by Matt Moran-Ellis, Program Assistant & Starbucks Liaison
It amazing how good one can look while suspended 30 feet from the ground being held by nothing more then rope and some sort of "crustacean". This was the starting point that Camp Homelaniʼs Councelor's found themselves in as they took part in their first day of orientation.
Prior to that, the day before the Program Team (PT) met to learn the principles of leadership through hiking, injuries and virgin daiquiris (the essentials as you can tell). The PT emerged in the early hours of the morning to be told that one of their members was unable to make it and so to make sure they were fully bonded a cardboard cut out of Tamber was erected and the team was challenged to take her wherever they went. This just so happened to be up the side of a mountain, and so with a cut of Tamber they lead the way. Progress was good and at various points the team collected together to have Joe Harvey Hall's wisdom bestowed upon them. This was going great until one of the team members slipped and re injured her knee which had been damaged at the start of the week. The team determined that no member should suffer made the decision to all come down the mountain. It was at this moment that the seeds of unity started to bloom.
The message of "A Higher Standard" was shared at the trailhead (rather than at the mountain top as planned) over a nice picnic lunch. Captains Neil and Rubina Navarro blessed the leadership team with a challenge and insight on leadership, setting, and living up to a higher standard.
After some much needed rest the PT came together again to be challenged to cook dinner in an hour together with only $2 per person. The team jumped into the vans with Tamber in toe and headed to the grocery store to see what culinary delights they could make. Two hours later, and with a 31 cent surplus, a sumptuous meal was presented and they all sat around talking story and sharing in the days events. The leadership team was in place and so all that was needed was some councelors.
Like fresh mourning dew, the counselors appeared the next morning and the day's adventures unfolded. All where challenged to complete the high ropes courses and over the next four hours that is exactly what took place. With many tears, screams and panic faces, each team overcame many fears and achieved their goals with a selection of bruises to display like medals. Every person challenged themselves, and stepped out beyond their comfort zone, it was this fact that brought them together and gave them a common hope. It Will be interesting to see how these relationships develop over the rest of orientation, but they are certainly based on trust and determination if not just a little bit of mockery in some of quality accents we were presented with today through our instructors.
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