The Eagle Fall 2015

EAGLE’S NEST CAMP

The Eagle

THE OUTDOOR ACADEMY

HANTE ADVENTURES

The Eagle’s Nest Foundation Newsletter FALL 2015

REILY KENNEDY From student to Resident at OA

INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Journey Within p.4

ENF Staff Fundrasing p.8

OA 20 Year Reunion p.6

Pick Your Next Hante p.5

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, PROMOTING THE NATURAL WORLD AND THE BETTERMENT OF HUMAN CHARACTER

Semester 41 Residents at Labor Day BBQ. (Reily, Brian & Becca)

COMING FULL CIRCLE

by Reily Kennedy, OA Resident & Wilderness Leader

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t has been eight long years since I walked the Eagle’s Nest grounds for the last time as a student on closing day of semester 25. I knew at the time that my semester at The Outdoor Academy was special and poignant, but I could never have imagined what a life changing experience it actually was.

I had grown up going to a summer camp in Tennessee, escaping hot and humid summers of south Louisiana. It had been my dream to find a place that combined summer camp and school. So when I heard about OA from a fellow camper, I thought it was surely too good to be true and decided to see for myself.

Come late August, I was excited and nervous and ready for this new adventure to begin. Like every other semester we were thrown immediately into Orientation Trek. Trudging up our first uphill section, I realized I really didn’t know what I had gotten myself into. I had never backpacked before and I quickly decided that I hated it. It was hard, it was dirty, and it hurt. Well, I made it through Orientation Trek and the other treks of my semester, but was still not sold on that grueling mode of travel.

While I didn’t love the hard, dirty, and painful aspects of backpacking, I did love many aspects of it: how close it brings a group, how it helps you be self reliant (all you need is in your backpack), and the way being in the wilderness brings out everyone’s true self at some point. I also fell in love with every other aspect of OA - the intentional community, the activeness in every class, and all the things I never would have dreamed of doing in a Louisiana public school. In just four months, my eyes were opened, my horizons broadened, and my life changed forever. My experiences at the OA influenced all of the major life choices I made after that semester.

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A year after my OA semester, I was once again feeling fed up with my public school and being treated like just a number in the crowd. Once again, I started looking for alternatives. I had heard of Outward Bound and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) years before, and they both had semester courses.I don’t think I thought about it at the time, but here I was, seriously considering doing more backpacking, that thing I really didn’t like. This time it would be considerably longer and harder than anything I had done at OA. But I knew that there was something important I had learned in the woods during my OA semester, and that it was a lot more than I could have ever learned at a desk. So I chose to participate in a semester with NOLS on the Baja peninsula of Mexico. I never looked back from there.

During my semester with NOLS, I learned that I had been accepted at the two colleges I had applied to, my first choice, Appalachian State University (ASU) and my wildcard second choice, Warren Wilson College (WWC). Both would bring me back to the Appalachian Mountains that I had fallen in love with as an OA student. Although I had been pretty set on going to ASU since my OA semester, I had also become familiar with WWC while at OA. For those of you unfamiliar with WWC, it has a unique Triad Program, giving equal importance to academics, work, and service. It other words, it is the college version of OA. I had plenty of time to think about my college choices during my NOLS semester. With the help of a fellow student who was really good at making pro-con lists, I was able to recognize that the reason I felt so much success at OA and at NOLS was because of the focus on our intentional community and the small class sizes that allowed me to have meaningful relationships with my teachers and fellow

students. This was what I would find again at WWC. I finished my NOLS semester knowing that I wanted to go to WWC, and that I wanted to pursue a career in Outdoor Education.

In the years since I graduated from WWC with a degree in History, a minor in Outdoor Leadership, and aspirations to be an outdoor educator, I continued my search for intentional communities to be a part of. I was lucky enough to find them, but not without some bumps in the road. After finishing college, I applied to be an instructor at Voyageur Outward Bound School (VOBS) and to be a Resident at OA. I didn’t get either job and was pretty disheartened not

to find employment in my desired field. But after a year of uninspiring retail work, I was ready to give VOBS another go. I applied, got the job, and headed up to Minnesota for perhaps the most defining summer of my life. With the confidence I gained as an outdoor educator that summer, and an increasing love for experiential education, I was ready to try again for the Resident position at OA, the school that had started it all. The rest is history.

