We send our graduating eighth graders. During our graduation every graduate gives a brief speech. In EVERY speech the Pathfinder experience is mentioned. No one has ever attended without growing in some way. It is also a memorable experience, never to be forgotten.

We used to send the students at the end of the year, but realized that they were learning teamwork and personal growth. We decided to send the students in October so that we could reap the benefits of their Pathfinder experience, rather than pass it on just to their new school. It was a wise decision.

The Pathfinder staff is amazing. From the office staff taking reservations to the camp staff on site, everyone is friendly, helpful, and very knowledgable.

No one should deny themselves a Pathfinder experience.

Group name: Open Tree Climb
Program held at: Boyd Hill

It all started with an e-mail from Crystal of Pathfinder. On Saturday, Rebecca and I decided to accept the invitation and started off on our adventure from Badenton to St. Petersburg where we would visit Boyd Hill Nature Park. As we parked the car, Rebecca spied the children talking and laughing high up in a Live Oak tree at the other end of the playground. "Are you ready?" I asked.

As we walked closer, Rebecca verbalized her apprehension to being buckled in, hooked up and having to wear a helmet. Within no time, Missy had our paperwork complete and Carly had Rebecca ready to go. Carly allowed Rebecca to choose a rope, connected to the harness and told her to "sit down." This statement took Rebecca by surprise but, she listened. Her face lit up as she succumbed to the relaxation of floating on air.

Minutes turned to hours and Rebecca climbed up and slid down many different ropes. She sat in the chair swing up in the limbs and even drew the courage to hang upside down, like a true acrobat. She bounced off adjacent trees with her legs and swung around dangling from her lifeline, twisting and smiling from ear to ear.

What began as "Don't take any pictures" as she would turn away became "Bring the camera!" That day I shot a whole roll of film. I rejoiced in her new found excitement. What had started as curiosity had instantly turned into a love...of Tree Climbing.

Thank you for having such a wonderful program and we look forward to attending many more events in the future.

Group name: LECOM
Program held at: Lakewood Ranch Site (Sarasota)

I just wanted to thank you all for providing us the most interesting team building experience that I have ever received.   Your staff was not only entertaining, but they were also very knowledgeable in showing us ways in which to use the skills we observed and used while in school and in our future careers. 

I have worked with very large corporations and have experienced many team building activities.  This, by far, has been the most memorable which also makes it the most useful.

As a new pharmacy student at LECOM,  I just wanted to express my thanks to you and your group.

As an owner of a company myself, I have learned the value of teamwork.

Anything that encourages and teaches the kind of teamwork that your company does, I strongly support.  I will remember your company when I start my career as a pharmacist and will be proud to sponsor, support or donate any way that I can.

Group name: Wellington
Program held at: Cedarkirk

When I was at High Ropes I was thinking in my mind that I would have a great time with my friends. Well when I was able to get up to the top of the course I started thinking no way am I going to be able to do this. One of the Pathfinders helped me think about what I really wanted to do. He gave me the choice to climb down, or get to the zip line and go down that way. I chose to go down. I had a great time watching my friends have a good time.
CEDARKIRK IS THE BEST!!

Group name: Shorecrest 6th
Program held at: DaySpring

Well one thursday morning the sixth grade class of Shorecrest set out for DaySpring. Everybody was so excited and couldn't wait till we got there.
When we arrived at DaySpring we were introduced to Carly,Emily,Allyson, and Mike. We all got setteled in our cabins and were ready to explore DaySprings. All 69 of us were spilt into groups. My counsellor was Emily.

She was so much fun. After lunch we were joined by Emily's friend Tammy.
Around maybe four or three thirty Emily had to leave for school. Tammy and our group continued without Emily. At free time some of me and my best friends played volleyball. We weren't very far into the game when Ms. Peter joined us. After she left Dr.Schoolman and Mike challenged the girls and Alex for an aggressive game of volleyball.IT WAS SOOOO MUCH FUN!!!!! On Friday our group did Florida country first. Our name was the Banda ChiChis.

The first time we went out to go and find the stuff we needed we ended up failing with one dollar left. After lunch that day we did the heart of the drum with Bambi and Tammy. It was really cool because one of the African songs we sang my friend Assata did a dance to when she was little. She taught it to us, we looked like a bunch of fools except for Assata. After that we did tree climbing with Carly,Ken,Bambi, and Tammy. The tree was 60 feet in the air. Alice dropped her camera from 50ft. in the air. Even our teacher Mrs.Meyer tried it. Well to rap it all up i guess that must have been the most fun and awesome trip i have ever taken with school.

Jennifer

p.s. carly and emily and tammy are awesome

Group name: Beach Park School
Program held at: Cedarkirk

One day we got to do Firequest and OLS shelter building. My group members and I split up, two built the shelter and two of us (me) built the fire. We did what was called a lincoln log fire, it worked soooooo well. My group did really well on the shelter except..............we built it the wrong direction. Even though we built it the wrong direction it was built so well none of us got wet when Ms. Ahmber poured a bucket of water on us. The best part was, I was proud of my whole group! I never could have done it without Pathfinder!

Gabrielle
P.S. Moss absorbs water
P.P.S. Carly, Emily, Lynn, and Ahmber rock!