Mountain Ear 2010

MountainEar 2010

Our Mission: To facilitate transformational learning that strengthens

relationships, deepens faith, and builds compassion through Christ centered outdoor adventures, service and experiential education.

Inside This Issue

from the Desk of the executive director 2010 COURSE CALENDAR

2009 photo gallery isas update

WhoA, MEXICO!

israel Summer 2010

2009 whitney classic recap staff updates

where are they now?

Our Prayer

FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A Wake Up Call: Why We Need Adventure TOM SMITH A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that young people between 8 and 18 years of age spend more than seven and a half hours per day plugged into various technological devices! In addition, these same children have become adept enough to multi-task on these devices so they can now pack in “nearly 11 hours of media content into that seven and a half hours.”

Wake Up to What?

If you are like me, it may take a minute to put this into context.

There are 24 hours in a day and humans need a third of that to sleep and another third to either work or go to school. That leaves about eight hours to eat, do homework, spend time with friends and family, exercise, mow the lawn, and take out the trash. Many of us would also add watch a movie or television show. Despite arguments to the contrary, if we keep an appropriate balance, there is arguably enough time in an average day to accomplish all or most of this. In our ultramodern era, we have been given an additional help in our daily balancing act- technology.

We now have at our disposal, an astounding array of technological devices ostensibly designed to make our lives easier. That generally means more and faster news, videos, books, music, and even relationships. Facebook allows us to collect hundreds of “friends” with a simple click of a button, and Twitter puts those willing to type in a few sentences “closer” to the masses willing to check in. All of this technology does make our lives fuller and faster. We have access to email, Facebook, text messaging, phone calls, and the internet nearly anywhere, anytime and with a speed that staggers the mind.

The Kaiser study is only one of many that acknowledge what thoughtful people have observed in recent years- an increasing reliance on technology by our children and their friends. In only a few years, the over-use of computers, televisions, portable music devices, and cell phones has become the bane of teenagers and perhaps even adults. I suspect that the Kaiser Foundation would find adults using these same devices for a surprising number of hours each day as well. This kind of technology seems to have some strong addictive properties.

Clearly, something originally designed to be helpful is getting out of control.

Social scientists are already studying the long term effects of such technological dependence on relationships and early findings corroborate with our observations- kids are becoming increasingly reliant on devices to “interact.” Their real-life relational skills are withering with each new text, or each hour spent with headphones pumping music and laptops gleaming internet images. When I asked my son, Justin, what sorts of conversations he was having that could account for up to 2000 text messages a month, we had the following conversation: Justin: Well, let’s say I want to talk with Ian. I send him a text saying ‘sup?’ A few seconds later, Ian replies, ‘nuthin’.

Tom: So you and Ian just dealt with two text messages totaling two partial words?

Justin: Yup Tom: Do you ever go any deeper than that?

Justin: Nope.

Tom: Well then…alright, thanks for sharing.

An eighth grade boy from the Bronx was quoted in the New York Times as saying “I feel like my days would be boring without [my smart phone].” Perhaps all generations of young people have been bored, but certainly no adolescent generation before this one has been held hostage by such all consuming media supposedly designed to keep us connected, effective, interested, and engaged. Take a closer look around the next time you have a few spare minutes and note how many adults are gazing intently at their phones or laptops instead of reaching out to those next to them.

In a classroom study on the use of texting as a barrier to effective communication, one Brigham Young student admitted that when he was unsure of a conversational outcome, he would text the person, rather than talk with them face-to-face.

Although this approach separates people from one another, nearly every student in the survey agreed that they would rather text than talk in potentially difficult conversations.

Those that see the excessive reliance on technology as an overuse of a potentially good and helpful medium are apparently in the minority. Most people are either oblivious of the danger or see only the amazing things technology can do.

For example, when Justin first downloaded a movie onto his iPod, he proudly announced that he and I would now be able to watch the movie together. When I looked at the two inch screen and ignorantly asked how he proposed watching something so small with him at the same time, he said “doesn’t matter, but isn’t it cool?”

Clearly, our society has far more technologically focusedcontent to watch and listen from a distance. Many adults would confess to spending increasing amounts of time fiddling with the same techno-gadgetry as our children. We have left the playing field to become spectators. That means young people are losing role models to show them a different way to live.

