Houston Inner City Outings (ICO) hosted twenty-nine students from KIPP Houston High School and seven students from Chinquapin High School, who spent two weeks at the Glacier Institute's Big Creek Outdoor Education Center in Montana. Twenty of these students backpacked for six days in the Jewel Basin of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Houston ICO provided five of the ten adult leaders.

The Glacier Institute specializes in hands-on outdoor education activities. For example, students will learn about edible plants, and then find berries to eat. Students learn about insects, and then find insects to identify from under rocks in nearby Big Creek. Guest lecturers explained how to avoid bear attacks, how to raise a pet wolf; and talked about endangered species. Special guest lecturer Jack Gladstone talked and sang about the Blackfeet Indian culture.

Twenty students completed six days and five nights of backpacking. Steve Rosencranz led one backpacking group, and Angie Langolf led the other. ICO youth leaders Franco, Thomas, Felipe and Paul assisted. "Early one morning, I asked Franco where the stove was. He was out of his tent right away, found it, set it up, and even lit the stove for me," said ICO leader Stephanie O'Leary. Felipe and Paul's trip was especially challenged by the failure of all three water filters, so they boiled water and had to re-arrange the menu to save gas.

The students worked cooperatively throughout. Students assisted with cooking and clean-up for each meal. When students noticed that Glacier Institute staff seemed a bit overworked, they cooked a Mexican dinner to give them a break. David, Mario and Hector shared the yearbook's digital camera duties. When Danny cut his foot on a day hike, Clara carried his pack for him.

What delighted the trip leaders was that each student grew as a person. Several students led by example such that Houston ICO has a new pool of youth leaders from which to choose. Three students survived their very first plane ride. Several others overcame homesickness. Usually-shy students played soccer with the others. Abigail was initially scared of the raft trip but then was proud that she jumped into the water at every opportunity. KIPP and Chinquapin students bonded, became fast friends, and plan to see each other during the school year.

Leaving was an emotional event. The students presented the Glacier staff with a poster drawn by Juan and signed by all participants.

Glacier staff gave each student a gift. Mario read a poem about staff member Cody; Danny read a poem about trip leader "Steve, Steve, Steve." Maggie, Glacier Institute program director, told the students that a local newspaper article would have them in it.

Here are some excerpts from the students' daily journals and thank-you letters:

"there is more to life besides movies and shopping malls." -Karen. "I had a blast on my first white-water rafting experience." -Citlalli. "3 days of hiking left and we are almost out of toilet paper." -Danny. "I have learned to be more independent ...." -Aaron. "I never thought it would be possible to live with no electricity." -Clara. "... thank you for teaching me about wolves." -Juan. "It was neat to see such beautiful birds ...."-Jonathan. "I greatly admire that ... you take care of injured animals." -Jose. "I can proudly say that I am not naïve about loons." -Luis. "I had never seen a real life wolf before." -Mayra.

"The activities of every day were great ... I would look forward to learning the next day." -Nancy. "Staying in the fire lookout (tower is) something I might be interested in." -Navid. "Cody, you made us laugh because you blushed when we stared at you." -Daniela. "I loved everything that happened during this trip." -Israel. "I have learned about the ecology of fire." -Franco. "Thank you for sharing your experiences as a Blackfooted Indian." -Briana. "Today we hiked to Crater Lake which has been the best hike so far." -David. "Thanks for letting me borrow your walking sticks when I (hurt my ankle)." -Nidia. "... during the preparation of the meals ... it felt like I was with my family." -Yesenia. "Thanks for the sodas at the end of our backpacking trip." -Aldo. "... the job of a ranger seems like an adventure to me." -Juan. "I enjoyed going to the sawmill." -Marixa. "I enjoyed learning how a tree is cut to get the most lumber out of it." -Thomas. "On the way back, we had a snowball fight." -Andrea. "You ... have encouraged me ... that I can do anything that I set my mind ...." -Abigail. "Your edible plants class was loads of fun, especially the soap berry ice cream."-David. "... (wild) strawberries are not as big as they seem." -Kenya. "Going to Big Creek has raised my love towards nature." -Felipe. "I would like to do this next year."-Paul. "The sad part of the trip was the last day because I did not want to leave ...." -Hector.

This Montana trip realized the dream of ICO trip leader Steve Rosencranz, who spent the past year planning the 14-day program. Steve raised all necessary funds for this trip himself despite some obstacles presented by Sierra Club National. Enough said. On the return plane trip, the flight attendant said "This is the best-behaved group of kids that I have seen." True enough. Houston ICO plans to do it all again next year!

September 2007

Last updated:  11/10/2007.   Content © 1999-2007 by the Sierra Club.