You are sitting in class, walking around the quad, or going through the Union and you spot one. In fact, you see more than one and soon enough you realize they are all around you.
They wear Chaco's on their feet, Carhartt pants, and shirts that should have been added to your mother's rag collection years ago. All of them love the outdoors, the majority dislike President Bush, some sport sketchy facial hair and a few of us, myself included, like going a couple of days without showering.
Who are these wild people and where do they come from? Chances are that if they meet the above description, they are leaders in the Bowdoin Outing Club. "OK," you tell yourself, "but where do they all come from? Is there large-scale BOC incestual behavior going on in that oddly shaped building on Harpswell road or do they all just shop at the same stores?"
While a few of us do participate in "Schwartz-cest," BOC leaders come into existence through a selective semester long program called Leadership Training, LT for short.
Led by Mike Woodruff, Stacey Linehan and current BOC leaders, LT teaches a small group of future leaders everything from trip preparation and logistics to map and compass skills to cooking a tasty backcountry meal.
Through field experience, leaders-in-training learn the ethics of low impact camping and Leave No Trace principles. LT also consists of learning different leadership styles, group dynamics and, above all, how to make trips as safe as possible. These learning experiences help us make the future trips we will lead all the more enjoyable and rewarding for students.
I have been fortunate enough to participate in LT this semester along with twelve other first years, sophomores and juniors. We've bushwhacked the Mount Blue area, backpacked the Mahoosucs and recently completed a five day sea kayak expedition along Maine's beautiful coast over Fall Break. The sea kayaking expedition allowed each of us the opportunity to lead among our peers. Despite blustering winds, large swells, failed dinners and the thrill of putting on your damp wet suit early in the morning, each one of us had a memorable time.
I encourage anyone interested in leading trips for the BOC to apply for LT next semester. And don't worry if you don't meet the above description. You can always buy a pair of Carhartts.