Why We Need Adventure

There is a way out of this all-consuming quagmire that allows us access to nearly limitless information while simultaneously inhibiting productive conversations with others and even God. What we need will connect people to others, themselves, the natural world they live in, and God. What I am proposing acts like a soothing balm applied to our techno-baked lives, yet its curative powers are counter-intuitive. No, it is not a luxury cruise or extensive vacation plans. Instead, we must put ourselves back into the natural world without technology. The Bible records many instances where people needed the renewal that only life in the created world provides. God led the Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years; Jesus began his

earthly ministry by spending 40 days fasting in the wilderness; John the Baptist ushered in repentance in the wilderness; and Elijah renewed his faith by spending extensive time alone with God in the tremendous solitude of rocks, caves, trees, and deserts. None of these experiences would qualify as “vacations”, yet each was crucial to the renewal and growth of each person involved.

People are still moved deeply by the natural world, but it requires more effort to shift our attention in that direction. Just 40 years ago, American culture was attracted to the “granola lifestyle” where people “got back to nature” for weeks on end.

Soaring enrollments at new and innovative programs such as Outward Bound and Summit Adventure demonstrated that many in our culture were ready for something deep and different. Three weeks traveling through wilderness areas in and around the United States became commonplace and provided the backdrop for significant life changes. Many surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ during these forays, or renewed their commitments to the people and things in life that mattered. Why? The trappings of everyday life are left behind for an extended period of time. In I Kings 19:11-13, the Bible reminds us of a concept we perhaps overlook each time we stare at a computer screen or insert earbuds - Elijah did not hear God speaking in a great wind so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks into pieces, or an earthquake or a fire. Instead, Elijah finally heard the voice of God in the sound of sheer silence. In a similar way, we have too many loud and distracting habits that keep us from hearing the voice of God. As awesome as our technological achievements may be in their own right, they are nonetheless standing in the way of the sheer silence God is looking for so we can hear Him. Wilderness programs have seen declining enrollment for several years now. Though participants still talk passionately about their experiences in the natural world, there is far less interest. Perhaps technology has gotten so advanced, so mountain-splitting and rock breaking that we are overwhelmed by it. For example, consider the average movie these daysanimated or with real life actors. I have often left the theater with a pounding headache, racing heart, and a palpable form of exhaustion. The cinema and other technological devices are so engaging, fast-paced, and seemingly real that we get physically overwhelmed. Ask my teenage children to watch a 1950s Western movie and they fall asleep within 20 minutes. It is simply too boring, slow, and un-engaging. The entertainment factor must be at a very high level to keep their attention.

Unfortunately, gurgling mountain streams, fall-colored forests, snow-capped mountains, and desert sunsets have become a distant second to the primary attention being focused on 15-inch electronic monitors.

We need a cleansing that can only come from leaving our technology-saturated culture for a time. If we don’t find a way to leave, it would be like trying to inject anti-venom into a person who still has the snake’s fangs imbedded in his leg.

Jesus had to leave, Elijah left, and millions of Israelites left.

Once separated from the culture, we have set the stage for God to get through. But leaving our relatively comfortable lives behind is not easy. Jesus entered the wilderness to prepare for his historic meeting with Satan and fasted for 40 days.

The Israelites followed a pillar of cloud and fire through the wilderness for 40 years. John dressed in scratchy clothes and ate bugs in the wilderness. Elijah lived in a damp and lonely cave waiting for God to speak. Nothing tourist-like in these situations, yet these wilderness travelers met up with God in powerful ways. In fact, Jesus might argue that He was stronger than ever because of His time in the wilderness. No

distractions, no technology, just simple living.

We don’t leave for the wilderness with just a lawn chair, however. There are plenty of activities to undertake that are both fun and challenging. Extreme sports are the rage these days and perhaps it is because there is so little adventure in our lives. So why not rock climb, canoe, or kayak, cook over a small stove or campfire, summit a high mountain peak, use a map and compass to navigate from one trailhead to the next, sleep under a starlit sky? And because you won’t be able to listen to iTunes or send 150 text messages, you will have plenty of time to reflect on your experiences to make them useful and renewing to life back home. Renewal could happen on a 48 hour solo, during a mountain-top meditation, in a rambling journal entry, or while sharing feelings with fellow participants.

You may well hear God speak to you out of the silence, because out in the wilderness, listening happens. Like Jesus, you can go home stronger and better prepared for all that life offers.

The Kaiser Foundation’s study shocked us, because kids are using up every available minute to spend with their technological fixes. Five years ago, the same study by the same group found that kids were spending over six hours per day attached to some electronic device. The very same researchers reasoned that this number couldn’t get any higher because there were no more available hours. Ah, but creative kids have found a way to squeeze even more time from each day into their techno habits.

