through the course from obstacle to obstacle they were required to move and carry their walk path with them. The walk path was an 8’ long 2 x 4. If any member of the team stepped on or even touch the forest floor with a toe, the whole team had to start over. It looked a lot easier than it was – at least for a group of young men unaccustomed to working together. None of the counselors were allowed to help by giving hints or suggestions.
Neither team was able to complete the course on day one and only one team was able to complete the course successfully on day two. Regardless of how many times the young men had to start over, they eventually learned that if they worked together, the team’s progress would extend further and further down the course.
Of course the three counselors present demonstrated the courses “do-ability.” We completed the course in just 10 minutes, which included one “do-over.” The young men were a bit dismissive of our achievement but impressed with our time.
Tags: ropes course, work together with others
Posted in Mountain Wisdom | 1 Comment »
February 2nd, 2010
By Hawkeye Jay
We invited young men and staff in N. Ga. area to come together for a day hike. Sat Dec. 5th came, the day for the outing. We had snow and the coldest day of the season yet.
When we started up the trail the temperature was 27 degrees and about 2” of snow covering the ground. It was absolutely beautiful. Everyone was wrapped up and in good spirits. It was quiet and we listened. You could hear the breeze coming through the trees and a few winter birds chirping.
We arrived at the summit of Springer Mtn. (elevation 3,782 ft.). Springer Mtn. marks the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) is a public footpath that follows 2,170 miles between Georgia and Maine.
We were in the clouds, visibility maybe 30 yards. Cold and windy but we were happy. We felt good about our accomplishment, glad to all be together in the moment, in the elements experiencing nature.
Tags: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Hawkeye Jay, hiking, Springer Mtn, Winter Adventure
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December 27th, 2009
By Brian Childers
I’m writing this on Thanksgiving eve 2009 and reflecting a bit on what I have to be thankful for. For seven years now a group of volunteers has been producing the Boy’s Rites of Passage (BROP) camp for young men from the north Georgia area.
This labor of love does not just serve the boys, their families, and their communities. Indeed this work actually serves our society. It delivers young men who have learned a sense of themselves with a purpose and a code of honor. These young men have tested themselves and each other in a supervised wilderness setting. They’ve learned how to trust themselves when things aren’t going particularly easy for them. They’ve learned to work as a team, for the common good.
The world today is moving at a very fast pace – much faster than when I was a kid. Life isn’t waiting for a young man to find himself before things such as drugs, weapons, and gangs start finding him. We need young men to grow up to be secure men, confident in their ability to live with honor and trustworthiness. We need young men that are sure enough of themselves that they can treat our young women with respect and allow them to grow separately yet in partnership.
I am a member of a larger, international men’s organization. Its purpose is to Cause greatness by mentoring men to live with excellence and, as mature, masculine leaders, create successful families, careers and communities. BROP is an organization like mine – preparing young men to cross the bridge into manhood. A lot of full-grown men have yet to develop some of the basic skills and confidence that the BROP graduates have already learned.
In the end, we enjoy and have a lot of fun and camaraderie in both of these organizations. But, it isn’t about the organizations themselves. It’s about what they produce and who benefits. I was able to attend the graduation ceremony this last year. The feel of the moment was tangible. I could see the confidence and team spirit present in their faces and their carriage. I could see the recognition and gratitude in their family member’s faces. A new crop of young men was sent back to the world – better prepared than when they arrived – and proud of it! My wife, Terri, and I are proud to be charter supporters of the Boy’s Rites of Passage program and intend to continue our support. Thanks for letting us serve.
Tags: boys rites of passage, cross the bridge into manhood, north georgia
Posted in Rites Of Passage | No Comments »
