Spirit of Adventure E-term 2016: Lost in Cherokee

By: Katie Blundell

May 15, 2016 - In the Spirit of Adventure e-term we had the chance to explore the culture of the Cherokee Indian Tribe through a museum and village tour. The elders of this tribe stated that they have lived on these lands forever and that their creator gave them the land and their language. These people used flint stone to create arrow heads for war and for hunting. While exploring this beautiful culture we made our own arrow heads out of flint by striking it with another rock. The Cherokee Indians used traps to capture their food, the traps ranged in size for bears, rabbits, and fish. All of the villages of these people were on the west side of the river.

In 900 AD-1600 AD the Cherokee people started to grow corn, beans, squash, gourds, and tobacco. The tobacco was not used for recreational use but instead for prayer ceremonies. Each town had a peace chief, war chief, the uku- spiritual leader, and the clan mother. This tribe had laws against selling their land and they were not allowed to marry someone in their own clan. Today there are 315,000 citizens in the Cherokee community and 10,000 live in Cherokee, NC on the reservation. While on this e-term we participated in traditional animal dances and also a friendship dance with the Cherokee natives.

Spirit of Adventure E-term 2016: Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone

By Micaela Reddick

Today we went white water rafting and it was so amazing. We went around ten in the morning and experienced fifty-degree cold water but nevertheless we enjoyed every minute of it. While water rafting we worked as a team by paddling together in order to keep the raft headed down the course. The water rafting was such a good bonding experience, I got the chance to bond with people who I never thought had the same interests as me. During the water rafting, it was so peaceful and quiet. The sound of the water flowing was very serene and relaxing.

I was a little nervous trying something so different. I have had such a wonderful experience with trying different activities that involve water and nature. I’ve felt safe with life jackets and/or a swimsuit that prevented bacteria or creatures from touching my body. I also have kept bug spray with me wherever I go. The nature and spiritual feeling during this E-term has taught me to let go and just enjoy life for what it is, which is beautiful. I recommend everyone taking this E-term and explore adventures out of your comfort zone.

Spirit of Adventure E-term 2016: Jesus Walked on Water - I Can't Stand on a Board

By Lacey Fralin

May 12, 2016 - On the third day of the Spirit of Adventure e-term, May 12th, we started our day with some outdoor yoga on the second floor patio. Personally, I participated in gymnastics from an early age and danced from age 8-18 years old. That experience made it easier for me to do some of the poses because yoga is a lot of flexibility and balance. After that, we walked to the World Methodist Museum where we learned about John Wesley’s childhood and life: the Wesley family belonged to The Church of England, John Wesley wrote a book called Natural Physick about his natural cures and John was 15th of Susannah Wesley’s 19 children whom she held to a strict regimen of rules that in the modern day would seem extreme.

This afternoon, we put on our swimsuits and plenty of sunscreen and got a lesson in paddle boarding. We paddled out on our knees and when we felt secure or comfortable enough, we could try standing up. I fell as soon as I attempted to stand. The people at the fitness center also brought out some white-water kayaks that we could use to go out on the lake. This little boat was much easier to maneuver and I liked it much better because I could go fast. I even started chasing a duck and was gaining on him. Photographers wanted pictures of young people having clean fun on the lake and I guess Ferrum students fit their advertising needs. Lake Junaluska is beautiful, let's help show it off.

Spirit of Adventure E-term 2016: The Waters of Friendship

By Kaitlin Yachem 

May 12, 2016 - Today was the first official day on our E-Term adventure. We woke up to a great breakfast made by the cooking staff of the Lambuth Inn. With smiling faces and full bellies, we ventured on to the terrace and did morning yoga. It was an amazing sight to see twenty trees on one porch. Once everyone was centered and stretched, we headed to the World Methodist Museum. This is the home to many artifacts from beginning to modern day Methodism. The museum mainly focuses on John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and how his beliefs and life intertwined into the history of the Methodist religion. After we finished the museum scavenger hunt we headed back to the hotel to get changed for paddle boarding.

Paddle boarding and kayaking was an experience we will never forget, between the pet lake snake and learning how not fall off of the foam board they said was “stable”. For most of the class this was their first experience paddle boarding and kayaking. So, it was a great chance to live out our title, Spirit of Adventure, and have a spirit for adventure. We were told to find inspirational or motivational quotes for this week’s trip, and the one I came across fit this adventure. Since, for many these were new experiences, I believe this quote would come in handy when talking oneself into something both terrifyingly wonderful, “I do not regret the things I’ve done. I regret the things I didn’t do when I had the chance,” Unknown. Our class fully embraced this quote because everyone tried both paddle boarding and kayaking, without blinking an eye. After everyone ate dinner and rested from a long day in the sun, we gathered as a group and began to grow closer as friends. God has a unique way to bring people together, and our story began in the water.

The Spirit of Adventure E-term 2016: Rest Stop Detox

By Jessica Turner

Rest Stop Detox

Today in the Spirit of Adventure we traveled to Lake Junaluska for the first adventure of this Eterm. Lake Junaluska is a Methodist retreat center and is the gathering place for the Southeast Jurisdictional Conference for the Methodist Church, which meets every four years.  This morning we woke up bright and early to leave Ferrum College at 7am.  On the trip we stopped at a rest stop to stretch our legs.  Some people were throwing the football while others stood outside of the van and talked with each other.  Before we got back in the van we found a grassy patch where Dr. Hardwicke led us in our first yoga lesson.  I found this very relaxing because sitting in a cramped van for 4 hours can be very stressful.  Even though the van ride was long it was a good time to get to know some of the other people on the trip that I did not know as well.

Once we got to Lake Junaluska we had our first discussion on the reading we did last night.  We talked about the Methodist’s view of nature and what we thought about out of their beliefs.  Dr. Hardwicke asked us to summarize the reading and basically what we took away from this was that God created the world that we live in, so we need to do our part to take care of it.  This passage we read fit very well with our trip to Lake Junaluska because we are going to be in nature the whole trip.  We will be meditating in order to get in touch with ourselves and the world around us.  We were also asked to write journals to reflect on the day and our feelings.  We are all very excited to try paddle boarding, white water rafting, zip lining and visit the Cherokee reservation in days to come.

The Spirit of Adventure E-term 2016: Watch Out World

By Kelsey Moseley

Lake Junaluska, NC

As we took off this morning everyone was on edge because we didn’t know how the trip was going to go.  Our first stop was gas, which was a complete workout.  Dr. Hardwicke couldn’t find the gas tank on our shuttle so after sitting there for ten minutes we finally discovered it.  We found an AUX cord in the vehicle and jammed out the whole way here. We stopped for breakfast at McDonalds and then stopped again for lunch at Pizza Hut.  By this time we are all tired and ready to be at Lake Junaluska.  Finally around 3:00 we arrived at the lake and checked in.  We had some free time before our class meeting and review session so we spent it doing some meditation, walking around the lake, and reading.

Tonight after class meditation and dinner we took a walk around the trail that circles the lake.  We really can’t get over how pretty it is here and how quiet it is because some of us are used to trains and other loud noises.  We took a lot of pictures today.  During the three mile walk around the lake we saw some swans and geese.  The sun was setting and it was the most beautiful thing I think I have ever seen.  We are really excited about the rest of the week and what it might hold.