Community through Adventure and Camouflage

By Alex Howard & Autumn Zevallos

“So, who’s gonna fall in the water today?” was the first thing asked to us by Adirondack Rafting Company owner Brad. A nervous chuckle wafted over the crowd of soon-to-be river rat Arcadians as we prepared to take on a day of class 3 rapids on the Hudson River.

In our last web feature, we detailed some of the necessary maintenance in our day-to-day lives here at Arcadia, but this program is not just about doing chores and stirring the Clive. An integral part of the Adirondack Semester is taking on new, exciting, and possibly intimidating challenges, often ending with fits of giggles and a sense of accomplishment. This week we got familiar with the Hudson River and our very own backyard in Massawepie, thus strengthening our connection to the North Country.

Last Saturday, outfitted with paddles, life vests, and broad smiles, twelve Arcadians eagerly marched onto a bus, led by Mo and Dave, two friendly, outgoing, and knowledgeable guides who were prepared to take us out on the water for the day. A few Arcadians had already dipped their toes into whitewater rafting, but many, such as Autumn and Kimberly, set out for their first wild ride. The sun was high and the sky was clear, a perfectly hot day to hit the glistening water. Before we took off, each raft had to become acquainted with synchronizing our paddles to the calls of the guides. Six and six in each boat, we all began paddling and practicing our strokes. At first, paddles were clapping against one another every other stroke, but as we learned together, we fell into a rhythmic flow. Reflecting on this experience afterwards, Anni Panici, a first-time rafter, exclaimed, “When I was on the water, I felt the thrill of an amusement park ride, minus the industrial environment, with the additive bonus my besties by my side.”

Off we scurried to our first stop along the Hudson, an elephant-shaped rock splat in the middle of the river and towering about ten feet above the water’s surface. One after another, we scaled from raft to rock and launched ourselves from the top back into the water. Some did tricks, some did flips, and some just went for a big splash. After an especially dramatic backflip attempt turned into a big splash, Arcadian Matt Ferland said, “I had it under control” (although multiple eyewitnesses do not corroborate this account). We helped one another back up into the rafts and we ventured towards the next leg of our trip.

Oncoming class 3 rapids stared us down from up ahead on the river, but we were ready. Directed by our guides, we splashed the rushing torrents, thoroughly soaking lollipop Finn who sat in the front splash seat of the raft. After navigating our way through the next few rapids, we found ourselves a spot to stop for lunch, but not before our rafts sailed for one another to engage in a splash fight (which Dan’s crew totally won). After all the fun, we were ready to take on the second half of the 15-mile journey. Though there were many thrilling rapids up ahead, we also found time to swim alongside our rafts where the water was calmer. At one point, every Arcadian leapt out for a dip except for Kimberly Bravo, famous for her one-liners, who had just begun to learn to swim this semester and found herself uncertain about hopping into the rushing river. Arcadians floated by the base of the raft to encourage their friend to face this challenge that they knew she could conquer. Finally, after building her courage with the support of her friends—splash!—Kim was swimming in the Hudson with a huge smile on her face. She had this to say afterwards: “The overwhelming support by everyone in the water helped me to get over my fear and finally jump off!”

So off we went, a bunch of Arcadians floatin’, swimmin’, and laughin’ down the Hudson. The final stretch of river proved relaxing, getting to listen to our guides’ intimate knowledge of the Hudson and its local history. Our assistant director Will Madison, also shared some knowledge about the river: “A beautiful thing about the Hudson is how the whole area was once clear cut and the river was utilized to float the logs down in the spring, but now the land has been preserved and the river is a huge driver for ecotourism. The North Creek economy and community thrive on rafting in the summer and skiing in the winter due to the preservation of the land.” Because we were enriched with knowledge of the land and its history, we formed a deeper appreciation for the North Country. Soon, we boarded the bus, sopping wet and headed for home.

Our quest to discover more about the North Country was not yet concluded for the week. The following Monday, we had a new adventure—and a much dirtier one—presented to us by our director Jacob McCoola, who also teaches our Knowing Nature course. During class, Jake introduced us to Eagle Eye, a game of hiding not behind cover but as part of your surroundings. To do so, each Arcadian changed into whatever clothes that they didn’t mind getting muddy. Jake taught us how to camouflage ourselves by dulling the sheen of our hair and skin with loose dirt. Then came the mud, which we dabbed across our bodies to match the texture of the land we have lived upon for the past month. Some of the finishing touches included ferns and twigs in our hair and leaves stenciled across our skin. Aside from a bright blue or white-striped bathing suit, we appeared as if we had just crawled out of the forest floor itself. It was now time to play.

Jake took the role of Eagle first, so he could explain and demonstrate how the game worked. His job was to spot each of us in our hiding places. As he closed his eyes and counted down from 30, each of us leapt around the woods to seek a perfect spot to blend into while still able to maintain a direct line of sight with the Eagle. We laid perfectly still amongst ferns and hummocks, not making a peep as Jake began to scout us out. Some he found quickly but others were able to proceed into the next two rounds, moving closer each time. The closer we got, the farther down in the dirt and brush we got, but we didn’t care. Our connection to the land felt deeper than before. Those who were found were able to join the Eagle in spotting, but the winner went undetected until the game was over. Watching the winners emerge was like watching the earth stand up right in front of us. We walked out of the woods with smiles and dirt plastered to our faces, but also far more intimately familiar with the landscape, its hues and patterns, that we are inhabiting for the next few months.

Whether across miles of river, or just a few feet around our temporary home, we found adventure this week. Facing our trials head on brought us all closer to the natural world around us. After these experiences, we know for certain that we are becoming a part of Arcadia as much as Arcadia is becoming a part of us.