Maria has been working with Deer Hill for six years. In this piece of writing, she contemplates what it is about working at Deer Hill that she finds inspiration from, and what it is that keeps her coming back.
Why I keep returning to Deer Hill
I thrive on showing students the joys of simple living. I lead young people in the mountains not only to share with them a stunningly beautiful and rugged natural resource, but to show them that life can be lived more richly in the seemingly harsh wilderness than they ever thought possible in the comfort of their own home. For example, on a Deer Hill backpacking expedition into the mountains or canyons, for comfort and entertainment we have only what we can carry on our backs, the company of friends, and the environments that serve as our hosts. An extended expedition allows us to look more closely at “extreme” or “stark” wilderness, and over time students realize that it is actually quite hospitable: the warm sunshine on the soft green tundra and the grassy floor of the spruce-fir forests actually welcome us with open arms. Here, we pare down the things we think we need in life and realize we need very few material things to thrive. What has kept me coming back to Deer Hill for seven years is seeing how, in this simplicity, students are capable of much more than they ever thought they were.
I truly believe in the importance of this dramatic personal growth that students experience here. Living in the wilderness with a small group of peers and a heavy backpack presents challenges, both physical and social, that can feel overwhelming at times. Looking at a map and setting a goal to travel seven miles and 2,000 feet over a high mountain pass, for example, is mighty intimidating. But when students realize that they are capable of accomplishing these sorts of goals, of working through these challenges, they feel a grand sense of empowerment and independence. Setting and accomplishing tangible goals, something that doesn’t happen much in many teenagers’ everyday lives, makes students stronger, more self-aware and independent young adults. They leave Deer Hill inspired to take their newfound personal strength home with them and apply it to situations that arise in everyday life. What’s more, most students discover that the challenges that might have seemed un-surmountable at one point often end up being the most fun they’ve ever had in their lives.
After persevering through a storm or an exhausting day of hiking, when we enjoy the easy times such as lying on a warm rock in the sun and we feel our bodies melt into the transition between the earth, sky, and body, our appreciation for the simple pleasures in life grows like the tall paintbrush that colors the sub-alpine meadows. We have unmeasured gratitude for the food that sustains us, the clean air we breathe, and the company of our newfound friends. We realize that the material things in our everyday lives are not what satisfy us in the long run. We learn to live more simply and in doing so, we are countless times richer in spirit.
And when the sun does not warm our backs and a storm comes, it then that we learn fortitude, humility, self-reliance and teamwork. Rain and hail are cold, the thunder is loud, and we must work hard to stay warm and dry. Each individual must take responsibility for his or her own well-being: if you let your warm clothing get wet or if you don’t know where your rain gear is, there is no four-walled house to crawl into, no hot soup at the push of a microwave button. Self-reliance is perhaps one of the most beneficial qualities that students cultivate on Deer Hill courses, but this independence does not take a backseat to teamwork and cooperation. It is the individual’s responsibility to care for him or herself and perform his or her share of the tasks necessary to live well—cooking, setting up shelter, or purifying water, for example. But it is the group that holds individuals accountable for their own actions, for if somebody does not do their share, another has to do extra or that task does not get done. Difficult though it is, this sort of teamwork creates lasting friendships. I often hear students exclaim that they have become closer friends with their group members on a 21-day course than they are with their friends they’ve known for years. Seeing those bonds form between my students keeps me coming back to Deer Hill year after year.
Maria
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