Testimonial - Alumnus Joe Flanagan
Continues His Outward Bound Connection!
Sixty-three year old Joe Flanagan is currently participating
in his 7th Swap-Ya
Week in the last 5 years (he's the one in the bright green
shirt in the back). Joe is an Outward Bound alumnus from 1998~when
he took a North Carolina Outward Bound School course at age
58! Recently, Joe spent some time with us so that we could
learn a bit more about his Outward Bound experience...and
how he continues to stay connected.
What made you decide to go on an Outward Bound
course?
I stay in really good shape for my age. I say I am 63 going
on 30, my wife says I am 63 going on 10! Either way, staying
in good physical condition has always been important to me.
When I hurt my knee the year before I took my Outward Bound
course, my doctor told me that due to osteoarthritis, I had
to give up softball...which had always been a way of life
for me. I decided (after recovering from surgery) that it
was really a good time to take on a different challenge through
an Outward Bound course. Both of my sons had taken Outward
Bound courses (one took two courses through Hurricane Island,
one took his through Voyageur) and I felt that it was time
for me to do the same! So, I signed up for an 8-day Backpacking
and White Water Canoeing course through NCOBS, with a high
ropes course component.
What was your course like for you?
It was a great challenge~both physically and emotionally.
The physical challenges are always less difficult for me,
but I found really interesting challenges in the dynamics
of a group with such age diversity. I was the oldest by 11
years--and older than my youngest coursemate by almost 40
years! It was amazing to bond with such a diverse group of
individuals. I kept in touch with many of them for several
years.
So, how did you get involved with the Swap-Ya
weeks and what do you like about them?
Well, my course was such a positive experience that it gives
me continual confidence and pushes me to do things that I
otherwise might not do, like rock climbing and rappelling.
When one of my coursemates emailed our group about the Swap-Ya
week, I decided that it was a great way to stay involved and
give back to Outward Bound...and since then, I have done 7
Swap-Ya weeks (in 5 years!). And, there are several others
who have done more than that! I really enjoy meeting the other
people, swapping stories from our courses, talking about instructors
that we had in common, and working hard to make life a little
bit easier for everyone who works so hard year-round at the
basecamp. But an important thing to remember is that it isn't
all work! We work for several days, but then NCOBS takes us
rockclimbing, rappelling, whitewater rafting/canoeing or on
the high ropes course. Swap-Ya is free to alumni of every
school. There is a $50- deposit required that you can have
returned to you at the end of the week, but I always choose
to donate it back to NCOBS. It is a great way to get out of
civilization, chill out and work hard for a great cause!
