Music Monday! I would walk 500 miles......and get blisters after only 33 miles....

In honor of my daughter'a recent adventure as part of the 8th graders who just finished

'FMS /BMS Quest 2010'. 

Her school offers a great hiking and camping experience for 8th graders every year called 'Quest'. A group of wonderful teachers and community members organize about 60-70 kids and teach them how to survive safely in the wilderness (pack a backpack, cook, clean up, set up tents, use the "bathroom" or "take the poop position" as they affectionately called it, take care of blisters, hold hands while crossing streams with strong currents, etc). They go on 3 hikes, a one-day, a two-day, and a 4-day. Yes, that is right, 4 days, hiking over 30 miles, over 3 nights out in the woods with 60 kids and an adult and/or junior leader for every 2 to 3 kids.  This year Fredonia asked another nearby school, Brocton Middle School, if they would like to join the Quest team, and so this was the first year kids from both schools took part.  The two-day hike was cut way short to a few hours of cooking and activities due to extremely high winds and thunderstorms, so the 4-day hike was the first time they would be out overnight.  Sounds crazy, yes.  But they all have a wonderful time! Even the adults admit they had a great time and that it was a great bunch of kids. 

In fact, the lead organizer admitted this year's group was the most motivated he has had in 9 years - they WANTED to be up at 5:30am so they could make it to Arkwright Falls (travelling along the Eastside Overland Trail).   Yes, it is true - they asked to be up at 5:30AM to see this local attraction.  It had been 9 years since the last Quest group went to Arkwright Falls. (They have been organizing Quest for over 20 years!)  They all had great things to say about the kids, even if it was things like: "they couldn't cook very well, but you could hardly taste the bugs and grass"; or as a first time juniour leader said "I really learned patience this trip dealing with these guys".  His group was always the last group to start cooking breakfast after several attempts of the junior leader to wake them up and get them moving, and that included trying to wake the adult in charge of the group.  (The juniour leaders are high school students who have been on Quest in previous years.)

After the 4 days hiking,my daughter came home with blisters all over her poor swollen feet, her muscles aching, her voice a bit horse.  But she said it was so worth it.  I think it is an experience she won't soon forget, and will cherish forever.  A wonderful introduction of the outdoors, a first hand experience of the wonders of nature and Chautauqua County, NY, and priceless knowledge she can use throughout her life. 

To honor her great accomplishment, here are The Proclaimers with (I'm gonna Be) 500 Miles, a song she loves thanks to Benny & June.  Even though they only walked 33 miles over the 4 days, to me it would have felt like 500 miles.

'Till next week, let's put our feet up, hum this song (it gets stuck in your head), and appreciate that most of us won't have to walk that far. :)
Feel free to request a song right here in the comment section for Music Mondays - I would love to know what you would love to hear!