The Teacher's Journey

I was recently asked at work to explain my philosophy of education in a short paragraph. I'm a special education teacher. I don't do anything normally. The following is my response. Credit goes to Joseph Campbell and his teachings about the monomyth and the "Hero's Journey" and to Big City Mountaineers for using this as their wilderness mentoring curriculum. 


There is a theory out there which proposes that nearly all stories, plays, myths, and even religious and/or psychological development follows the same general path. This Hero's Journey essentially takes place in twelve stages.

First, we begin in our ordinary world. For us, that may be our classrooms on a Monday morning or our kitchen counters waiting for the coffee to finish brewing so that we can wake up enough to take on the day. For our students, it might be hopping into their Land Rover SUV for the arduous five mile commute to the school. For yet others, this ordinary world may start with fighting with seven other brothers and sisters over who gets the bathroom next in their three bedroom apartment, funded primarily by the government.

Suddenly, there is some sort of "call to action". This is an event which introduces an interruption to the mundane. Maybe it's the student who comes in for help for the first time...and it's the third grading period. Perhaps it's a phone call from some distant friend in need of help. In any case, our normal routine has been shaken up. Because of a fear of the unknown, however, that call is refused. The preference to continue on with the status quo is far more attractive than stepping into an uncomfortable situation. You sip your vanilla latte and drive on.

You drive until you remember the words from someone, maybe even a mentor, from the past (or maybe it happens in the present) which offer wisdom, guidance, or even material assistance. Your thoughts then turn inward to tap courage from deep down. That realization of courage now takes you to the precipice of a major decision. Do I stay at school until five o'clock to help this kid with her math problem? Do I sacrifice an extra hour of sleep to hold a study session in the morning to get everyone ready for today's test? Do I give a kid a ride home after school because his parents forgot to pick him up? You are now entering into an unknown realm that is neither comforting nor convenient.

The next two steps involve going through minor tests and trials in which you discover new allies in your struggle to accomplish your task. You pass these people every day in the halls. Sometimes, it's even the people you least expected. As a collective though, you all know there is something bigger looming on the horizon.

Invariably, we reach the crux. This is a moment where we may feel overwhelmed, outmatched, and maybe even conquered. By pooling our newly collected resources though, we emerge with a new life. It's a new take on the way things are and the way they should be done.

Now we have some kind of "reward". Johnny passed his math test for the first time all year, or Sara finally learned to log into Google Docs without needing help with her password. This treasure is invaluable to us, but it is in danger of being lost again if continued effort is not sustained. The road back is gonna be bumpy. Cue the chase scene.

Just before we make it all the way back to "normal", there's one last challenge. Some might refer to this as the CRCTs or some other asinine standardized test. Still others will see this in a bigger light. Morgan has been emotionally abused for years by her father, and she's ready to give up, regardless of the small victories you've been able to help her accomplish this year so far. You strike a deal with her which requires a big sacrifice on your own behalf (at least at the time). The sacrifice pays off though. You learn that a few years later, she graduates high school and has been accepted into nursing school. She tells you you are the reason she made it.

Finally, you return home. You are different though, and you realize that the journey really isn't over. In fact, maybe it's only just begun, and it's up to you to carry on this newly discovered and earned "treasure". You, we, must now try to transform the world around us as we have been transformed ourselves. Then, get ready to do it all again next August.

Man, that was long.

Way Past Ten

The psych level in my house just went way past ten. Why, you ask? It's because of who I just found out will be joining our team for this year's Summit for Someone climb of Mount Shasta in June. First, here's an update on the trip.

I always come away from conference calls with Darin Fearday, director of the Summit for Someone program at Big City Mountaineers, with way more excitement about my next fund raising mountaineering trip, and this call wasn't any different. After a quick introduction to everyone in our newly formed climbing team, Darin started discussing some of the details about our upcoming climb of Mount Shasta. We are going to be one of at least eight teams that will be scaling the mountain as part of a nation-wide fundraiser being put on by Backpacker Magazine in June to raise money for Big City Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that runs wilderness mentoring expeditions for at-risk youth. Each member in our group has pledged to raise $4,000 to help support BCM's programs. This money will be enough to cover the cost for two groups of five teens to participate in a week-long backpacking mentoring trip this summer without a single cent coming from their own pockets. We have seven guys on our team, so we will end up raising $28,000, enough to pay for 70 teens to experience the healing power of the mountains! Talk about awesome.

The conversation then turned to all the great sponsors who will be kicking in free gear and support for the climbers to help them with their trips. Brands like The North Face, SOLE, Eddie Bauer/First Ascent, Lowa, Black Diamond, and others are all big supporters of BCM and are collaborating to make this a truly amazing, fund raising event. I mean seriously, there are two things that just never ever seem to get old: Christie Brinkley and free gear packages.

