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Volume CXXXII, Number 4 |
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BOC notebook
CECILY UPTON
COLUMNIST
While the rainy weather descends on the Bowdoin campus, BOC members think back to the beautiful sun and radiant temperatures of last weekend with sighs of contentment. Last Friday, the Outing Club sent off two intense hiking trips to tackle sections of the Appalachian Trail. The Leadership Trainees explored Caribou Mountain and the Speckled Mountain Wilderness near Bethel, Maine during their skills weekend trip. This weekend is designed to teach future leaders proficiency in outdoor living and wilderness trip leading. They learned, among other things, how to set up tents, use the stoves, navigate, pick a good campsite, treat unsafe water, and manage a group of college kids. A pretty tough job, if you ask me.
Sunday provided the sea kayaking and climbing day trips with beautiful weather in which to enjoy the Maine coast. The kayakers left from Bethel Point and spent the day splashing about until it began to get a little too windy for comfort. They returned mid-afternoon in plenty of time to complete all their homework, as I am sure they needed too. The climbers headed up to Camden to enjoy the scenic climbs on the Camden Hills. Even though climbers are usually staring at the rocks in front of them, I hope that Sundays tripees got a chance to turn around and admire the amazing views of Penobscot Bay that this climb affords.
This weekend, the BOC trips are a bit different in that on Saturday your parents are invited too. The Outing Club is sending child/parents trips to Morse Mountain for a short hike and to the Cathance River for some canoeing. These trips are a great way to relax with your parents and show them the amazing natural beauty of the area surrounding Brunswick. There will also be a regular, student-only, sea kayaking trip going out on Sunday. This will be the last day trip of the season, but be sure to mark your calendars for the sea kayak overnight leaving on October 19.
Our fall break trips, which leave next Friday, are an exciting opportunity to spend some extended time in the wilderness without the pressures of work and school. We have three great trips going out for fall break: canoeing, hiking and trail building. The canoeing and hiking trips will be traveling to great, remote destinations. The service trip will be building a trail that is sure to be used by many future generations. What a great way to give back to the outdoors community! Sign-up sheets will be posted on Monday morning and are sure to fill up fast.
The BOC also has two slideshows coming up. At the OLC, this Saturday at 8pm, we will be re-showing the Pre-O slideshow from this past summer. First years are encouraged to come and to bring their parents along to show them all the crazy things they did before officially arriving at Bowdoin. On Tuesday, October 8, at 8pm in the OLC, Josh Howell will be speaking about his adventures in Chile and Argentina. Josh has been living in South America for five years and has recently completed a guide book to the area. He has promised great pictures and crazy stories. Please come and bring your friends! Don't forget about open pool session for kayaking on Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the climbing wall in Sargeant Gym, open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Have a great weekend, and get outside!