So here I am. I’m a much different person than the one who roamed these forest paths and watched the falling leaves eight years ago, but I love it just as much!

MY OA LIFE:

WHAT’S DIFFERENT?

by Jaxon Cannon, OA Semester 41 Student

My watch’s alarm goes off at 6:20 AM. After quietly whining to myself about my bunkmate’s snoring habits, I roll out of bed. Silent and in the dark, I fumble around for my flashlight before walking over to a few others’ beds. I wake them up with a few shakes, and we head out for a run around campus. The fog is thick, but the quarter moon still shines its way through the violet haze. By the time we’ve finished our usual two miles, we don’t need a light to make it back to our cabin to shower, dress, and walk over for Morning Watch. For that, all of the students circle up at 7:10 AM sharp.

We sing our morning song Lift Your Heads to the Rising Sun, and hike up the Morning Watch trail. We catch the last few minutes of the sunrise in silent contemplation, then head down for breakfast that will most likely have grits as the main course.

This is the usual morning. It might seem unfair to say that this is better than the normal routine I had before coming here, but I prefer this. You can tell something is good when it is an eternity in the moment, but a blink of an eye when remembered.

It’s only been four weeks, but I feel like I’ve known these people for a lifetime. We got to know each other quickly on our orientation trek. Now, in our free time, we hang up hammocks and talk in that teen dialect almost indecipherable by grown-ups. It isn’t just the students who bond. There are only three people in French class and just four in Algebra, so we make friendships with our teachers who also sit and converse with us at our meals. When that happens, I can’t help but be drawn to these classes with a love for learning. Here, I don’t go home each day dreading the swarm of assignments left by people who were simply lecturing me on what a system says I need to know. Instead, I look forward to defining home for English, or finding out why big, fierce animals are so rare in science class.

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THE JOURNEY WITHIN Discovering my Best Self on America’s oldest footpath

by Liz Snyder, Assistant Camp Director

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e’d been hiking for nearly three hours when we reached what’s known as The Tableland, a relatively flat section of trail that travels 1.5 miles to the summit of the Appalachian Trail’s northern terminus, Mt. Katahdin. The previous two miles are very difficult–a continuous boulder scramble, complete with vertical hand-over-hand climbs and plenty of “trust your feet and don’t look down” sections.

Needless to say, I was thankful to reach flatter ground and catch my first glimpse of Katahdin’s mighty summit and the iconic wooden sign that stands on its peak. As we made our way to the top, I fell in line with several fellow thru-hikers; people I’d only known for a handful of months but who had celebrated my best days alongside me and helped carry me through my worst. We walked in silence, but I didn’t wonder what the others were feeling because I already knew. I was feeling it too.

Four and a half months before that day, I began my northbound journey on the Appalachian Trail. As I turned and waved goodbye to my parents (they walked the first mile of the trail with me) and headed into the woods, I was overcome with emotion. Excitement, happiness, sadness, and disbelief welled up inside me and came bursting out in the form of tears. More than anything, though, I was full of gratitude for the journey, for the support of people who love me, and for the ability to simply walk amongst the mountains. Each step was my dream becoming reality.

As I traveled along the trail this summer, I carried that gratitude with me and felt it grow every day. I was thankful for the dim pre-dawn light that crept into my tent each morning, for the laughs, smiles, and stories from my continuously evolving trail family, for the smell of a burning fire in the early evening that let me know I was almost to my campsite, for visits to post offices in tiny towns and the excitement that came from slowly sorting through letters sent with love, and for my body and its ability to carry me over mountains day after day.

“I often think of wilderness as a mirror that exposes and reflects the fundamental identities of those who wander through it.”

