When Ankle-deep Mud is a Blessing - A Summer in the White Mountains with the Randolph Mountain Club

Hey guys! My name's Jordan. I'm one of the assistant coordinators (along with Nat and Sasha) for this years AESOP program.

I hope the summer is treating you well because it certainly is being quite kind to me.  I’m up in the northern Presidential Range of New Hampshire half-way through my third season of trail work with the Randolph Mountain Club.  As part of my job I spend most of my time camped in the woods at project sights and am therefore very in-tune with whether patterns.  This summer has been gloriously beautiful.  Most of my project sites have only had ankle-deep mud rather than knee deep quagmires, which I became accustomed to last season where it rained more often than not.  BUT that’s New England for ya.  Don’t like the weather?  Wait five minutes and it will change.  But let’s be real; I am being paid to play in the mud with some wonderful people in an amazing place so I can hardly complain.

When I’m out of the woods I usually don’t stray too far from my mountains and often spend my free time climbing, running, and biking them.  I had this past week off from work in order to keep my body from falling to far into dilapidation (trail work is HARD but very rewarding).  On Thursday I was able to join with one of my geology professors (I’m a geology major), and some fellow Batesies for a day of bedrock-mapping in the Northern Presidentials.  The day consisted of an adventurous bush-whack along a stream system with the perfect combination of exertion (both mental and physical), pleasant conversation, and smiles.  The return to Randolph yielded soggy feet, the content silence often following a day of hard work, and a bag of wild Chantrelles (a type of delicious wild mushroom). 

On the very few occasions where I am not playing or working in the woods I am occupied with perfecting the details of a small business venture that a few friends and I began last year with Bates dining. More importantly though, I spend my time daydreaming about AESOP and concocting plans to make this year unforgettable! 

I am very excited to meet you all in August (jeesh… which is next month!!!!).  If you’re interested in learning a little more about where I’m from, what makes me tick, and the New England outdoors in general, feel free to email me at jcargill@bates.edu

Jordan (left), ankle-deep in mud, loving life

Jordan, wearing a straw hat, climbing, loving life

Because I’m a Batesie, and we’re weird like that.

Dearest and Most Esteemed ‘SOPers-

My name is Beau Sperry, I'm a senior English major, and I will be valiantly co-leading the Odyssean journey known only as “Maine Coastal Chillin II,” an arduous undertaking during which we will abstain from such biological necessities as quinoa and Wi-Fi in order to become one with “le Bobcat.”  Boomslam.  The current coordinating regime (mostly Bryan) asked me to write a brief post about who I am and what I’m up to this summer in preparation for AESOP, so here we are.  I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and have returned home after spending a year and a Short Term abroad.  I am currently working as a research consultant in the Department of Biomedical Ethics and Humanities at the University of Utah School of Medicine.  I’m leading a pilot project for the NIH concerning new tech approaches to informed consent (rhetorical question: when was the last time anyone actually read a pamphlet at a doctor’s office? Sweetest answer ever: there’s [going to be] an app for that) and conducting literature reviews on the ethical standards behind newborn whole-genome sequencing as a method for prophylactic care and the broadened conception of public and private benefit and loss that arises from screening.  At this point you may be thinking, “Why would an English major pursue Bioethics?”  Here’s the answer:

Because I’m a Batesie, and we’re weird like that. 

Glad to have you aboard.

So after leaving the lab one day I realized that I was in Utah, one of the most geographically diverse and striking regions in the world.  Shortly after this epiphany, I called up fellow leader and vision of awesomeness Sophie Pellegrini and queried, “yo, can we like, spend a week and a half backpacking through southern Utah doe?” Subsequently, I learned that when you ask someone something that awesome there’s really only one answer.  So we’re about to do that, and my hypedness knows no bounds.  Despite the fact that the geography of southern Utah differs slightly from Coastal Maine (http://natekat.com/2011/05/10/zion-day-4-angels-landing/), we AESOP leaders like to be, you know, prepared for anything.  With any luck, this trip will be half as awesome as AESOP will be.  That may be asking too much, but we’ll keep you posted anyhow.

