Most teenagers would probably tell you that the beginning of their adulthood was marked by having to do laundry for the first time, or being able to drive alone, or perhaps no longer sitting at the children's table at family events. But for me, it happened this past summer, when I made the very difficult decision that I would not return to Coleman Country Day Camp. To those who were not fortunate enough to have grown up at summer camp, this might not seem like such a big decision to make. But Coleman was my outlet, my second home for ten consecutive summers and spending those two months anywhere else seemed inconceivable to me.…
I am the sole curator, operator and owner of The Outdoorsman's Corner. A self-appointed avid backwoodsman, I try to live every day as magnanimously as possible, through the serenity that permeates my life through deep roots in the canoe tripping capital of the world - Ontario, Canada. My passion lies in long, solitary days travelling by land and water; a passion driven by my need to live my life in accordance with the ingenuity, fortitude, curiosity and simplicity that are trademarks of the Canadian backcountry experience. I look toward living a simple life full of adventure and kindness, and I want to share all the goodness of the outdoors with whoever may listen. It is my hope that this growing community of tales, opinions and knowledge…
I have a fear of open heights. Eventually, I slowly got on the last platform, and my mind had gone blank. “The best part is the jump,” started the camp counselor, “3, 2, 1, go!”…
By this time I was so tired that I just did not care so I just went down, as I started to proceed down my stomach started to drop down and I was flying past all of the skI school…
So it all started when my best friend from my old school asked me if I wanted to go with him to this big trampoline place in St. Louis called Sky zone with his family. First we went there and we had a certain time to be there so we all went out to eat to Steak n Shake. Then we all ate and ready to go. We had to take off our shoes and socks and put on special orange grip on the bottom socks. The place was pretty big.…
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.…
Riding down the hill. Picking up speed. Wet pavement. Need to slow down. Hydroplaning.…
When I was very little, walking up the trail with a pack on my back and the dog at my side, I would reach out and pull leaves from the bushes and trees. I would tear off corners, smooth the edges, and they would be turned into spaceships, flying across a lush alien world. Sometimes the trail, worn down into the ground over time by paws and hooves, would climb its way up onto the crests of ridges and meander across the moist, mossy fringes of muskegs. The rough, black and gnarled spruce branches that grew there were pirate spacecraft, pursued by the sleek birch branches from beyond the muskeg's soggy borders. As imaginary lasers and rockets exploded against the ships' hulls, I would rip off little pieces of bark and let them fall to the forest floor.…
I grew up in a church filled with traditions. One of these traditions was started by our youth pastor’s father: Wilderness Trail. Throughout my elementary years I would hear talk of the annual youth trip up to Virginia, and in sixth grade, I finally had the chance to go. Wilderness Trail is a backpacking ministry located in the town of Troutdale. Each summer, groups come and go on a five day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail.…
Our dads started to sweat as they pulled the heavy security guards up the cave walls. Soon the girl was safe on the Ground. After that we went back down the mountain. It was like rock wall climbing on the way back down the mountain. Once again we used the rope, but in a different way.…
The first time I jumped on a trampoline was at my friend Evan’s house. It was on of the most fun things I had ever done. At the time I couldn’t do much, all I could do was a butt bomb. Which all it was is that I jumped landed on my butt then bounced back onto my feet. Soon enough my uncle Mark bought my sister and I a trampoline for ourselves.…
As we arrived, all you could see in the cove were boats lined up and tied together, people jumping from 30 feet into the water below, and the sound of people laughing and having a good time. We tied our jet skis to the side of my grandparent’s boat, took off our life vests, and jumped into the water. As we swam to the edge of the cliffs, I remember the sound of the waves crashing against them from people jumping and boats coming and going. Once we climbed out of the water and made our way up the steep cliff, I remember thinking, “I hope I don’t slip and fall”. Surprisingly, as clumsy as I am, we made it to the top with no problem.…
This past summer, I had the opportunity to go zip lining for the very first time. I, as with anyone with a slight concern for dangerous heights, wasn’t too keen on dangling hundreds of feet off the ground, and was extremely anxious. Just before I was about to step off the edge, I remember my friends encouraging me, “Don’t worry, Marina! It’s as easy as riding a bike.” In some cases, riding a bicycle isn’t as easy as you would expect.…
I went to the state fair and I rode almost all the rides. It was so fun. A couple of the rides went upside down. I almost threw up on the one that went upside down.…
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.…