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Most of all, I was (and still am) thankful for the gift of time to simply be with myself and my thoughts. I often think of wilderness as a mirror that exposes and reflects the fundamental identities of those who wander through it. Each day on the trail provided the space for me to examine myself, to discover the things I like about who I am and realize the things I need to work on. I met many incredible people on my journey, but the person I got to know the best was me.

As we approached the wooden sign on the summit of Mt. Katahdin that marks the end of the trail, I felt the same emotions as I had 147 days earlier: excitement, happiness, sadness, and disbelief.

My journey of 2,189 miles was minutes away from ending, but I realized that I was on the cusp of another great adventure. The Return, often referenced in literature as the final step of the Hero’s Journey, is, perhaps, more challenging than the journey itself. But I knew that I was coming off that mountain with a newfound sense of self, with confidence and

humility, and with never ending gratitude. The journey of miles, it seems, had prepared me for the journey of life off the trail. After an emotional celebration and time spent admiring the spectacular view atop Katahdin, I bid farewell to my friends and to the trail, then turned around and headed down the mountain. Walking off the summit and away from the Appalachian Trail was one of the more difficult experiences of my life, but I knew it was time to go.

I believe wholeheartedly in the transformative power of wilderness experiences. I encourage everyone I meet to spend time outdoors, exploring the natural world and discovering the strength and courage that lives inside us all.

It doesn’t take a thru-hike to discover oneself–perhaps it’s an overnight camping trip, a 3-week paddling adventure, or a simple walk in the woods. In order to be our best selves, it’s vital that we step away from our comfortable surroundings and venture into the unknown. It’s only there that we can each find our own “Katahdin”, whatever it may be.

It’s 7AM, you’re fresh out of bed, making your way to the kitchen when you hear a news reporter mention something about the walking dead. You run to the garage and…

Grab your backpack and start stuffing it with essentials

Garage? My “bug-out” bag is in the closet

Grab your dad’s canoe and load up the minivan What permanently lives in your pack?

When someone says “Let’s go boatin’!” you think:

Fire Starting Kit, Snare Lines, Knife

Bowl, Spoon, Waterbottle

Headlamp, Bandana, Pencil/Pen

A calm serene mountain lake, or peaceful river

Which is more challenging?

The emotional struggles/ decisions of trail/travel life

HANTE WATERWAYS

Whitewater, Gorges, Waves, Holes and Drops

Ocean Breezes, Surf, Seagulls, Rocky Coastlines

What takes you out of your comfort zone?

Learning new skills

HANTE MAINE

The physicality of backpacking

Being in unfamiliar places

HANTE A.T. TREK NC

HANTE ITALY

Visit our website at www.enf.org/hante-adventures/hantes-offered-previous-hantes/ for more information on these adventures.

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GOING BACK TO CAROLINA It’s time for a reunion, 20 years in the making.

by Cary Crawford, Admissions Counselor

It’s that time of year, leaves falling to the ground, cool crisp air, and here in Pisgah Forest students are gearing up for their final wilderness trips of the semester. For 41 semesters students have seen the seasons change on the beautiful 180 acres that is Eagle’s Nest and The Outdoor Academy, all while changing a little themselves. In a few short months, April to be exact, we will be celebrating the students, faculty, and everyone in between, that have been a part of this place so many have called home. We want you to be a part of this celebration.

Every past student I meet has a different story to tell, different anecdotes that are unique to their semester, but there are some things that are special to every student that has embraced a semester at The Outdoor Academy.

For some it may be their time spent with Ted, who is still getting students excited about science. For others it may be that time they successfully made it through the cold, wet, challenging, but absolutely perfect trek. They may even talk about walking to morning watch, or the time they spent standing in a circle.Whatever the memory may be there are 40 other semesters worth of alumni that want to hear all about it and share their stories with you.

