The Eagle Newsletter Spring 2013

THE EAGLE’S NEST FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER

Inside this issue: Alumni Profile

SPRING 2013

Know Fear: Using Courage to Harness the Spirit of Adventure 3

Many Hands Make a Big Difference

4

“Home”, a poem

4

Finding Cabin Library in North Tanzania 5 OA Travel Story from English Class

6

Why Do We Climb?

7

Being an ENF Trustee 8 Into The Future

9

Spring Recipe

10

Spring Cleaning!

10

Nest Chatter

11

Visit our website at www.enf.org to make a donation, apply to a program, or learn more about Eagle’s Nest.

By Liz Snyder, Assistant Camp Director "I'm not going to do it. I'll just hike to the bottom." I began to loosen the figure 8 knot attached to the front of my harness. The day was warm and balmy, but my hands trembled as I tried to release myself from the rope binding me to the side of the cliff. My instructor stood by silently, his face painted with compassion. In a calm, soft voice, he beckoned me sit beside him.

There was no mention of rappelling or knots or ropes; no clinking of metal carabiners. There was, instead, only the touch of a gentle breeze and the sound of his words: "Courage is not the absence of fear; it's the ability to move forward in spite of it.

I believe in you."

Minutes later, I stood on the cliff’s edge, confidence intact. My instructor was perched several feet in front of me, his words bounced through my mind as I hesitantly shifted my weight backward. "Courage. Fear.

Courage." My boots inched over the edge and down the rocky wall

as the rope slowly slid through the fist of my "brake" hand. I moved toward the safety of level ground 60 feet below, beginning to fully trust the system serving as my lifeline. I was in complete control. As my toes touched the ground, relief and pride overwhelmed me; my first rappel was complete.

When I was in elementary school, the action sports brand “No Fear” came into existence, and my classmates started coming to school with the “No Fear” slogan plastered on their clothes.

As we rode our bikes around the neighborhood, jumping off curbs and splashing through mud puddles, my friends and I would shout, “No fear!” back and forth to each other. Suddenly, living without fear was cool. As the sun sank behind the tall pines on those long summer evenings, I pedaled home with impressive speed, nervous about getting lost in the impending darkness. Fear was always there, whether or not we realized it, and it was keeping us safe.

Continued on Page 2… www.enf.org

PAGE 2

Know Fear, Continued from Page 1 As I got older, I abandoned the desire to have no fear and realized that fear is real and inevitable; it is a natural response to dangerous situations. Instead of hiding from fear, I sought it out and attempted to “know it.” Fear led me to rappel off the edge of a cliff when I was 15 years old. It directed me toward my first day of college several years later. It pushed me down a class III river in an open boat. It helped me spark conversations with new friends. It gave me the desire to run a marathon.

Fear is now a welcomed constant in my life, as it continuously pushes me toward growth and self-realization. Standing atop the cliff on that mid-July day presented me with two options.

I could untie the knot and walk down to the bottom, choosing to deny myself the opportunity to embrace my fear. I would be safe but overwhelmed by great disappointment and the question of what might have been. Or, I could tighten my harness and slowly inch my

way over the ledge, acknowledging the fear and mustering the courage to use it to my advantage.

Thankfully, I chose the latter, and I think back on that moment with great pride.

The idea of stepping off a plane in another country to spend 4 weeks immersed in its culture and wilderness is daunting. The concept of scaling 13,500 foot peaks is frightening. Hiking a trail deep in the mountains of North Carolina will pull a person’s comfort zone right out from under them.

Simply leaving the familiarity of home and choosing to participate in a Hante Adventure is scary. But without fear, adventure wouldn’t exist.

There would be no opportunity to try things for the very first time. The friendships and camaraderie born from shared challenge wouldn’t happen. The words of a patient instructor wouldn’t be heard, and there would be no memory to draw strength from before embarking on subsequent adventures.

Opportunities for significant growth and learning would be missed. As it turns out, the scariest part of any adventure is choosing not to do it.

Harness YOUR Courage!

Join us for Hante 2013!

We’re off to great places far & wide this summer!

If you’re in 7th-11th grade & ready for an adventure...

