Heroic Journey Wilderness Adventure #3
Heroic Journey Field Report
Field Report #1 - Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Hello Team Judi's House,
Here I am again. Three courses later and on day two of the last Heroic Journey of the summer. This summer I have worked 95 hour weeks, hung in trees for 9 hours at a time, spent hours soaking wet in the rain, and I have endured 100's of mosquito bites. Every day has been an emotional roller coaster and I have shed too many tears to count. EVERY SECOND HAS BEEN MORE THAN WORTH IT!
The teens rolled off the bus last night. They were tired and some had been traveling since 
2:30 a.m. to be here. We have kids coming from as far as Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, and New York. Some kids from big cities and some from rural towns. All are coming because the waves of grief have been pounding at their heart. The night moved quickly and we ended our first day with the "Tea Ceremony".
"The Tea Ceremony"
I make the tea in a big pot and tell the kids a story about the tea's origins. To honor the teens innate desire for story, excitement and mystery, I build-up all of the rituals and ceremonies we do. Last night we drank "healing tea from northern Ethiopia". I ask the teens what tea does for them? Their answers varied from, "relaxes me", "calms me", to "makes me warm", and "antioxidants keep me healthy". Next, I ask them each to share something that helps them to cope when things get stressful. The teens replied, "hug my dog", "play music", "listen to music", "talk to friends", and "sleep". Ten minutes later the kids, exhausted from their travels, crawled into their sleeping bags and went to bed for the night.
As I explained in my earlier field reports, the first interaction we have with the teens is the most important. This is the time the Course Director sets the tone for Outward Bound and I frame Heroic Journey. Below, I have included some excerpts from talk. Much of it is inspired by author and mythologist Joseph Campbell. My intro goes like this:
"Welcome to your Outward Bound Heroic Journey. What is Heroic Journey? Heroic Journey is when a challenge comes to you . Not a small challenge, but a BIG challenge. When this BIG challenge knocks on your door you accept it. That's what Heroic Journey is.
It's when, despite:
- the unknown
- our deepest fears
- anxieties
- leaving the comfort of everyday life
- wanting to sit on the couch and watch TV
It's despite all if these things that you accept the challenge. It's not avoiding or hiding, or trying to go around it. Heroic Journey is when you say YES and you commit to moving forward and through it.
This is a time and a place where it's SAFE to talk about our grief. It's a pain we all share. Look at the faces around you ...YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
We are not here to "forget" or "get over" our loved ones. Grief can be a life-long process. It's not healthy to try and avoid our feelings and attempt to "go around our grief." We are here, on Heroic Journey, to move through our grief. Together!
Yes we are going to do some activities that encourage us to talk about our grief journey. We are also going 
to hike, climb, swing from trees, ascend a mountain and from this experience you will move forward and continue your journey through your grief, with each other, with all of us.
The first day is already half over. Please embrace every second, minute, and day of your experience. You will regret it if you don't. It will be over in the blink of an eye. Squeeze this Orange. Get all of the juice out of it."
Thank you and I will write again soon!
"This is the most stressful, stress relieving experience I have ever had!"
-Judi's House Teen from last weeks course.
Stout Out!