Walden Solo

The Great Introspection

Who am I and how do I fit into this big world?

The Walden solo is reserved for our Junior members. During this weekend of camping, hiking, canoeing, and rock climbing; Junior members are encouraged to overcome their fears.

Our 2011 SURVIVORS with their senior officers

Solo-ers leave main camp around 4 PM Friday evening with only six items: a flashlight, a small tent, sleeping bag, bottle of water, a small bag of gorp, and their journal.

The journal is what they will read and interact with throughout the evening and night. It asks very personal questions that makes the reader analyze their relationship to themselves, their family, their friends and all other's in the world. They spend time writing answers in their journals that only they will ever read, for when they come back the next morning, they hand in their journal which is "put away" in secure location only to be given back at the end of their senior year. Then they will have an opportunity to reflect on their answers.

On Saturday morning, after a night with out books, TV, radios, I-pods, cell phones, etc. they are brought back to the main camp for breakfast feast.

From there, we go to an activity that most likely is something they have never done. Rappelling,  rock climbing, or high ropes course work. Each activity gives the solo-er and opportunity to meet a fear head on and move past it with the encouragement from friends.

Solo-ers take a group "before" group pic. No matter how nice or bad the night is, the morning after breakfast is always a welcome sight.

Some sol-ers have too much time on their hands!

Rock climbing was on the schedule again this year. After harnessing up it was onto the face to climb.

I AM KING OF THE MOUNTAIN. Overcoming personal challenges, name of the game!

"Yes you CAN!!"               "NO! I can't!"  

...........................But she did!

  Some solo campers are after just a little extra protection from the weather

Can you see the little extra roof over the tent?

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