Check out our list of Hantes online at:

www.enf.org/hante_adventures www.enf.org

PAGE 3

The Eagle’s Nest Foundation Newsletter

Profile of Abigail Poe: OA Semester 4 Alumni, Camper & Hante Ghana Participant Interviewed By Susan Conley, Director of Development A lot of OA alumni want to change the world.

Abigail Poe is one of those who are actually doing it. Abigail is Director of the Latin America Rights and Security Program and Deputy Director of the Center for International Policy (CIP) in Washington, DC. She tracks U.S. military and security assistance to countries in Latin America to make sure that transparency and accountability are seen as an integral part of U.S. relations with Latin America. She works to support human rights and promote social and sustainable development as a way to improve security in Latin America.

Abigail remembers listening to the stories of local residents during her OA semester in the spring of 1997. “We would go around on Abigail Poe in Quito, Ecuador weekends and converse with people in and around Brevard, and I gained a different view of the world.”

Hante Ghana a year later was her first experience in a developing country and Influenced the international focus in her studies and career.

International work requires a lot of travel and partnerships with local organizations on the grassroots level. “Community meeting skills have transferred into my non-profit work in DC. I am able to help the team members offer different skills to reach our goals. Most importantly, I know how to listen to other people’s points of view.”

Abigail majored in “Being at OA, environmental studies and policy at Camp and on Hante encouraged me to Bates College and lived in Ecuador for look at the world two years following through different graduation. Inspired people’s eyes.” by her time in Latin America, she took an entry level job with CIP and worked her way up in the organization while earning her MA in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University. Abigail says about her career path, “as an environmental studies student, I never thought of working on security issues. It turns out that social opportunities, health care, education and environmental concerns are very much linked to sustainable national security.”

Abigail’s adventures are far from over. CIP is expanding its project on military assistance into a worldwide presence, including oversight of U.S. aid to Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

When asked what she would tell a student considering attending OA, Abigail says, “GO! If you think you might possibly enjoy it, you will.”

Two other members of her semester live in DC, and they get together frequently. “Life unfolds in wonderful ways. I had no idea it would turn out this way for me!”

Would you like to be a part of Abigail’s team?

Watch the OA Alumni LinkedIn group for internship and job postings from Abigail and other Alumni! www.enf.org

PAGE 4

Many Hands Make a Big Difference

Home By Daisy Gould, Camper

By Susan Conley, Director of Development You Made This Happen.

A 15 year-old takes a breath of cold, fresh, mountain air, awake to his own health and strength.

A camper pauses on her creek hike to share a still moment with a small frog. Her commitment to the wholeness of the Earth becomes personal.

A parent embraces her daughter as she tells her that the scholarship is enough and her dream of attending The Outdoor Academy will come true next fall. The daughter anticipates a community unlike any other that is eager for her company.

The harmony of a campfire song joins the cabinmates in a fellowship that will span their entire lives.

Last year, Eagle’s Nest’s supporters accomplished much more than numbers or statistics can communicate. We celebrate with gratitude the 733 families who enabled our most exceptional Annual Fund outcome ever. Their donations, given with love and totaling $281,549, provided 110 campers and Hante participants and 21 OA students with scholarships last year and is already bringing happy news to this year’s fortunate young people.

Our beautiful campus will be tended with care, and the staff and faculty who sustain our community will be honored for their skilled endeavors.

The excitement of last year’s outcome leads our community into new opportunities to strengthen the Nest through continued support. The air, frogs, dreams, and campfires of Pisgah Forest are ready to welcome many future generations of campers and students to the place that we call our mountain home.

I rise so early The sun hasn’t yet reached the sky I eat An untastable Hotel breakfast We leave Two hours Before the gates Are supposed to open Because I want to be first To drive up that hill The ride Is in silence I am staring at the trees That lightly hug each other I am so happy I want to kiss everything in sight The cool summer air Tickles my nose That has been intoxicated by city For a year Soon The road is filled With friends reuniting The mountains are echoing Our laughter And our joy At last The gate swings open We are first We roll Up And see the counselors Waving I want to shout Because I am back From a one year vacation I am back at the place I love Camp Eagle’s Nest I am home www.enf.org

PAGE 5

The Eagle’s Nest Foundation Newsletter

Finding Cabin Library in North Central Tanzania

By Cecilia Kucera, Camper, Hante Participant, and Outdoor Academy Alumni I spent the last semester studying wildlife conservation and political ecology in Tanzania. This incredible journey sent me all over the northern part of the country, from the city of Arusha, pop.

