As I come down the pipes in my final semester here at Appalachian State, my graduate program is keeping me busy! I must say, though, it's a different kind of busy. Instead of classes this semester I have my internship at Outdoor Programs, here on-campus. Part of my duties are as the Climbing Wall Manager. 10-12 hours a week I am paid a small hourly sum to create/update scheduling, staff training, and climbing wall logistics (new holds, inspections, etc.). The other 10 or so hours of the internship is as a Programmer. Basically doing odds and ends supporting the program, with my ultimate goal to create more intentional faculty and staff programming this spring.
This last portion, in many ways, ties in nicely with our upcoming AT experience. How you say? Well, being that the outdoors are a place to be shared, I feel many Americans quite enjoy theses spaces, but do not entirely grasp what it takes to maintain/sustain them. Given that sometime later this semester I anticipate facilitating outdoor experiences with faculty and staff (i.e., adults), I feel this will provide me with a small glimpse into the world of average outdoor users. From this, I feel I will have a better understanding of how to effectively communicate the art of Leave No Trace, as well as treading lightly and giving back to this earthly space we've been blessed to recreate upon!
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| On Snake Mountain with Elk Knob in the background |
I've been dedicating a few hours over the last few weeks solidifying sponsorship requests. In some way I have a bit of anxiousness about this. I sent my first request to Patagonia only to be denied a day later. Did they even read my proposal?? I feel there is no place for worry amongst this. I have a building confidence that a company will recognize what we are striving to do, and take a chance on us. Perhaps I should put it in more plain language, but if you read the sponsorship requests, I feel like it paints a picture of planned selfless service. Basically, Maura and I are paying money for gear and food to a) experience the Appalachian Trail from North to South, and more importantly b) to give back to the trail in someway that is larger than us! A thought becomes a question...
What if all users of the AT made a point to pick up trash, or to take half a day to work with a maintenance club? What kind of world would we be living in if more people modeled this; and popular society supported it?I am hopeful, in all that the word passively means, that our actions will be impactful at some level; smack next to the impact it will leave on us intrinsically as young people - growing up in an ever-changing world!
If you are a potential sponsor, please consider taking a chance on us! Think of a time when someone took a chance on you; are you glad they did?
On and on the challenges will go for this experience is already committed into Maura and I. Getting closer to the launch date - hitting the road for Maine on June 15th!!
Lots of love and excitement in this shared experience,
Alan
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