This would be a wonderful opportunity for me to tell you all about the specific activities you can expect when you attend the reunion in April, but for most it is not about the hour

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you’ll spend working in the garden, or the hike you’ll take on the same trails you remember, or even that Frisbee game that will be happening on the A-field. No, there is an energy, a special feeling you get when you drive down Everett Road, make the turn onto Hart Road, excitement building as you get closer to the gravel path that leads to a place that means you have arrived home. It is time to find that place again that place filled with friends, family, and the community that helped shape the person you are now. Whether it has been a decade, a few years, or only a few months since you attended The Outdoor Academy it is a place that never really changes and will always be a place where friends gather to catch up.

So, now that I have you looking through old pictures it is time share how excited I am to welcome you in April. I am not an OA alumna myself, but in the time I have been here I have met some of the most interesting, caring, and amazing people I know, people who will change the world, and those are just the students. This is a unique place filled with special people who cannot wait to welcome our alumni and their families back with open arms, and of course a really big circle.

For registration to the event please follow this link.

#CircleUpOA

#20YearsOA

Crafts at OA

by Jess Kaufmann, OA Craft, Music & Dance Teacher

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eaving natural vine basketry on Nature Hill in the sunshine. Embroidering the OA emblem onto jean pockets and book bags in the den after supper. Knitting (so much knitting) with students, colleagues, alumni, constantly. Watching students approach brand new skills and go through their micro “hero’s journey” through the initial frustration, inspiration, determination. Coming out on the other end with huge smiles and self-confidence, their work ethic paying off in the form of an impressive custom hat to wear on the next trek. These are daily pieces of my life as the crafts teacher at The Outdoor Academy Teaching crafts in and of itself is a dream job for me. To find a school like The Outdoor Academy that not only values craft as one of its cornerstones but that has such a beautiful space in which to teach – our Wayah classroom, these mountains, and this community—is more than I could have dreamed up on my own. It’s a good thing I didn’t have to! I am in my third semester with OA now, and have been honing my approach: not just which crafts I teach, but how and why. Everything we do at OA has such intention behind it.

We cannot—and choose not to—live an unexamined life; we show up as responsible members of a community, taking care of each other and the natural world around us. It would be against the ethos of our organization to buy ready-made, plastic, mass-produced materials with which to practice our handcrafts. Instead, our students learn where it all comes from, why we do it, and how doing it can link us to the elder generations that came before.

For example, the current semester’s crafts class recently took a field trip to Echoview Fiber Mill in Weaverville, NC. Echoview is a state of the art, LEED-certified manufacturing

Craft at OA isn’t about just what we make, but how and why we make it. plant that has won awards for its green architecture and incredibly sustainable practices. Students got to observe all the processes involved with turning a raw sheep fleece into the yarn that they recognize. We browsed the natural dyed wool yarns spun in that very mill, and talked with clients who had chosen to bring their fleeces there to be lovingly sorted, washed and carded. Back on campus, students are practicing carding locks of wool by hand, studying sheep breeds that were tended in this area of the Southern Appalachians hundreds of years ago. They can connect the future of ecological craft—knitting with wool they’ve carded and spun—with the rich history of homesteading fiber artists who went before.

On our first day of classes this semester, Katie our English teacher (and Dean of Academics) led us on a search for our own answers to the question “I went to the woods because…” At the end of the day, we learned about English Ivy, an invasive species, and how to harvest it from around campus to keep our trees growing mighty and tall. Then we made natural baskets out of the freshly plucked vines, creating vessels to carry our symbolic findings from our day investigating the forest in which we live.

Craft at OA isn’t about just what we make, but how and why we make it.

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ENC STAFF FUNDRAISERS Eagle’s Nest Camp Staff Inspired Mini-Fundraising Campaigns Raise Over $2,500 for Scholarship.

by Paige Lester-Niles, Camp Director

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t Eagle’s Nest, we believe in teaching the value of helping others and building community. As such, it’s no surprise that we have a strong culture of philanthropy amongst our camp staff. Each summer, many counselors choose to donate a portion of their camp salary to support campership. Most summers we are able to raise between $1,000 - $2,500. This summer, two staff members took the initiative to run personal mini fundraising campaigns, raising over $2,500 in additional funds for camp and Hante scholarship.

to mount his own campaign. He wanted to help raise money that would “change some of [a child’s] perceptions, morph their interests, and revolutionize their self-worth.”

