This weekend I’ve been reflecting back on our first day as crew, particularly the half hour we spent in the car park at the very start of our journey: the uncertainty of what the next few days had in store for us, the slight worry of not knowing the strangers stood around our circle, combined with the usual first-day nerves (yes, teachers feel them too!) It feels so surreal thinking back to those moments now, knowing how far our crew have come in just 2 weeks.
Just 4 short hours after meeting in the car park, our crew were running into the freezing estuary, all linked up, with a promise not to let go no matter how cold it got. We finished our ‘jog and dip’ with chattering smiles. I was immensely proud, and I know the 12 shivering crew members standing before me were too.
This was possibly our first experience of what ‘crew’ truly is. Crew is a fundamental part of what we do across XP and XP East, some think of it as like a small form, but the reality runs deeper than that. Naomi, our fantastic Outward Bound instructor, explained that crew is a navy term. She told us that during training, navy crews would spend hours floating in the same formation that we did our jog and dip in, so if one crew member fell asleep in the water, the rest would keep them afloat.
That analogy felt fitting for the rest of the weekend. Various members of the crew, at times, were struggling. This was due to their heavy bags, walking uphill, making beds, setting up camp, packing their bags, doing a speech, missing home, rowing – the experience was challenging but extremely rewarding. What impressed me above all of the amazing outdoorsy achievements we made during the week, was actually how compassionate and respectful our each student was to their fellow crew members. I truly believe that what got us up the mountain wasn’t physical strength, or stamina, but the support my crew provided for each other during the expedition.
Members of our crew assisted others putting tents up, they carried each other’s gigantic bags, they reassured their fellow crew members when they were feeling a bit homesick, I couldn’t possibly list every kind act I saw out on Outward Bound – there are too many great examples. They each showed a level of maturity that I wouldn’t expect of some adults, it reassured me that we were about to embark on a fantastic 5 years together.
We finished the week delivering a speech to over 100 other students and staff. We decided to propose a toast to our crew, this had become a bit of a tradition to keep hydrated on our expedition. This toast was to tackle the question, “what is crew?“. The general consensus was that ‘crew’ was not necessarily something that we could do justice in explaining, but that we all felt it, and had experienced it. Still, the toast that was proposed was beautiful, and as I watched my 12 crew members clink their empty plastic bottles, with beaming smiles, I can’t describe the sense of pride I felt in each of them, particularly those who had told me public speaking was a big deal for them.
So I guess I’d like to finish this blog post with a toast to Crew KHA; for a delightful 4 days during Outward Bound, and to the 12 bright sparks that I am lucky to call my fellow crew members. May their futures be bright – I am certain that they will be.
Cheers!