It's Conference Season!

This is the time of year when many professional organizations hold their annual conferences. Why is this important? Well…for me this was my way into the Outdoor Education field. I found that it was a great way to gain a sense of what professionals are talking about, what the current trends are, and more importantly, this is where you make connections that grow into future opportunities.


Here are a few things that are on the horizon. Some of them I have attended, some I am attending this year and some I know due to word of mouth.

What: T.E.A.M. Conference (Teachers of Experiential and Adventure Methodology)
Where: Northeastern Illinois University
When: February 3-4:
I have attended this conference every year since its inception (except the very first one…so 22 years). It is great conference and the place that really gave me my start in experiential education. There is a real family feel with some of the industry giants in attendance including Laurie Frank, Chris Cavert and Karl Rohnke. Even if you are not a teacher, you will find a lot of useful tools here. In addition, it is relatively inexpensive.

What: A.C.C.T. International Conference (Association for Challenge Course Technology)
Where: Boston, MA
When: February 9-12
This is an organization that was originally developed to represent companies and individuals that build and inspect challenge courses. The organization still has that as a focus, but has turned their conference into something bigger; a focus on best practices in the adventure and experiential education world. There is something for everyone at this conference, from workshops on technical climbing, zip line, challenge course gear and gear research for all you gear wonks, as well as facilitation workshops taught by the top practitioners in the world. It is a more expensive conference then TEAM but well worth it.

What: N.C.C.P.S. (National Challenge Course Practitioners Symposium)
Where: Boulder, CO
When: February 23-25
This is often called the “un conference” in that it is an open concept symposium with no set workshops. It is an idea orchestrated by Tom Leahy, a noted practitioner in the field. It works like this: people show up and offer to teach on different subjects related to challenge courses and facilitation and if other attendees sign up to attend, you run a workshop. Several Manito-wish staff attends every year and say that it is amazing. It has great energy, lots of good people and loads of information.

What: A.E.E. International Conference (The Association for Experiential Education)
Where: Madison, WI
When: November 2012
AEE is the organization responsible for building this industry into the respected profession it has become. Their regional conferences are usually relatively inexpensive and are full of great workshops on everything from wilderness therapy to teaching games. They are also, due to their local focus, great opportunities to network in your region.

There are obviously more professional organizations and conferences, depending on your interest. The key is to do the research, make a choice…and go!

Mark Zanoni is the Leadership Program Director at Camp Manito-wish YMCA

Gear Review: The Cooke Custom Sewing Hybrid Line

Ah, the Canoe. As described by the great Bill Mason, there is no object on earth that is more graceful and versatile than the Canoe. The practice of painting elegant paddle strokes in the water, transfer your craft and its contents on to your shoulders and slog two miles over mud and mountains to a completely different river system is truly a beautiful capability of the canoeist. However, this functionality could not be possible without the canoe packs that haul our pounds of staples, gear, and the 50 oz. coffee press we canoeists so desire. That is why the canoeing world must pay tribute to the Cooke Custom Sewing Hybrid line of canoe packs, undoubtedly the best of its kind. Cooke Custom Sewing Hybrid Line

The Pros:
Each Hybrid pack has similar features to a backpacking style backpack, making CCS Hybrids some of the most comfortable canoe packs for those long portages in the wild backcountry. CCS covers all the bases with a padded foam back, contoured shoulder straps including a sternum strap, a padded hip belt, and load lifter straps to keep the pack high and tight to your body. The Hybrid series also employs the “brain” function found on most backpacking style packs. The zipper pocket on the top of the pack adds 500-550 cubic inches of space (not to mention they are handy for holding the many small accessories canoeists carry). All in all, these packs are tough. I have paddled over 3,000 miles with CCS Packs, and I have had absolutely no issues with straps breaking or seams ripping. On the right and left hips of the pack, there is a small pocket that is great for fitting a water bottle, or sliding in the head of a shovel – easily accessible and ready to use. Forget your whistle? Don’t worry, the sternum strap of the Hybrid series has whistle style buckles.

The Cons:
As with any pack there is a risk of the fabric on the body ripping or being punctured, but this is easy to repair with a Speedy Stitch. In comparison to other canoe packs that use a traditional leather strap system, the plastic buckles are prone to break more easily, but the ability to comfortably adjust the shoulder straps is well worth the risk.