As a 10-year-old participant in the Paleo Adventure, Andrew Nelson was able to explore the wilderness of Pisgah National Forest. Years later, he hiked in the Andes of Ecuador with Hante Adventures. When he became a staff member, Andrew began sharing his love of the natural world with campers as an Added Adventure and Hante Instructor. This year Andrew’s love for the outdoors and adventure led him to a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

This summer Madalyn Wofford, another veteran Eagle’s Nest staff member and OA alum, decided to use her creative talents to raise money for campership. As “Chief Magic Maker” for camp, Madalyn was in charge of organizing Final Banquet. Madalyn envisioned transforming the woods of Eagle’s Nest into a Jurassic forest. As she dreamed about the possibilities, Madalyn created a “Dinotastic” Final Banquet design that she later turned into a screen print. She realized that she could use the t-shirt to build excitement amongst the staff AND raise money for scholarship. With the late night help of a few staff members, Madalyn screen printed 100 t-shirts and raised over $600 for camp scholarship. If you missed out on a shirt this summer, you’re in luck!

As he began to plan his thru-hike, Andrew felt that he wanted his hike to have an impact on others. He had worked with campership campers at Eagle’s Nest and had “witnessed first-hand the power of wilderness immersion and small community development in changing the lives of teens in incredibly positive ways.” Inspired by another Eagle’s Nester, Zanne Garland, who had used her AT thru-hike as an opportunity to raise funds for campership, Andrew decided

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In September, after 114 days on the trail (excluding the additional time that he took to lead a 100-mile section as an instructor of Hante AT Trek Virginia) Andrew finished the 2,189.2 mile journey from Georgia to Maine. Along the way he confronted and overcame many challenges, witnessed incredible beauty, and raised over $1,850 in scholarship.

There are still a few available. Please send requests for Dino tees to: The Talon Staff (Winter Office), 27 Cranford Road, Asheville, NC 28806.

ENF Donor Profiles

Wendy and Graham Brugh

Chris and Mary Beth Chapman

Founding donors of the Seed Fund, Eagle’s Nest Endowment. Camp, Hante & OA alumni & parents to future Nester Mollie Mae.

Sustainers of the Wheel; Parents to Camp, Hante, and OA alumni; grandparents to future Nesters; former Trustee

Wendy, how did you get involved with Eagle’s Nest?

Tell us about your involvement with ENF.

I started going to Eagle’s Nest Camp when I was 9 and went for about 7 years. I just fell in love with camp. I was a JC, and I did Hante West Africa when I was 14. That Hante experience instilled in me a curiosity about other cultures and being part of the world. Graham started [his experience at Eagle’s Nest] with Hante, spent a semester at OA, and was a counselor. Eagle’s Nest was a huge part of our upbringing.

We have three [grown] “children,” Jacob, MacNeill, and Molly.

All three have been involved with ENF programs (campers, JC’s, counselors). Molly attended OA. Chris was a member of the Board of Trustees for many years. We now have two granddaughters, Moira (6), daughter of Jacob and Rachel, and Savannah (2), daughter of Molly and Logan. ENF is one of the best things we ever did for our kids, so the grandkids will become part of the ENF family as well. There’s a level of trust with the spirit of ENF that is simply extraordinary. If something that wonderful doesn’t deserve financial support, what is the money good for?

Where are you now?

We live on our farm (Dry Ridge Farm, www.dryridgefarm.org) in Mars Hill. We fell in love with the mountains during our summers at Eagle’s Nest, and bought land. We raise pastured pork, chicken, lamb, and eggs; and direct market to farmer’s markets and restaurants in Asheville.

What do you wish other people knew about Eagle’s Nest?

It’s not just a summer camp; it’s really focused on developing the whole person. There’s such an emphasis on building confidence, being your own person, being proud of who you are, being open to all sorts of different personalities and cultures, and celebrating each other’s differences. I consider…my experiences at camp as a kind of a second parent. It taught me to be a better person, and to take care of my community and the environment.