It is time to run to the wilderness, to a place free of our technological distractions. Take the whole family and especially take your children. Sure, it might be uncomfortable at first, but so are most things that are truly good for us. Paul’s words encourage us:

Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God- what is good and acceptable and perfect.

(Romans 12:2) Without a step back from the all-consuming technological advances of our time, it is easy to be conformed to this current age and difficult to renew our minds crowded as they are by sound bites and millions of pixels. But one of God’s most productive classrooms is the wilderness. He is calling each of us there, so He can speak and we can really listen.

As a parent, you may be looking for alternatives to technology for your family. If you have never done a Summit Adventure course give us a call and make arrangements to get away with us this year. If you are an alumnus, refresh yourself and a family member with another trip to any of the course areas we use- the High Sierra, Yosemite, West Virginia, Ecuador, Mexico , and the Holy Land are all excellent ways to get away and hear God speak afresh.

In the current economy, some may relegate this kind of experience to the financial back burner, but to us these courses are even more crucial in times of duress. We believe that God will honor the sacrifices and commitments we make to get and stay close to Him.

2010

COURSE CALENDAR #

Dates

Days

Ages

Price

001

06/19 - 07/02

14

002

$1,275

06/28 - 07/18

21

16+

003

07/05 - 07/09

5

13+

$450

004

07/23 - 08/01

10

13+

$900

005

08/04 - 08/08

5

13+

$450

006

07/25 - 07/31

7

13+

$1,100

010

06/19 - 06/23

5

12+ for Child

$1,650 (pair)

011

07/07 - 07/11

5

12+ for Child

$1,650 (pair)

012

07/24 - 07/28

5

12+ for Child

$1,650 (pair)

013

08/04 - 08/08

5

12+ for Child

$1,650 (pair)

014

08/04 - 08/08

5

12+ for Child

$1,675 (pair)

Fall 2010

021

08/23 - 12/17

18+

(call)

Spring 2011

125

01/10 - 05/06

18+

(call)

Mexico: Service & Adventure

022

03/13 - 03/21

9

18+

$1,522

Ecuador: Service & Mountaineering

023

03/13 - 03/21

9

18+

$1,522

Joshua Tree: Service & Climbing

024

03/20 - 03/26

7

18+

$1,000

Course

YOUTH

Sierra Multi-Element Sierra Expedition

West Virginia Multi-Element

PARENTING & FAMILY Sierra Adventures in Fatherhood

West Virginia Adventures in Fatherhood

16+

$1,800

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY

Immersion Service and Adventure Semester (ISAS):

Spring Break Courses:

Custom: We can create a course specifically for you and your group over spring break or fall break!

ADULTS

Ecuador: Service & Mountaineering

030

02/20 - 02/28

9

18+

$2,050

Mexico: Service & Adventure

022

03/13 - 03/21

9

18+

$1,522

Joshua Tree: Service & Climbing

024

03/20 - 03/26

7

18+

$1,000

Israel: Service & Trekking

033

05/15 - 05/23

9

18+

$2,695

Wilderness Instructor

034

05/18 - 05/29

12

18+

$2,100

Mount Rainier

035

06/20 - 06/24

5

18+

$900

Adventure Leadership

036

07/24 - 07/30

7

18+

$1,250

Women’s Retreat

037

07/23 - 07/25

3

16+

$390

Alaska: Tsiu River Fishing Trip

038

08/27 - 09/03

8

16+

$3,200

2010

COURSE CALENDAR #

Dates

Days

Ages

Price

2011 Ecuador: Service & Mountaineering

130

01/08 - 01/16

9

18+

$2,100

2011 Men’s Life Renewal Ecuador

131

02/19 - 02/27

9

35+

$2,500

Fall 2010

021

08/23 - 12/17

18+

$9,500

Spring 2011

125

01/10 - 05/06

18+

$9,500

Go For It!

040

06/09 - 06/13

5

16+

$550

Whitney Classic Fundraiser

041

09/25 - 09/26

2

(call)

Course

ADULTS continued

CROSS CULTURAL SERVICE & ADVENTURE MINISTRY CERTIFICATE

SPECIALTY

2010 GROUP COURSES: Let us design a unique course to fit the dynamics and schedule of your group. We offer great price packages and discounts for groups of 6 or more. We work with a wide variety of organizations including Focus on the Family, Pepperdine University, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.

559.642.3899

l

info@summitadventure.com

l

www.summitadventure.com

2009 PHOTO GALLERY

21 DAY ADVENTURES IN FATHERHOOD

GO FOR IT!

