Outward Bound Memoir
By Morgan Jones
Midtown Academy, 8th grade
11/16/09: I was at the Outward Bound home base, and I was the first girl to touch the rope, hoping that when I came down, my friends be there cheering me on. It was the first day of the Outward Bound Urban Expedition, and I had started and finished one of the course challenges at the base, a metaphor of what would happen throughout the week. We would be away from our families without any contact, hiking around Baltimore, sleeping at different locations and having to be away from the boys … for one whole week.
Later, we assigned roles for the day, put on our backpacks and headed out to the van that would take us to our first sleeping spot. Our instructors, Ms. Katie and Ms.Leana, told everyone that while the cooks were doing their job, we needed to get ready for the night. As the girls in the 8th-grade class rushed to the bathroom, cooks Aaliyah and Marieme got to cookin’. After we ate, it was time for evening meeting. We discussed our challenges from today and gave shout-outs to people. I reported on an article in the newspaper, and then we discussed what was happening the next day. Later, it was talk time, then a poem—and then bed.
11/17/09: I woke up, and then my friends and I got ready for morning circle, where we assigned new jobs and did stretches to get ready for the day. We ate and cleanded up so we could do community service. We raked leaves, using our teamwork and leadership skills. Then we were out the doors.
Today we went to the American Visionary Arts Museum (AVAM) and then walked to Federal Hill, where we had a great view to eat lunch. Later, we walked downward to work on an acting exercise to teach us different ways to talk to people. Then we headed to Living Classrooms Foundation, where we would sleep. For dinner, we had curry and played a game of charades.
11/18/09: Today we had solo time in Patterson Park to write about our experiences. Of course, we did it outside in the freezing cold, but it was all good because I got to nap outside under a peaceful tree. After that, we went to the Baltimore American Indian Center. It was a great experience, though also sad because we didn’t want to leave. That night, we slept at the creepy Clifton Mansion, rumored to house ghosts of children.
11/19/09: Today was dreadful. We had to walk in the freezing, numbing rain. Several of my group mates were irritating me (ugh). This day did have its ups, though. We went to the supermarket and got some chicken (no red meat this week ... hey, that rhymes) and some brownies. It was our last day, and we needed a treat.
11/20/09: Today we're going home, and I will miss the experience. Tear.