You made a substantial gift to the Eagle’s Nest Endowment, starting the Seed Fund. Why did you give in that way?

We wanted to give in a way that we felt would have a longterm impact and that would generate funds for years to come. Also, we wanted the Seed Fund to be a way that the whole Eagle’s Nest family could work together to contribute, generating more reliable income. Eagle’s Nest has helped make Graham and me who we are. We wanted to give the opportunity we had to more campers. I’m hoping with our generation giving [in this way], that we will help others want to help grow the endowment as well.

Why have you included ENF in your estate plans?

One of the first things you feel in your bones when you become part of the ENF family is that you are part of the continuity of life on our planet. We support causes that help promote a healthy view of life. We like to help ENF with yearly donations, but estate planning is a great way to help out. A life insurance policy, a 401(k) plan, an IRA, a portion of the estate balance when you’re gone are all painless ways of making a significant difference to a beloved organization.

What do you tell friends about making a planned gift to ENF? What’s the downside? You really can’t take it with you. Sure, you may need to use the money while you’re older, but most of us in the ENF family are fairly healthy and will live happy and active lives that don’t need too much money to keep us going. If there’s money left over, ENF will put it to good use.

Are you interested in becoming a Sustainer of the Wheel by including Eagle’s Nest in your estate plans? Contact Cecily at cecily@enf.org to discuss endowed or planned giving.

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TRANSITION A New Faculty Member’s Perspective

by Robbie deBurlo, OA Medical Coordinator

I have now been living at the Nest for a sum of five months.

The leaves are in senescence now; many of my green sunlapped summer companions have grown old and yellow. Not being deciduous, my color has not turned, yet I am older all the same.

My metamorphosis from Eagle’s Nest Camp counselor to Outdoor Academy faculty member reflects the movement of summer into fall. The childlike fervor for the fun of camp has transformed into the earnest pursuit of growth. Rather than pouring my energy into the community with the abandon of a happily foliated sycamore, I rein in my efforts and draw my sugars down into my roots.

At camp, my main responsibility was to provide unwavering positive support to our participants. Children, at young ages especially, bloom when given the water of earnest attention. They thrive under the sunshine of a smiling face, an encouraging word. However, OA requires a different set of skills. Now I seek to refine the lavish enthusiasm of

summertime into a more balanced economy of guidance.

The camp becomes a campus, and the trees pare their greenery away.

The OA students face similar challenges to myself. They do not lack for motivation or ability, or they would have been unlikely to survive the competitive application process. Instead of simple encouragement, I must learn to guide them as I guide myself: to spend my limited time and effort with wisdom. To work well without supervision, yet still have the integrity to communicate with peers. To satisfy the need for fun and adventure, yet maintain responsibility for the group.

Essentially, I am navigating the transition into adulthood.

I am glad to be practicing responsibility under the watchful minds of our students, and the meaningful feedback of my peers on the staff. I could not have asked for a better place to land, than the Nest itself!

YOUR SUMMER OF FUN

STARTS HERE Session I: June 11 – 24 Session II: June 26 – July 15 Session III: July 17 – August 5 Session IV: August 7 – 14

EAGLE’S NEST CAMP

HANTE ADVENTURES

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW

KYLE?

Our Property Manager Kyle Young has been with Eagle’s Nest for many years, but despite how well known he is, there are still many mysteries folks do not know about him.

Let’s see how well you know The Man, The Myth, The Legend - Kyle Young.

Nest Foundation?

2. What breed of dog does Kyle typically have as

pets/work dogs?

What camp tribe is Mr. Young in?

What is the name of his younger female dog?

What rank does Kyle hold in Indian Village?

What famous movie did he work on the set of?

Bonus: How many horses does Kyle have on his property?

3.

4.

5.

6.

Flip the Page to see the answers on the right. No cheating!

