The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

Reflections from Outdoor School

Five years ago, I spent five days at Twin Rocks Friends Camp, learning about the mountains, beaches and tide pools, and making some pretty sweet crafts. I learned so much about how to be a better member of my community, how to coexist better with the earth and how to be more independent. I can honestly say that Outdoor School was the most memorable moment of middle school.

Last week, I spent four days at Twin Rocks Friends Camp, teaching this year’s Rosemont Ridge sixth graders about environmental science and chaperoning them at the tide pools. I learned about being a leader, and re-learned some of the things I forgot from sixth grade.

You don’t realize how difficult following directions is until you’re the one giving them

At my study station, an oil spill lab, I ran into several kids who were very eager to make observations. Some of these students had a problem: they wouldn’t raise their hand. I had to tell one student about five times to be more respectful and wait for his turn to talk. It was a bit annoying and I wish I could have controlled them a little better, but the worst feeling about it was my own hypocrisy. When I was a sixth grader (and sometimes now, too), I had a problem with talking out of turn. It’s an impulse I’ve had for years. So, when I ran into students who had the same issue, my first thought would be “Why are they not listening to my instructions?” and my second would be “Is this how I’ve made all my past teachers feel?” And yes, I felt a little guilty.

When I told this story to my mom, an instructional assistant at Bolton Primary, she pointed out that really, many people do not follow directions very well. People just do as they please, really; if their behavior happens to fall within the guidelines of whoever’s in charge, it just makes things easier. The hard part is just setting up those guidelines. The people who have to follow them have to make the decision to follow them. So, even if I was a bit of a hypocrite over the week, at least I’ve seen perspective about how far the scope of leadership can really go.

Sixth graders can be surprisingly mature

Shannon, my cabin partner, and I were lucky enough to be responsible for seven intelligent, snarky and witty young women. They were so much fun to have conversations with (often about internet memes, good music and what they learned at their study stations). What’s more, they acted with independence and maturity. I came into ODS expecting children who we would have to constantly wrangle, and I was worried that I might have to be a drill sergeant. I am glad to report that the sixth graders I encountered were bright, responsible and cooperative. I have a newfound appreciation for sixth graders now that I’ve met such awesome kids.

Tide pools are awesome

Until ODS this year, I hadn’t been at a tide pool since seventh grade. In the four years that passed, I’d forgotten how simply great those habitats are. The plants and animals we saw there were fascinating, and the kids’ enthusiasm for discovery was contagious. There was a crab under practically every rock, and it was awesome. We were excited to acquaint ourselves with these creatures. And every time we found one and played with it, we would gently put it back into the water. We always emphasized these rules for the students: respect the habitat, but always be inquisitive. We also learned some of the practical aspects of the tide pools. For example, rockweed has sacs at the end of their fronds filled with what the Native Americans used as hand sanitizer. It was particularly useful when I fell and scraped my wrist Thursday morning.

The tide pools are many sixth graders’ favorite part of ODS, and it’s obvious why: it is where kids are given the most freedom to roam around and explore a beautiful, practical and captivating world.

When I came home from ODS Friday afternoon, the first place I went was to my bed to sleep for a solid 12 hours. Not because of boredom or sickness, but from satisfied exhaustion. As a counselor, one must work extraordinarily hard; a counselor is responsible for sixth graders’ happiness and safety from the minute she wakes up to the minute she falls asleep. There is no better feeling than knowing that I was part of a team that created what will surely be one of their best memories for years.

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Elise Brown, Co Editor-in-Chief

Elise Brown, senior, has always felt comfortable standing up and giving her opinion in front of everyone and for the most part, she enjoys it very much.  That is one of the many reasons why she heads the debate team, and also why in June she earned a place in the National Speech and Debate Competition in Indianapolis.

Out of the 250 people entered in the competition, she finished 151st in the country.  Before she earned her rightful place in Nationals, however, she needed to prove herself in Districts and State.

Her 10 minute long speech about socialism and its benefits took first and second in Districts and State, respectively.

“In the National competition the judges didn’t appreciate politics or controversy as much as they did in Districts and State,” Brown said.  This was confirmed from one of the judges she conversed with in order to find out what she could do better.

Brown’s interest in current events started in the eighth grade.  She then did the Amplifier, the high school newspaper to help communicate her ideas about the world with her fellow peers, she also did the debate team to better understand the problems throughout the world and learn how to solve them somewhat.

“Debate involves knowing what is going on in the world,”  Brown said.

This year for upcoming competitions, she has a speech in the works that she feels will top her last one.  This year’s speech is about interdependence inspired by the “you didn’t build that debate,” caused when President Barack Obama told business people that they did not create their businesses on their own.

Brown’s passion for debate has influenced what college she will go to, what she will study in college, and what she wants to do in her life.  Brown’s goal is to graduate high school and then travel to Massachusetts and attend Wellesley College, a very well known and prestigious college, where Brown hopes to study political science.

To achieve this goal she has taken part in a number of rigorous courses and activities such as Speech and Debate, AP Government, AP Economics, Honors Law, AP English and journalism.  Once Brown achieves her education goals, her next goal is to become a political commentator.

“I want to change people’s minds,”  Brown said.  Brown has chosen the path to become a political commentator because she believes political power lies with the media.

Brown has worked very hard throughout high school and continues to work hard through her senior year.  She has taken many challenging courses to achieve her goal of going to Wellesley, and will need to continue down the very rigorous path to success to accomplish her goals.

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Reflections from Outdoor School