"Best Blog Post Ever" Co-Authored by Three 2015 Leaders

Greetings youngin’s!

This blog post comes to you from the joint minds of William Hilton, Liz Dolgicer, and Emily Bandoni.  We are currently on a patio in sunny Vail Colorado, Sunday morning in our jammies reading the New York Times sipping on Italian espresso of a cappuccino.  We’ve spent the past couple days enjoying the outdoors.  We hail collectively from Miami, Vail and New York City.  We are each leading a different style trip!

            I am William Hilton. I am gettin’ real amphibious real fast, good thing my toes are webbed.  I will be canoeing and hiking around the fourth longest place name, Mooselookmeguntic Lake, in the country.  My co-leader, Ellen Southworth, is currently navigating and guiding folks down the mighty Colorado for the summer.  After spending over five months gallivanting around Peru, I’m back stateside to travel by way of car even more for the next couple months.  Every day I would depart as the sun rose behind not knowing where I would be sleeping last night.  Fleeing from the escaped convicts in upstate New York where I began my journey, I had lots of fun meditating through Iowa and Nebraska with sights set on the West Coast, with aspirations of swimming amongst the seals in Pacific Ocean.

            Xin Chao! My name is Liz, I am from New York City.  After spending five months living abroad in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, I have returned with many spring rolls in my back pockets, ready to take on AESOP 2015.  I have spent my summer days kicking it out on the beach, in Colorado, and in the offices at Christie’s.  I’m super stoked to paddle out on Saco Bay with my co-leader Maxwell Alley.

            Howdy! My name is Emily, my friends call me Lewis.  I was also living the dream in Ho Chi Minh City with Lizzy D.  I have returned back to my home stomping grounds in Ballerado.  Going into my senior year, I am pumped to be leading AESOP round dos with the same wonderful Julian Frederick Bardin.  We will be chilling on the Maine Coast, roasting some weenies, and brawts, discussing post US occupation in Vietnam.  So bring your thinking caps boys and girls, and maybe a buoy because you might drown in the intellect.

            At the start of our first year at Bates College, the three of us all embarked on our separate AESOP journeys and look at us now, chillin’ in Colorado, thanks C. Spencer!  As former AESOPers, we know first hand how valuable the AESOP experience is to the beginning of your college experience.  AESOP inspires you to embrace new adventures in a new state and make new friends. It gets you ready to get into the mindset of socializing and meeting new people!  We are looking forward to meeting Bates class of 2019 and seeing you around campus!  Peace out bob kittens!  

A Tribute to the Leaders

           The first memory you’ll ever have as a Bates student is most likely one that will take place on your AESOP trip; for me this was definitely the case. Of course you remember the first time you meet your leaders and the other students on your trip, but when I say “memory,” I mean your first moment as a Bates student that will stick with you for the rest of your life.

            My AESOP trip was one of the best experiences of my life (no exaggeration). Yes, lobster fishing off the coast of North Haven, Maine (an island off the coast of Maine with a permanent population of 355 people) was one of the most unique experiences of my life, but what truly made the trip remarkable were the people on it. I can genuinely say that I met people on that trip that I will be friends with for the rest of my life, two of these individuals being my two leaders: Abi and Reed.

            Abi and Reed truly became my parents away from home during my freshman year. The connection that these two seniors made with their freshman was remarkable. Whether I had questions about a class, a professor or just something completely random, Abi and Reed were the first people I went to for help. Experienced and extremely rational, Abi and Reed were amazing people to have in my life for my first year of college. In my opinion, my AESOP experience didn’t end when we returned from North Haven, it ended May 29th, the day I finished my freshman year. Whether it was Abi continuously giving me advice about anything and everything or Reed being an amazing and patient barber throughout the year, they were constantly helping me orient my life at Bates. I could also argue that my AESOP experience will never truly end because I know that my relationships with Abi and Reed will be perpetual. The uniqueness of my AESOP trip truly revealed the uniqueness of each person there, especially Abi and Reed.

By first-year Adam Blau

Coordinator Update! Jamo's Summer in NC

Hey y'all!

This is your assistant coordinator Jamo Karsten writing to you from the Montreat Retreat Center in the mountains of western North Carolina.  I am working here this summer as a Wilderness Ranger, a rather impressive title for an otherwise fun and relaxing job that includes public hike leading, trail maintenance, other general labor, and LOTS of time outside!   