1. Kyle began earning his stripes with ENF at 15-years-old!

2. Typically he likes to work with Blue Heelers or Australian Cattle Dogs.

3. Kyle Young is a member of the Migisi Tribe.

4. Callie is Kyle’s younger female Blue Heeler.

5. Currently Kyle is still a papoose, but do not let that fool you.

He has attained the rank of Chief in Maintenance and Property Management, Animal Whispering, and Man Class.

6. Kyle worked with Animal Management on the set of The Patriot.

Bonus: Trick Question! There is no telling how many horses are on his property at any given time. He often allows neighbors and friends to pasture their horses and has been know to take in horses that have lost their homes.

1. At what age did Kyle begin working with Eagle’s

NEST CHATTER

Congratulations to Hannah Richter (Camp, Hante, OA) who won the National Gold Key for writing portfolio from Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Hannah is one of only 8 students in the country who won the award, which comes with a $10,000 scholarship. She is the first winner from Florida in the 92 year history of the award.

Cecilia Kucera (Camp, Hante, OA) just participated in her first “Ride and Tie” completion, an event that includes 2 horseback riders and one horse. During the event, one rider and one runner travel 30 miles. The rider and runner must switch between riding and running at least 6 times during the race.

Liz Snyder, trail name “Yellow Bird” (Camp) and Andrew Nelson, trail name “Patches” (Camp, Hante) thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail this summer (see related articles in this edition of The Eagle). Andrew Muhn, trail name Sunshine (Camp) thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail.

Johan Taljaard (Camp, OA) ran the Steep Canyon 50k Hullabaloo.

Bo Johns (Camp) ran the Marine Corps Marathon.

Lena Friedman (Camp, Hante, OA) is a P.E.O. STAR scholarship recipient. Lena is a freshman at Dickinson College.

BIRTHS Cora Jane MacInnes to Heather Richardson (Camp, OA) and Daryl MacInnes on March 23, 2015 Harren James Sutton to Nate Sutton (Camp, Hante, OA) and Karina Costa on April 8, 2015 Amelia Rocket Young to Jay (Camp, Hante) and Wendy Young on May 19, 2015 Murphy Ames Davis to Lindsay Martin (OA) and Ethan Davis on September 22, 2015

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Our thoughts are with the family of Jaimie Wallace (Camp, Hante) who passed away this spring. Jaimie loved rock climbing and exploring the mountains of Western North Carolina, and stopped by to visit camp whenever he was in our area. He is missed.

ENF’S CENTENNIAL PRIORITIES

by Noni Waite-Kucera, Executive Director

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ne of the markers we set for ourselves with the ENF Centennial Priorities was to “Share our Story”. To do this meant we needed to be better able to articulate our values in a consistent and meaningful way. Our work over the last months with a wonderful team of volunteers and staff has culminated in set of value statements based on the central concepts of simple living, nature, community and being your best self.

To encompass all of our programming and constituencies we have created this statement to describe the essence of who and what we are: Eagle’s Nest is a place where young people reveal and embrace their best selves through simple living, a deep connection to nature and living well in community.

Another facet of “Share our Story” priority is to create an ENF Advancement Plan. A good portion of this is drafted and in use. In 2016 we will work toward completing the alumni engagement section of this guide. On other fronts, Liz Smith and a team of board members have created an ENF Financial Resiliency Plan which is under review by the full Board of Trustees.

Both of these plans are critical to charting our path to a robust 100 years for Eagle’s Nest Foundation.

Our priority of “Cultivating and Celebrating our Sense of Place” is also making good headway. We have completed the property surveys and baseline studies for the land that is going under conservation easement, we have written our “Zoning Code” and are now underway with our Campus Sustainability Plan. If you would like to help with this project please contact Noni – we will need many hands!

Stay tuned to the Spring Issue for what we hope will be some really exciting news!

Now accepting applications for the 2016/2017 school year.

Please contact us if you’re interested in the Spring 2016 Semester.

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Give Us a Call

http://www.enf.org/eagles-nest-camp-blog/

Winston-Salem Office (336) 761-1040 Pisgah Forest Office (828) 877 4349

http://www.enf.org/outdoor-academy-blog/ http://www.enf.org/hante-adventures-blog/

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