So excited to meet everyone and immediately be reminded of why Bates, Batesies, and Maine are magnificent beyond description. 

Lastly, feel free to shoot me an email with any questions about summer, ‘SOP, or school, I’m happy to answer them! (bsperry@bates.edu)

Yours, amicably (brah)—Beau  

Sasha Moving Stacks (of Magazines)

Welcome to the AESOP Blog! I'm so happy you made your way here. My name's Sasha and I'm one of the assistant coordinators for this year's AESOP program.

Summer is one of the best times of year--no homework, beach days, family vacation, and strawberries. But recently I have been feeling like AESOP is the best time of year.

Don't get me wrong; I love my time in the sun. I have been interning at the Maine Media Collective, a company that produces three magazines, guides to doing various activities in the state, look books, a radio show, and some awesome stickers. The company has an art collector department, sponsors over 70 nonprofits, produces a food and wine festival on the coast, and features the culture of the state. All in all pretty impressive small business with incredible people. It’s unlike any job I have ever had--fast paced, rewarding, and genuinely fun. If you are interested, the three magazines titles Maine Magazine, Maine Home+Design Magazine, and Old Port Magazine, all really fun to browse with unique stories that perfectly capture the great state of Maine. 

While the beach, my job, and the New York Times bestseller list are all awesome, AESOP is going to be an amazing and wild ride. The best summer activities (hiking, biking, backpacking, canoeing, base camping) happen during AESOP week, and as much as I love my family, I'm ready to get out there with some pretty great people and make friends I'll have for the rest of college. I know this may sound like an annoying push for AESOP, but what could be better than a week dedicated exclusively to fun with the best student leaders around? Not much. Hence the best time of year. 

Anyway, enjoy whatever it is your doing this summer and I'll see you soon!

#NatLife

Hello!

I am one of the assistant coordinators, and I’m writing to give you all an update on what I’m up to this summer. As you all know from my bio on the “Meet the coordinators” page which I’m sure all of you have read and memorized, I am from Vermont and am living here this summer.

I am currently working for the Governor of Vermont on his re election campaign. I am doing communications for the campaign as well as some field work. Day to day I run the Governor’s facebook page, twitter and handle all campaign problems. I have never before tweeted, and so I have had to master the 140 character message quickly (conclusion: twitter is dumb). I really love politics and this is the third campaign I have worked on. On my previous campaigns I was a field organizer so I spent a lot of time organizing people and events. But this time around I mainly work from my office in Burlington VT (if you’re from this area and want to meet up and talk Bates/AESOP give me a holla!!) This job is pretty interesting and I work with great people. But that being said, I am learning that a desk job might not be right for me.

As you have found out from my bio (just read my bio jeez) I really like being outside. I think that my co coordinators would agree that we all get agitated being inside for too long. Often, I stare out my office windows and dream of hiking and biking. In my free time I have been cycling a lot. I am living in Stowe Vt, which is home to Vermont’s tallest mountain Mount Mansfield. The ride I like the best is the notch between mansfield and another ski area, Smugglers notch. This ride is awesome but basically almost kills you. With a set of extremely steep switchbacks at the top you think that you may go into cardiac arrest but just as you almost pass out you reach the top. Its way better than it sounds.

Other than biking, I hike a lot, eat a lot and look for swimming holes. I have also been preparing for my semester abroad this fall. After we send you guys out on trips, I am hopping on a plane to Nepal! I have been reading up on Kathmandu where I will be living for three months, and I’m getting a little nervous about going. Also very excited. Thats pretty much it! All and all its been a great summer so far and I’m really looking forward to coming back to Bates in August. Spending my last days in the States with my co coordinators and AESOP leaders is going to be the perfect sendoff. I can’t wait.

Lastly, here are some tips for your summer after you graduate high school/before you come to Bates: relax. a lot. Have fun. You’ve gotten into a great school, be happy. Don’t worry about Bates because AESOP is the best thing you will ever do until you lead an AESOP.

Feel free to email me and ask me questions if you want! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Nat

nsilver@bates.edu