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What GRP Means to Me

March 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“I was a base camper at GRP for 3 years and also did the Outer Banks Expedition. A few weeks ago, we had to make a video as a literature project at school. The video was called “My Anthem” because we had just read the book “Anthem” by Ayn Rand. Our teacher said that the video could be about anything that makes you happy or defines you as a person and we also had to use a few quotes from the book. I decided to make my video about Green River Preserve. Thanks so much for amazing experiences at camp and I hope to have many more.”
-From, Emma S., Atlanta, GA.

 

My Anthem Emma     Click the link to see Emma’s video!

Filed Under: benefits of summer camp, Expeditions, OBX, summer, summer camp, traditions Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

TBX putting in the trail

June 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I was able to see their progress yesterday and WOW! it is incredible.  I dropped by with ice cream sandwiches and they were all thrilled.  Everyone is having a great time, they are learning a lot.  Tonight they will be doing a flute making workshop with Hawk one of our senior mentors.  He will also be leading them on a hike tomorrow morning that will address counselors roles in mentor hikes as well as leading a mentor hike. 

Filed Under: Expeditions, TBX Tagged With: ,

BRX 1: Back from Pisgah, Safe and Happy

June 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Expeditioners returned from their backpacking trip Sunday afternoon. They had a fabulous time exploring Pisgah Forest for 4 days. BRX’ers woke Sunday morning early to do a sunrise hike to Sam’s Knob. Expeditioners claim this was one of the highlights of the trip thus far. Campers were greeted back at Reasonover base camp with a brunch spread- quiche, watermelon, hash browns, sausage and more! A well deserved delicious meal after burning many calories in the backcountry.

Monday was spent exploring waterfalls in Dupont State Forest. Expeditioners went swimming and enjoyed the relief of no longer carrying a large backpack! Tomorrow they plan to hit the French Broad River and test out their paddling skills. It is sure to be a fantastic adventure!

Filed Under: Blue Ridge Expeditions, BRX, Expeditions Tagged With: ,

BRX 1: Words from the Trail

June 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The BRX crew is in the middle of four days hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Expeditioners had an early departure on Thursday, and had great days on the trail both Thursday and Friday.  They had some rain, a little thunder but nothing major as far as thunderstorms go.  Today they set off for Sam Knob over 6,000 feet in elevation.

Filed Under: Blue Ridge Expeditions, BRX, Expeditions Tagged With: ,

OBX White Oak River

June 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 The team launched Tuesday for a 3 day exploration on the White Oak River. They spent the majority of the day paddling and learning about the ecological habitat of the blackish river. The group stopped at Haywood landing for an early dinner and dip, and then enjoyed an evening paddle to their resting place, Long Point.

Wednesday, OBX woke up to a clear morning and a gorgeous paddle day. A great blue heron flew down river with them for a period of time. Expeditioners will spend the night at Stella Point, and then exit the river after a short paddle in the morning.

Everyone is having a fabulous time and working together great! OBX will spend tomorrow night on Harker’s Island in Otway preparing for their upcoming banks paddle!

Filed Under: Expeditions, OBX Tagged With: , ,

BRX 1: First Days

June 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Sunday morning 12 high school students came together with 4 leaders. Some knew each other, some didn’t. It did not seem to matter, though. They all shared the same thing- a feeling of excitement, and utter joy for their upcoming expedition adventure! Yes- that’s right folks, BRX 1 2012 has kicked off and the team is phenomenal.

The group gathered at base camp for drop off, quickly said goodbye to parental guardians, and jumped right into group games and initiatives. Once learning everyone’s names, they struck out for the BRX base camp also known as Reasonover. Expeditioners spent the first afternoon and evening settling into their new home and creating the foundation for their community. Like all GRP sessions, BRX opens with a respect circle. In addition, expeditioners establish “group norms” or guidelines to follow while living in a communal environment. 

Monday, expeditioners broke up into 2 groups and set out to explore the Reasonover land. One group spent the majority of their time tracking. They saw bear prints, deer nests, and tons of scat. They also ventured to the old gold mine around Reasonover and visited the bog area. The other group took off on a creek hike. Their adventure was filled with lots of fungus, wildflowers, an abandoned moonshine still, and many teachable moments. The evening was spent carving wooden spoons around the fire and getting to know one another.

Tuesday, the expedition ventured on their first out of camp trip to go climbing at Big Bradley Falls in the Saluda, NC area. The group met climbing coordinator, Evan Townsend, and Expedition Director, Stephen Mead, for a fun filled day. Expeditioners had to rappel down into the gorge to even access the additional climbs set up. Each expeditioner tried at least one climb and many multiple climbs. Expeditioner Jaya exclaimed, “I feel soooo accomplished!”All in all is was an awesome day.

Tomorrow, the expeditioners will begin preparing for their backpacking trip! The fun just doesn’t stop!

Filed Under: Blue Ridge Expeditions, BRX, Expeditions Tagged With: ,

OBX Opening

June 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Kayaks? Check! Life jackets? Check! Paddles? Check! Swim review? Check! Ready to hit the water? Check! Check! Check!

