Rock climbing on the cliff sides in Maine, backpacking in Vermont, and sea kayaking to Fort Gorges were all part of this summer’s Rolling Academy trip. Every summer Mountain Alliance at Watauga High School travels with students to an unannounced destination for 2 weeks in a leadership expedition called Rolling Academy.
“Rolling Academy is our 2 week leadership expedition,” said Jeremiah Stanton-Rich, one of the staff members from Mountain Alliance. “It's the only program we make students apply for. They have to interview for it in the spring. Then they are selected for the program.”
One of the most unusual aspects of Rolling Academy is that applicants are taking a trip to the unknown. They have no idea what they’re going to do or where they’re going to be until they get there.
“For me, Rolling Academy was a really great chance to kind of get out of my comfort zone,” said sophomore Alexis Edgerton. “I am somebody who for most of my life struggled with not knowing what is going to happen in the future, not knowing if I'm going to be okay. Not knowing what's going to happen is like a really big stress for me.”
Not knowing what's next is a scary thing, but with the fear comes clarity.
“It was a really great experience,” said Edgerton, “because by the end of the trip I got more comfortable with just going with the flow and understanding that sometimes you don't know what will happen and it will be okay.”
Without knowing what will happen, students also don't have any form of electronics. Every morning, the group travels to someplace new.
“Everyday was simultaneously completely different and exactly the same,” said junior Jacob Fannon. “Everyday we were assigned a leader of the day and new cook crew or whatever, everyone got new jobs everyday. We were doing something different basically everyday.”
Aside from traveling to new places, students have the opportunity to learn new things, too.
“It was like waking up to a fresh start,” said junior Hunter Gaddy. “And I probably learned something everyday.”
After being trapped in a van for hours among hours with the same people, bonds between students began to form.
“We bonded in the first few days,” said Edgerton. “Having that connection helped a lot because within the first few days we had grown to trust and know each other. When it came down to moments where it was scary or unknown or hard, you had people to lean on.”
Not only were there bonds made through the participants, but a connection with the staff was formed.
“I think the staff had a really big impact,” said senior Zea Marty. “They helped me to figure things out and learn how to do certain things, and to help me gain more of a leadership voice.”
Rolling Academy offers students with amazing opportunities, experiences, and friendships.
“You’re going to do stuff you have never done before,” says Aiden Hodges, senior. “And it's very rewarding afterwards. The experience is so great, you meet a lot of new people, build trust and build new friends. It's an amazing opportunity.”
Rolling Academy offers students two weeks of non-stop fun and memories that will last a lifetime.
“You travel to awesome places and get to do so many awesome things,” said senior Kenny Broce. “I met a whole new group of friends and we still talk to each other. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and you should totally do it.”
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