Monday, November 10, 2008

Ryan DeBoer- Last Full Day in Joshua Tree

Yummy yummy, pancakes with chocolate chips and raisins. Top those off with a little fruit pie filling and you’ve got yourself one happy stomach to start off your day. Today is another full day of lessons, so we will need the energy to stay with it. We have all learned a little about how to present lessons properly, but it is hard to stay focused when so many lessons are given in one day. Courtney’s lesson before lunch was definitely up to par. She had a lot of good information to present and did that in a very interactive way. She set the bar for outdoor education lessons. Steve told a great story about Jebadiah Smith and the fur trading business. Ooter, Josh, Shible, and Jake all gave lessons throughout the day as well. Wow, like I said, a lot of lessons were given today.

As busy as the day was, it’s only getting started for me. All our journals must be typed; all of our articles for the third newsletter must be loaded and ready; all our lesson plans for environmental interpretation and outdoor education in the Southwestern desert ecosystem must all be done by tomorrow night. All this homework will certainly affect the amount of sleep I get and my attitude heading into our jobs as camp counselors in Malibu.

Homework is definitely a downer, especially with this much of it to do coming out of our solo experience and directly following an entire day of lessons. Thank God for solo though because I now know I can choose my own attitude and I will choose to have a positive one going into LACOSS in Malibu. Well, it’s after 8pm already and I have hours of homework to do yet tonight, so GOODNIGHT! Here’s to staying positive even during hectic times!

Ryan DeBoer- Last Full Day in Joshua Tree

Yummy yummy, pancakes with chocolate chips and raisins. Top those off with a little fruit pie filling and you’ve got yourself one happy stomach to start off your day. Today is another full day of lessons, so we will need the energy to stay with it. We have all learned a little about how to present lessons properly, but it is hard to stay focused when so many lessons are given in one day. Courtney’s lesson before lunch was definitely up to par. She had a lot of good information to present and did that in a very interactive way. She set the bar for outdoor education lessons. Steve told a great story about Jebadiah Smith and the fur trading business. Ooter, Josh, Shible, and Jake all gave lessons throughout the day as well. Wow, like I said, a lot of lessons were given today.

As busy as the day was, it’s only getting started for me. All our journals must be typed; all of our articles for the third newsletter must be loaded and ready; all our lesson plans for environmental interpretation and outdoor education in the Southwestern desert ecosystem must all be done by tomorrow night. All this homework will certainly affect the amount of sleep I get and my attitude heading into our jobs as camp counselors in Malibu.

Homework is definitely a downer, especially with this much of it to do coming out of our solo experience and directly following an entire day of lessons. Thank God for solo though because I now know I can choose my own attitude and I will choose to have a positive one going into LACOSS in Malibu. Well, it’s after 8pm already and I have hours of homework to do yet tonight, so GOODNIGHT! Here’s to staying positive even during hectic times!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Joshua Tree National Park


Early to rise, before the sun, I had a lot of homework to do. As the sun rose, I wondered what the day would bring? Would I be staying or going home? Soon other arose, my alone time was over. Breakfast pizza was on the menu, but it took forever to cook. While we waited we did Leave No Trace lessons. Courtney was a trickster, scrambling her words, and Ooter did a skit. DeBoer’s lesson I missed, I am going home on the 15. Jeff and I talked about the logistics as my heart was breaking. I am going home. After laundry and grocery shopping, we made a stop at the library. Rose helped me buy my first plane ticket, and DeBoer got his permit for his deer cam. Back at camp, we had taco salad for lunch. Steve told us to be ready to hike, and we left for Rattlesnake Canyon. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I scurried up the granite rocks, leaping and bounding up to the top. I felt as if I was in the backcountry again; my mood soared. DeBoer gave his lesson on setting up deer cams. I am pretty sure we caught two ugly cavemen. The sun was setting; it was time to leave. The best part of the day was on its way. Halfway back to camp, Jeff showed us a detour. We hiked in the dark with the stars as our guide for just a few minutes before coming to a pile of rocks. Jeff said caving; our faces lit up. We worked together to scurry and squeeze through all the cracks and holes. Derek found a Tarantula and wanted to pick it up; he settled for petting it instead. Ooter, Courtney, DeBoer and I all swallowed some air and touched its furry, fuzzy, legs. Never before have I had such an experience. I felt full of wonder as I explored the cave climbing and crawling not knowing where I would end up. DeBoer found a big room, and soon discovered he was really outside. I climbed out of the cave into the night air, the stars all twinkling and moon lighting the sky. We all sat and waited for the others. When Steve and Jeff popped out, we left for camp to eat supper. Supper was awesome, even if it was called Manly Orzo. We debriefed, then briefed about our little hike tomorrow. It was clean up then bedtime. As I slipped in my bag for the night, I smiled at the moon and stars, goodnight.
Oh and before I forget… HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSE!!