MOUNT RAINIER

UNIVERSITY of SAN DIEGO, ECUADOR ALDERSON BROADDUS COLLEGE, MEXICO

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, ECUADOR

IMMERSION SERVICE and ADVENTURE SEMESTER (ISAS)

ISAS UPDATE

An Interview with Kelli Stansell and Six Years in Ecuador Kelli Stansell was a Spring 2009 student enrolled in our Immersion Service and Adventure Semester (ISAS). We recently caught up with Kelli and asked her to reflect upon her time on ISAS. Interviewed by Leslie Spinelli Name: Kelli Stansell Hometown: Winder, GA School: Berry College Location: Rome, GA Year of Graduation: Spring (May) 2010 ISAS Semester: Spring 2009

What were some highlights from your semester?

Dewey Point, both visits were phenomenal points in the semester for me! I’ll never forget that. The whole ending of the expedition- seeing Corinna & Leslie in the parking lot waiting on Mike & I and then returning to Base smelling terribly, feeling so accomplished, and being greeted by Val, Graham, and Jair.

What were your best memories of free time at Basecamp?

(1) Jogging in the mornings before class. (2) Bowling with cut logs and the bowing ball that Mike bought at the thrift store! It was ridiculous, and priceless.

What Spanish words did you use the most?

Bueno, it is a good filler word in conversation! Hmm, me gusta mucho, pero no tengo hambre! Muchas gracias.

What have you been doing since your ISAS semester?

I returned to Georgia, and during the summer I visited the majority of my close family and worked at a summer camp.

Since August, I’ve been busy with my last year of undergrad at Berry. Working and keeping up with school work, all while enjoying time with friends before we all split up and aren’t living within walking distance anymore!

How has your ISAS semester influenced your life?

Relationally? Spiritually? Academically? Culturally?

Wow- that’s a loaded question! Relationally, I expect more out of my relationships with people and I seek to give more as well.

It’s wild to me how drastically the nonviolent communication course material has changed the way I relate to people for the better. It has been difficult to articulate that to many people, but it’s been worth the challenge of spreading it to others.

Spiritually, I am more aware of my personal growth, or lack thereof. When I’m not in communication with God, or reading God’s word, or really trying distinctly to live more like Christ, I

catch myself and have to make a concerted effort to revamp where I’m at. When things get easy and smooth, that’s when I know I’m not trying to get better. I believe that I’m always growing towards seeing the ‘spiritual’ dimension of my life as the whole of my life, not a separate section. Academically, I have learned how to read more quickly and to connect ideas and learning across disciplines. Oh yeah, I’m definitely a better writer. I pay more attention to being concise in my wording when writing a paper- I’m sure my professors are thankful for that! Culturally, about once a week or every two weeks I wish I was in Ecuador. Not exaggerating at all- the familial connections between non-blood relatives is something I only have with a handful of people, here and in Ecuador it’s abundant. I like that. I try to keep an eye on preserving what I’ve learned from the different cultures I’ve been a part of and molding them into my current situation.

What do you think is the most important thing any current or perspective ISAS student should know with regards to a semester with us?

Expect and come prepared to learn, grow, be challenged, and change.

Note: We are pleased to announce that Kelli has been hired as a seasonal instructor for 2010. Look for her around Basecamp!

Six Years in Ecuador

Ecuador was the site of Summit’s first international course in 2005. Since then, we have continued to establish and strengthen powerful relationships that result in life-changing experiences for students in Ecuador.

food, teaching and love. The Davis Foundation also serves as a recreational and educational center that welcomes local community kids.

Remanso de Amor

Remanso de Amor (Haven of Love) is an exceptionally impactful community center in a socio-economically depressed area of southern Quito called Argelia Alta. The center is focused on bringing holistic health to the community and includes a church, a school, counseling, adult education, a health clinic, and community health workers. Remanso is led by Ramiro Maldonado, an educated and compassionate Ecuadorian who also happens to be one of the most skilled soccer players on the entire continent of South America.

We believe it is important to give back, so in addition to service hours and labor, Summit also provides financially for these ministries. Each course makes a financial donation to the sites they have been working with. For example, enough money was donated by Summit and course participants to finish building the third floor of the community center of Argelia Alta.

In addition to completing construction at the community center, the funds allowed six more students to attend the school and continue their studies in a community where education is a privilege.

