Woodcraft Laws at the Cave
Every morning GRP campers depart base camp at 9 am to explore The Preserve. These three hour endeavors are known as ‘Mentor Hikes’ as they are led by our expert naturalists, the GRP mentors. Yesterday I was lucky enough to get to tag along for a hike to the cave, an underground feature that I loved years ago when I was a GRP camper.
As years have gone by since my time as a camper, the GRP Woodcraft Laws as well as the memories of the landscape have continued to hold an important part in my life. The laws have been hung up on the wall of every place I have lived since my first year at GRP 13 years ago. Since coming back this summer as staff, it has been refreshing to see these ideals exemplified all around me once more, and yesterday’s hike was a perfect reminder of how they work in action every day at GRP.
Usually campers are bussed out to locations all along the upper and lower roads to begin their hikes, but this morning the campers of Spirit Winds 1 and Hemlock Hut 1 departed from Base Camp on the Bear Trail behind the climbing tower. The bus ride, although short, is often a time campers look forward to, a time to sing songs and chat with friends, but these hikers kept an open mind to the idea of hiking out from Base Camp. Many of these three-week campers have been at GRP for four or more years, familiar with the trails of GRP, but they kept a positive attitude despite knowing the long uphill they were about to undertake.
This open mindedness and wonder is reminiscent of the Woodcraft Law of Beauty. The law states to “Celebrate wonder” and to “Appreciate all that exists in yourself and everything around you.” Campers continued to appreciate the natural world, as well as “extend compassion” towards it by learning about and carefully tasting edible plants. Mentor Victoria, the leader of the hike, stopped along the trail to point out plants such as Sourwood and Sassafras. She encouraged campers to treat the plants with respect as they took leaves to taste by sharing leaves with friends to avoid taking too much and asking the tree before picking a leaf.
As the hike continued, the long uphill climb eventually gave way to beautiful mountain views and a small downhill trail leading to the cave. Before entering the cave, as helmets were being secured, the group gathered around to learn some history about the landmark. Mentors Victoria and Chris Paul shared that the cave had been used as a hiding spot for members of the Cherokee Nation when the US government was forcing their migration to Oklahoma during the Trail of Tears. During the debrief after exploring the cave, many campers shared that this was one of the most impactful things they learned during their hike.
This curiosity reminds me of the Woodcraft law of Truth. Campers worked to “seek the truth about the universe and its inhabitants,” even those that inhabited the land many years ago. Spirit Winds and Hemlock Hut continued to seek truths about the cave as they climbed down inside, exploring the three small rooms and all of the creatures that live in them.
Campers exhibited the Woodcraft Law of Fortitude throughout their hike. From the long uphill hike from base camp to the dark, chill depths of the cave, these campers tested their limits and showed bravery. Many faced fears as well, of spider webs across the trail or for many the long legged cave crickets. Even those campers who decided not to descend into the cave, as all activities at GRP are challenge by choice, exhibited bravery by communicating what they needed and also the Woodcraft Law of Love by recognizing their limits.
As the sun climbed in the sky and the air continued to warm, the campers packed away their helmets and began to walk back to meet the bus for lunch. Although the adventure was winding down, the kids remained in high spirits, making the most of every moment they had in the dense forest. They were talking and laughing on their way up the trail, pointing out to one another exiting plants and fungi they encountered. As I brought up the back of the group, watching all this unfold, I could not help but see the campers living arguably the most important part of the set of Woodcraft Laws at GRP, seeking the joy of being alive.
Story by Phoebe Dodge with photos by Brandon S. Marshall