Summer 2004 Trail Mix

Spring Wilderness Leadership Trainings
- by Jill Greenblat, BAWT Program Director

This year, our Spring and Summer Wilderness Leadership Training Courses were about as different as could be. Each ran with one section, 11 participants in May and 9 in June. Youth workers came from a wide variety of organizations, including the Berkeley Boosters, East Bay Conservation Corps, Seven Teepees, Hannah Boys Center, Today's Youth Matter, and several Oakland middle schools.

The May course was taught by Kyle and Jill, and included both those new to camping and several with more experience. Water levels were low this year, and the group made it through the first crossings in fine form. This group dealt largely with physical challenges posed by the environment, and the effects of these on individuals and the group. The first major one came at about 1:00 am on our first night in the backcountry, as rain began to fall lightly, but after several hours it became a downpour. Leaders, instructors and a few hardy volunteers were up in the cold and wet for hours, making sure that tents were secure and dry for the group. The morning looked bleak, as everyone huddled around under a tarp clutching hot drinks and the leaders assessed the situation. Fortunately, the sky cleared around 11:00 am. Lots of wet clothing and sleeping bags were joyfully laid out on the rocks to dry in the sun. Members of this training will never lead a group unprepared for rain, I'm sure. It was a good reminder that you never know what will happen on a trip.

Once we were on the trail, we made good time until a wrong turn led us to the top of a long steep hillside. What with a late start caused by the rain, we arrived at Kibbie Lake as it was getting dark. Everyone was tired, but pulled together to get camp set and dinner made. The rest of the trip went more easily, and some good fun and laughs were had by all on the final night overlooking the valley. This trip has become known around the BAWT office as the "Sleep Deprivation Tour". Along with the challenges and good learning, this group managed to enjoy themselves and the wilderness, and have fun getting to know one another. Especially memorable was a fantastic trust game where each member was carried by the group from one place to another. Also the sharing of cookies and compliments under the stars on our final night, after a game that had several people literally rolling on the ground with laughter.

The June WLT was taught by Jill and two new faculty members: Todd Cooley and Jennifer Anonuccio. We had the best weather one could imagine, with warm sunny days and cool nights under clear skies. The river crossings barely wet our toes, and were more about practice than actual problem solving. The trail was newly marked and cleared. This group focused more on personal and interpersonal challenges presented by a new experience and leading together. The ubiquitous issue of "some like to go fast, while others need to go slow" was discussed often, as was handling tension and differences of opinion and styles between leaders.

The group was happy to arrive at Kibbie Lake in time for a swim, which was welcome after a hot day of hiking up and over the ridge. We had time for many of the pairs to lead fun and interesting activities. We also managed to arrive at our final campsite in time for everyone to get some solo time, and some fun games to close the evening.

Each group had some interesting adventures getting water on the last night. The water crew on the May trip accidentally brought back a small minnow in a bear canister full of water for cooking, which had to be returned to the pond in Kyle's coffee mug. The crew on the June trip chose to pull water from a tiny seasonal stream that crossed the trail, and had to figure out how to fill large containers from water only an inch deep (we tried not to look at what was floating in our bottles the next morning).

A good time was had by all - what a season!

Jill Greenblat is Program Director for BAWT. The Wilderness Leadership Training's she writes about here are the 5th and 6th she has attended, with her first as a student in 1999.