AMC Outdoors, November 2001

Left alone with a head full of thoughts as I drove back to Boston, I considered the myriad events from the long weekend. Cohen and Tarmey were right — I got an unvarnished sense of what it was like to be an outdoor leader. But the range of emotions I felt was overwhelming. I was glad I'd completed the course without embarrassing myself and contributed to the group effort. I had tried to make up for my lack of outdoor expertise with enthusiasm, and felt I succeeded for the most part. I thought I'd soaked up as much information as I could, though I had an unshakable sense that I'd still be revisiting the past five days months from now.

One question kept hanging over my head, as I pulled into my driveway on Father's Day, eager to see the daughters who inspired my participation — "Am I an outdoor leader?" Honestly? No, not yet, not by a long shot. But I'm learning. And there's a lot to learn.

 Leader of the Backpack intro  |  Invitation to Adventure  |  Nuts and Bolts  | 
Everyday Interruptions  | Turn Me Loose  |  Safety, First and Foremost  | 
The Road from Here  |  Tips for Leaders