OBX Opening

By Anne Izard on June 17, 2012

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!

Anne Izard

Anne has worked at Green River over the years at summer camp, expeditions, and the school programs as a counselor, expedition leader, mentor, and program director. Anne’s related camp experiences include working as a counselor and program assistant at Camp Ton-A-Wandah in North Carolina, an expedition leader for Wilderness Ventures and an environmental educator and expedition leader for the Teton Science School. Prior to returning home to GRP, Anne was the Director of Education for the Mountain Studies Institute in Silverton, Colorado. Anne and her husband, Steve, are both actively engaged in the American Camp Association, The Association of Environmental Education, and The North Carolina Youth Camp Association. When Anne is not working, she can be found trail running, paddling, cycling, or backcountry skiing with her husband Steve, their sons, Phen and Hawkins,daughter, Alida,and golden retriever, Irie Bird!