1 million, to pristine mountain forests, to the remote savanna. While my friends back at Wake Cecilia making new friends in Tanzania.

Forest were astounded by my stories of camping in the bush for over a month, I knew that camping would not be the challenging factor of this excursion. Years of Camp, Hante, and OA made the idea of living in the bush seem like a dream. Instead, when I was stepping on to the plane, the thought that almost made me make an immediate exit was the two different home stays halfway through the semester. The first, a three week endeavor, was to be with a family in the “suburbs” of Arusha. The second was a three night stay with the Maasai ethnic group. This home stay used to be a full week, but so many students would panic by the fourth day that it was shortened to only three nights. In our first home stay, we were at least comforted by the fact that the parents would speak Kiswahili (which we studied) and the children who attended secondary school likely knew some English. However, the Maasai only speak Kimaasai, with a handful of the children able to speak Kiswahili. This meant communication would be close to a big fat zero. The first month breezed by, and before we knew it, we were dropped off with our first family. My parents had a nice concrete house, and though we did not have running water, we had a television that worked when my Baba threw a wire hook over the power line running down the dirt road. The 3 weeks were over in a blur, and I found myself a part of an incredibly caring family.

So, home stay one: success. On to number two...When I arrived with my new Mama to our mud and stick boma, the thirty plus children came running like moths to the light of my strange, blonde hair. As I sat, having my hair braided by a million little fingers, listening to the chatter of indistinguishable languages, I suddenly felt myself relax. I realized this was just a slight variation of my

comfort zone: Cabin Library.

I spent nine summers in the youngest girl’s cabin at camp, and in this moment, surrounded by children, I felt my confidence come back.

Thanks to Eagle’s Nest, I knew how to connect with this age, no matter the language or location. Over the next 4 days, I sang songs to them (they particularly loved Rocky Top), and they taught me to count in Kimaasai. We spent the hot afternoons beading under the acacia trees and playing in the river. I had found my Cabin Library, and I could not have been happier. Although relieved to get back to base camp and speak some English, I was incredibly grateful for those children and for Eagle’s Nest, helping me find that balance between comfort zones and challenges half-way around the world.

*Check out the Online Eagle at: www.enf.org/Eagle to see a video of other students who have been a part of ALL 3 ENF Programs! www.enf.org

PAGE 6

My Travel Story, a submission from English Class

By Lena Friedman, Outdoor Academy Student, Semester 36 I break my glasses far more often than I should, I think.

The first time I heard about Eagle’s Nest Camp they were, thankfully, intact, but if Lena and her parents on memory serves Opening Day of Semester 36 me correctly, one of the nose pads snapped off about two weeks later. I, or rather my parents, found out about camp through a fair designed specifically for parents looking for a place to ship their kids in the long hot days of summer.

At the time, I was nine and my younger sister seven, so for our first year at camp we went for only two weeks and were in the youngest cabin together. The next year we went for three weeks, and I (with the great maturity that comes with double digits) moved up to the

next oldest cabin. Miraculously, my glasses had made it through that first year whole, intact, and (relatively) undamaged. But this was a new year at camp, and anything was possible. Especially since this was the year I first heard about The Outdoor Academy.

It was also the year my silver glasses met their unfortunate demise. Even at the time, I wasn’t completely certain what happened, but it was generally along these lines: I tripped over a shoe someone had left on the floor, the glasses I had been holding flew out of my hand, and because of the way they landed and bent, I couldn’t really wear them anymore. Luckily my eyes weren’t too bad at that point, but I had to go through the next two weeks of camp without them. Actually, that may have been why I noticed the poster in the first place: when everything far away is blurry, you tend to focus on the closer things when brushing your teeth…...

