Dan’s Delights 4/7-13
April 14, 2025Hello Loves :)
I’m now settled into Oregon for the next two months as I prep for another season of Outdoor School followed by a short stint leading backpacking trips for teens. I’ve been reflecting a bit on what brings me back to this work now for my 5th season and I think the core of it is reflected in the song “Through the Eyes of a Child” by Aurora.
“I would rather see the world through the eyes of a child.” This lyric especially is something I am reminded of each week we have kids on site. Things that I have seen repeatedly never ceases to amaze the kids. The salamander crawling its way across the trail, the deer that walks up so close to them it’s as if they were asking to be pet, and the views that stretch far out to the horizon from the vista point. Each one I may be seeing for the 17th time, but for some of them it’s the first, and I’m reminded just how rare and beautiful all of this is. How special it is to be on this beautifully flawed planet with other life.
I hope this week you can find a chance to see the world through the eyes of a child or feel the world through the skin of a child. If you need help, take a close your eyes and take a deep breath, listen to your favorite song for calm, and then as you open up your eyes notice each color and sight in front of you acknowledging how they are here with you in this fleeting nature moment. I’m reminded of this comic:
With that on to the delights :)
Monday I was dropped off at the airport by Harrison and I flew back to Oregon.
On the flight, I watched a documentary called 26.2 to Life about a run club at San Quentin State Prison in California. Having just completed my own crazy run I was awe-struck by the men who dedicated themselves to this team and the people on it. How they strove to better themselves through the process of running and training for a marathon that would ultimately be run in a prison yard. I find one of the most helpful things of trail running is is the ever changing scenery, so to run a marathon in laps around their dusty and seagull filled prison yard I was amazed at the tenacity of each of the runners on their quest to finish. I also fully related when after finishing the run one runner lamented about the fact he lived on the 5th floor… one flight of stairs was enough for me. If you want to read more about this team and some of its participants and amazing stories I’ll link some below.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/17/sports/markelle-taylor-running-coach-prison.html
When I got back to Oregon, I got to go pick up a whole box of pinhole cameras from a local camera store! I hop to use them in lessons this Outdoor School season but first I got to figure out why my test photos are coming out blank…
Then I drove out to Camp Myrtlewood and got to do a week of outdoor school. There were so many things that were delightful that I just want to share photos.
A special shoutout to my roommate for the week Antonio. It was a pleasure sharing stories from our Mexican heritage and learning new guitar strumming patterns from you. You also do such good work waking up so early in the morning to make breakfast for 80 people. A true gentle saint with a simple smile on his face at all times. Thanks for making this week special and I hope you have a great summer continuing to take care of all the campers.
Oh! Also I couldn’t forget one of the more magical moments of camp. And that was meeting Garland. A young buck who has kinda found an adopted home at nearby neighbors of the camp and loves to walk around the camp premises. He walks so close you can almost pet him. And even at one point just walked in line with me and a bunch of kids on a hike! If you want that video send me a message!
I got back to Ashland just in time enjoy the back part of all the lovely blooms. And well I may have equally been attacked by their allergens as their beauty, but that’s a price I’m willing to pay.
This little reminder :)
And celebrating Guy’s 81st birthday. :) we played some Boulez and had some lovely hot dogs and ended with a variety of cupcakes for desert. And then in the best way we all said goodnight at 9:30 haha. Rest is very important these days for all of us.
A happy week this was! Now a week of rest and the final planning to begin staff training for outdoor school next week. And to get used to all these allergies!
If you got delights to share please do! I love hearing about all your lovely moments that are happening around you :) Write Me!
Lastly a little music to send you into your week!
Much Love,
Dan