BUTT END
Youth at Risk BY KEVIN CALLAN
I think the high school administrator thought I would give up on taking the group of troubled kids out into the wild after I was told the school board no longer allowed on- water activities, such as canoeing or kayak- ing. I don’t give up that easily. I countered the absurd regulation by changing the pro- posed canoe trip into a backpacking trip. There were no rules against walking. Not yet anyway. Getting permission still wasn’t easy. I had
to jump through hoops to satisfy the para- noid administration, including filling out a 12-page document reminiscent of my taxes that confirmed my trip leading experience. Of chief concern was whether I could handle a bear “situation” if it occurred while we were in the wilderness. Despite detailing the unlikeliness of en-
countering a bear—and my many years han- dling such rare encounters—the trip almost didn’t go ahead. The handwringing and mis- placed fear left me frustrated. Cutbacks, rising costs and the ever-loom- ing threat of litigation are all reasons that
62 | Canoeroots
school boards are more hesitant than ever to green light wilderness trips. It’s the students who miss out. It’s well
documented that outdoor programs en- courage mental and physical health. Out- door adventure exper iences increase self- confidence as students are encouraged to navigate new challenges, manage risks and practice self-care. Immersed in nature, kids can’t help but engage with the curriculum. Plus, they skip class less—there’s 100-per- cent attendance for classes in the wilder- ness. We had discussed what the students
should do if they encountered an unwel- come ursine, but there were no bear en- counters during our weeklong trek in the woods. The only wildlife sighting of note was a porcupine. It was living under an old outhouse and caused one student to let out an unholy scream in the middle of the night. Oh, and a family of raccoons that tried to steal a pair of smelly sneakers. I found out on our return that it was the high school itself that saw all the action.
While we were playing it safe in the wilder-
ness, a black bear took a stroll through the schoolyard on its way to feast in one of the town’s fast food restaurant dumpsters. The high school principal ordered a lock down and a tactical police unit arrived to gun down the bear. The incident made national news. The principal didn’t see the irony of the
situation. Risk isn’t often as obvious as a 400-pound
black bear with a Whopper craving, but it’s a part of everyday life. Risk exists in the wil- derness and on the playground. It’s on the road, on the water and even in your home. It’s inescapable. Better to learn to manage risk and grow from that valuable experience, rather than try to hide from it. By the end of our week in the woods, I
think the students agreed with me. I’m just happy that what we learned on trip can be so readily applied to everyday life. Kevin Callan once scared a bear away from
his daughter’s sixth birthday party with nothing more than a canoe paddle. Follow his adventures at
www.kevincallan.com.
ILLUSTRATION: LORENZO DEL BIANCO
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