Eight 'troubled teens'. Four dedicated instructors. Four thousand sqare miles of mangroves, sawgrass, cypress hammocks and alligators. Shake thoroughly and serve with generous sides of laughter and sleep deprivation.

We had a young group this time, average age 14. We had a good toneset, but were still pleasantly surprised at how quickly this group bought in to making the most of their Outward Bound experience. They learned to embrace new challenges, laugh in the face of adversity, and have fun in conditions that would have other groups non-stop griping. And they never gave up, even after paddling for six hours one night into the teeth of a vicious tide, passing the same point of land 12 times... When the going got hard, they would tell us, "we can do it!" And they did.

I will never forget our first morning waking up in the narrow "Hell's Bay" mangrove tunnel, leading a group yoga session on our little canoe-raft, only to have a couple of passing paddlers stare at what they must have thought was a mirage ("um, honey - did you see the sign up for the floating swamp yoga class back at the ranger station?"). Or having breakfast during a crazy storm on Highland Beach, with the tarp blowing down around us and palm trees doubling over (we later heard there had been tornadoes in the area), looking out over the storm-tossed sea, laughing about how we would never forget...

Now the kids have flown the nest, and we're back at base debriefing and giving each other feedback. Ideally these sessions help us get even better at what we do. Too often they leave me wondering how I managed to do anything right...

("...never forget...")

("...never forget...")

If I didn't have all these pictures of kids with huge smiles on their muddy faces. If I didn't have kids and parents telling me how grateful they are, and how they're recommending Outward Bound to everyone they know.

Amidst all the constructive feedback, it's important to celebrate our successes.  Helps me not to forget.  Not to give up.  Gives me the courage to do it all over again. 

Currently reading : Basket Case By Carl Hiaasen Release date: 01 January, 2003