Author: Margaret Staller

dear reader,

i have one word for you and one word only: blue. no, it isn’t just the name of the adorable and incredibly intuitive dog on blue’s clues. it is a mood, a type of jeans, my favorite color, a berry. we can all strive to be blue: flexible, honest, loyal. blue is a way of life. it is SO MUCH MORE than a color. ode to blue! but most importantly, it’s the color of the sky! wait- shouldn’t you be outside now?

alas, here is a summary taken from the inside of what we done did in the outside:

what we done did

• joseph was very much outside in WFR / megan in WEMT course
  • lots of fake blood, FIRE, megan was crying, gross, ahhhhhh
• grace strapped some planks on her feet for corduroy frozen water adventure
  • she went to flagstaff hut
  • lots of sweat
• olivia went for a pretty cute jaunt in the arb
• hannah got lost near the apts and went rock climbing in the forest
  • this is apparently a relatable issue
• abby went skiing at quarry road
  • it was “wild”, she saw a soft and fluffy teenage dog!

what we gon do

• bentley and megan are going to round top on sunday
  • it will be SUPER FUN come with us
• joseph is looking for a future co-lead
• keenan might want some snowshoeing adventures
  • chat with him re: co-lead
• colleen and dom are going to boston! for the ansel adams exhibit
  • keenan is overwhelmed by the prospect
• michael is down to lead a trip, he likes outside
• kaitlin wants to xc ski to grand falls hut

annual survey

• we want your feedback! on trips, leadership, communication etc.
• fill it out HERE to win prizes!
• we are especially looking for non-member feedback
• PLEASE publicize this link to your friends

office hours

• 7-8pm monday-thursday, 10-10:45 am friday
• please check out gear DURING office hours
  • the 6 people with the gear code will appreciate this!

cabin wood

• the cabin is being reloaded with wood (people could DIE)
• dean wants help lugging it in! friday afternoon
  • also some trash pack out…

coot apps

• the application is live! closes thursday at 11:55pm
• coot is awesome! not just about being “outdoorsy”
• the app does take some time, please look at it before thursday!

d&i!

• we have great candidates- check out their platforms!
  • colleen george
  • joseph savage
  • lacey wright

question of the week

• loaves of toast?
  • yay 8
  • nay 11
• the whole concept is weird man

bigelow buds

• gear
  • absent
  • gear is FREE to borrow!
  • please return borrowed gear!
  • working on new ski poles, ski storage
  • have a suggestion for new gear? contact us!
    • NOT rollerblades
• trips
  • spring LTTs in the works- waiting for winter to thaw
    • if it “continues to winter”- cabin LTT
  • trying to reform LTT curriculum
    • looking for feedback, contact keenan or michael
  • looking to become a leader trainer? contact keenan or michael!
• cabin
  • new furniture is coming!
  • painting the floor in the works for april!
• sugaring
  • they tapped 40 trees today!
  • collection happening every day until APRIL
  • talk to grace horne / martin to sign up for shifts
    • you get credit for helping→ maple syrup!
• events
  • movie nights and game nights in the works!
  • smaller night events maybe
• d&i
  • election voting coming out soon!
  • we are excited for big things

until next time!

megan

hello there and welcome to my blog!

don’t you just love spring semester? a foot of snow to come, wind chill, windows in hillside freezing over… as the temperatures drop and you all soon become increasingly spiteful and grumpy more learned individuals, i encourage you to try and seek warmth during these trying times: in the depths of the arb, in the feathers of down jackets, or even in the kindly spirit of a friend (awwww). but we all know the best way to defeat the cold is to embrace it! so strap on some snowshoes/skis/microspikes/otherwinterformsoftransportation, look winter straight in the face, and say “roar”. works every time.

anyway, read my minutes!

what we done did

• joseph went to wfr (megan also went to be a wemt)
  • not distinctly outside, but in the realm
• grace and olivia went to french mountaiiinnn (and went up too!) was ice
  • none of the above
• will went yonder to popham beach. cold water for surfing
  • he couldn’t even cry due to the vaseline
• max and bentley and friends went part of the way up old speck
  • the snow felt fake and did weird things to the mouth region
  • snowglobe snow? conspiracy? is old speck real??
  • blood and sweat, too cold for nude
• megan and soren went to big rock cave in nh
  • it was spectacular! magnificent spelunking and icy structures
  • they also went uphill both ways, oops
• caroline went skiing at icy quarry road
• keenan and family moved to great diamond island!
  • FUTURE TRIP??
• kaitlin made a fire on runnels with coc comrades
  • there were snow tears, the fire melted into the snow

what we gon do

• grace and max want to (maybe) teach people to xc ski or go on an adventure or will figure something out on xc skis idk man
• michael wants to plan another sugaring farm tour
  • maybe a tour or maybe doing some work, definitely sugary
• kaitlin is interested in a night hike
• caroline lunt (absent) is interested in an easy friday afternoon trip- contact her!

