Happy October! It was snowing when I walked the dog this morning, and more snow is in the forecast. We are clearly shifting gears now!
Here at VOBS, our busiest season is winding down. River's Edge Academy just returned from the
Superior Hiking Trail. Theirs was the last "fall" expedition on the Twin Cities Center calendar. What began as a fall expedition, ended as a winter adventure, with 6 inches of snow topping tents. Up on the North Shore, students are always pushed to the edge of their comfort zones, but this time Mother Nature gave them an extra opportunity to stretch.
So now we turn our attention to winter. This quieter season is one of our best kept secrets. Schools and organizations that work with us all year know that ice, snow and cold are powerful catalysts for learning. We put students on course when they might just need it the most. Our long Minnesota winter is an opportunity to leverage energy, capitalize on winter and spring break opportunities, explore the outdoors and grow comfort zones... for leadership learning...in the "Frozen North!"
We ski, snowshoe, orienteer and camp all winter long. When we put students on course in winter, they learn that they CAN
cope with weather, and even revel in it, We teach winter survival and safety by doing. Uffda! The implications are awesome-- students not only build confidence, they grow empathy and understanding. When you learn to adapt and thrive in winter, you appreciate the experience of animals, of our ancestors and of folks who don't always have a roof over their heads. Miigwech, Biboon!
Here at the close of our fall season, we naturally reflect on a calendar full of canoeing and hiking, and the impact of expeditionary learning. Nothing compares to the intensity of an expedition. Wilderness travel empowers students to grow confidence
through adventure, challenge and community. We run expeditions all summer and into the fall for schools, colleges and nonprofits. Our friend, Tom Bear, Director of Enrollment at Notre Dame, shared this about the impact of UND's summer Canoe Expedition:
"We recently gathered scholars to discuss the impact of their trip to the Boundary Waters...As we went around the room, it was unanimous that all agreed Outward Bound was highly challenging ...yet they all found it to be rewarding by allowing them to test their abilities and expand capabilities.They reveled in the friendships built over the week in the wilderness, and many marveled at finding within themselves the confidence to now live out the Notre Dame mission of being a force for good in a world."
Such intense learning isn't limited to summer canoeing. Winter provides a unique opportunity to highlight what is most elemental about the human experience-- survival. Safety, and compassion-- care for others and yourself-- become paramount in winter. Our winter courses catalyze positive community development and cohort bonding through striving to meet basic needs and build vital skills in a beautiful and uncompromising context. Students must learn how to compromise when Mother Nature won't!
From 4 Day Winter Skills Expeditions at near wilderness state parks, to longer Dog Sledding and Skiing courses in the Boundary Waters, our programs pair social/emotional learning with unique technical skill building. We are the only school in the country offering Dog Sledding Expeditions as truly experiential education. Sure, you can have a fine day of mushing with an outfitter, but VOBS delivers a progressive course built with design principles-- you will learn through your human and animal team about who you are, what your
assets are and what your life can look like post-course. Character education, with dogs.
If you visit our blog, you'll see that our current post is about Dog Sledding; as fall fades, our alums begin to reach out and reminisce about those seminal winter experiences. And here's another link to more winter impact-- for youth, young adults, and for professionals too.
Want to embrace the challenge of winter? Ready for a new learning adventure? Reach out! marlais.brand@vobs.org | 651-401-0641
"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?"