Read the rest of Lena’s Travel Story to The Outdoor Academy online at: www.enf.org/Eagle

THE OUTDOOR ACADEMY Is currently accepting applications for next year on a rolling basis. Apply online at: www.enf.org/outdoor_academy or call Laura & Lindsay at: (828) 877-4349!

There’s still time to apply!

www.enf.org

The Eagle’s Nest Foundation Newsletter

PAGE 7

Why Do We Climb?

By Felix Dowsley, Head Resident, The Outdoor Academy “On belay, Kevin!” “ Belay on, Avery!”

“Climbing, Kevin!”

“Climb on, Avery!”

These strange phrases, familiar as “good morning” to climbers the world over, echoed through the morning fog. Avery shifted her weight delicately from side to side, weaving her way up the cliff. Kevin watched her attentively, taking slack out of the rope, calling encouragements as she ascended. “That’s Pilot Mountain!” she called out. “We went there on Orientation Trek!

OK, Kevin, ready to lower.”

As Avery stood once more on level ground, she thanked Kevin for the belay. Tonight she would have another story to tell around the fire. As I reflect on another wildly successful climbing weekend, I turn again to a question I’ve been trying to answer before I knew it was a question: Why do we climb?

Why do I have an insatiable desire to stand on top of really tall objects? Why do I believe that climbing can be an integral part of a young person’s education? The answer may be, in its simplest form, that climbing is hard. We push our bodies to the limit so that they scream to our brains, “What are you doing?

Get me down!” and then face the mental strain of trusting our life-protecting companion at

the other end of the rope.

Climbing is challenging, and persevering through challenges makes us stronger. In turn, I argue something greater: climbing imbues people with moral strength. It is commonplace to purport that a student is “developing strong communication skills.” It is radical that these skills are the very things OA student pushing to the top! keeping them safe. The seriousness of the activity deepens the opening of vision and to understanding that we must curriculum. always descend again to the narrow trails home. Philosophy “Even after hundreds of is the love of wisdom, not the climbs I am as overwhelmed by the view presumption that wisdom can be owned; the fleetingness of a at the top as students are climber’s vision and the love of on their first ascent.” that pursuit always seem to justify the long hikes, heavy packs, There is, finally, something aching feet, and blistered inherently philosophical about hands. So, I may say that we climbing. Even in the age of seek the top to seek ourselves, Google Maps, height gives ascensionists new perspectives, to find out what stuff we’re made of, and to stake out for a visually on the topography of the forest and conceptually on moment our own little alcove in the cathedral of this world. the size and complexity of the landscape. Our OA students were able to see the slopes of Pilot Mountain and Black Balsam Knob after having struggled to hike up the steepness of those slopes a month before. Even after hundreds of climbs I am as overwhelmed by the view from the top as students are on their first ascent. I attribute it to the

Felix, enjoying the view. www.enf.org

PAGE 8

What Is It Like To Be An Eagle’s Nest Trustee?

By Amos Barclay, Board of Trustees Member, Attorney, ENF Alumni According to the Eagle’s Nest by-laws, the Foundation “shall be managed by a Board of Trustees.”

This is an independent group of individuals that have a strong and dedicated connection Amos Barclay, Trustee to Eagle’s Nest and OA but don’t work for the Foundation as employees.

We bring in outside expertise from our own lives and professions to help ENF make big decisions that go beyond the scope of day-to-day issues.

The Board of Trustees (BOT) is divided up into nine committees based on subject matter.

For example, the OA Committee might discuss recruiting efforts for new OA applicants in a given region of the country. The Camp Committee might discuss a change in enrollment size or schedule. The Long Range Planning Committee evaluates how best to use campus property to further program goals (new tennis court and garden shed, anyone?), the Finance Committee helps ensure our finances are in order, and the Development Committee oversees our nationwide fundraising strategy. Once each committee has hashed out its issues, it recommends a decision to the full Board at one of our three annual meetings.

There are currently 22 members of the BOT. On our current board, we have educators, business leaders, development professionals, marketing gurus, doctors, and environmental land use advisors, and each of us helps guide the Nest through the issues we know best. For example, I use my experience as a lawyer to help advise the Foundation on legal issues.

