Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in the wild? Do you envision dangerous animals and food cooked over a fire you had to build? One way that you can have that experience is by camping on a nature preserve or at a large lake. I have camped many times while growing up but the two places I remember the most would be Wichita Mountains or Lake DeGrey. Both of the places are places that people can go camping at if they are looking to get out of the city.…
It was my first time away from my family for more than a day or two. Camp seemed like a different place to me. It was fun with all sorts of activities to do you could do, any one of them. I remember making rope by spinning 3 pieces twine around each other. Making rope is the only fun thing that I can…
Our Smoky Mountains Adventure This summer, me and my family went on a vacation. It was beautiful. We did many many fun things. This is about our seven-day vacation to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.…
However, I also have friends who do not like being outside because of things such as the temperature and the insects. Some people do not like the outdoors but for those who do, it is a way for him or her to be happy and explore something…
When I was 13 my class went to a French summer camp in Powell River for a week. One of the activities was outdoors rock climbing. I managed to climb just over halfway to the top. I found myself incapable of climbing any further. So I yelled down to be lowered.…
For seven years, I enjoyed a weeklong summer camp at Camp Ernst. I swam, kayaked, rode horses, and participated in arts and crafts. Each summer, I dragged myself from the sleepy summer rut in which I always fell and woke up for polar bear swims and archery practice. Although I have long since ended this routine, the camp greatly affected my social skills and my perception of nature and of my family.…
The Wyoming backcountry is stunning. There is an infinite blanket of trees in every direction. The sky has two moods either happy: blue with cotton ball clouds or angry: a stormy scary black color. The air smells like sage and pine -- fresh and crisp. July, 2015, along with 11 close friends, 2 counselors, and a trip leader I went hiking in the backcountry of Wyoming on a 6 day backpacking trip.…
Riding down the hill. Picking up speed. Wet pavement. Need to slow down. Hydroplaning.…
Who am I? I have been called many things; a bumbling buffoon, a sleepy sailor, or even a hairy hippy. I am so much more than these mere titles. I am a sponge to the world that deposits its ideas into me. I am a filter that chooses which ideas I want to follow.…
When I hike, I’m fairly oblivious of the people around me. I tend to walk faster than them and am usually completely engrossed in my natural surroundings. The noises and, quite often, the pure silence of the woods is a mesmerizing. At every switchback, we would hit a vista.…
Hiking 10 miles a day allows you to come to know and grow closer to the people around you more than anything else that I have ever experienced. It does not matter if it is a group of people you have just met, or people that you have have known since kindergarten; you will see a new side of both yourself and them. Since that week, I have returned every summer, to volunteer for several weeks, leading groups of kids, like myself, or helping at the base camp. Wilderness Trail is where I have learned the most about who I am as a person. I have learned I am a leader, that I find joy in aiding people with even the seemingly trivial tasks, and I have discovered that knowing you have changed one person's life can make anything unpleasant that happened that week seem like a distant memory.…
When I had finally reached the river, I realized that I had navigated my way back down the hills that made up Mt. Harrison’s base slightly askew from the path that I’d taken on my trip up, and was now a lot closer to the walking bridge that I had elected not to use earlier when I’d chosen the downed oak tree to cross instead. Looking back behind me, I saw that the black cat had followed me through the forest and down the hillsides. But, as I crossed the bridge (which was only a few feet wide) I looked back to see if my feline friend was still with me but she was now nowhere in sight, having disappeared back into the woods again. I wanted to call out to her to see where she might have gone, but then I realized that I didn’t have a…
My vision started to fail on mile four of the six-mile hike. Small white specks flickered across my field of vision. The next thing to go was my hearing, followed by my ability to walk in a straight line. My platoon sergeant saw the signs of heat stroke and forced me to stop. I should have stopped myself, but all I could think was: you will finish this, or you will die trying.…
“Deeper Into my Life” Individuals are unique in their own ways and one of mine happens to be my name, Darrnyejah Bolds. Everywhere I go people have a hard time pronouncing it. Many people have given up and just refer to me as “Ms. Bolds,” but also I have two nicknames “Nye”, and “Nyejah,” which is mostly used by family and friends. Over the years, I have adjusted to my nicknames and became very comfortable with them. I entered this world on February 27, 1997 with the zodiac sign of Pisces.…
A Slippery Situation Every year, during the New Year holiday, my family goes on a ski vacation. The location varies, but this year we decided to travel to Vail, Colorado. There we met up with some friends of my parents. I have skied since I was very young. Every since I was little, my parents put my sister and me into ski school.…