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Writer's pictureRebecca Billette

Adventures and Friendships Last a Lifetime with Rolling Academy

A previous Mountain Alliance Rolling Academy trip. Photo submitted by Mountain Alliance.


Rolling Academy is a two week long leadership expedition run by Mountain Alliance. It will take place over the summer from June 24-July 7. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 23 at 3:30pm. 


Leah Mosher, an organizer of Rolling Academy, said that the program “focuses on incorporating a little bit of everything that Mountain Alliance does into one big trip. We go with some adventure, some service and try to incorporate a cultural event into every program.” 


Each year, Rolling Academy’s location changes. The twist? The adventurers don’t know where they’re going until they’re on the road there. 


“We can go anywhere in the country,” Mosher said. “But the students who are applying don’t know where you’re going until the day that you’re there.”


Junior Natalie Johnston attended Rolling Academy last summer and loved the aforementioned surprise aspect of the trip.


“For me, it was actually really nice because you didn’t have to stress about what was coming next or anything,” said Johnston. “You literally didn’t know until you were there. It lets you enjoy the moment more, even the car rides and all of that; it just makes everything ten times better.”


Rolling Academy is an action-packed trip in which students participate in adventures including backpacking and rock climbing.


“We went to the Grand Canyon, and then Colorado was really my favorite part. We went to Breckenridge and Fresco, and we spent a lot more time there,” Johnston said. “We got to go ice skating and explore the town, and that was just really fun.”


Students don’t know what to expect when they depart from Boone, but they can rest assured that the trip Mountain Alliance has planned for them will be not only eventful and challenging, but beautiful.


“At my Rolling Academy, we went to Maine and Vermont,” said Sara Smith, a junior who attended Rolling Academy two summers ago. “We spent the last three days of our trip backpacking, and, let me tell you, if that doesn’t get people connecting, I don’t know what will.”


Rolling Academy is a great way for students to make new friends and build connections, Smith asserted.


“At first, you might be hesitant about it, but I promise you, once you are on the trip and once it’s over, you will not regret it,” Smith said. “Those people: they really do stay with you forever. There are some of us where we don’t talk everyday like we used to, but when we see each other in the halls, we say hello. If we see each other in FLEX, we greet each other and we sit next to each other. It really provides you with a foundation at Watauga.”


In addition, Rolling Academy is completely free for students. 


“Every trip that we have as Mountain Alliance is free,” Mosher said, “We just have some occasional fundraising events that we ask the applicants who get accepted to help out with, but it’s at no cost to the students.”


Mosher became involved with Mountain Alliance during a class project at Appalachian State University.


“I had heard about Mountain Alliance through class talks at App, and so I thought it was pretty cool and I wanted to get involved because some of my most impactful memories have been through the outdoors and similar experiences,” said Mosher. “After I got partnered with Mountain Alliance, I wanted to stay involved in whatever capacity I could.”


Despite being able to go only once during one’s time at Watauga, Rolling Academy has a lasting impact on its participants.


“For our trip, we spent a lot of time in National Parks. We stopped, most notably, in Acadia National Park in Maine and it was gorgeous,” Smith said. “We spent a lot of nights and sunsets along the rocky shore, just enjoying the scenery and each other’s presence…We also rock-climbed in Acadia National Park. They have different opportunities where you can do that with a guide and that was amazing.”


Anyone who thinks they may be ready for a trip to push their leadership skills, grow bonds with peers, and escape their daily life may be perfect for Rolling Academy.


“I would say it doesn’t hurt to apply,” Mosher said. “Or if you think two weeks is a little too long, we have a spring break trip that you can also go on to see if extended trips are your thing. But the good thing about Mountain Alliance is you can come to as much or as little as you want. Just start getting involved, or talk to us if you’re a little nervous about what to expect. We’d love to talk to you and get you involved because we love seeing new faces. We are here to serve you all; that is what mountain alliance is.”


Students can apply for Rolling Academy at mountainalliance.org/rollingacademy


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