Finally, Darin got to the part I was really waiting for. This is my fourth time climbing for Summit for Someone, and on the last two, I've gotten to climb with some of the biggest names in the climbing world. In 2012 I was led to the summit of Mount Rainier by none other than Dave Hahn (15 summits of Everest, kinda a big deal). In 2013 on Mount Whitney, I was on a rope team with "Mr. Everest" himself, Pete Athans. It was therefore of no surprise, but plenty of excitement, when I heard Darin state that this time, our "guest climber" would be The North Face's very own Cedar Wright. If you aren't familiar with his work, Cedar is a highly accomplished rock climber who is quite skilled in free-solo, aid, and free climbing. He's also a pretty damn good filmmaker, often writing his own music to accompany the footage. It's going to be simply incredible sharing time on the mountain with him and the rest of our crew (including Darin himself!).

For more information on my climb, including how to make a donation, check out some of the other posts here on my blog, or visit my climber page. From first-hand experience as a mentor on BCM's trips, I can personally attest to how effective these programs are in the lives of teens across the country. Help BCM and their volunteer mentors touch the lives of thousands more this summer. Watch the video below to get the idea.

Summit for Someone 2014

Mount Shasta. Photo courtesy of Shasta Mountain Guides (shastaguides.com)

Summit for Someone campaign number four is now under way! This time, I will be climbing 14,179ft. Mount Shasta in California as a member of the Backpacker Magazine team to help benefit the at-risk teens Big City Mountaineers serves. With your help and my summit attempt, BCM will reach over 2000 at-risk teens nationwide.

This summer, I had the opportunity to help guide on two of BCM's week-long wilderness mentoring expeditions. We took teens from Miami and Oakland to some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring locations in the country in Yosemite and the Mammoth Lakes area of the Sierras. On both trips, I was able to see first hand the dollars from Summit for Someone campaigns as well as corporate donations from BCM's amazing sponsors hard at work. I can personally attest that every penny helped make a difference for each of the teens on those trips. Our time in the backcountry was filled with good times, learning, challenges, and most importantly, overcoming obstacles (both physical and mental) that were once thought insurmountable. All of this was possible because of donations from people just like you.  

Leading teens from Oakland through the Mammoth Lakes area near Mount Ritter and Banner Peak this July.

Please consider making a donation to my climb this year. Not only will the money go toward supporting yet another summer full of transformative mentoring experiences for teens across the country, this time, the money is also going to help BCM expand. If things go according to plan, BCM is looking to establish its first East Coast operation in the Atlanta area in the next 2-3 years. This has been a dream of mine for quite some time now, and it is finally beginning to happen. Help me bring Big City Mountaineers to the Atlanta area so that we can reach even more at-risk youth! As always, no contribution is too small, and thank you in advance for donating on my behalf!

Inspiration in Atlanta

The name Leonardo likely conjures up a variety of images and memories that are specific to each of us as we grew up. For many in my generation, he was the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, clad with blue bandanna and katana swords. On perhaps a more serious level, Leonardo is the genius inventor, engineer, artist and quintessential renaissance man from Italy who helped inspire many of the ideas which permeate the world as we know it today. As cool as the Ninja Turtles are, however, it's the latter image that usually evokes inspiration and ambition.

For me, that inspiration was initiated during my late teenage years in the summer of 1996. That year, I met a young boy of age five or six named after that famous historical figure who unknowingly planted a seed in my heart that has apparently taken nearly 17 years to germinate. Leo came across my path while I was with my church youth group. In those days, we would spend our weekends working with an inner-city ministry group based out of Atlanta, home to some of the oldest housing projects in the nation. During our trips we would visit places like Carver Homes, Hollywood Courts, etc. and take the afternoon to simply spend time with the kids who lived in those locations. It was incredible to see how badly they just wanted someone to sit and listen to their stories and give them a few hours of attention. It was Leo's story that sticks with me to this very day.

The specifics of the tale now elude me after so many years, but in general, Leo told us of how he saw his father murdered in front of him over a drug deal gone bad. In particular, I remember him sitting there, well-groomed, clad in multiple gold rings, a gold necklace and brand new Nike shoes as he recounted the event of his father's demise, telling us of the multiple gunshots his father received to the face. Those words coming out of the mouth of a child who was less than 7years old were impactful to say the least.

Obviously, one question that may come to mind is, Why does this kid have gold rings and new Nike shoes if he is so needy? The "support" he was receiving made me wonder. Obviously his material needs seemed to be getting met, but what about his emotional needs? What about his experiences with adults and his point of view on how the world works? From just a few minutes of conversation with the young man, I could tell that these more important issues where not being positively resolved. Only now though, after years of thinking back on this experience, do I start to come to some revelations. It's not Leo's fault that he had to witness what he did. It's not Leo's fault he had to grow up where he did. It's not Leo's fault that he had a litany of prescribed excuses for failure laid out in front of him before he probably even knew how to walk. However, it is OUR fault if we choose to ignore the problems of kids like Leo and still expect society to improve. That said, there is something we can do.