OBX session 1 has kicked off! Expeditioners were dropped off yesterday in Morehead City, NC where they gathered and met their leaders Allison, Mackenzie, and Richard. Once everyone had arrived, they ventured a little west to Cedar Point Campground. Here expeditions had its official opening, starting with the Green River tradition of  an opening Respect Circle. Expeditioners and leaders discussed what makes a community and how they can all work together to ensure their expedition community is successful. Everyone’s input was phenomenal!

Today, Monday July 18, the group ventured to the Quarry Lakes on the White Oak River. Each individual was issued their personal kayak, life jacket, paddle, and paddling gear for the duration of the expedition. Basic kayaking skills and tips were reviewed in the morning and each expeditioner also participated in a swim review. The group will spend the afternoon paddling around the lakes, perfecting their skills, and more than likely playing a couple of games of ultimate frisbee kayak! The expeditioners will spend the night at the lakes and launch tomorrow morning for their 3 day trip along the White Oak River.

Overall- the weather is beautiful, the group is awesome, and everything is going great!

Filed Under: Day 1, Expeditions, OBX Tagged With: ,

Outer Banks Scouting Trip

April 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Are you excited if you are signed up for an Outer Banks trip this summer! Stephen, Phen, and I have just returned from spending five days on the Outer Banks scouting for this upcoming season. We met up with Allison Sill, the lead mentor for the OBX trips for 2012. She is fantastic! I am personally jealous of all the expeditioners and the time you will get to spend with this incredibly knowledgeable lady. You are in for an adventure!Kayaking on Outer Banks

The highlight of the scouting trip for all of us was getting out on the water. Saturday, Allison and Stephen paddled from the town of Beaufort out to Shackleford Island and Cape Lookout. A total of 10 miles! Shackleford is the home to roughly 120 wild horses in addition to miles of shore and sea life. Allison, a marine science teacher, was able to point out multiple creatures along the paddle including a conch laying her eggs!

Phen and I took the ferry from Harker’s Island and met our rock-star paddlers on Cape Lookout. We all explored the seashore, Phen played in the sand (and ate some too!), and then we took the ferry back to Harker’s to conclude our day. 

 The other scouting days were spent venturing out in the area to visit campgrounds, the National Park Visitor’s Center, the Maritime museum, and exploring the White Oak River. This is a blackwater river filled with some incredible ecological diversity. The expeditioners will spend the first few days of the trip polishing up their paddling skills while exploring this river system.

We still have a few spots open in OBX 3, and 1 spot remaining in OBX 2. Don’t wait to sign up – this is a trip you won’t want to miss. 

 
shell  sea bird  snake skin 
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New to GRP: Trailblazers Expeditions!

November 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

For the summer of 2012 Green River Preserve is excited to add a new expedition, the Trailblazers Expedition (TBX)!

The goal of TBX is to improve life skills, problem solving, and adaptability. TBX will also give campers a chance to give back to the preserve by making an impact that will be enjoyed by future generations.

The details:
TBX is GRP’s newest and longest expedition designed exclusively for rising seniors in high school, rising college freshmen and gap year students. As a wildlife preserve and conservation property, expeditioners can expect to explore parts of the 3400-acre property many base campers will never see. Expeditioners can also expect to be challenged both physically and mentally, as they embrace leadership learning opportunities while constructing and repairing trails around GRP base camp. We will reap our service rewards and spend the last week of our adventure with a culminating backpacking and/or canoeing trip chosen by the group of expeditioners. This one and only three week expedition is designed to enhance leadership and life skills, outdoor living skills, teamwork, self awareness and understanding through a medium of service and community learning.

Upon arrival at Green River Preserve, we will settle into our base camp, get to know each other, and prepare for an adventure we will never forget! Our expedition will see us take part in a project as we help to construct and reconstruct trails around Green River’s base camp. We will roll up our sleeves and clear trails, help build water bars to prevent erosion, and build footbridges to better the trail system around GRP.

Although we have all gathered to help with this project, there will be time to relax and enjoy the scenery. We will hike to some of our favorite places on the preserve and polar bear in streams and falls. Each day classes will be taught by mentors, focusing on leadership skills and qualities you will carry with you for the rest of your life. Lessons learned from these classes will be immediately applied in the field in our day-to-day trail building activities. As an expeditioner, you will discover setting goals, planning, preparing, efficiency, and teamwork will be our tools for making a successful experience. At GRP, we know these skills not only apply in the field, but to life’s adventure.

The final days of the expedition will be spent leading Group Learning Projects with GRP base campers and exploring the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. Expeditioners will teach GRP’s three-week campers what trail building and constructions entails and showcase their service project to the camp. Afterwards, we will take off on a week long adventure chosen and lead by the expeditioners themselves. Expeditioners can expect to leave with a toolbox of life skills, a certificate of community service work, and an experience they will never forget!

There is limited space on this expedition, so sign up early!

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