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Imagine sailing
across an ocean with no land in sight,
climbing the mast of a 125-ft. schooner
to look down on a blue whale and her
calf, or standing watch at 3 am under
a star studded sky.
Imagine sea
kayaking past towering glaciers of
blue ice, rappelling down a 100-ft.
cliff, or summitting the peak of a
mountain at sunrise. Then imagine
learning the necessary skills to not
only survive in these environments
but to lead. Imagine finding a wellspring
of talent and ability within yourself
to thrive in the face of challenge,
a grounded sense of responsibility
to always do your best, and a quiet
compassion to serve others and the
greater good.
These are
just glimpses into the power of expeditioning
and the opportunity that STEP is making
available to low-income youth whose
dream it is to obtain a college degree.
For three
weeks, STEP students are given the
rare opportunity to join an expedition.
They do so with the best in the field,
one of STEP’s two partner organizations
at the cutting edge of expeditionary
learning and leadership training.
The National Outdoor Leadership School
(NOLS) takes STEP students out into
the backcountry of Alaska to learn
and lead in a remote wilderness setting.
Ocean Classroom takes STEP students
out to sea to participate as active
crew members aboard a traditionally-rigged
topsail schooner.
How are our
students affected by this experience?
They come away greatly changed. Through
challenges met, STEP students come
to realize that they have a tremendous
wealth of personal strength from which
they can draw to shape their futures.
They come to recognize that with determination,
perseverance, and hard work, success
can be reached, even in the face of
hardship. The result is one of individual
transformation. Participants come
away with enhanced self-esteem, a
life-affirming sense of accomplishment,
an appreciation for personal responsibility,
and a determination to pursue their
dreams.
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