On the Flight Home

Okay, so the journal I got (from Outward Bound) got soaked in my day bag so I’m basically rewriting all of it. The main overview is: THIS WAS SO AWESOME!! I’m going to apply again for next year. Yayness!!

Our instructors were Trung, Jen and Hana. The girls (all in Girl Scouts) were Lauren, Caitlin, Jenny, Jo, Chelsea, Allison, Katie H, Katie L, Alexis S, Alexis W and me. WOW three Katie’s and two Alexis’s… that’s weird! We come from California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington.

(Pictured: Back row: Chelsea, Allison, Katie L, Lauren, Alexis S, Jo, Alexis W. Middle row: Caitlin, Katie H, Me (Katie D). Front: Jenny).

 

June 13, 2005 - Day One

On the first day, I got up at 4 in the morning! I was tired but so excited! I was actually going to Oregon!! At 5, my dad and I left. We got muffins and donuts… yummy! Then we drove to O’Hare Airport in Chicago. (Apparently I have the Chicago accent… we have a Chicago accent??

When I got to the airport I freaked. I couldn't find Jen; I did not know where I was going so I called my mommy and daddy. They made me feel better! Then I met Chelsea. I was glad to meet someone else going to Oregon Splashdown. Slowly other adventurers came.

After some of us ate we went back to Carousel 10 to find out what laid ahead. We got on a bus that took us 3 hours south to Warm Springs… (That’s an oxymoron because the water in the Deschutes River is cold!! That water comes from warm springs?)

After we arrive at our first campsite we did the “Duffle-Shuffle.” Duffle-Shuffle is where we take all we have and repack only what we need for the week. We learned how to set up our camp by using a tarp, rope, and four paddles!! (I HAVE to teach my Girl Scout troop). By the end of the day, I already had a friend, Alexis S of Louisville, Kentucky.

 

 

Read more of Katie's Journal:

• Day Two "We got offshore and we learned that we were going to purposely tip the boat and get back in."
• Day Three The “PHOENIX 2000”.
• Day Four "Jenny, Katie H, and I got tossed out of the raft!"
• Day Five "We ate lunch; we went another 15 miles for a total of 30 miles."
• Day Six "Finally we arrived at base! REAL CIVILIZATION!!"
• Day Seven "We ate our breakfast and had one last stretch circle."
• Photos View more great pictures of the adventure.

Girl Scouts of the Calumet Council interviewed Katie when she returned from her Studio 2B Destination. Here are a few of the questions we asked and her responses. If you would like to know more about Studio 2B Destinations, visit the web site at http://www.studio2b.org or you can contact the Program Director here at the Service Center by email or by phone at (219) 795-3900.
Q. Would you recommend an experience like this to other Girl Scouts? A. Definitely!	Q. What did you learn? A. I learned different things from Girls Scouts in different states. I also think this will help in a future job, working with people. You have to get along with them. Also, I think we knew each other better than our at home friends because we were together for a full seven days. We supported each other and relied on each other
Q. What did you have to do to go on this trip? A. I had to apply (like all other Girl Scouts). Fill out the application forms and get letters of reference. Important things to note on my application were that I have been away from my home and parents, I did have canoeing and kayaking experience, and I’m a good swimmer.	Q. What did your trip cost and how did you pay for it? A. The trip alone was $1195.00 plus I still had to purchase clothing and plane fare. With permission from the Council, I was able to raise funds by selling purses I made and pretzel mix at a Pond Club Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds. I was also able to get a few people to sponsor me plus a business and even my own troop sponsored me.
Q. What would you say was the hardest part of the whole experience? A. When I got to the airport in Oregon, I realized this was the first time that I was completely by myself. I was a little bit scared but once I saw someone from the group, I was ok	Q. What made you choose this trip? A. This was my first choice and I have been to 30 of the 50 states but never Oregon and I wanted to try rafting. I got picked for another trip but since this was my first choice I went with it.
Q. What would you say to parents that are not sure about sending their daughters on a trip like this? A. Let them do it. It will give them the opportunity to figure out stuff on their own. Our guides never made us do anything that we felt was dangerous.