Ecuador courses fall into one of two broad categories, short (7-10 days) courses with groups from the US and longer (6 week) experiences for the ISAS semester students. These courses present a unique combination of adventure, leadership and service learning in a cross-cultural context. For many participants, the lure of high-altitude mountains originally draws them to Ecuador, but the interaction with local citizens during service opportunities is continually reported as a highlight of the course.

The participants on each of the four ISAS semesters have spent six weeks in Ecuador. Their time is spent between homestays (each ISAS student is paired with a local family), service projects and various adventures throughout the country.

In one student’s words, “During my time here in Ecuador, my worldview has developed and changed because of what I’ve seen and done. I realized in a new way that each person is unique and has unique needs. Poor people, wealthy people, angry people, joyful people, generous people, simple people, distracted people, determined people, faithful people, so many people; each with different passions and pains. Every new place we went, I saw new people that were all so different, yet still people. . .”

We try especially hard to avoid creating the impression that the Americans are here to “fix things”. As part of this effort, we deliberately choose to partner with local ministries that are primarily staffed by Ecuadorian nationals. Two of those organizations are mentioned below.

Fundacion Davis

The Fundacion Davis (Davis Foundation) is an orphanage of 140+ children who go to school, work, worship and play together in Conocoto. The Davis Foundation has built 30 home shelters where 10 or 12 children live in each house with a “substitute mother” that takes care of them, providing

We’ve been exceptionally happy to partner (or will partner this year) with the following organizations while conducting courses in Ecuador: Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland) Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, Ohio) Penn State University (State College, Pennsylvania) Pepperdine University (Malibu, California) University of San Diego (San Diego, California) Grace Church of Visalia, California Coalition for Christian Outreach (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) If you’d like to explore the possibility of bringing your church, group, college or random assortment of friends or family on an Ecuador experience, please let us know.

WHOA, MEXICO! GRAHAM OTTLEY We had gone through every game we could think of, and the kids at the orphanage still seemed restless. This is what our founder, Tim Hansel referred to as Holy Sweat.

The Spanish game “Pato, Pato, Gonzo!” (Duck, Duck, Goose!) was a hit, but became old after the fifth time.

Pastor Guzman had brought us to one of the poorest neighborhoods we had ever seen to assist with their after school program. “Where do people live around here?”, asked one of our college students standing in the middle of the neighborhood. It was hard to believe that these structures, which many Americans would deem unfit for their garage, were what they called home. Our eyes were opened to the joy people experienced despite living in what we would call “poverty.”

One activity that never became old was playing soccer.

We dodged dirt mounds which were created by the installation of the neighborhood’s first plumbing system. Florencio Guzman’s church had been seeking city funding for this project for years. The neighborhood is located in a lower income district on the outskirts of the city of Monterrey. It was just now getting started after years of petitioning. For hours we played on the dirt court surrounded by these mounds and cinderblock shelters. We also spent time replacing the shack (shown right) they used for their after school program with a more permanent structure.

Besides the obstacle of a language barrier, the students faced challenges at the soaring limestone cliffs of El Potrero Chico. We spent two days familiarizing ourselves with this wild landscape before our culminating service project. Many participants found that their most rewarding day of climbing was not the day we climbed the most.

When we were able to host a group of students (many who had never climbed before) from the nearby town of Hidalgo, we all felt gratified by the opportunity to serve others. We were even more grateful when they surprised

us by a special preparation of our favorite Mexican food, “el taco.”

Alderson-Broaddus College student, Amanda Weishar reflected, “The climbing was difficult but we used teamwork, patience and never gave up. Those three aspects helped us during the service projects as well. I will never forget the special connection I made with one particular child in that community. This trip will impact the rest of my life.”

We were thrilled to join Floencio and his church in their work around Monterrey twice during 2009, and we are looking forward to opportunities that arise in 2010!

ISRAEL SUMMER 2010 JAIR DROOGER On May 15-23, 2010 Summit Adventure offered their first

ever course in the Holy Land. The course combined service and trekking through Israel and Palestine.

Participants spent time in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth and then had the opportunity to trek for four days from Nazareth to the Mount of the Beatitudes along the Jesus Trail.

In Jerusalem, participants visited the sites in and around the Old City and the Mount of Olives. Sites included the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Western Wall, the Church of All Nations, the Via Dolorosa, King David’s Tomb, the Last Supper House, and the Dome of the Rock. In Bethlehem the group did a day of service and also toured the Church of the Nativity, the Milk Grotto Church, Shepherd’s Field, and the Old City market area.

