Summer 2005 Trail Mix

Instructor Training Adds New Faculty!

By Jennifer Antonuccio,
BAWT Faculty Member

This April, BAWT trained 4 new faculty members during our annual instructor training, Olugbala, Cheryl, Caleb and Rico. Teaching them were Program Manager Todd Cooley and instructors Matt Hitchcock and Jennifer Antonuccio.

On Friday afternoon we headed down to Henry Coe State Park, in the hills South of San Jose. We arrived on Friday with plenty of time to hang out, chat and eat before we officially started the training. Such a small group made it very intimate, but also really challenged our creativity in working out the experiential model of the WLT. Some highlights of the weekend included: role-plays; games such as big booty, froggy water, and essence; science education, Matt's shallow mosquito grave; the live oak trees, the beautiful sunshine and the abundant wild flowers; and not to mention the wonderful company!

Our new instructors bring a wealth of experience and passion to BAWT. Rico is a student activities director in a new high school in Watsonville an extensive background in experiential education and working with high school students. Rico has some great games so when you meet, him ask him to share a few! Cheryl has lots of experience working in San Francisco with non profits in both environmental and youth development arenas. Olugbala, (affectionately known as The Kid) has spent the last few years working with youth and doing youth empowerment trainings in Oakland. Caleb is an Oakland middle school science teacher, and also knows the names of most plants, insects and birds in the Bay Area. It was truly educational to walk down the trail with him and absorb a little of his vast knowledge.

It was a treat to train and get to know these terrific new BAWT instructors. It was also great to work with my wonderful Co-Leaders Matt and Todd. Matt is the youth director at the Presidio YMCA, has been a BAWT instructor for 4 years, and has a game for every occasion. Todd has extensive wilderness experience. His calm, and laid-back attitude puts everyone at ease and allows people to have a great time.

Congratulations to our new faculty! I look forward to leading a course with you in the future.