COC annual survey

• every year, coc sends out a survey to gain feedback about how we are doing
• it will be in the weekly email and fill it out HERE
• you can win a leatherman, a night at the cabin NOT WITH MEGAN, t shirts
• fill it out!

winter ktahds

• going out this weekend with michael and nat
• if you are on it, you know
• will be an awesome and chilly time! amazing views
• maybe another one in march

d&i

• we have an opening for this awesome position
• incredibly important and impactful in making our club a welcoming space
• send platforms to K council by february 17 at 7pm to be read at the meeting

contradance

• friday february 15 at 8-10 (?) in foss
• a folk dance, mixture between line and square dancing
• is super fun! partner optional! following commands!

COOT apps

• the application is live! any returning student can apply!
• an opportunity to mentor the youth!
• NO outdoor experience is necessary
• tabling in the spa this week! an application and an interview! due feb 21

avalanche skills

• on march 1, ryan is doing an avalanche skill workshop
• you will be able to check out backcountry and avalanche gear for personal use
• information will go out through ryan

carolyn finney

• she is coming to talk during shout week in march about diversity in outdoor spaces
• she wrote the book club book, we have it!
• a generally amazing perspective

apogee

• runs summer trips for teenagers (biking, hiking, service, language, photo)
• you can apply to lead said teenagers and get paid for it (wow)
• trips ranging from 9-20 days
• looking for responsible and dynamic leaders
• check em out at the career fair if this strikes your fancy

question of the week

• is soup a meal?

• sure, it is filling enough – 23
• no way, just a side- 2

y’all are WRONG, surprisingly decisive

big buds

• trips
  • jan plan LTT went spectacularly!
    • a training trip, critical part of becoming a leader
  • working with trip feedback and implementing curriculum
  • spring LTTs in the works
• gear
  • ordering new xc poles and boots
  • working on new ski storage, less destruction
  • bring back checked out gear for the love of GOD
    • taryn and max will send you angry emails beware
• sugaring
  • buckets were washed
    • syrup sans twigs! amazing
• d&i
  • instagram feed about pertinent people in the outdoors in honor of black history month
    • if you have ideas of people, send them to will
• events
  • see bentley and grace about ~events~
• cabin
  • absent
  • dean’s personal items have been removed from the cabin calendar
    • whew
  • you can rent the cabin, just need a pick up-drop off deal

now get outside!

megan

hellooooo friends!

another week has come and gone, and with every passing day, the looming specter of the spring semester grows nearer.  soon, the carefree cold of jan plan will be replaced by the fretful frigidity of february and march.  one may be tempted to stay inside, in dana or in bed.   HOWEVER you must do the OPPOSITE.  head for the hills!  homework, labs, and essays can’t find you hidden in a tree or under the snow.  evasion is the only solution.

but before you go, read these minutes!

what we done did

• joseph and some folks went on an LTT
  • ice ok it went really well
  • “i think i learned a lot”
• bentley went sledding!
  • nearly killed the toboggan
• michael went skiing on friday as did many others for the first time!
  • conditions were crap
  • he looked “lonely and sad” in the parking lot
  • john dowling went snowboarding on the trip and
• soren went skiing at quarry road
  • his inner thighs hurt
• lily went up french mountain!
  • and then got part of a choco chip pancake at early bird
• max and michael went cross country skiing on saturday and then taught people how to ski on a pretty hard trail
• kramer went to the maine lakes resource center
  • for a class
  • no one knew what it was for
    • the center, not the class
• michael went to pies on parade in rockland and had a whole lot of pie
  • this should really be a COC trip
  • tickets are $30 but you get a badge and a fork

what we gon do

• wednesday trip to quarry road to go sledding?
  • potentially with bentley and max
• kaitlin might wanna lead a night hike
• wow there might actually be trips
• tele ski clinics this wednesday
  • EDITORS NOTE these were all lies there are no trips

trips!