Backpacker Magazine and BCM Team 6 on the summit of Mount Whitney this past April. Team members L-R starting at the back: Jayson Yagi, Sean Estep, Nikki Flavio, Forrest Schwab (guide), Judd Glasser, Keita Sakon, Thomas Greene (guide), Lucas Hendrickson, Peter Athans (professional climber for The North Face).

Positive adult mentoring and leadership can make a huge difference in the lives of children like Leo, and there's a movement coming here to Atlanta to help make that happen. Big City Mountaineers is a non-profit organization based out of Colorado that seeks to influence the lives of disadvantaged youth through wilderness mentoring programs. I have taken on the task of helping establish Atlanta as one of the next hub cities for BCM within the next 2-3 years. The journey begins with the recruitment of individuals willing to participate in BCM's Summit for Someone program which serves as a major source of funding for the mentoring programs and the week-long expeditions that serve as the centerpiece of the participants' experience. As a three-time SFS climber myself, I can personally attest to the fact that these climbs are absolutely incredible. You get to take part in trips with some of the best guides on the planet and meet people like Dave Hahn and Peter Athans who are some of the greatest climbers in the world. Each trip has its own special surprise, but the only way to find out is to sign up! When you do, be sure to drop my name to Darin Fearday (director of the SFS program) to let him know you want to see BCM here on the East Coast.

Additionally, I am working to establish local connections with businesses and individuals who are willing to help support a BCM operation in Atlanta. To give you a better idea of who these programs help and how successful they are, take a look at the data below from BCM's own website:

The Facts on BCM Youth:

• 100% are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs.
• 83% are from families that report an average household income of $15,000 or less.
• 71% are from single parent or guardian-led households.
• “Not interested” is the number one reason for lack of outdoor participation by non-Caucasian youth.
• 7hrs a day is the average screen time spent by urban youth.

The Results of BCM Programs:

• 88% of BCM youth report that they will apply what they learned from their BCM trip, and it will help them in their future and in their day-to-day life.
• 100% of BCM youth report significant improvements in these key areas:
  - Commitment to Learning: motivation to do well in school, does homework, reads for pleasure.
  - Positive Values: cares for other people, promotes equality, has integrity, is honest and responsible.
  - Social Competencies: plans and makes good decisions, can resist peer pressure, seeks to resolve conflict non-violently.
  - Positive Identity: feels in control, has high self-esteem, is optimistic about personal future.
• In 2012, Big City Mountaineers delivered over 1,800 program days (1 Program Day = One youth participating for one day) of recreational mentoring to our teen participants in four regions, including the Rocky Mountains, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest and the San Francisco Bay Area.

You'll notice that the Southeast is presently missing from that list of regions, but that is about to change. I can't do it alone though, so if you or someone you know would like to help, please contact me. Let's give stories like Leo's an incredibly positive and inspiring ending.

Big City Mountaineers: Southern Fried Edition

At the summit of 14,508ft. (4,422m) Mount Whitney on April 28th, 2013.

I just wanted to take a second and again thank everyone who helped contribute to my Backpacker Magazine and Summit for Someone climb of Mount Whitney for Big City Mountaineers. Team 6 absolutely crushed! The trip was amazing and full of memories and experiences that will be with me for a lifetime. It also has served as the starting point of a new chapter in my life.

After speaking with BCM Executive Director Lisa Mattis, I am taking the next step and planning to join a BCM group of Miami-based teens this summer on a backpacking trip through Yosemite as part of their week long mentoring expedition. This will be a great chance for me to learn the curriculum and inner-workings of BCM so that I can bring that knowledge and message back home and start the groundwork of helping to establish Atlanta as one of the next BCM hub cities within the next 2-3 years.

To make that happen, I will be looking to recruit 20-25 people from around the Southeast who are interested in signing up for a Summit for Someone climb. The money raised by those climbers will be a huge part of funding this new project. Additionally, I will be working to establish connections with local individuals and businesses who would be willing to help contribute services and/or financial support to the establishment of an Atlanta-based BCM operation. This will include potential activities and events in which the youth would participate (ie. day hikes, overnight camping trips, rock climbing trips, paddling trips, etc.).

I am extremely excited to be a part of this project. It's going to take a lot of hard work, time and patience, but accomplishing something great is rarely easy. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Summit for Someone climber, or if you know anyone who would be willing to contribute in some other way, please don't hesitate to contact me via email. You can also message me on Facebook  or Twitter!