FAMILY MOUNTAINEERING (FM101): ONE FAMILY’S JOURNEY
IS FM 101 WORTH THE TIME? YES! HERE ARE 10 REASONS WHY. By Colleen Hathaway, Mazama Member
T
ime is precious. Ask any family, probably the top reason cited for not doing more activities, and being together is time. Between school, work, extra curricular activities and errands, we’re hard pressed to prioritize meaningful time together—those special moments of bonding that nurture our individual, social, and spiritual growth. You might have read the time commitment for the FM101 program and thought, “Holy cow! That includes some weeknights and weekends–for An FM 101 volunteer guides a student in rappelling. six months!” But if what we are seeking through learning skills that are pretty darn cool. What did I do last is to reap the rewards of having spent weekend? Oh, I just rapelled off a cliff. quality time with our families, we must prioritize meaningful time Fun! Did I mention this was fun? The Lodge! Hot chocolate, together. bunk beds, delicious meals, roaring fire and good company. In keeping with the theme of the “10 Essentials,” here are my Horsethief Butte! Climbing, rappelling, belaying. Kids running “10 Reasons” why I am glad my family and I participated in the around the campground playing games. Mt. Hood! Snow climbing, FM101 class and why you should, too: self-arrest, glissading. Smith Rock! Okay, it’s not May, and we Safety. As in all things Mazamas, safety comes first. It’s one of haven’t gone to Smith Rock yet, but I’m excited! the Mazamas’ core values. Honestly, anyone thinking of doing the Competence. Adding FM101 skills to your arsenal of outdoor activities included in the FM101 curriculum should be trained by and recreational know-how will not only keep you safe and experts. increase your overall confidence, but also provide a foundation for Volunteers. These are your experts. You will not meet a nicer, you to explore even more activities that you may have previously more dedicated or knowledgeable group than the volunteer thought were out of reach. coordinator, leaders, and assistants. They literally “show you Discipline. There may be obstacles, like a downpour on Mt. the ropes.” How to coil and knot them, how to treat them with Tabor when you need to practice your navigational skills, that respect and not step on them, how they can save your life. They require you to dig in and persevere. If you do, you’ll be rewarded will explain how all of your gear works, how clear communication with the skills you’ve learned and the role modeling you have done is vital when rock climbing, how to assess for hypothermia, and for your kids. This discipline is transferable. The next time you aim much more. FM101 runs on the kindness and hard work of the to get your steps in or whatever the particular challenge is, you’ll volunteers! be able to draw from this discipline. Camaraderie. This is another of the Mazamas’ values. I live in Different. Get the kids off their screens and into their rock Portland, and as the paradox goes, it can be isolating living in the climbing harnesses. This is the experience of a lifetime. city. Spending time with like-minded families all working toward Do-able. It’s not as time consuming as you think. If you add up the same goal reassures us that we belong and that we have a all the time you mindlessly scroll through your phone during the purpose. week, this is totally do-able. Confidence. Do any of us, children or adults, have the Building memories. This is a memory I will cherish of perfect body? The perfect mind? No. We are humans with flaws. spending quality time with my family. We all get to look back on Sometimes our experiences at work and school, and in particular it with a sense of accomplishment and supporting one another on social media, can be demoralizing. FM101 builds confidence during a pretty cool journey.
22 MAZAMAS
