Michael Lothrop - 5/23/09
Hi! In the spring of 1997 (I think) I was an eighth grade student from Rockland Maine. Our class went on an Outward Bound trip hiking from Newry,Maine on the AT down to about Chatham, New Hamsphire. It was only about a five day program, but quite a large undertaking for an entire class.
To be entirely honest, I didn't know what I was getting into at the time. While I was there, I didn't like it too much. Something special happened to me on that trip however. My experience on Outward Bound sparked an interest in conservation and wildlife stewardship that has carried with me to this day.
When I entered high school I became a distance runner. To push through some of the more challenging parts of my sport I dug deep and remembered pushing through some of the more challenging parts of my hike on OB. My greater health led me to canoeing and hiking regularly. I used my skills learned on OB to be prepared and safe when I entered the woods.
Now, several years later, life has returned me to where I went on OB. One of my jobs is working as a part time police officer in a town bordering Chatham,NH. I gave frequently at the same mountains I backpacked across as a teen. I frequently patrol the Saco River during the summer and the back country of town year-round. I also am freuqently called to other parts of the county to assist other police agencies.
Whether it is for work or for recreation, I certainly enjoy using my skills learned on OB.