The Jesus Trail is not too strenuous, and participants carry a day pack while their gear is transferred to each night’s accommodations. There are options for camping or staying in a bed and breakfast or hostel along the trail making this a great course for families or individuals who could not participate in a physically rigorous Summit course. Participants on our first Holy Land course ranged from 53 to 73 years old. The Holy Land course will be offered again in the Spring of 2011. If you have an interest in coming along let us know or contact us to set up a custom Holy Land Course for your family or group.

Along the trail the group visited the administrative capital of the Galilee in the 1st century, the traditional site of the wedding feast where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water into wine (John 2: 1-11), a place where Jesus heals a royal official’s son, (John 4:46) and the hometown of the disciple Nathanael (also called Bartholomew) (John 21:2). The group saw the tomb of Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, (Exodus 3:1) and the traditional site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, a story found in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:5-15). Participants experienced first-hand the place where Jesus bestowed church leadership on Peter in Matthew 16:18. They traveled through Capernaum and witnessed where Christ healed the Centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13), drove out a demon (Mark 1:21-26), healed a paralytic (Mark 2:112), cleared the temple (John 2:12-16), and preached in the synagogue (Mark 1:21). The journey was completed at the site where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

WHITNEY CLASSIC RECAP September 26th - 27th, 2009

Summit Adventure was once again blessed with a safe and successful Whitney Classic. Thirty-six riders safely participated in the 2009 Whitney Classic. There were four solo riders, and thirty-two other riders made up eight teams. This year riders faced a high temperature of 114 degrees as they rode out of Badwater. The mountains and unique terrain of Death Valley once again provided a spectacular backdrop as riders pedaled into the night.

With support from SAG drivers and the volunteers over the entire 135 miles, four individuals and six teams completed the ride by Sunday morning.

fun, and meaningful event. What an honor to have such partners! Thanks also to the Summit staff, volunteers, friends, and family who put in time before, after, and during the ride.

Each year we are fortunate to have the support of many amazing sponsors. Thank you to this year’s sponsors; Southern California Good Sams, Wheat Ridge Cyclery, Hammer Nutrition, Team FCA Endurance, RoadID, The Lone Pine Comfort Inn, Park Tool, Pizza Factory, and Hunt Construction Group.

Each year the God, Guts, and Gears Award is awarded to the person who exhibits the most faith, fortitude, fellowship, and perseverance throughout the ride. This year’s award went to Glen McLean. Glen, a long time Whitney volunteer, rode solo this year. Congratulations, Glen!!

The 2010 Whitney Classic will take place on September 25th – 26th. Please join us in Lone Pine for this amazing event and help spread the word.

The Whitney Classic is first and foremost a fundraiser, and this year over $73,000 has been raised to help the ministry of Summit Adventure. Several individuals raised over $10,000, and the Top Team Fundraisers brought in over $16,000.

Thank you each and every rider, volunteer, and donor for supporting Summit Adventure through your contributions and participation in the Whitney Classic. The Whitney Classic is only possible with your investment of time, energy, and resources. A huge thank you to Lucy Huddy for organizing the Good Sam and Radio Ham volunteers; you continue to bless Summit Adventure! We cannot express enough thanks to the Good Sam and Radio Ham volunteers. Your continued commitment allows for a safe,

RIDER STANDINGS #

Name

10

Team Solana Pres.

20

Team Storm

80

Team Gas

40

Team Desert RATT

Steve Atkins, Mike Rollinson, Joe Tansill, Daniel Tansill

10:20

70

Team ISAS

Leslie Mitchell, Cliff Williams, Christian Rich, Jamie Klempin

11:50

4

David Hoffman

Individual

13:32

60

Team Dinosaur

Greg Parker, Bobi-Anne Kupfer, Anastasia Hansel, Suzanne Barnhill, Greg Achenbach

16:08

6

Tim Cupery

Individual

17:13

5

Graham Ottley

Individual

17:13

2

Glen McLean

Individual

18.01

50

Team C2

Casey Cobell, Cara Silva

DNF

30

Team CE

Curt Davidson, Elspeth Hamilton

DNF

Individual/Team Randy O’Connell, Jeff Busby, Steve Dhanens, Connor McClenahan, Ricki Bettencourt, Alan Bettencourt, Eric Bettencourt

Rick Wallace, Bill Fish, Pete Wallace, Judy Wallace, Stuart Adams, Karen Gutilla Jair Drooger, Spinner Allen, Tom Smith

Time 8:55 9:15 9:18

STAFF UPDATES

Two Weddings And An Operations Director

The past six months have seen several changes to the full-time staff, as two staff members have left and one has returned. The following article provides all the latest changes on the full-time staff.