The Trustees come from all over the country;

we’ve had Trustees from as nearby as Pisgah Forest and as far away as London! I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and it’s always a treat to return to the Nest three times a year to re-connect with a place that has been so important to me for most of my life. Despite coming from different regions and professions, one thing that all Trustees have in common is a deep and committed connection to Eagle’s Nest. The Trustees are former campers, OA students, OA and Camp parents, and even former Executive Directors.

I first arrived at Eagle’s Nest in Cabin 7 and worked as a Camp and Birch Tree staff member after years as a camper, Hante student and Junior Counselor. For me, being a Trustee is the next leg on my Eagle’s Nest journey – another trip around the Medicine Wheel, if you will. It presents a unique way to give back to a place and a community that has given me so much and help ensure that the Nest will continue to give others just as much for years to come.

The Board is always looking for ways to increase the depth and breadth of Trustee experience, especially by bringing in younger members with more recent connections as a camper, student, faculty, or staff member. It is by no means the only way to give back to the Nest: for every Trustee on the Board, there are many others who pledge their time to fundraising, volunteer as representatives to host Camp or OA parties in their home towns, or simply make a donation to the Foundation. While it is the daily inhabitants of Eagle’s Nest – its staff, faculty and students – that create the year-round patchwork of intellect, environment, community, and craft amid campfires, whistling Southern Appalachian winds and bullfrog choruses, we can all continue to play a role in its construction. www.enf.org

The Eagle’s Nest Foundation Newsletter

PAGE 9

Into the Future By Noni Waite-Kucera, Executive Director With our 85th Anniversary just past, we are food garden. We anticipate that we will be able gathering our energy to look toward Eagle’s to surpass all previous years with the amount of Nest over the next 15 years and the possibilities food we are able to grow for ourselves. As much that could unfold for our 100th Anniversary. as you may think Eagle’s Nest is not very involved Over the course of the coming year the Board in the world of technology, we actually have two of Trustees and ENF Administration will conduct major initiatives underway. Last year at this time a long range planning study and visioning we began a complete overhaul of our data process. This process will include gathering the management system which will “go live” this voices of our constituents, looking at trends in spring. We are all very excited to step out of education, in technology of the camping, the 1990’s and “into economy, best the cloud.” environmental Also underway is a practices and total remake of much more. our website. Be on There is much the lookout for the planning yet to new version in do to get this September. study up and We have an running but ambitious Annual already there is Fund goal for 2013 a great deal of as we strive to excitement and match scholarship dreaming of all needs with dollars The Board of Trustees, Staff, and Semester 36 enjoyed the that could raised. In 2012 we snowfall during the Annual Meeting this month on campus. transpire in the were able to assist next 15 years.

110 campers and Looking more short term, we have many 21 students with donor funded aid totaling projects clearly slated for 2013. On site we have $281,549. We know we will need at least this much several renovations underway, the most again this year. The Annual Fund also supports significant being a new wastewater treatment professional development, capital improvements, plant for our facility. Kyle Young, our Property and program enhancements: all critical Manager, has been hard at work overseeing components of our operations. Many thanks go this installation and ensuring we’ll be ready to out to those who contributed in 2012 and we open camp for our incoming counselors in late hope each of you will consider Eagle’s Nest in May. Our Garden to Table program is your giving priorities in 2013. continuing to grow! With the help of funds via Eagle’s Nest is constantly abuzz with activity and the US Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fund and this year will be no exception. If you are interested the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy we in being involved as a volunteer on a committee or as a board member please be in touch. will be planting a pollinator garden to attract We love for people to become involved! beneficial insects and birds adjacent to the www.enf.org

PAGE 10

Spring Cleaning Satisfaction By Susan Conley, Director of Development When the spring winds bring on the urge to clean out your house, please keep in mind that the Nest is a great place to donate and recycle “still useful” items! You can bring or ship them to campus, or email Susan Conley at susan@enf.org to find out if staff might be able to pick things up while they’re on the road. Here are some of the items from the full wish list on our website: Office Items:

Straight to the kids:

•

Speakers for iPod/ MP3 players

•

Bookshelves

•

Desk chairs

•

Half-sized filing cabinets

•

LCD projectors

•

Flat-screen monitors •

•

Desktops or laptops, • Windows 7 compatible

•

Apple AirPorts

Make the Staff Smile: From Your Garden to Ours:

•

Costumes and • dress-up clothes

Coffee mugsalways needed!

