MY NAME IS JULIE KUPER and I participated in the Hurricane Island Spring Break Outward Bound Program in March of 2013. Going into the program, I did not know what to expect of its activities and expectations, how I was personally going to handle those expectations, or who the people were that I would be spending every second of every day of the next week with. Needless to say, it was quite a surprise and quite an adventure.
A NEW ENVIRONMENT
I remember when I first laid eyes on the boat we would be taking; I thought it was a joke! Thirteen people on a thirty foot boat for eight days sounded crazy. There was no privacy, no shade, and no running water; I don’t know what I expected, but I certainly thought there would at least be a place to change.
We had to get up every morning at 7:00 AM, which wasn’t that difficult because I was still on a school schedule. It was, however, quite difficult to get up, pack up the sleeping bags, roll back the tarp, and change into our bathing suits before jumping into the freezing cold salty water in a short period of time. I found that this got easier every day, and once we got back on the boat to get changed into regular clothes, I always felt refreshed and wide awake, and so I understood its purpose. We were all a little uneasy to get changed so close to one another, but as time went on, we were able to trust that everyone respected each other’s privacy when someone called “eyes away,” and we all decided to repeat it so that the call was confirmed.
We learned very quickly that we needed this trust and cooperation in order to complete any task while sailing, or rowing. Two people had to be sheeting and cleating the sails on both sides of the boat, working the tiller, keeping an eye on the centerboard and the point of sail, sitting at the bow watching for shallow water, and navigating so that the captain of the day knew where to go. It really did take all of us as active participants with good communication in order to sail successfully. When rowing, some of us needed help getting the oars out and putting them away, someone willing to switch out with them when they got tired, and still others to count off in what we called a “power ten” to keep everyone motivated. Through all of these activities and so much more, we bonded and made some of the best friends we’ve ever had.
LEARNING AND TRUSTING EACH OTHER AND THE INSTRUCTORS
While we learned a lot from each other, we also learned countless things from our instructors, Adam and ‘T.’ These people were very unlike others we have met before, in that they had been on so many adventures in so many different places. I felt odd getting on a boat with two adults I did not know, going somewhere I hadn’t the slightest clue, but I got to know them and trusted them within the first day or so. When I needed an explanation as to how to work something, I would get it right away. Even when I needed sunscreen, Adam let me use some of his own personal sun block, and T let me use her aloe. I feel very lucky to have been placed on their boat; they have only reiterated the goals I have for my future, and inspired me to pursue them.
“GOOD NIGHT, I LOVE YOU GUYS”
This trip broke the barriers we all live in, in our normal, day-to-day lives. Whether it’s telling people to look away so that you can use the bathroom, or simply admitting to them that you need their help. The people that I took this adventure with have seen me at my worst – I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I smelled bad, everything. Yet, we are still talking and making plans, even now after we’re home.
Sometimes, at evening meetings or when we were getting in our sleeping bags under the tarp on the boat, someone would say “good night, I love you guys.” It was a joke at first, but I truly believe we all began to mean it. This is what happens when you learn to work really well with a group of people; when you must look to them in order to complete numerous tasks in a period of time, and when you must depend on them for your own success.
I learned so much about myself, and came home more confident than I have ever been in my entire life because I was able to conquer some of my greatest fears while on this trip. I will forever remember this trip because it made such a significant difference in my life – I have conquered the ocean and I have conquered myself, but it feels like I have conquered the world.
- See more photos from the 2013 Collier County Spring Break course