September 2015 Newsletter

Gear Party!

Dear Supporter,

As the busy summer comes to a close, Bay Area Wilderness Training is ramping up a few volunteer projects. We need your help on Wednesday, September 23rd for a volunteer night sleeping bag wash. The event will be hosted by Ashley and Lise, who coordinate our Gear Library. In lieu of Gear Corps, our weekly volunteer night, they’ll be walking over to the nearby laundromat and washing 100 sleeping bags between 6-9pm. Come help out, share some pizza, and contribute to our Oakland Gear Library. RSVP HERE

If you can’t make the sleeping bag wash, please come out October 10-11th for the annual BAWT Alumni Backpacking Trip organized by Danelia Lopez and the rest of the Programs Committee. BAWT Alumni and their friends, families, and loved ones are welcome to attend. Some folks will be arriving Friday and some on Saturday and staying through Sunday evening. Register by October 2nd through this form.

As you can see, we’re starting our Fall season off strong, even though two beloved members of the BAWT family are no longer with us. Ed Cavanaugh and Aaron Anderson passed away in 2015; their vision and commitment to getting youth outdoors will always be remembered.

2016 courses are now open for registration. Have a friend or colleague you think should get trained? Want to deepen your wilderness medicine skill set? Ever been snowshoeing? Sign up for one, or several, of our courses offered throughout the year.

See you out on the trail!

Scott Wolland,
Executive Director,
Bay Area Wilderness Training

“I still exist without selfies”

Leadership Public Schools Hayward took a backpacking trip from Mission Peak to Del Valle Regional Park with trip leader Michael McCaffrey. Here’s what one student had to say:

“Over the course of 5 days, 4 nights, and 29 miles of backpacking, I learned a little about myself, about my friends, and about my teachers. When Mr. McCaffrey, our Vice Principal, asked us to share something we’d learned before we left the trail and headed into camp and ‘civilization,’ I had to think.

“As we went around the circle, I realized that I hadn’t been without technology for 3 days since I can remember, and that I hadn’t been more than a few feet from my phone since middle school. I remembered what it was like to have fun before we had phones, and I realized that playing a cheesy game of ‘Would You Rather’ is a way to get to know people beyond stalking their Twitter feed or their Facebook page. I learned that I still exist without selfies. And I want to sign up for backpacking next year.” -Diego L.

Climbing for Kids Success!

Special thanks to the five CFK trips who raised a total of $30,000 to help get youth outdoors

¨ Derek Pickell 

(pictured right): climbed the Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, CA in June 2015. Derek’s route was 30+ pitches in a mix of aid and free climbing that spanned a week between the preparation and actual climb. Derek is a high school senior at Corona Del Mar HS in Newport Beach, CA and is already a seasoned climber and sailboat racer. A few of his thoughts on the outdoors: “I love the dynamic of nature and how everything is always changing season to season and with the weather. It’s this unpredictability that keeps me on my toes, coupled with a certain beauty of nature, that make me give the outdoors utmost respect. Somewhere outside, there is something for everyone. Nature is the best kind of classroom in the sense that you have unlimited ability to explore at your own pace and as you wish.”

¨ Tucker Cullen: hiked the John Muir Trail (JMT) in 22 days from July-August 2015. Tucker is a 16 year old junior at Cardinal Newman HS in Sonoma County, CA. He is an Eagle Scout and an avid adventurer with a passion for the outdoors. In the summer of 2014, Tucker cycled across America, meeting with scout troops along the way to inspire youth to exercise and explore the outdoors. About his inspiration for this trek:  “The January after watching the documentary [“Mile…Mile and a Half”] I spent a long weekend in Yosemite Valley on my scout troop’s annual snow-camping trip. Here I hiked the first few miles of the JMT, up to Nevada Falls, with a few friends of mine. I remember looking at the trail sign at the beginning of the trail that read ‘Mt. Whitney – 211 miles’ and knew then that someday I’d return to do the full JMT.”

¨ Mt. Olympus team: summited Mt. Olympus in Washington in August 2015 with a group of 6 climbers that included Annie Mudge (BAWT Board of Directors), Jim Mittelberger, Nancy Rosenlund, Wade Woodfill, Gordon Wheat, and Megan Hubbard. The three couples all met 18 years ago when their kids were young. Annie shared: “This trip is all about the group endeavor! Being in the wilderness strengthens the bonds of friendship through experiencing difficulty, wonder, and accomplishment.”

¨ Alexandra Lock: ran the San Francisco Marathon in July 2015 and used her participation as a platform to fundraise for BAWT. Alex works for one of BAWT’s partner organizations, PEAK Adventure Travel. She started running races over 10 years ago with her dad and since has developed a passion for running and travel. Her advice for people on getting outdoors: “Go for a walk outside. You don’t have to hike Everest to enjoy the outdoors, you just have to a place that is unfamiliar to you, and take it all in. Life is too short to sit on your couch and stare at a box for hours on end.”

¨ IDEO team: taking a backpacking trip in Emigrant Wilderness, CA coming up in late September 2015. All participants work for IDEO in San Francisco.

“Our group, nicknamed OutsIDEO, believes that all youth should have access to explore and grow in the beautiful and wild areas surrounding the Bay Area.”

2nd Annual Bootprint and Kindling Award Winners

BAWT presents two awards at our Community Celebration in the Presidio

Bootprint Award – Zotunde Morton Program Coordinator, Ujimaa Foundation (pictured right)

Kindling Award – Life Academy, Oakland

BAWT presented our 2nd annual Kindling Award and Bootprint Award to stellar Bay Area youth workers who have embodied BAWT’s mission in the past year.