• bigelow bud updates!
• two new interim trips facilitation!
  • michael kramer! a veteran bud
  • keenan boscoe!
• if you wanna become a leader or get some help leading trips contact these wonderful people!

diversity and inclusion

• we have an opening!
• if you’re interested in working on the COC’s ability to be inclusive and diverse, then we’d love your help!
• it’s a pretty open ended position but please talk to K Council for more information / to send in a platform!

winter and k tahds

• weekend of feb 16th! katahdin! winter! amazing!
• sign ups this coming week!
• if you’re a leader and interested in leading it, email michael kramer
  • can’t use this as ur co lead, sorry

poll

• soren pre-memorial poll
  • would you rather cry jelly or sneeze whipped cream?
  • jelly 5
  • whipped cream 13
  • duh

committees

• trips
  • there will be a spring LTT! fear not
  • also winter katahdin is a thing!
  • talk to michael or keenan if you wanna see a specific trip or become a leader!
• gear
  • trying to buy some poles, ski boots, and insulated boots
  • maybe a toboggan
    • maybe for the toboggan race in camden
• cabin
  • absent
  • but it was great during the LTT
  • running low on wood
• sugaring
  • the season is actually coming up somewhat soon
  • talk to martin if you wanna participate in the harvest!
• events
  • wednesday night: movie night!
  • tuesday night: game night!

that’s all from me, folks! and this time I mean it

for the last time, toodles

soren

hello there!

thanks for tuning in.

jack frost? more like JERK frost am i right? he has come to visit us with icicles: on the trees, falling off of buildings, drooping from your beard, in your hearts (ouch). what a wondrous gift he has brought for us! from the sparkly whites of the magical snowflakes to the daring blues of PPD’s road salt to the graying of your freezing skin, he has brought us a rainbow of JOY. so snuggle up to your radiators and hunker down because winter has only just begun.

anyway, here are my minutes! yes haw!

what we done did

• keenan went arbshoeing
  • perkins brook is frozen, he heard rushing water
• taryn went skiing on chapel hill
  • there was a jump! she jumped! maybe 3 seven-up bottles high
  • “it was actually pretty good”
• joseph snowshoed from ams to bobs and swandove into the banks
  • ‘twas cushy
• larkin tried to hike coburn. it was really really cold and pretty
  • they also hit moxie falls!
  • “uh i uh like coburn”
• max went cross country skiing with the rents
  • it was fun. taryn was there
  • louise has great technique. stu has endurance.
• soren went to the mountain with bentley and john
  • they rediscovered bentley’s cave!
  • challenging elevation gain
• michael and brittany went to the ladies delighthouse and walked on the frozen lake
  • there were people snow ice fishing

what we gonna do

• max and bentley are doing the “1st annual Julia Von Ehr in absentia hike”
  • sunrise hike, french mountain, early bird (PANCAKES)
• michael would totally lead a trip this weekend not friday
• max feels obligated by the grips of campus life to lead cross country skiing at 10am on saturday, looking for a co-friend

winter LTT!

• it’s happening! we have s p o t s
  • sign up here by monday night
  • we got a sign up. and another one! oh MY MY
• an essential step in the leader process
• from saturday-sunday on great pond in the COC cabin!
• we will be toasty and learn important leadership skills and be toasty

diversity and inclusion

• we are holding an election for this vacancy at the beginning of spring semester
• this bigelow buddy is important in making the COC a more inclusive space
  • involves collaborating with PCB and the Colby community

learn to ski

• 3 different types!
• cross country ski
  • 10am at quarry road! classic or skate ski
• telemark skiing
  • must know how to make parallel turns and a hockey stop on alpine skis
  • sign ups here!
  • pre trip meeting on tuesday! if you sign up, show up
• alpine skiing
  • at sugarloaf!
  • run by outdoor education, spots chosen via lottery
  • this friday AND sunday
  • check out ColbyNow for sign ups
  • we can outfit you with coats, gloves, snow pants, hats, smiles, etc.

quarry road

• we just got 6 passes to quarry road! incredible!
  • for cross country skiing!
• you can check these out during office hours and return them after use
• AMAZING NEATURE FUN YAY

poll

how many emus does it take to defeat a moose?

