Minutes from Boston - NOLS Grads Hit the Trails

This Saturday, July 16th, Boston-area NOLS alumni and friends will be hiking in the Blue Hills Reservation just south of the city. The exact route in this 7,000 acre oasis isn't determined yet, but we will meet around 9AM at the reservation. Phil Shepherd leads this trip, so if you are interested, e-mail him at psheph@gmail.com.

Isn't it time you dusted off your hiking boots?

NYC Book Group Devours Wolves & Honey - Memoir of the Finger Lakes

Join the NOLS NYC Alumni Book Group on Tuesday, July 12 to discuss Wolves and Honey: A Hidden History of the Natural World.

DETAILS:

BOOK: Wolves and Honey: A Hidden History of the Natural World by Susan Brind Morrow (this isn't the easiest book in the world to get hold of so order or take out of library now).

WHEN: Tuesday, July 12th at 7:30 pm

WHERE: The Half King (hopefully we can get a table in the back garden) 505 West 23rd at 10th Ave.

RSVP: Kristen Daly - hobsondaly@aol.com or 917 309 0042

BACKGROUND: From Publishers Weekly

In this lyrical memoir, Morrow (The Names of Things) muses on New York State's Finger Lake region, where she grew up. Her ruminations are loosely based on her memories of two men-one a trapper, the other a beekeeper-whose ability to connect with nature had a profound influence on the way she views the world. In a poetic narrative, she contemplates the natural history of the area and tells of the people who have inhabited it-the Seneca, spiritualists, fur traders, artists, scholars, scientists and nurserymen. Morrow goes beyond the obvious, allowing each observation to remind her of something else and searching for the inner meaning of words. The sight of a flock of crows, for example, reminds her of a poem by the Greek poet Pindar, and this leads to a meditation on what it means to be a poet. The apple tree, which grows so plentifully in the region, is a "talisman that one could follow through the layers of Finger Lake soil, through layers of memory and history," and this prompts thoughts on the Swedenborgian missionary John Chapman (known as Johnny Appleseed), spiritualism, the molecular structure of sweetness, Lucretius and the origin of apples in the mountains of Kazakhstan. Morrow's language is rich and sensuous, for she thinks like a poet.

Behind the Scenes - Julie Hwang Spouts Off

NOLS values its people on every level. Whether they are students, parents, branch crew, office staff, board members, interns, or alumni representatives, each and every person plays an integral role in the life of the organization.

Today we met over coffee with Julie Hwang, publications intern and NOLS PNW Semester graduate. Julie was a contributing writer for the spring and summer issues of the Leader in 2005. She also conducted numerous interviews with NOLS employees for the NOLS website, which can be found under “Staff Profiles.”

NOLS: Julie, was this your first publication experience?
Julie: No, I wrote a few pieces for my school newspapers, but this is the first time I’ve helped put the whole thing together. From content meetings, to writing, to press check to the celebratory dinner— the whole enchilada.

NOLS: What’s your best outdoor memory at NOLS?
Julie: We were descending Glacier Peak after being snowed in for days. We slipped and slid downhill through the rain and snow for hours- but you know what? Everyone’s spirits were way up. The worse the weather got, the better we functioned as a team. Once we found the trail, we realized that no group would share that exact experience again— it was totally great spirits and really hard times.

NOLS: What do you do for fun here in Lander?
Julie: I do a bit of everything, running, climbing, croquet... I like the Global Café too— good music and droolin' good food.

NOLS:Speaking of food, what’s your favorite NOLS field dish?
Julie: On my semester, we made a sort of gloppy macs-n-cheese with cream o’ chicken soup— add some soy and it's a little bowl of heaven. Yum.

NOLS: If you were going to max out your credit card, where would you do it?
Julie: Powell’s Bookstore in Portland, Oregon. That place is awesome. Barbara Kingsolver novels are my passion. Louis L’Amour is a close second.

NOLS: What was your favorite part of working for NOLS?
Julie: Getting the chance to meet so many inspiring people… and getting behind the scenes for an organization that makes such amazing things happen.

Days of the Condors - Alumni Greet Rare Wildlife

Eleven NOLS Alumni Trip participants and two instructors recently had the opportunity to mountain bike along Arizona's Grand Canyon North Rim. During the four-day trip, bold California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) were close enough for great cliff-side camera shots.

These endangered vultures were almost wiped out by human predation, pesticides and habitat loss— in 1979, only 25-35 birds were estimated to exist in the wild. Since then, increased protection and breeding programs have increased the numbers of the huge (~10 foot wing span, weighing up to 30 lbs), keen-eyed birds.

NOLS expeditions of all types link people with wild places— and sometimes, with truly amazing and rare wildlife.

/s/Rich Brame
NOLS Alumni Relations Manager