Project 4

We're back in Vinton for the transition before our very last project. This is going to go very fast, so let's spend a minute together, and talk about goals.

I've been saying all year that this was a selfish move, a trip for me, some time away, some time to think, and while that's still true, now I see how things are changing at my hand. You don't have to be a leader to volunteer, but if you want to be a leader you have to volunteer. I'm the ATL (Assistant Team Leader) for this project, and that means a lot of responsibility.

So, I might be a little drunk with power...

The team is going into this last round on a good note. What's the project you ask? Well DANG I'm glad you did. Oak 7 will be in Shawnee National Forest for the next six weeks. We're trailblazing, and building bridges, sleeping in tents on the weekdays and a nice cabin on the weekends. Amazingly, we will have technology on the weekends, but that's limited to television as there isn't a good cell phone signal out there. No internet. You won't hear from me for six weeks. The only contact I'll have is when I can make it to town, maybe a couple times in the whole round, and when I come to Nashville for spring break weekend (March 27-29).


I'm excited to drop off the map because it's something I've tried many times living in the city. I like to get lost in the culture, and not tell anyone where I'm going; of course I still knew where everyone else was. For the last eight months, I've been here, and everything else has been moving -- I don't know where my friends are, what they're up to, who they hang out with... I kind of like that. I'll be in the woods for six weeks, and who gets to do that? I think in the forest time will disappear.

So back to the theme: Projects. I've got a lot of them, so here they are:

1. Since planning the Zombie Game I haven't had a way to express myself creatively the same way. I realize now that these games come from my Mom who has unknowningly instilled my greatest passion. It started with "Go to the place" I think, which may have been a joint venture from my parents (don't want to leave out the credit). Basically it was one trail of clues, gruesome if requested, that led to a prize. "Go to the place where the carcass waits to be prepared" and then there's a slip of paper in the meat drawer to go somewhere else. Well this is what I'm planning with my team.

I'm pairing them all up with someone who they haven't made the most significant relationship with and they'll follow the trail. My bread crumbs will be Tarot cards that describe the relationship between the pairs. It will eventually lead them to where they will need to camp out for the evening. I hope it works well.

2. I'm going to restructure the team as follows:
Will is the chain of command.
I am his liason to the rest of the team.
2 "Toon Leaders" will lead 2 Corps members each. I will train the next 2 toon leaders at that time. That way there will be 3 clusters of 3 Corps members. Damn, what an excellent idea. Where would I get that from... Ender's Game. Read it.

3. The team will be constructing a shelter in the woods. At the end of our stay we will take it completely apart leaving no trace.

4. My service learning for this round is to teach my teammates all about the constellations, that means I need to learn about them. I've got a book, and I'm ready for this.

By the way, when we camp out, we'll be living on a bluff. The campsite is next to a cliff, with a winding road down the side of a hill to a creek underneath. Every day think of Colin washing in a cold river, hiking to work, sitting around fires, looking at stars, making puzzles, reading philosophy, eating camp food and generally loving the paid vacation.

Time to keep getting ready to go. Tell the internet I'll miss 'er.