Here’s a Quick Recap.
Pros:
- Comfortable strap system and built in padding
- Similar features to a backpacking style backpack
- Tough design and materials
- Useful pockets
- Whistle buckles
Cons:
- Pack body can be punctured or ripped
- Plastic buckles can break

Dan Cooke’s Hybrid Series is a testament to the rugged capabilities of a canoe expedition paired with practical and comfortable features. Dan’s commitment to canoeing and the quality of his products are the reason why CCS Hybrid and traditional packs go on every Camp Manito-wish canoe trip, from 3 days in the beautiful Northwoods waterways, to 45 days in the Canadian Tundra.

Mike Dietrich is a trip leader at Camp Manito-wish.

What Does a Trip Do: the Spectrum of ‘Miles’ vs ‘Lessons’

When talking with those who lead wilderness trips, the recounting of what happened does not suffice for long. In my personal conversations with such leaders—either in a formal debrief or simply a chat with a friend or colleague—the talk quickly turns from the fun moments and grueling days to how those experiences were faced. To me, this is a telling feature, and worthy of greater exploration. Of the great number of personal recollections of how a trip was run (and the still greater number of opinions on how a trip should be run), I have noticed that all such opinions happen to fall along a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum, there’s the opinion ‘Miles First’, and on the other end the counter ‘Lessons First’.

Before I go any further I should be upfront that I certainly can’t hope to cover these opinions as justly as they deserve. Nor will I be able necessarily to further contextualize these or provide a convincing argument for one over the other, much less synthesize a new argument. All I hope to accomplish here is to point out the two extremes of opinion and assert that deliberation on this point is important, not only because these opinions are pervasive, but also because these can be exceptionally powerful in passing on the passion of wilderness trips. Now, about the spectrum:

I stated above that one end of the spectrum could be called ‘Miles First’, but maybe a better way of describing it would be that a trip is all about edification through Achievement. Being away from the comforts of home is the first step in allowing someone to explore how much they can do outside their comfort zone. From there, participants are encouraged to push themselves, whether that push be the most miles, the most taxing ascents, the swiftest water, or as many weeks away from comfortable living as possible.

The other end, which I’ve stated as ‘Lessons First’, could also be described as using the trip as a tool for character growth. The wilderness, in this conception, is a laboratory for interpersonal skills, introspection, self-sufficiency, and contemplation. Everything about the trip becomes a lesson, rather than an achievement or a basic need. The objective facts about the trip, how far was traveled or how high was climbed, are superseded by the subjective analysis of those facts by those who accomplished them.

The difference between these two sides is most obvious at the extremes, even while there is considerable gray area. There are certain leaders whom I have seen gravitate strongly to one side or the other, and some accomplish excellent things by framing their trips as completely one side of the spectrum or the other. More importantly, I would submit that every choice on the trail amounts to a decision between these two sides of the spectrum. When leading a trip, where to stop, when to eat, and how long to sleep are all choices which can suggest ‘Miles’ or ‘Lessons’ to participants. How these things are framed to them during the trip will have a profound impact on how participants view themselves and their experience when they return to the comforts of home, or exit the laboratory of character growth.

Thus, it's important at every choice to carefully consider which element one is enforcing at that moment. Each leader and participant has a kernel of both of these extremes in mind. Take these examples:

“We never had nylon, all our tents were canvas. If it rained you got wet, no matter what.”

“She never perfected her J-stroke, but that’s alright, it’s a hard stroke.”

“We would’ve run that rapids in ’74, but then again we were probably a lot more experienced with white-water then too.”

“Oh, just a 5 day hike I’m afraid. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“If I am going to teach the campers how to cook breakfast, then there’s no way I can make that campsite for my second night.”

“She’s not very personable, but she would make a great leader because her hard skills are top notch.”

“He doesn’t know a canoe from a coffeepot and he has never paddled anything, but he’s really good with the age group and he was a teacher, so he should be leading the 14 day sea-kayaking venture.”

The quotes above could elicit a nod of agreement, a fist-shake of anger, or anything in between. Different leaders will have different reactions, and each will have a compelling argument. Not only does the 'Miles' vs. 'Lessons' debate color how we apprehend stories of previous trips, but it colors the way we teach and pass on our own trips with participants.

Can these diverse reactions be rectified? Probably. Will the process of rectifying them be neat and tidy? Probably not. Is it worth it to attempt to rectify these? Certainly, because if we wish to convey our own love of the outdoors and pass on the experience we have had, we must understand as best as we can what exactlythat experience was, and why it was so powerful. Furthermore, if the decision to run a trip as an Achievement exercise or a Learning experience so greatly affects how we perceive our travels, should we not be deliberate in helping our participants discern this difference for themselves?


Walter Jordan has been the Trips Director at Camp Manito-wish.