Leslie Mitchell: Leslie

married Dave Spinelli on December 28th in southern California. They currently reside in New London, CT, where Dave is enrolled in graduate school.

Spinner Allen served as Program Director at Summit Adventure from 1999 until 2004, when he left to serve for six years as a US Naval Officer.

Released from active duty at the end of November, Spinner has returned to Summit to serve as the Operations Director. He moved to Bass Lake in late 2009, and was joined

by Ginger in February 2010.

What drew you back to Summit?

Corinna Clymer: On February 13th, Corinna married Doug Olsen in a cold and wintry ceremony in Pennsylvania. They currently reside in New Brighton, MN, where Doug works at Bethel College.

Congratulations!!

Although we are sad to see them go, we celebrate the fantastic provision God has made in their life and we’re very grateful for their hard work and sacrifices on Summit’s behalf over the years. We wish them the very best of luck in the great adventure of marriage.

I see now that my time away was more of a break, an extended sabbatical, than a career change. During the six years I was gone, I found that my passion and interest in adventure-based ministry didn’t wane or decline any— in fact, it increased. Ginger (my wife) and I stayed actively involved with Summit during those six years—riding the Whitney, becoming monthly financial donors, instructing courses, and Ginger also served on the Board of Directors during that time. When my original commitment to this type of ministry was reconfirmed, I felt myself drawing closer and closer to Summit.

I’ve been involved over the years with a number of outdoor programs, both religious and secular, and truly believe that there are some things that Summit does better and more deliberately than anywhere else. Among those are a commitment to adventure-based education (not just recreation), a relational mindset and the belief that real growth occurs outside our comfort zones. Add in a genuine and committed staff, and the most beautiful course areas in the world, and how could I resist?

Any regrets about leaving?

Yes, I wished we had not sold our house six years ago.

In all seriousness, not at all. The past six years were a tremendous time of growth for us, and I think we learned many lessons that we probably wouldn’t have if we had stayed at Summit. The importance of community, a reaffirming of what’s important in life, and the absolute joy of being able to work in a field that you are truly passionate about are just a few of the vital lessons we

highly connected, programs and all of our decisions affect those three programs in some manner. Making the right decisions is complex, and challenging, but at the same time, it’s a lot of fun. And of course, trying to run a successful business on a shoestring budget is always a challenge, and that hasn’t changed a bit.

Final thoughts?

The definition of adventure, “an undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature with an uncertain outcome” is the best summary of what we do here at Summit. We aren’t afraid to venture into the unknown, institutionally or (hopefully) personally, as we strongly believe that’s where growth happens. Even though we have a long and distinguished history of wilderness programming, we are always looking for new and different ways to incorporate adventure into our programs.

I’m fully aware that most people don’t get second chances in this world, and like the old proverb, we usually don’t recognize how good something was until it’s gone. For whatever reason, I’ve been given a second chance at working in this fantastic ministry, with fantastic people, in a fantastic part of the country. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and I consider it a great privilege to be here. learned (and re-learned). We had great opportunities to travel and see the world, but those six years weren’t always fun and involved being out of our comfort zones many, many times. However, I do believe they were crucial to our personal development.

What’s your new job?

I’m really excited because this position allows me the privilege of working in all aspects of Summit’s ministry.

Primarily, I’ll be overseeing the daily administrative and business tasks of running the ministry—paying the bills, turning on the lights, and keeping the facilities and vehicles of Base working smoothly. But I also have the added benefit of being involved programmatically, as well as helping Jair with Marketing and Donor Development, and the all-inclusive “anything else that needs to be done.”

Any big changes in the six years you’ve been gone?

Yes—basically, it’s a brand new organization. First and foremost, almost the entire staff has turned over.

Tom Smith [the ED] and I overlapped for a couple of months, but everyone else I worked with has moved on. Additionally, it’s an entirely different problem set.

Let me explain—years ago, Summit had a summer program, and everything we did revolved around that one program. Now, we have three separate, yet still

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? James Terrell

James Terrell first arrived at Summit in May 2000, ready for the Instructor’s Course that would begin the first of many seasons in Bass Lake. After graduating from Texas Tech in 1999 (BA in Biology), James quickly moved west. When he wasn’t instructing courses for Summit, James worked in outdoor education, for several years. James also attended Regent Seminary in Vancouver, graduating in 2009 with an MDiv degree. In 2008, James married Hollie Wright, and they are the proud new owners of a house in Felton where James teaches biology at The King’s Academy and Hollie works as a nurse in Santa Cruz.