A little bit about Montreat; it is a unique community, a blend of Montreat College (liberal arts!!!!), the retreat center which is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, summer 'cottagers', as well as the small town of Montreat itself, all tucked away in a beautiful valley in the Appalachian Mountains.  

This past Friday I attended my first Barn Dance, a Montreat community Friday night tradition, which was an awesome Appalachian cultural experience and an absolute blast!  

The past three summers I worked at a wheat flour mill back in my home state of Michigan, so this new summer lifestyle is certainly a change of pace but it suits me nicely I think.  Summer is already flying by, and before I know it I will be done here August 9, have a week off, and then back to Bates to prepare for AESOP!  I'm so excited to welcome you all to college in perhaps the most exciting and unique way any students begin their college careers anywhere.  Enjoy your summers, have an absolute blast in everything that y'all are doing, and make to sure to stay on top of turning in all of your AESOP information!

Peace and Love,

Jamo  

4 Years of AESOP

Heya! My name's Cailene. This fall I'll be entering my senior year as a geology-loving frisbee enthusiast and I am stoked to celebrate 4 years of AESOP being a part of my life. 

What's the first word to come to mind when I think of AESOP? Utopia. It embodies the essence of Bates. It is a time where Batesies, both seasoned and fresh, come together to enjoy the beautiful wilderness of northern New England, get to know one another and become acquainted with the wonderland that is Bates College. I fell in love with AESOP the second I stepped onto campus in 2012, all bright eyed and bushy-tailed.  My fondness has only intensified with leading trips for the past two (going on three) years. AESOP is one of the best things about Bates for me because it is the first introduction to four years of fun and growth and learning and challenging yourself, all  while soaking in nature's beauty away from the hustle and bustle of the frontcountry. There is no better way to start the transition into a new life chapter than sleeping beneath the stars with sore calves, Annie's-filled bellies, profound conversations and new friends. 

I'd like to tell a little story: I've been hiking ever since I could walk, growing to love the outdoors and the magic that is mountains from a very young age. I'll admit that sometimes backpacking sucks. With burning calves, bruised hips and sweaty skin it isn't always hunky-dory.  But I love it for a reason. Last year I led Pemi II through the beautiful Pemigeewassett Wilderness in New Hampshire with my fearless leader Dana. We had a rockin' crew known as the Fabulous Fox. We tackled 5 peaks and what felt like a million false summits. The problem was, every time we hit a summit we were in the clouds and could see barely a foot in front of us- tough luck, eh? Most of the 'SOPers hadn't backpacked before and it was tough to convince them the hike was worth the pain. Though spirits were high and shenanigans were bountiful, knowing how gorgeous the Whites are had me itching to prove to them it was worth the achy legs. Then, on the last day of the trip, we donned our summiting hats and followed the first patches of blue skies up to Mt. Garfield for one last attempt at 360 views. The view was picture perfect. The energy of the group was radiating and we all felt an incredible sense of accomplishment. Seeing the beaming faces of the backpacking novices after soaking in their first true mountain view was truly magical. Magical for the AESOPers, and magical for me and my co-leader. 

I remember doing all sorts of new things on AESOP my first year, and as a leader it's pretty cool to pass on the torch and be a part of the experience for the next batch of Batesies. Everyone supports one another through the tough stuff, laughs through the rain and celebrates together when the sun is shining and a goal is met. Pardon my cheesiness, but AESOP really is about the journey. It's about meeting new people, getting stanky together, making trail food concoctions, telling embarrassing stories by the campfire and playing endless rounds of contact. Us Batesies are lucky cats to start off our four years of adventure with a bang by hiking or canoeing or climbing or surfing or doing yoga (the lists goes on) with new faces who just might end up being pals for life. 

After spending the past semester frolicking around New Zealand and tramping up all sorts of mountains, I can't WAIT to be back in the states and get my hike on with a whole new crew of bobkittens. Get ready for one of the best adventures of your life, friends. Maybe I'll see some of you on the trail! 

Love & Mountains, 

Cailene 

Welcome to Bates!

