A Canadian in the Woods - Go Figure
In this story, sophomore Lora Moon reflects on her summer as a camp counselor, the work program and Maria Von Trapp.
This past summer, instead of going back home to Ontario, I decided to further my connection to Western North Carolina by working at a summer camp in Brevard. Walking up to my cabin with bags in hand on a root-covered trail that I would soon learn to navigate in the dark of night, I could hear The Sound of Music's “I Have Confidence” running through my head. I could identify with Maria Von Trapp, feeling a bit apprehensive about entering a strange place and having 15 young teenagers under my care.
Being a camp counselor turned out to be more demanding than I had expected. This type of work requires you to be on call 24/7. It’s not the kind of job where you go home at five and come back at eight the next morning. Not only did I supervise my campers, I also acted as a first-aid-fix-it-woman, a backcountry cook extraordinaire and a teacher of life skills. Having to juggle a variety of tasks was not new for me. Working at Warren Wilson’s vegetarian Cow Pie Café taught me that. So, I realized that I didn’t go into this new experience empty handed. My experience with the work program at Wilson had provided me with a toolbox of valuable skills.
I soon learned that I was blessed with one of the most sought after counseling jobs at camp. Working with the oldest group of campers meant that I was able to have remarkably mature conversations with my campers. We covered religious topics, the environment and even the upcoming election! And unlike the younger campers, my 7th and 8th graders were able to reflect on their camp experience. During each three week session, my campers learned to be themselves. Many of these kids were accustomed to a school culture where image and social spheres are of prime importance. Being immersed in nature allowed my campers to let go, be themselves and appreciate others for who they truly are.
Every moment of my summer was memorable, from reminding my campers to do their dishes, encouraging them up mountains or joining them in a field to gaze at the heavens. All in all, it was a wonderful summer indeed!
You can read more summer reflections at Life of a Warren Wilson Student
Share your story with us! We’d love to hear how the Triad prepared you for your life’s work.
Dining Hall ranks 2nd among greenest cafeterias
The magazine Plenty: The World in Green has selected Warren Wilson as runner up in the category of “Greenest Cafeterias” among college and university dining halls nationwide.
In “Green campuses 3.0,” the magazine writes, “Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC, where students spend 15 hours a week sweating it out on an organic farm that helps feed the school.” In addition to beef and pork from the farm, a substantial amount of produce in Warren Wilson’s main dining hall and vegan/vegetarian Cowpie Café comes from the College’s pesticide-free vegetable and fruit garden.
The Plenty recognition is the latest of several environmental accolades the College has received from national and regional magazines within the past two months:
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Sierra magazine ranked Warren Wilson No. 4 among the “10 Coolest Schools” nationwide in the fight against global warming – the second straight year that the college has made Sierra’s top four.
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TheDailyGreen.com, an online publication of Hearst Communications, placed Warren Wilson No. 2 on its list of “10 of the Greenest Colleges in America.”
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Blue Ridge Outdoors selected WWC as the Southeast's “Greenest College” for the second consecutive year.
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Blue Ridge Country magazine cited Warren Wilson in a feature titled “The Future of Appalachia: 14 People and Places Making a Difference in the Region.”
In the Media
“Nonprofits, college help insulate local homes”
“Locally Grown: Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa is cultivating the next generation of farmers”
“Warren Wilson students begin 100 service hours”
"Warren Wilson & The Nature Conservancy: A Wonderful Symbiotic Relationship" (PDF)
“Goody for U! 15 creative ways that students and colleges are going greener”
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