• five 2
• fifteen 6
• thirty 4
• moose are indestructible 1

might need to see this one in action

big buds

• gear
  • taking a field trip to home depot oh jeez
    • duct tape and shelves are on the docket
    • we will be flush with duct tape ideally
  • we have gear! come check it out! heh
• events
  • game night tuesday at 8!
  • movie night thursday at 8!
    • send film suggestions to bentley
• d&i
  • see above!
• sugaring
  • absent
  • def out there prepping for a bountiful syrup harvest
• cabin
  • pls dont go this weekend
  • there is still wooood
• trips
  • absent
  • winter LTT
  • keenan is excited
• whittling
  • REVIVAL OF WHITTLING
  • wednesday at 7 (for real this time)

that is all for now my friends.

later skaters,

maug

hello krusty krew!

over winter break I am sure we all salivated over the thought of gliding effortlessly across the smooth, shimmering ice of johnson pond.  alas, it remains buried in snow.  BUT, colby has thoughtfully prepared an alternative: the walk between the spa and dana.  come borrow some skates from our gear room and enjoy this thrilling chute of salty, dirt-laden ice!  alternatively, borrow some cross country skis and glide across the still-snowy paths of frat row! and if you’re not in the mood for that, then come check out some gloves and a winter coat to finally make the cold of east tolerable!  the options are limitless!

anyway here’s what we did and what we may or may not do in the future:

stuff we done did

• joseph went snowshoeing up french mountain and then went to camden and skipped some stones (over 20)
  • pls note that the beach in camden has prime skippy stones
• larkin went outside
  • last night
  • it was night time
  • reportedly cold
• megan re learned how to cross country ski to quarry road with max
• bentley went up a fire tower, it was windy and cold and sunsety
• some ppl went to the loaf
• max and soren and austin went mostly up east kennebago mountain
  • kaitlin is mostly proud
  • “there is shame in turning around”
• charlie raced in cross country skis in vermont today
• bentley hiked up to see some wind caves over break
• over chrimas michael ran around outside in the dark
• max also went skiing over winter break and went to a hut or two
• soren climbed the peak above the nubble over break
• kaitlin walked her dog and found a dead deer (oh dear)
  • “pretty frozen”

stuff we gon do

• bentley and soren will ascend the mountain! on thursday
• max is interested in leading a skiing trip
  • learn to ski
  • or adventure
• megan, on saturday, would like to go to round top or sanders hill
  • maybe with michael
  • casual lil friendly snowshoe
• soren and especially kaitlin will ascend coburn mountain on saturday
• PEOPLE should lead these requested hikes:
  • the annual early bird trip
    • which is actually in the works
  • ice fishing
    • like maybe

winter LTT

• leader training trip!
• a necessary step in becoming an outing club leader!
• two weekends from now! 25th and 26th of january
• we shall travel to the outing club cabin and live in relative warmth
  • AND learn about general leadership things
    • like how to manage groups and how to set up a tent and other important things

winter Ktahds

• first trip this weekend
• you know if you are on it
• there is a second one feb 16-17
• professionally guided
  • “it’s like really lit”

night of 1000 glow sticks

• this wednesday!
• maybe not 1000 glowsticks
• but people encouraged! to go outside! and enjoy themselves!
• meet at COC office at 7 to pick up gear
• ice skating on Johnson Pond, sledding, snowshoeing in the Arb
• if you want to HELP, fill out this form

tele clinics

• telemark skiing downhill (free the heel!)
• we have tele skis!
• our ryan linehan will be leading these to teach the populace
• first one this wednesday! check your inboxes for info! sign up here!
• must know how to parallel turn and hockey stop on alpine skis

learn to ski day!

• learn to ski program at Sugarloaf
• fully funded by Colby!
• limited spots, check ColbyNow/ outing emails for signups
  • it is a lottery signup
• it is SUPER FUN
• we have warm gear you can borrow 🙂

book club

• we will be sponsoring a book club
• “Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors” by Carolyn Finney
• reading a few chapters a week
• meeting tuesdays 6-7 in Dana Camp Room

poll

• car horns 4
• car antlers 18
• entirely obvious

big buds

• trips
  • absent
  • winter LTT- look for an email! SIGN UP HERE
• sugaring
  • absent
  • another trip to sugaring farm is coming!
  • sugaring fact: during the day you need temperatures above freezing and in the night you need below freezing temperatures for sugaring
• cabin
  • it’s there
  • in winter: only accessible if you get dropped off and picked up
  • new furniture is coming
  • there is woooooooddddddd
• gear
  • we got new sleds! yay
  • they are cool and foam and snow SCREAMERS
  • we will attempt to wax all the XC skis in the next week
    • more info coming- we need your HELP HELP HELP
• d&i
  • one of our d&i heads has stepped into a new role
  • so we need a new one!
  • bring us your passion
  • we will be holding elections this spring
    • stay tuned my dudes
    • prepare your platform for the vote
• events
  • game night tuesday at 8
    • last one was rockin
  • movie night thursday at 8
    • it’s brother bear 🙂
• whittling
  • its BACK
  • this wednesday at 7
• will
  • he is the social media guy
  • send in your outdoor photos!
  • he wants cool social media stuff! like stories
  • DM them to @colbyoutingclub
    • shameless plug: follow our insta it’s gonna be rad

until next time!

