Being involved with the Davis and Elkins College Outdoor Resources, I often encounter curious people asking me, what exactly is D&E Outdoor Resources? Is it a building? A class? A club? Actually, I say, it is all of those things...and so much more! Having decided to minor in Recreation Management and Tourism, I have been directly involved in a number of outdoor related events, each of which has greatly impacted my life here as a student at Davis and Elkins College. In fact, I have found adventure, life experience, and social opportunities that I never would have discovered had I not been involved with D&E Outdoor Resources.
So how did a Fine Arts Major like myself get involved with such a project? It all began in January, 2006, when I took Dr. Bill King's English course, "Writing the Environment." This class consisted of traveling to Big Bend National Park, Texas on a backpacking trip though the Chisos Mountains where we recorded our personal experiences through daily journal entries. From this point on, I was a changed woman! The natural beauty, adventure, and unforgettable group experience changed the direction of my studies, interests and life path. The impact this had on me was so significant, that I switched my minor from English to RMTO in the middle of my sophomore year. Since then I have learned how to navigate down the icy cold rapids of West Virginia rivers in canoes, deal with crazy camping conditions on North Fork Mountain, hike through the deserts of the Mojave Desert in Nevada, and head-butted a giant ram skull. Yet I was still searching for a means to combine my major, Fine Art, with this new area of interest. This project, my Independent Study of photojournalism through D&E's Outdoor Resources, has served as the bridge which links my two passions. Through the use of photos from various Outdoor Resource Center related events, I developed several categories to organize my ideas. These categories then became the Themes which are displayed below - Planning, Opportunity, Experiential Learning, Teamwork, Challenge, Leadership, Achievement, Serene Reflection, and Wilderness. These aspects reflect both my personal experiences with D&E Outdoor Resources and that of other outdoor-related activities experienced by the D&E community.
Finally, I would like to thank those who have made this project possible - Kevin Stitzinger, for being my advisor on this project (I wouldn't have graduated on time without this help and guidance...literally!), Dr. Bill King for giving me the opportunity to join his English class on a life-changing Winter Term experience, and to all the students who have contributed to this project by providing essential feedback and information concerning their own experiences with D&E Outdoor Resources - you all are responsible for making life-changing events possible! Thank you again!
