By: Dan Leroy

"The trip brought the group a little closer. Climbing up on that mountain made me realize that if want to, I can be successful in any challenge." Asheville GO Member, Kelvin Bonilla

The fall cycle of the 2009-2010 Asheville GO program began on September 1st with a 4 day wilderness/orientation retreat. The goals of the retreat included helping members feel more comfortable and familiar with our local ecosystems, establishing clear program expectations and norms, and sowing seeds that will be important themes throughout the program.

The trip began with a day and a night at the 4-H camp in Swannanoa, where members were able to get acquainted with each other on the football field and basketball court. Local youth advocate, natural health practitioner and Green Brothers founder Accem Scott spoke to the group about the importance of goals and a mission. Then the new members worked together with staff to develop policies for the program governing attire, attendance, and professional behavior. That evening, the members were joined by GO staff and board members for a barbecue and campfire.

The next morning wilderness instructors Greg Gillette and Beth Hockman from Asheville TAASC arrived to lead the team in a full morning of team-building initiatives before heading to the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard where the team embarked in a three-day excursion. The trail took them through rhododendron groves, past beaver dams, and over Cedar Rock. They were joined by local ecologist Josh Kelly who showed the members how to identify (and cook) wild mushrooms, how to start a fire without a match or a lighter, and a lot more.

All ten of the members who began the trip completed it, and on the way out, the team created a "charter" that defines how they plan to function as a group for the year. 

Click here for a slideshow with photos from the trip.