Kids in
the Woods
(This
858th Buffalo Sunday News column was
first published on September 2, 2007.)
Trippers -- Dave
Chaves on the right
With
few exceptions we have become indoor people with our only connection to the
world around us through electronics and as spectators. Fortunately, a few
organizations and a few individuals are mounting activities to break into this
negative aspect of modern society.
The
admirable Dave Chaves, who earlier this year led some of us tottering old
fogies on a canoe trip to Algonquin Park, has now taken a group of teenagers
there, an even more daunting undertaking. The youngsters are members of the
Lancaster Presbyterian Church youth group. With Dave and the eight kids went
Pastor Kelly Negus, like most of the kids a first timer, and five other
leaders.
The
trip was for four days and took them from Canoe to Burnt Island Lakes.
Dave
asked the kids to write their impressions before and after the trip. As
expected, I find their responses enlightening. Although I have omitted
repetitive answers and shortened others, I hope that what I have retained will
communicate their reactions.
Before
the trip they responded:
What
do you expect this trip to be like? To
be eaten by black flies, sleep on the ground, lose ten pounds. Boring cause my
friends won't be there. Tiring. Bugs galore, sweating and raw shoulders. Really
exciting. A break from reality. Test my limits of mind (having no bathrooms)
and strength (carrying the canoe and my pack with everything I own in it.)
How
do you feel about this trip? Lots
of unknowns, but that's okay; the more I'm outside my comfort zone, the more
comfortable it becomes. I don't want to go; I'd rather be with my boyfriend. My
parents made me come but I don't think it will be all bad, well except for the
toilets. It's going to be fun with friends bonding as well as God and nature.
Excited and a little scared.
What
do you expect to see? Wildlife:
moose, wolf, bear, fish, turtle, duck, geese, whatever. Sun on the water and
feel fresh breezes in my face: that'll be wonderful. Lots of water, bugs, and
small animals, maybe a moose. A whole lot of nature and a whole little good
food and electricity.
And
on the way back they answered:
Was
the trip what you expected? It
was way better. I knew about the bugs but not my improved friendships. It was
so fun. A little better. Far better than expected. We had real quality time
with the people around us causing friendships to grow stronger. Yeah, totally,
maybe a lot better cause we got to eat chocolate pie and really tasty foods
while chillin' with friends. I loved this trip; the lessons our pastor gave
were just incredible. It was heaven staying up late, looking at the sky with
friends and jumping off rocks into freezing water! Amazing! Much better. The
worst part: the bug bites, especially when I took trips to the treasure chest.
Canoeing was tiring and sweaty but that made cliff jumping (into water) that
much better.
What
did you learn about the wilderness?
Bug bites really itch, going to the bathroom in a box is a pain, but the view
is spectacular and loons are lovely and other wildlife too. Raccoons like to
eat human food. Flies don't let up and the wind's always in our face.
