Several years ago, I took a large group of children on a hike to St. Andrews Mountain as part of my Adventures Hiking program. It was a very rainy day and the kids were all excited. It was a difficult hike up the hill, there were problems getting their footing, hikers were slipping back, it was difficult. Too the kids it was a dangerous experience but I knew it was safe. I got them to help each other up the mountain and we all made it out of the trail (wooded area) fine and in good time all things considered.
When we were out of the wooded area, the children were happy. We then walk up the hill, using the paved road to the very top of the mountain. when we got to the top of the Mountain, it was priceless to see the look of awe on their faces. They got the opportunity to see St. Vincent and the Grenadines from a different prospective. They got to see Vermont on the leeward course, and what I believed or “seems like” Argyle on the windward the Grenadines islands and so much more.
We sat and enjoy the beauty of the view, while we had lunch; after which, it was time to make the long journey down the extremely steep, pave road, which the children seem to enjoy. On our way down the pave road, some of the hikers suggested we use the pave road via Lowmans Leeward on our journey back to Kingstown. But I pay them no mind.
Then we reach the path to the wooded area of the hike: the mountain trail. We rested there for a while, then I give the instruction, its time to go. I had two young members of the St. Vincent Cadet Corp on the hike also. When the troops realized that I have decided to use the wooded path on the journey down the hill, it was pandemonium, some of the children began to cry, some called their parents and told their parents that I am trying to kill them while others insisted that they are not going down the wooded path and I cannot make them walk that path.
I said to them, in stern serious tone, your parents give me the responsibility for each of you; if anything happen to any of you I am responsible. I further said we are all walking the wooded path down the hill and we all walked the wooden path down no exceptions. There were children from all over Kingstown including Bottom and Town Paul’s Avenue, there were children from the leeward and the windward side of the island; there were also Primary and secondary school children on the hike.
So I led the way down the hill, and with no exceptions all of the participants of the hike followed. Before we reach the difficult area, I put them in particular order for the difficult journey down the hill. I have been watching them over the past week, I knew their strength and their weakness and who worked best with whom. I reassure them that it was not as hard as it seems, then I give them safety instructions as I always do; however, my words were not enough to quiet their anxiety, to chase away their fears or to stop the tears.
When we were out of the wooded area, the children were happy. We then walk up the hill, using the paved road to the very top of the mountain. when we got to the top of the Mountain, it was priceless to see the look of awe on their faces. They got the opportunity to see St. Vincent and the Grenadines from a different prospective. They got to see Vermont on the leeward course, and what I believed or “seems like” Argyle on the windward the Grenadines islands and so much more.
We sat and enjoy the beauty of the view, while we had lunch; after which, it was time to make the long journey down the extremely steep, pave road, which the children seem to enjoy. On our way down the pave road, some of the hikers suggested we use the pave road via Lowmans Leeward on our journey back to Kingstown. But I pay them no mind.
Then we reach the path to the wooded area of the hike: the mountain trail. We rested there for a while, then I give the instruction, its time to go. I had two young members of the St. Vincent Cadet Corp on the hike also. When the troops realized that I have decided to use the wooded path on the journey down the hill, it was pandemonium, some of the children began to cry, some called their parents and told their parents that I am trying to kill them while others insisted that they are not going down the wooded path and I cannot make them walk that path.
I said to them, in stern serious tone, your parents give me the responsibility for each of you; if anything happen to any of you I am responsible. I further said we are all walking the wooded path down the hill and we all walked the wooden path down no exceptions. There were children from all over Kingstown including Bottom and Town Paul’s Avenue, there were children from the leeward and the windward side of the island; there were also Primary and secondary school children on the hike.
So I led the way down the hill, and with no exceptions all of the participants of the hike followed. Before we reach the difficult area, I put them in particular order for the difficult journey down the hill. I have been watching them over the past week, I knew their strength and their weakness and who worked best with whom. I reassure them that it was not as hard as it seems, then I give them safety instructions as I always do; however, my words were not enough to quiet their anxiety, to chase away their fears or to stop the tears.
My instructions to the dismayed hikers were as follows:
1. Take your time; get a good footing before you move your entire body down.
2. In very difficult areas, help the person inform of you and the person behind you.
3. Let the person behind you know where is the best place to hold on to and to put their feet in other words coach them in to how best to move from the level you have just come from.
The journey down was long and difficult one; however, very soon the hikers stop focusing on the danger of the journey and they began to focused on their safety and helping their fellow hikers along the journey, each person providing help where they could and asking for assistance when they needed it. They were still apprehensive but they move and spoke with a confidence, I have not saw and or herd from none of them before, not even the cadet.
When the feet of those children touch the street at what marked the end of the wooded trail, I heard a big eruption, of voices, a grandiose shout erupted from among the hikers; I was shocked and very overwhelmed at what I say next. They were hugging each other, giving each other high fives, patting each other on the backs, while they all danced in the street. There were no music yet they danced. They all felt the pride and the joy of accomplishment. The music was the courage they all employed to overcome their fear; even the shy, was fearless and publicly did their version of the dance of accomplishment; they all had faced their fears, the put in the efforts and they all had triumph over that which they were afraid of.
Some of the hikers came to me and said, Mr. Palmer, I am happy that you made us walk the trail. while when asked, others said, expressed their joy of not walking the pave seemingly safe path. These children had never felt the way it felt to watch danger in its eyes, tackle it and win. They have tasted the trill of Victory.
1. Take your time; get a good footing before you move your entire body down.
2. In very difficult areas, help the person inform of you and the person behind you.
3. Let the person behind you know where is the best place to hold on to and to put their feet in other words coach them in to how best to move from the level you have just come from.
The journey down was long and difficult one; however, very soon the hikers stop focusing on the danger of the journey and they began to focused on their safety and helping their fellow hikers along the journey, each person providing help where they could and asking for assistance when they needed it. They were still apprehensive but they move and spoke with a confidence, I have not saw and or herd from none of them before, not even the cadet.
When the feet of those children touch the street at what marked the end of the wooded trail, I heard a big eruption, of voices, a grandiose shout erupted from among the hikers; I was shocked and very overwhelmed at what I say next. They were hugging each other, giving each other high fives, patting each other on the backs, while they all danced in the street. There were no music yet they danced. They all felt the pride and the joy of accomplishment. The music was the courage they all employed to overcome their fear; even the shy, was fearless and publicly did their version of the dance of accomplishment; they all had faced their fears, the put in the efforts and they all had triumph over that which they were afraid of.
Some of the hikers came to me and said, Mr. Palmer, I am happy that you made us walk the trail. while when asked, others said, expressed their joy of not walking the pave seemingly safe path. These children had never felt the way it felt to watch danger in its eyes, tackle it and win. They have tasted the trill of Victory.
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