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Words from a TBXer

By Anne Izard on July 09, 2017

To provide some context for this post, TBXers were asked to write about their experiences in order for you to hear from them directly through this blog. This past Friday through Sunday, Base Campers went on Campout, a three-day, two-night backpacking trip on the Preserve with their cabins and respective brother or sister cabins. TBXers went on their own lengthier backpacking trip as a group in the nearby Pisgah National Forest prior to this past weekend. Today’s post was written before Campout. You can expect to see more posts in the words of TBXers as their session continues!
-Karin Perk, Climbing Coordinator and Expeditions Intern

“With the Base Campers approaching Campout this weekend, the TBXers are called to reflect upon their own backpacking trip to better their leadership experience with their cabins. In the words of Richard Henry Dana, ‘He who dares to teach must never cease to learn.’ As TBX is a leadership-centered program, the only way for the Expeditioners to prepare is to learn and master primitive backpacking skills first hand.

“The TBXers and their fearless leaders headed to Pisgah National Forest to begin a four-day, three-night backpacking trip. The famous GRP saying, ‘It always rains on Campout,’ held true for this TBX backpacking trip, and mud-stomping puddle-splashing hilarity ensued. Additionally, certain group members began to embody the ‘Roasting Life,’ cooking anything and everything over a campfire. Summer sausage was ‘double helixed’ and roasted while both pepperoni and macaroni, affectionately called ‘ronis,’ were speared and spit-roasted.

“Pure entertainment aside, the TBXers mastered the use of Whisperlight camp stoves and perfected both the bowline knot and taught-line hitch, all of which they’ll be teaching campers on Campout. We look forward to the sweaty and happy return of both campers and Expeditioners this Sunday. Happy hiking!”
-Carolyn, TBXer

Anne Izard
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!