Kelly Knoche of Life Academy accepted the Kindling Award, but also honored were five other BAWT-trained Life Academy teachers: Jessica Oya, Rowan Driscoll, Shelley Goulder, Christi Carpenter, and Toai Dao. The grade 6-12 school in the Fruitvale District in Oakland has taken 11 youth trips with BAWT gear since January 2014.

We also announced the winner of our Because Of BAWT story-gathering campaign/contest. Katy Noetzel of De Marillac Academy in San Francisco submitted the best video and received a gear package for their school.  

Remembering Aaron Anderson and Ed Cavanaugh

Two friends of BAWT passed away in 2015

 Aaron Anderson (1964-2015)

Aaron was a lifelong educator whose true passion was teaching. Most recently, he was an administrator and instructor at San Francisco State University’s College of Business.

He was a friend, a motivator, a team player, a creative thinker, and a trailblazer. His intellectual curiosity made him an excellent instructor and mentor. Outside his work in education, Aaron was passionate about civil rights and social action, public education, technology, and the environment. He was an avid runner, cyclist, windsurfer, and photographer. He loved the outdoors.

His compassion, creativity, energy, and vibrant presence will be missed tremendously. Aaron passed away on February 7th, 2015. Aaron will be missed by many, including his loving wife Darby Davenport, young boys Clayton and Jeremy, and his mother-in-law Beverly. Aaron, Darby, and Beverly are some of the longest supporters in the BAWT family.  We will remember you, Aaron.

Ed Cavanaugh (1970-2015)

Ed was a devoted teacher at Downtown High School in San Francisco. He was an experienced survivalist, expert motorbike rider, and an avid surfer. Here are a few words about Ed, written by Aaron Gilbert, Program Director at BAWT:

“In July the Outdoor Education community lost one of our greatest champions for experiential education. But more than that, hundreds of young adults lost their mentor and greatest advocate.

“On Friday, August 21st I sat in the crowded auditorium of Downtown High School in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill and listened while colleagues, former students, and community members eulogized, sang, and applauded in rememberance of Ed Cavanaugh. I met Ed 9 years ago when I was leading after school programs in the Mission. I got to know him as a cherished colleague and mentor for youth who joined my programs. While I never got the chance to spend a night or a dozen nights under the stars with Ed, nonetheless I feel this loss deeply.

“For those of you who do not know, Ed was the founding teacher of the Get Out And Learn (G.O.A.L.) at Downtown HS – a continuation school in San Francisco Unified School District. Over the last 14 years, Ed continued to raise the bar both for his students – for which Downtown was a last chance – and for the field of experiential education. Students in his class spent 10-14 days in the Emigrant Wilderness, learned to facilitate youth programs at the Fort Miley ropes course, and built boats in the San Francisco Bay. In the classroom and around school teachers and students remembered Ed for his big personality. He was fun loving, dependable, and had high expectations for his students. The room exploded with laughter when multiple colleagues mentioned Ed’s hugs, which if administered correctly resulted in both Ed and his “hug-ee” rolling on the ground.

“Over the last two years Ed and his co-teacher Erin Waddell have borrowed BAWT gear for their wilderness expeditions. Ed’s partnership with BAWT was just one of so many community partnerships that he built to support the G.O.A.L. program. Today we celebrate Ed Cavanaugh.”

With love, respect, and tears,

Aaron Gilbert

Sign Up for 2016 Courses

*Note that WLT, FLT, and CAPLT courses fulfill requirements for 3 units of graduate-level professional development credit

Wilderness Leadership Training (WLT)-Tahoe Nat’l Forest

• May 18-22, 2016 (Wed-Sun); pre-trip mtg Sat. May 14
• June 15-19, 2016 (Wed-Sun); pre-trip mtg Sat. June 11
• Sept. 14-18, 2016 (Wed-Sun); pre-trip mtg Sat. Sept. 10 

Frontcountry Leadership Training (FLT)

• March 19-20, 2016, Tilden Park; pre-trip mtg Tues. March 15
• April 16-17, 2016, Tilden Park; pre-trip mtg Tues. April 12
• June 20-21, 2016, Sierra Mtns.; pre-trip mtg Tues. June 14
• October 1-2, 2016, South Bay; pre-trip mtg Tues. Sept. 27

Camping At The Presidio Leadership Training (CAPLT) – Presidio, SF

• September 26, 2015 (1-day Sat. training for WLT/FLT Alumni)
• October 24-25, 2015 (Sat-Sun)
• January 30-31, 2016 (Sat-Sun)
• February 20, 2016 (1-day Sat. training for WLT/FLT Alumni)
• March 29-30, 2016 (Tues-Wed)
• June 11, 2016 (1-day Sat. training for WLT/FLT Alumni)
• August 2-3, 2016 (Tues-Wed)
• September 24-25, 2016 (Sat-Sun)
• October 8, 2016 (1-day Sat. training for WLT/FLT Alumni)

Gear Orientation – Oakland BAWT Office*

• October 8, 2015 (Thurs)
• March 15, 2016 (Tues)
• April 12, 2016 (Tues)
• June 14, 2016 (Tues)
• September 7, 2016 (Wed)
• September 27, 2016 (Tues) *at South Bay Gear Library
• November 2, 2016 (Wed)

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) – Oakland, CA

• October 31 & November 1, 2015 (Sat & Sun)
• January 23 & 24, 2016 (Sat & Sun)
• March 5 & 6, 2016 (Sat & Sun)
• October 29 & 30, 2016 (Sat & Sun)

Wilderness First Responder Re-Certification – Hayward, CA

• October 8-10, 2016 (Sat-Mon)

Snowshoe Training – Tahoe National Forest

• February 6, 2016 (Sat); pre-trip mtg Wed. Feb. 3rd