toodles,

soren

hello friends!

yes, the final COC meeting of the semester has come and gone.  whatever shall you do with your time? if only your professors could assign you some work or give you some exams to look forward to.  anything to fill the void.

for real though, in this final stretch of academic hell, don’t forget to stretch your legs, your eyeballs, your lungs, and whatever other organs of which you’re particularly fond.  throw a snowball at an enemy, slip in some friendly arb mud, or practice your yodeling from the nearest treetop.  it’s good for the soul.

what we done did

• joseph went to rumford white cap and traipsed around and made a snowman and threw snowballs
• larkin went outside with henry and kaitlin and hiked on some rocks and it was so pretty.  “um no”
  • larkin DID NOT fall
• molly taught jackie how to nordic ski and there were almost tears! so it was a success
• michael went to the maine botanical gardens (#3 bestest in the nation)
  • and he went with an alumna (spencer’s coot wife)
• max and bentley went up some of burnt hill
  • there was three feet of snow at the base and more snow above that and generally a lot of snow
• soren and megan tried to go swimming at the cabin and the pond was frozen and it was sad
• macey went to the hume and emma went swimming (in related news)
• spencer went skiing (surprise surpriseeee)

stuff we gon do

• max would be interested in leading
• there will be kayak clinics (from 6:30 to 8) and it’s the LAST CHANCE in the history of the world to go to a clinic with the notorious LBR!
• soren and keenan might go up french mountain!

trivia night

• yeah we’re having one!
  • friday night!
  • in foss!
  • 8:00!
• a mix of outdoor and general trivia
• we will figure out teams once we get there
  • show up in a pair, alone and unprepared, or in a group
• there will be PRIZES

meeting next week

• unfortunately it does not exist
• because it is reading period and y’all need to read
• email megan for outdoor adventures if you’re interested

jan plan

• over jan plan we’ll have a whole variety of programming because it sucks being indoors for a month
  • night of 1000 glow sticks!
    • a fun lil night things with glow sticks!
    • like hot cocoa, ice skating, cross country skiing
  • movie nights!
    • we’re forever taking suggestions
  • trips (of course)
  • cross country skiing trips (for learners)
  • game nights

whittling opportunity!

• kaitlin used to lead whittling wednesdays
  • she is looking for an administrative assistant / camden comrade to run whittling!
  • all you need to know is how to spread and take down a tarp and tell people not to cut themselves
    • and it’s FUN
• if you’re interested in heading this up, email kaitlin or k-council to help the greater whittling community
  • JOSEPH is interested and he will head this up

poll

• this pole or that pole?
  • 11
  • 11
  • an unprecedented TIE that I am currently unable to process

committees

trips

• leader training trip in jan plan! the weekend of the 25th
  • probably
  • it would be held at the COC cabin accompanied by a functioning woodstove

gear

• we just got more snowshoes
  • they’re bright red
  • “have you used them?” “YES well no”
• we will soon get more head lamps
  • monday update: they’re in and being inventoried!
• and they have $$$ to burn
• they want to wax all of the skis so if anyone wants to help come to office hours
• ALSO if you have your own skis that you want to wax
  • we have tuning equipment available for use!

cabin

• absent

diversity and inclusion

• absent

sugaring

• we ordered a hydrometer to tell how much water is in the syrup
• this will help us know how much water is in the syrup
• overall a positive development

events

• ya there’s trivia night and all of the jan plan jazz

HOT SEAT

• bentley!
  • lava
  • left pinky toe
  • like that one
  • my great grandfather
  • something kind of uh chert
  • katahdIN
  • tley
  • right nostril
  • i don’t know
  • lydia?
  • that one
  • didgeridoooo
  • olin basement
  • johnson pond
  • mashed potatoes
• spencer!
  • it is like college with a paycheck
  • seventeen
  • no she said favorite year
  • guinness
  • sometimes
  • NOOO
  • definitely the one that i’m dating right now
  • chilliams
  • martin because i just hurt his feelings before
  • logan
  • times they woke me up before my alarm
  • leading tele clinics with ryan linehan
  • i don’t think we had any on any of my trips
    • i tried to keep up with eli hanschka and arthur cassidy skiing and now i can’t walk
  • my maine hunting boots cause they’re like bean boots but retro

that’s all from me!  crush your final week and then your finals and then have a great winter break!

