May 31- June 3, 2011 –Summer Staff Training

We take 3 weeks to train all of our staff to be technical guides as well as ministry facilitators. The first week is about skills as well as team building. We understand that how our staff encourages, motivates and values one another is the backbone of our ministry to students. One of the ways we build our team dynamics is through stretching adventures since that is the heart of our ministry. We started out on horses then moved into orienteering. The weather did not cooperate during the horse ride but thankfully it did change for orienteering. We had 8 check points we were able to get to 6 of them before the sun went down. We were up and down ridges, bush whacking, you name it we experienced it. We even had a brush with some wildlife. We got to our final destination (campsite) around midnight.


(A Check Point for the Orienteering Challenge)

 During our Orienteering Challenge half of the check points were during the daylight and half after the sun went down where we could only use headlamps and compasses. It was a little nerve wracking when we came across eyes that were following us.  We brought our groups of three together since we weren't 100% sure what kind of body was attatched to those eyes. Jon later told us that it was a black bear that was just checking out what we were doing.

Emily, Shane and Jason were one team.

This is a Jelly Bean where you spin to see what JB you pick and it has the ability to be something good or something bad. For example it could be chocolate pudding or skunk, vomit or popcorn.

We believe that experience creates relationships so while training was mostly about skills we take time the first week to just create opportunities for shared experiences. Thus we spent a day kayaking on the Upper Wenatchee River. It was Awesome!

 We took a couple days to become level one BC guides. Learning skills such as hanging bear bags, filtering water, setting up tarps, trail talks and cooking.

Learning how to set up tarps to sleep under in the backcountry. We use tarps instead of tents in good back country weather because they aren't as heavy as full on tents with poles.

Learning to take care of blisters that students will inevitably get because they are wearing street shoes. As guides we always carry a first aid kit and when we are doing any kind of hiking we also carry blister kits with all the items needed to easily care for hot spots/blisters.
If you have been in the church you might have participated in a foot washing ceremony. This is a similar experience. It is not something I love doing but it is an act of service to the students. We are touching their dirty, unwashed,calloused, moist feet but it is a great way to show them Jesus in a tangible way.