Emilie Litow

Joshua Tree National Park


Early to rise, before the sun, I had a lot of homework to do. As the sun rose, I wondered what the day would bring? Would I be staying or going home? Soon other arose, my alone time was over. Breakfast pizza was on the menu, but it took forever to cook. While we waited we did Leave No Trace lessons. Courtney was a trickster, scrambling her words, and Ooter did a skit. DeBoer’s lesson I missed, I am going home on the 15. Jeff and I talked about the logistics as my heart was breaking. I am going home. After laundry and grocery shopping, we made a stop at the library. Rose helped me buy my first plane ticket, and DeBoer got his permit for his deer cam. Back at camp, we had taco salad for lunch. Steve told us to be ready to hike, and we left for Rattlesnake Canyon. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I scurried up the granite rocks, leaping and bounding up to the top. I felt as if I was in the backcountry again; my mood soared. DeBoer gave his lesson on setting up deer cams. I am pretty sure we caught two ugly cavemen. The sun was setting; it was time to leave. The best part of the day was on its way. Halfway back to camp, Jeff showed us a detour. We hiked in the dark with the stars as our guide for just a few minutes before coming to a pile of rocks. Jeff said caving; our faces lit up. We worked together to scurry and squeeze through all the cracks and holes. Derek found a Tarantula and wanted to pick it up; he settled for petting it instead. Ooter, Courtney, DeBoer and I all swallowed some air and touched its furry, fuzzy, legs. Never before have I had such an experience. I felt full of wonder as I explored the cave climbing and crawling not knowing where I would end up. DeBoer found a big room, and soon discovered he was really outside. I climbed out of the cave into the night air, the stars all twinkling and moon lighting the sky. We all sat and waited for the others. When Steve and Jeff popped out, we left for camp to eat supper. Supper was awesome, even if it was called Manly Orzo. We debriefed, then briefed about our little hike tomorrow. It was clean up then bedtime. As I slipped in my bag for the night, I smiled at the moon and stars, goodnight.
Oh and before I forget… HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSE!!

Emilie Litow

Monday, November 3, 2008

Joshua Tree National Park

Today started off with breakfast and potato egg drop amazingness. We cleaned up and loaded the van for a morning hike and another day of lessons. Everyone fell asleep on the van ride on the way to Samuels’s rock. After t=many teachable moments on the way out to the rocks… and wait one more, and yet another we finally arrived at the rocks. There was clearly no spell check, not that we use it either, but the sayings struck a cord with me. Derek gave his lesson and we were back on the move again, this time headed back to our white 15 passenger chariot. Back at camp we debriefed the morning and ate a great pizza pocket lunch. We went back to our awaiting 15 passenger lime and we were off to the visitors center so DeBoer could get his permit for his camera and so Emilie could give a lesson. This was one of the first really SPEC lessons we have had. Jake played with a cactus and everyone got a good laugh out of that. My photo-holic self and to take multiple pictures of the Joshua Tree Welcome Sign before we could head back to the van again. Everyone enjoyed picking the burs off their clothing. Steve came out and gave his short Leave No Trace lesson and DeBoer started in on a great dinner. We debriefed the evening and everyone was able to air issues out that had been arising. After that it was homework time followed by hitting the sack. I was so tired and accomplished no reading and did not write in my journal either, but there is always tomorrow.
-Ryan Plunkett

Joshua Tree National Park

Today started off with breakfast and potato egg drop amazingness. We cleaned up and loaded the van for a morning hike and another day of lessons. Everyone fell asleep on the van ride on the way to Samuels’s rock. After t=many teachable moments on the way out to the rocks… and wait one more, and yet another we finally arrived at the rocks. There was clearly no spell check, not that we use it either, but the sayings struck a cord with me. Derek gave his lesson and we were back on the move again, this time headed back to our white 15 passenger chariot. Back at camp we debriefed the morning and ate a great pizza pocket lunch. We went back to our awaiting 15 passenger lime and we were off to the visitors center so DeBoer could get his permit for his camera and so Emilie could give a lesson. This was one of the first really SPEC lessons we have had. Jake played with a cactus and everyone got a good laugh out of that. My photo-holic self and to take multiple pictures of the Joshua Tree Welcome Sign before we could head back to the van again. Everyone enjoyed picking the burs off their clothing. Steve came out and gave his short Leave No Trace lesson and DeBoer started in on a great dinner. We debriefed the evening and everyone was able to air issues out that had been arising. After that it was homework time followed by hitting the sack. I was so tired and accomplished no reading and did not write in my journal either, but there is always tomorrow.
-Ryan Plunkett