What originally drew you to Summit?

When I first heard of Summit Adventure, I was driving to Santa Cruz from Texas. That summer I was going to be working at Mount Hermon as a camp counselor. I wanted to be outside as much as possible while working for a Christcentered organization. I had just become more interested in the wilderness and the mountains, so on my way to Mount Hermon I spent some time in Yosemite. After leaving Yosemite, I stopped at a coffee shop and met a Summit instructor, Russ Taylor. As he explained to me what he did, I realized he was describing the things that I was most passionate about. The philosophy of challenging one’s self in the mountains to grow personally and spiritually deeply resonated with me. That was June of 1998. I spent the next two years acquiring the skills and experience I felt that I needed to instruct for Summit Adventure and began as a first-year instructor in May of 2000.

Lasting lessons learned while at Summit?

One of the most valuable skills that I have learned while at Summit is how to give and receive feedback. At the end of every course, instructors are required to write and then give an evaluation of their co-instructors. This was a challenging experience for me my first year. How can I give feedback that is actually beneficial, particularly to a senior instructor? Even more difficult was receiving constructive feedback. But as I grew in my self-awareness, I began to value feedback. Summit fosters a culture in which each member desires to improve.

Never before or since have I been a part of a community that not only strives for excellence, but also has systems in place to hold one another accountable toward this end and facilitate each person’s growth.

Best memory?

Several years ago I instructed a course with a small number of students. One great thing about a small course is that the instructors get to know and invest in each student that much more. One challenging thing about such a course is that each person’s strengths and weaknesses are that much more apparent. One student in particular had a very low threshold for challenge or discomfort. It was very difficult to convince him that he was capable of making it to our campsite, much less

the top of the mountain. At the end of the course, the students were given a final challenge to navigate to and meet us on the top of Half Dome. As we watched the students from a distance, it was so rewarding to see them struggle through and overcome the physical and interpersonal challenges of their final. After a lot of hard work and resolved conflict, we were able to celebrate with them on top of Half Dome overlooking Yosemite Valley.

You brought your school to Bass Lake for a course. What was the process like of connecting the school to Summit?

When I first started working at The King’s Academy in 2007, I immediately wanted to somehow bring some of our students to Summit Adventure. Opportunities were not forthcoming, and I was having a hard time finding a way to incorporate Summit into the extra-curricular activities at King’s. Last spring I began brainstorming an idea involving pulling the Freshmen from our fall retreat to engineer a trip just for them. Jeff, the director of our spiritual life department, was fully on board. Although Summit had not run a trip for this many people before (140+), Tom and Graham were immediately interested.

Jeff and I communicated with Summit throughout the spring and more intensely in August and September. We told Summit what we were interested in, and Summit developed the course components. The interchange went back and forth several times before it was finalized. In the end the goals of our trip were met and exceeded. Despite budget cuts across the board, The King’s Academy believes in the value of what is happening at Summit and is planning our second trip this September.

Why do you and your wife financially contribute to Summit?

The Lord has used Summit to challenge me and grow me in my own life and in my relationship with Him. I have seen the Lord working in the Ansel Adam’s Wilderness in profound ways that I rarely witness in the front-country. For those two reasons, my wife and I want to continue to be a part of what God is doing at Summit. I am able to continue to invest in God’s work at Summit by giving financially. I know that a significant portion of Summit’s budget comes from people like me who have been impacted or have witnessed the impact of Summit Adventure on people’s lives.

What about this goal to climb all the major peaks of the Ansel Adams Wilderness?

I don’t know if that is really a goal or not. I’ve only got a few left, but they are somewhat remote and I have no idea when I would bag any of them. So, I’d say that my main goals currently revolve around keeping my house from falling apart and spending any time I can with good friends in the backcountry.

Our Prayer

Lord, we thank you for allowing us to join you during this past year. We pray that you would be at the center of our vision for 2010. We ask you for wisdom and strength as we encounter obstacles, challenges, victories, and triumphs. Be in our minds, in our hearts, and in our hands as we steward the relationships you bless us with. We pray that we would be sensitive to your leading as we make decisions about how to best serve you in the coming year. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Prayer Requests for 2010

Increase our vision for summer programming ISAS participation for the Fall 2010 semester Praise for continual provision for all of Summit’s programs Perseverance to fulfill our mission throughout this year Praise for the faithfulness of staff that have come before us Praise for the faithful generosity of financial donors Request for our ISAS position opening