toodles,

soren

hello friends,

as I am writing these words, there is but one day of class to go until the sweet, sweet respite of thanksgiving.  this year, more than ever, it is a trial run for winter break.  practice your snowpeople, your snow angels, your snowball tactics, and your sledding.  fire up the woodstove.  and hunker down for the month-plus of christmas music that is sure to barrage your eardrums the second that thanksgiving ends.

yes, it is a magical time of year, and hey, you can always escape your family outside!

what we done did

• michael, on friday night, did something.  what was this thing? played pond somewhere.  i am hard of hearing. “giant trail of snow through dana”
• macey went to mt blue and also ascended mt blue and it was lovely powdery snow and it was a good time
• joseph went on a tour of a maple sugaring place! it was real sweet
• megan went up mt battie and there was six inches of snow and it was slippery and much fun
• michael took out the dock before cocsgiving!  sweat tears and nudity!
• people talked about the outside at WFA! which sort of counts.  there was quite a bit of vomit. there was one hypothetical death
• joseph went sledding!
• soren made snow! with snow making machines! at quarry road!

what we gon do

• bentley will get his co lead up burnt mountain! next weeeeeekend!
• henry and chris next weekend might go up saddleback!  exciting times! also a co-lead!
• megan wants to get in on this co leadery!
  • maybe a rival saddleback trip!
• kaitlin wants to go outside but statistically she probably won’t
• soren would desire ascending east baldpate mountain
• macey is being crushed by the guilt of not having led a trip yet this year

thanksgiving

• have a good one!

winter training

• it’s monday!
• it’s a three hour (usually less) training led by Ryan Linehan in Diamond 122, it covers layering and hypothermia and it’s 100% necessary to lead trips in the winter!
  • it can also save your life maybe

gear over break!

• it’s open.  come and get it.  

poll

• motor oil – 2
• froth – 11
• DECISIVE.  froth is better

committees

• sugaring
  • absent
• trips
  • there was WFA! everyone passed!  yay
  • there will probably be an LTT in jan plan
• gear
  • they have plenty of good ideas but not all that much action
    • my paraphrasing
• events
  • trivia night!! both outdoor and otherwise!!
    • sometime in the next two weeks!
• cabin
  • absent
  • but the dock is out
• d&i
  • absent

that is all from me.  fare thee well!

toodles,

soren

hellllloooooooooo,

it is the grayest of days.  color once abounded and the hills flowed with life, but bleaker days are upon us now.  soon, snow will twirl, streams will atrophy, and skies will darken at a truly ungodly hour.  gather up your little acorns and hunker down for the long, long winter.

OR

embrace the void!  seek out the marcescent beeches, the crunchiest of desiccated leaves, and the crispest fall air!  lead a trip, sign up for a trip, or say screw it to trips and venture out solo!

that is all from soren’s soapbox.  enjoy your week!*

*unless you have a big ol’ geology module due, in which case, tough luck.

what we done did

• jackie went to acadia on the leader training trip and then people raised hands if they were on it and man there will a lot of people.  definitely sweat, apparently some blood, metaphorical tears due to ice
• someone and dominick went up french mountain after class on the really warm / nice day, since there was only one this week (rip)
• michael saw blood sweat and tears at a half marathon in the scandalous state of new hampshire
• grace and soren and chris went up the bigelows (in carrabassett not boothbay) and it was very snowy.  snowballs were thrown but frostnip was held at bay
• that is all.  y’all have room for improvement

what we gon do

• on saturday alex and megan will reattempt saddleback!
• michael and soren on sunday, will go look at a syrup making operation in Industry, ME!  there will be a newspaper there apparently? also maybe a side trip to a trail to look at some water / trees
• max wants to lead a trip on saturday.  kaitlin is picky but wants to do that. sam kwon also wants to co lead so he takes priority.  nevermind he is busy. kaitlin is back to being #1
• grace might maybe want to do something chilly / chill on sunday eve.  nothin strenuous
• michael stone would be down for a night hike?? sometime this week?? to explore something?? michael kramer may want to co lead .  michael squared.

