VĚSTNÍK
Monday, January 24, 2022
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SPJST February Věstník Project This project earns a maximum 1 point in the SPJST Youth Merit Point System. To complete the project questions to earn 1 point in the SPJST Merit Point System, scan the QR Code below, or go directly to spjst.org/programs/vestnik-project/
David Motley was born July 20, 1968, in the dust bowl and the rattlesnake capitol of Texas called Sweetwater. He was the middle child and only son of Reese and Peggy Motley. His childhood was simple yet rewarding. David’s dad was a long-haul truck driver, and his mom was a seamstress. The first part of his childhood he grew
up in the city, building forts and playing army with neighborhood kids. The adventurous part of his childhood was spent bicycling, boating, fishing, and camping at Sweetwater Lake. David has always enjoyed the outdoors, but later, he came to love it as he moved to Ennis in seventh grade. That’s when his life began to totally change. His father changed careers from a truck driver to a diesel mechanic, and his mom became office manager at a local newspaper. David’s family also became
involved in the up. He pushed Get to Know ranching induspast pain, fear, try. He learned and uncertainty Camp Kubena valuable lessons to accomplish Assistant Director of caring for and goals. After raising livestock, leaving the servDavid Motley as well as the satice, David came isfaction of reback home and p a i r i n g met a young equipment and Czech girl. tools. In school, They were marDavid tried his ried and blessed hand at football with two chiland baseball, but dren, both of later found the whom grew up satisfaction and in the SPJST perseverance of Youth Program. cross country Through his meets. In his children’s parspare time, he ticipation in thoroughly exSPJST, David plored the vast learned the wilderness of living in the country. Dur- value of heritage. ing those summer days, he fished and During his adult life, David held traversed the local Onion Creek in his many jobs—but none really sparked his homemade canoe which was an old 30- passion until he began working in the gallon galvanized washtub. This would adventure therapy field. While working usually end up more of a cold swim- at a local treatment facility, he ziplined ming trip in the natural spring fed water for the first time. Terrified of heights and than as a canoe trip. If you didn’t find David in the creek, he was usually laying around in a grassy spot of the wilderness daydreaming and watching the local wildlife.
Upon graduating from Ennis High School, David joined the United States Marine Corps. In the Marines, he learned to push himself and understand the value of teamwork and never giving
wondering how he got himself into this mess, he rode down that first zipline and immediately knew, “This is it! This is what I want to do with the rest of my life . . . helping people overcome their fear and truly experience life!” David’s son Dustin was the connection that introduced David to Camp Kubena. Dustin was asked by Camp Kubena Director Rob Clift to come and
assist with high ropes one day in the late season of 2019. David’s passion for outdoor experience and his attention to safety was integral in the permanent hiring of David, not to mention his experience in team building. David has an ability to relate the low rope experiences to everyday life. While employed at
Camp Kubena, David has expanded his Challenge Course Practitioner to a level 2. “Through my faith and life lessons, I continue to help assist children and adults overcome their fears and to enjoy life,” David said. —SPJST—
https://spjst.org/programs/vestnik-project/