•

Manual film SLR cameras

Heavy-duty flashlights

•

Unexpired black • and white • camera film

Vacuum cleaners •

Lumber for small • building project

Fuel-efficient car

•

•

Golf Cart

•

Tools of all kinds

•

Wheelbarrow

•

Folding Tables

•

Hoses Kitchen Scale

Climbing Shoes Binoculars

www.enf.org

The Eagle’s Nest Foundation Newsletter

Maja Olson (Camp, Hante, OA) started an Outdoor Club at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA. Mira Watkins Brown (OA) graduated in June, 2012 from a year of study at The Monteverde Friends School in Monteverde, Costa Rica. After one semester, Mira was offered the chance to remain for a full year, giving her the opportunity to participate in community events, learn from local craftspeople, and even make her own violin by hand!

Jake Burns (OA), a graduate from Greensboro Day School, began a language and service immersion semester in Costa Rica.

Ezra Siegel (Camp), a graduate of Colorado College, just finished a project in the Dayan Derkh region of Northern Mongolia. Working with “The Tributary Fund” he taught English and ecology to young monks and helped build an ecotoilet for the monastery. Learn more about Ezra’s Featured Project on the Colorado College website.

Jorge Garcia Moreno (OA) was part of the winning team in the McKinsey Innovative Social Enterprise Competition. Their entry provided simple and sustainable farming techniques to small scale Mexican tomato farmers yielding more profitable crops and less waste. Learn more about Jorge’s entry at: www.ventureacademy.mckins ey.com/winners

PAGE 11

Eric Benjamin Hilinski

BIRTHS Leena Olivia Bluestone

Semester 35 (OA) Env. Seminar Class has aired their Climate Change Video! Check it out on the OALive Facebook page!

Cissy Byrd (Camp, Trustee) and her husband Rich Byrd (Camp) have completed their 10 month bicycle tour! Starting in St. Augustine, Florida, they rode over 10,000 miles to the four corners of the United States and back again.

Emma Aberle-Grasse (OA) has been awarded the Dean’s Achievement Scholarship to attend St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas.

Wendy Noel (Camp, OA) and Graham Brugh (Camp) married September 9, 2012. They currently own Dry Ridge Farm in Mars Hill, NC (www.dryridgefarm.org) and were recently featured in an online magazine article at farmprogress.com highlighting their pastured meats. On the farm they have 40 ewes, 4 sows, 22 piglets, and 200 egg laying chickens!

to Abby Bonder (Camp) and Zack Bluestone November 3, 2012 Eric Benjamin Hilinski to Rebecca Blecke Hilinski (Camp, OA, Hante, Trustee) and Ben Hilinski November 11, 2012 Asa Enrique Agrella-Sevilla to Lauren (OA) and Mathew Agrella-Sevilla (OA, Hante) December 10, 2012 Audrey Baker Linsley to Ming Linsley (Camp) and Kate Baker January 6, 2013 Graylyn Ives Leonardsmith to Ellie (Camp, OA) and Kelsey Leonardsmith February 6, 2013

www.enf.org

www.enf.org NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

Eagle’s Nest Foundation P.O. Box 5127 Winston-Salem, NC 27113 (336) 761-1040

SAVE A TREE

PAID Winston-Salem, NC Permit No. 456

THERE’S STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR CAMP!

ENROLL NOW FOR SUMMER 2013!

•

•

•

CHOOSE TO RECEIVE YOUR EAGLE ONLINE AT:

•

Session I: June 8 - June 21 Session II: June 23 - July 12 Session III: July 14 - August 2 Session IV: August 4 - August 11

www.enf.org/Eagle/OptOut VISIT: www.enf.org or CALL: (336) 761-1040 for info.