wfa

• wilderness first aid sign ups have completed
• 26 people signed up !
• saturday and sunday
• if you got into the training, you will find out on monday!

wfr

• CER is running a wfr/wemt course the first and second weekends in february!
• and we are helping them with sign ups!
• express your interest here!
• it’s like a more in depth wfa! 
• if you have questions talk to sam max or taryn since they took it last year
• not entirely subsidized by the club 🙁 but we can help in some situations!
  • those situations would be:
    • if your WFA is up for recertification AND
    • you promise to lead two trips for us in the next calendar year THEN
    • we can pay for $150 of it

thanksgiving trip

• there is a coc thanksgiving trip! the trip is full but there are spots on the waitlist!
  • add yourself to that waitlist here!
• they’re staying at the coc cabin and doing some hikes and then camping in acadia and it sounds FUN

cocsgiving

• come help the coc celebrate the giving of thanks!
• and help out the dock!
• at the cabin!
• bring some food because we’ll all devour it after the dock-taking-out

new events head!

• it is bentley
• he has risen!

winter training

• it will be next monday at 6!
• 3 hours with ryan linehan in diamond!
• fun and educational and REQUIRED to lead trips with snow on the ground
• look for an email / a spot in the weekly email about it
• ALSO a training in winter camping
  • in jan plan or early spring
  • for coc leaders
  • learn how to lead a trip! in the winter! in the snow! overnight!

what matters to me and why!

• ryan linehan’s is this wednesday at noon in bobby silberman!
• go go go!
• use it in place of a meal swipe!

poll

• bigelow or smallehigh?
  • bigelow 8
  • smallehigh 17
  • stunning results tbh

committees

• events
  • stay tuned for COCSGIVING INFO
  • AND trivia night!!!!
    • in the pub
  • also welcome tley meyer
• gear
  • snowpants arrived! they are teal. not green @megan
  • second order of gear this week???? stay tuned
    • snowshoes
    • headlamps
    • coc helicopter (cocicopter?)
• trips
  • LTT was a smashing success
  • WFA.
• sugaring
  • they moved wood!
• cabin
  • it still exists
  • but it is not plowed
• diversity and inclusion
  • absent but they helped put together the thanksgiving trip!

that is all from me!  don’t forget to hmu with your hate mail!

toodles,

sor n

why helllllooooooo there

spooky szn has come and passed and it is time to move onto the next segment of the year – the giving of thx.  as the oaks lose their last bits of leaves and snow flurries stick around a little longer, the sun will slowly lose enthusiasm and pack its bags earlier and earlier.  it’s a lazy sun of a gun.  all of this means that the outdoors will be a little bit more precious and worth savoring.  go forth and bask in the shades of gray!

what we done did

• jackie and zoe tried to hike mt abraham but could not find the trailhead and there was plentiful snow so bushwhacked for 4 miles and then went to mt blue instead
  • wow
  • no blood sweat or tears
• joseph and the woodsmen had a woodsmen thing
• john and megan and soren and also joseph went on a costume hike to french mountain and soren had the best costume (in john’s words, and also soren’s words)
• zoe went to round top on saturday with jackie and some folks and there was rain but no snow
• megan and soren and dalton went to three lighthouses. 
• keenan and “a couple” folks went to quarry road in the snow and witnessed the wonderful descent of the nascent winter
• max be quiet
• kaitlin went to tumbledown by herself and did not go swimming but there was not as much snow as she had hoped 🙁  so many dogs! fantastic. dog hiking szn

what we gon do

• soren wants to go up the bigelows
• michael stone wants to lead a night hike but has no general ideas.
  • he desires a co leader
• megan wants to go through the arb (formally)
• keenan is gonna go outside and VOTE on tuesday

LTT

• it’s this weekend!
• if you signed up you’re probably on the trip, you’ll hear officially sometime soon!
• in acadia!
• what is this??
  • leader training trip!
  • learn how to make a fire, make people feel included, plan a trip, etc.
  • “its a great mandatory part of the leader process”

WFA

• the weekend after this coming weekend (17th-18th)
• sign ups went out yesterday!
• what is this??
  • wilderness first aid!
  • held on campus, saturday and sunday
  • learn how to treat various illnesses and traumatic injuries
  • both lecture and hands on!
  • if you use this as part of your COC leader process, it’s free
    • recertifications are also free, as long as you lead two trips for us this year

spring break

• due date for applications is november 9th
• GET EM IN
• see Megan for a template on how to do this
  • she knows what she’s doing

thanksgiving

• there will be a thanksgiving break trip!
• it will probably go to acadia
• it will definitely be awesome
• look for an email!

events head!

