Coming into this summer at Nevada Outdoor School I
definitely had no idea what I was getting into but I’m far from regretting it.
I began my AmeriCorps position as the Summer Outdoor Ethics Specialist at the beginning of
June and I am now typing this on my last Tuesday here at NOS. I can honestly
say that the past two and a half months have been hectic, educational, fun,
beneficial and, well, that list can go on forever but the moral of the story is
that my experiences at NOS have helped me grow as a person and also taught me
many things that I can and will use throughout the rest of the life.
Now, to share some of my most
memorable experiences of the summer, we’ll start off with Sierra Summit Camp.
31 sixth Graders, 1 School Bus, and 4 Days in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
equaled out to a more than busy week!
Although hectic and sometimes strenuous, the fun factor definitely
outweighed all the craziness. From
kayaking, to swimming, to hiking, to fun activities at the lodge, that week was
anything but boring.
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| Christian, Leading a Water Canyon Interpretive Hike |
After Sierra Summit I had started helping with
Family Gardening Hour and the Water Canyon Hikes and also the ATV Rider
Camps. The ATV Camps definitely taught
me a lot of patience and also how to work with a wide range of ages at the same
time. To finally round out the Summer I had the pleasure of joining Andy Hart
on a two day camping trip in the Santa Rosa Mountains which included installing
cattle guards, putting up a kiosk, sinking in some directional signs, and
camping at 7000 feet.
Needless
to say this summer has definitely had a healthy impact on my life and I also am
thankful for all the people I got to meet along the way. I have grown so much
as a person during my time here at NOS and I have taken on loads of
responsibility which was just what I needed. I have a great appreciation for the
wonderful people and adventures I experienced in the summer of 2014 and I will
never forget it.
Sincerely,
Christian Dawson