By AESOPer Katie Hartnett

Coming to college for the first time is a scary thing. Moving away from home, having to make an entirely new set of friends, and having to sit in class and discuss abstract topics with prestigious professors are all components of college that worried me as an incoming freshman. So naturally what did I do? I signed up for this thing called AESOP. I didn’t know much about AESOP, let alone how to pronounce the word (which is ay-sah-p in case you don’t know either), but I received an enthusiastic email that encouraged me to pick a trip—an offer I couldn’t turn down. There are plenty of reasons why AESOP was the perfect remedy for my pre-college fears: it allowed me to explore Maine in an environment where I didn’t have to worry about any logistics, it provided an space for me to connect with other Batesies on a level much deeper than just a simple introduction, and it was a super fun introduction to the lively culture at Bates before the start of classes!

One very memorable moment from my AESOP trip was when our group summited our first peak. Our leaders had hidden some treats the entire hike up, and we were able to sit on the top of the mountain, enjoy each others company, and share our snack with a really cool through-hiker! It was a hard hike up, but we were able to support each other and truly enjoy the experience of being in the outdoors together. In that moment, looking down at the beautiful wilderness of Maine, I felt like I really was a part of the community at Bates. I knew that if these group-mates were able to support me up the mountain, they would be able to support me through anything in school too. We were able to laugh together, work together, and learn from each other . . . college wasn’t so scary anymore!

I definitely owe my first great taste of Bates to the AESOP program.

AESOP: Better Late Than Never

By AESOP Leader George Merrill

I didn’t manage to get my first taste of AESOP until I was half way through my Bates career. I entered Bates as a transfer student during the spring semester of my freshman year, which meant that I was not able to go on a trip. It wasn’t long before wished I had gotten the opportunity to be a part of this awesome student run program. Even during the spring semester, new friends were asking me which trip I was on and who my leaders were. It quickly became apparent that AESOP is a critical part of the Bates culture as something that builds connections, friendships, and a love for adventure right from the start.

As a sophomore last winter I was still thinking about AESOP. Luckily I found a co-leader for my junior fall, my ticket into the AESOP experience. Late one night while reminiscing about our experiences on NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) courses with my friends Franny and Sarah we somehow figured out that Franny and I had one of the same leaders on both our trips. He was named Fil. A soft spoken IT guy from the Boston area who really showed us both the importance of working closely with other people in harsh and unusual environments. Franny and I realized that this was something that we too were passionate about. Having learned from our own outdoor experiences that nothing brings people together like sleeping in a pile under a tarp in the rain or sitting in a circle and big spooning the rest of a seemingly bottomless mac n cheese pot, we decided we wanted to pursue AESOP as a way to meet new people and pass along what others had shared with us.

After stressing about the AESOP leader application and showing up to our interview unnecessarily overwhelmed, we were given a trip! The next fall we both learned just how cool AESOP really is. We spent a week preparing with everything from sorting out food, to getting WFA certified, to going on our leader trip, one of the biggest perks of being a leader. At the end of the week, the new students arrived and we began our awkward introductions featuring the most pleasantly uncomfortable games such as pterodactyl and mingle. The following day we pushed off with an embarrassing assortment of middle school jams playing on the stereo in the van. Our drive took us about two hours to Pinkham Notch at the foot of Mount Washington where we would begin our hike across a section of the Presidential Traverse.

Like many new groups of people, we were all a little quiet at first as we talked about life at Bates and past hiking experiences on our way up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. The group got even quieter as we neared the summit of Mount Washington. A thick fog had set in and we were greeted with howling winds and freezing rain at the top. Very few words were spoken as we hurried down the alpine garden on the backside of the mountain. Since the weather looked a little ominous, we all agreed that it would be best to take a lower route around all of the peaks we had planned for the day. Then, just as we reached the foot of Mount Clay, our next summit, the sun broke through the clouds. Everyone’s mood seemed to lift up a bit and we enthusiastically decided to go back to our original plan and gain some more elevation, good views, and summit Sour Patch Kids.

That night at the Valley Way tentsite we got a chance to look back upon our eventful day. Our group had a broad range of hiking experience under their belts, yet everyone felt accomplished, having climbed New England’s highest mountain and having already met cool new people before the semester had even started.

It was clear that everyone’s comfort levels changed over the course of our four day trip to the Whites. Many of the people in the group started the trip unsure of their hiking abilities and what Bates had in store for them, but we all headed back to Bates feeling accomplished and ready to start the school year. I think that transition is what I like most about the AESOP experience.