• two candidates!
  • lacey wright and bentley meyer!
• election email later this week!

sugaring thing

• two weekends hence (nov 17th and 18th)
• going to industry maine
• look for sign ups

poll

• lighthouse? or lighthouse? which one???
  • light house – 20
  • ligh thouse – 16
  • close

bigelow buds

• gear
  • ordering more gear this week!
  • also presumably organizing the gear room!
    • they want help! tuesday and thursday they have office hours, 7-8PM!
    • you can also learn how to work with stoves
• trips
  • mostly just LTT and WFA
• cabin
  • absent
• events
  • the new head is in the ROOM? but which one is it??
• sugaring
  • not absent!
  • but nothing is really happening
• d&i
  • also absent

that’s all from me folks!  go devils boo penguins!

toodles,

soren

ahoy there mateys

tis that spooky time of year when the ghosts of all flora and fauna past come to haunt us all.  in the forests, spectral spruces and sycamores sprout.  in the skies, ghoulish goldfinches take flight.  in the oceans, ghostly corals send their phantom polyps to and fro.  among all of these eerie creatures, there is one dude of whom you must be particularly cautious.  be on the lookout for a weird lad in a cheap plastic inflatable flamingo costume that is far too small for him, slowly perusing the forests of maine in anticipation for a woody plants exam.  some say his name is “soren,” while others say it’s simply “hey you.”  either way, he is fueled by stress, and that is the spookiest motivation of all.

read on, reader!  become a learnèd student!

what we done did

• joseph did some inside things (please ignore)
• max went to acadia with other people and it was fun and we saw a lot of waves that were large, too large and over-rocky
• anna went to acadia and saw egg rock and saw precipice and saw egg rock and it’s megan’s fav
• zach went to the hume center to row and was successful in some fields but not in others
• grace hiked french mountain with addie and lacey and it was fun apparently
• addie played some frisbee
• philip soren moon.
• michael biked outside (ooo slippery)

what we gon do

• megan and soren are gonna lead a thursday night hike IN COSTUME
• max wants to hike this weekend
• IN THE FUTURE there will be a trip to syrupy people in western maine and a sign up sheet to gauge interest and then it’ll be the 17th or 18th and look for that in the weekly email
• kaitlin wants to go to acadia!

LTT

• two weekends hence there will be an acadian LTT
  • sign ups will go out very early this week
• leader training trip
  • necessary for becoming a coc leader
  • learn from leader trainers the way of the outing club, complete with hard and soft skills from stoves to sticky situations
• we promise this one will be successful

wfa

• supposed to be happening the weekend of 17th and 18th.  again sign ups should be soon (@trips where u at???)
• fully subsidized by us!!
• necessary to lead trips for us!
• it’s wilderness first aid, it’s two full days, and it teaches you a fair bit about how to take care of injured people

spring break (!!)

• hey
  • you
    • leader
• if you wanna lead a spring break trip HIT US UP soon cause the deadline is sneaking up on ya (11/6)
• here’s the form for ya leaders [put the link here soren]
• email k council for trip templates or ideas or suggestions!

thanksgiving

• there will be a thanksgiving trip! probably to acadia!  wowee!
• we’re collaborating with the pugh center to lead this trip
• v good if going home for thanksgiving break is unreasonable

outdoor expo

• 7 pm outdoor industry expo, a couple other companies will be there too

• overland especially cause sam is here
  • leads trips for kids 4th-12th grade
  • go all over the place, both in the country and on the planet
  • sam krumholz and connor o’brien are here.  but especially sam
    • info session at ostrove at 6:15
• please note that all of this is for monday and if you’re reading this on monday night or later then you’ve missed it

poll

• overland or over water????
• 17 if by land
• 8 if by sea
• this is the right call.  the ocean is a scary place.

committees

• trips
  • absent.  woo
• gear
  • we have it
• cabin
  • it exists
• d&i
  • needs to meet
• events
  • events are planned.  be on the lookout. things are happening.
  • ALSO we have an opening as events head
    • let us know if you want to fill this role!!
• sugaring
  • also exists

that is all from me.  pester me by email or snail mail if you would like additional coc lore.

-SOREN