- Expedition: May 11-16, 2014
- New Leaf: A Sustainable Living Collaborative and Venture Academy
- Yosemite National Park: North Dome
Students from two different communities came together and formed B.M.A. (Be More Awesome!). The group was a great combination of silly and serious, and they took on physical and emotional challenges with maturity and laughter. Group accomplishments for the week included getting to the Upper Yosemite Falls overlook, having the entire group sleep outside one night, removing several illegal fire rings with a wilderness ranger from the National Park Service, creating a group art panorama, crossing the "peanut butter river," and having every person be a leader of the day.
Day 1 in Backcountry
Our journey as been incredible, we have done so many amazing activities and fun games. The hike here was hard and exhausting but once we got here it was incredible!
Day 2
When we woke up today, we had ate oatmeal and granola bars, with some coffee, ciders, and hot chocolate. I waited too late, and my oatmeal got cold. We hiked up to North Dome. We had lunch after, and had tuna, goldfish, cheese, tortillas, and nilla wafers. Now, we’re preparing dinner.
Peace, soul, courage, leadership, skills, strength, and knowledge are some of the things I am taking from this experience. I have learned a lot throughout the week and I hope to come back to Yosemite one day. Even though I couldn’t sleep at night and wanted to cry throughout the day I still had a great time here meeting new people and making them my family. Yosemite is beautiful and I hope many people continue to take the chance of doing WildLink.
Day 3
On a bright warm sunny morning a group of WildLink students had the opportunity to hike from their campsite, four miles to Yosemite Falls. I had the chance to be one of those students. I feel that the adventure we went through brought us closer together and made feel way stronger than I ever thought I was. Throughout the hike back we had time to spend by ourselves, we were able to admire the beauty of wilderness and the simplicity of life.
Setting up the theme of the day and the week.
Learning how to communicate and work together as a group.
Learning from National Park Service wilderness ranger Naomi.
Providing enthusiasm for everyone on trail.
The sweet view from North Dome.
The entire group slept outside one night.
Nothing like a Sierra Nevada sunset.
The group proudly shows off their restored fire ring.