Both new and returning Four Shielders arrived at Cascades
Montessori for their first outing of the 2017-18 year. Looking around at the
faces in the circle it was evident to the mentors that the group was a little
outside their comfort zone.
After some introductions Greg asked the group to think about
a question on our two-hour drive to Hannegan Pass, “Why are you here”? This question is important for the Four
Shielders to ponder because their journey in the Four Shields requires
engagement from both the mentor and the mentee in order to be rich and
rewarding. This intention was also important for each member to state in front
of the group because it would allow its members to support others in their
personal journeys and inspire shared vision and ownership.
Driving out Highway 542 the bus was quiet, but this is not
untypical for a group of 14 to 16 year olds at 8:00am on a weekend morning.
Arriving at the trailhead the air was cool and crisp and there were only two
other cars in the parking lot. The mentors asked the group to circle up and
bring their minds towards our exploration. The day’s primary focus was two-fold,
first a reorientation towards topographic maps and secondly to begin to build
cohesion as a group and integrate into the Four Shields program.
The mentors asked for three commitments from each group
member before beginning our outing: don’t waste your fellow Four Shielders’ time,
encourage the heart, and deep listening. Mentors further elaborated that if the
group could do their best to hold to these three commitments throughout our
2017-18 year then the mentors felt they could hold the container and provide
quality experiences for the group.
This mentor ask was a great segway to presenting a simple
but effective leadership model that the group could refer to and hold each
other accountable for. Parents please take a look at: The Leadership Challenge®
Model (copyright © 2009 Kouzes & Posner). Using this model throughout our
year the boys can begin to find common language to draw from as they wrestle
with decision-making and interpersonal dynamics. The five simple phrases hold deep
meaning and allows user to begin to analysis their leadership by ask themselves
questions like, “is my leadership encouraging the heart of my fellow group
members” and “does our groups’ decision-making process inspire a shared vision”?
Turing our minds towards maps the group worked to orient the
map to the surrounding landscape and compass readings. They were encouraged to
spend some time predicting what the terrain might look like, how far they could
make it with the given time, and what type of hazards they might encounter.
With a strong intention set the group took off on the trail
like a lighting bolt, hiking with focus and drive. It was powerful to see the
boys engage physically with the challenging terrain. The weather was perfectly
fall in the mountains and offered just the right amount of challenge for the
group.
There were moments of wetting downpours, chilling winds and cool
mist blowing down the valley, ands bursts of warming sunshine followed glimpses
of snow dusted peaks. The weather changed every fifteen minutes and just when
we thought we had our layering system down we would have to switch it up and
readjust.
The Four Shielders were thoroughly impressed with the area
and took time to appreciate and connect with: the peak-a-boo views of the
knife-edge Nooksack Range, snowy Ruth Peak, and shear vertical walls and mass
of Granite Mountain, the looming avalanche gullies and steep creek drainages,
the fiery fall colors in the Vine Maple and Sitka Alder leaves, and the myriad
fungus and sub-alpine flora.
Reaching our halfway point well up the valley the group
lunched and laughed together. What a day to be in the mountains! On the way
back our front-runners got parking lot fever and ended up reaching the bus well
a head of the mentors.
Our closing circle was a great time to debrief this
experience and for each of the group members to check their ego and think about
our motto we vs. me and the principles
of Expeditionary Behavior. Wrapping
up the Shielders shared their thanks and why they decided to continue on with
the Four Shields.
Parents please take a moment to ask your son why they
decided to continue on with the Four Shields and what they thought of their
first FS campout last week.
For more photos from the outing please visit the FS’s photo album from the
day.
