Ferrum College Sweethearts Celebrate 27th Valentine’s Day Together

Aaron Conover ’93 and Hillary Hardison ’94 celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary this past September. These sweethearts met at Ferrum College in 1991 when Hardison visited Conover’s dorm room to watch Fantasia with mutual friends. Hardison was hooked when Conover answered the door wearing an apron and carrying a bottle of 409 cleaner; “I knew she was coming over, so I was cleaning,” he explains. “Four guys living together are pretty gross.”

The couple spent their days at Ferrum College hiking, caving, and creating art together. Conover graduated a year prior to Hardison and followed his outdoor recreation career to Oregon. She finished her degree in philosophy with a minor in art in May 1994 and the couple was married in September 1994. They spent their honeymoon traveling by moving van from Virginia to Oregon so Hardison could join her new husband out west. 

The couple continued to follow their dreams which eventually lead them back to Virginia. Conover is now employed by Ferrum College as the director of Ferrum Outdoors and adjunct instructor in health and human performance. He also co-owns Down River Outfitters, which offers scenic river tours on the Jackson River, James River, New River, and Staunton River. Hardison teaches gifted art classes through Roanoke County Schools and Aurora Artisans & Frameshop, and operates her own art business, Hardison Art, LLC.

Their story hasn’t always been unabashed wedded bliss. In February 2016, Hardison was diagnosed with ovarian and uterine cancer and underwent extensive surgery with a long recovery. Shortly after, her mother passed away and she was laid off from the job she held at the time. Through those difficult times, Conover remained her rock and once healing began, they decided together that it was time to start living life to the fullest. It was then that the pair really honed in on their entrepreneurial adventures with Down River Outfitters and Hardison Art LLC. “We let each other pursue our passions and we support the other,” Conover explains. 

What word would the couple use to describe their 25 years together? “Adventure,” quips Hardison. “That word dominates our life. I wanted adventure in my life. I knew with Aaron, it would never be boring.”

“Or lucrative,” Conover says, with a grin.

Happy Valentine’s Day to these Ferrum College sweethearts.

Learn more about Down River Outfitters here: http://www.driftboatflyfishing.com/ and Hardison Art, LLC here: www.hardisonartllc.com.

Helping Produce Successful Outdoor Recreation and Education Conference Results in Lasting Partnerships

By Aaron Conover '93
Director of Ferrum Outdoors

Aaron Conover '93

In the summer of 2015, I was asked by the Roanoke City Parks and Recreation Department to be a host team committee member and the volunteer coordinator for the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) Annual Conference, which was to be held in Roanoke in November 2017.

AORE supports the needs of outdoor educators and recreation professionals who are affiliated with non-profit organizations and actively engages in issues and policies that impact the outdoor industry and its members. AORE also provides opportunities to exchange information, network and support other colleagues and students who are in the outdoor recreation field. The culmination of the AORE mission and goals is the AORE Annual Conference, which is held in different locations in the United States. Past host cities have included Portland, Atlanta, Seattle, and Minneapolis; having Roanoke selected as the location for the 2017 conference was extraordinary.

As an AORE member representing Ferrum College, I agreed to join the host team committee and became one the key players in bringing the 2017 AORE Annual Conference to Roanoke. We had a large amount of work to do to highlight how amazing our region is and to put on an awesome conference that would equal or surpass previous gatherings. This was also the first year that host team committee members where from multiple agencies and organizations. The dedicated crew of fourteen consisted of representatives from three different parks and recreation departments - Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and the Town of Blacksburg; five regional colleges and universities - Hollins University, Roanoke College, Radford University, James Madison University, and Ferrum College; and the Boy Scouts of America.

Volunteerism is the tradition of AORE and is necessary for the onsite operation of the annual conference. I was tasked with coordinating the promotion, registration, training, and scheduling of over 150 attendees who needed to fill 325 volunteer spots during the four days of the conference. The 2017 AORE Annual Conference drew 640 attendees from across the country. It was a team effort, for sure, between the Host Committee, AORE and Event Garde, LLC, the agency managing logistics.

Some Host Team Members

The biggest reward for the time and effort it took to serve on the host team committee and as volunteer coordinator was being able to represent Ferrum College and our outdoor community in such an integral and prominent way. The day to day interactions with the volunteers and many of the other attendees while stationed at the registration desk allowed me to really highlight the positive attributes of the region as well as Ferrum College. The conference may have lasted only four days but the partnerships and network developed between the host team and AORE members will be long lasting. The conference truly lived up to its theme of “Shaping a Community of Adventure”.

The Spirit of Adventure E-term 2016: A Walk in the Woods

By Sarah Hendrix

Dr. Hardwicke and Dr. Nicholson-Angle are the professors for the e-term The Spirit of Adventure.  Today’s class consisted of class lecture, outdoor activities and a nice walk around Adams Lake.  The classes focus is spiritual wellness, faith among various cultures and how the natural world impacts our spirituality.  The class will be leaving Wednesday, May 11, to head to Lake Junaluska for about a week.  Our first class was mainly informative discussing expectations and what will be occurring during the e-term.  Additionally, we discussed some history behind the spiritual connections of Ferrum College to Methodism. 

The hike that the Spirit of Adventure class went on today was led by Aaron Conover who is the Director of Ferrum Outdoors.  At the beginning he gave everyone a blindfold that they would need the whole time because some of the activities required it.  This also would mean that you would need a partner for some of the activities.  We were asked to walk through the woods blindfolded while guided by our partner.  There were trees, limbs, pinecones, etc. all on the ground, so we had to trust our partners enough and believe they would keep us safe.  Another activity required being blindfolded while your partner guided you to a tree and then the blindfolded person had to touch and feel the tree and the area that was around it.  After that the partner and the blindfolded person went back to the starting point where they could then take the blindfold off.  Then the person that was blindfolded had to go and find the tree their partner had picked for them.  A lot of people found their tree and that was because their senses were used to figure out what tree they had come in contact with.  The class really seemed to enjoy the activities and they trusted their partners, but they also used their senses, which will be needed all throughout the Spirit of Adventure e-term.

The Perks of the Recreation Leadership Minor and Ferrum Outdoors

by Caleb T., Panther Blogger

Check out my vlog below! 

If you can't see the video, you can also try watching it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at24cWgsMlU

Snowboarding and St. Patrick's Day

by Chris L., Panther Blogger

Hullo everyone!  I've been very busy lately doing lots of assignments.  However, I got the chance to go snowboarding with Ferrum Outdoors Club, and it was so good!  I've skied before in Italy but never snowboarded.  I got a lesson but still found it very difficult.  I could only seem to turn left and not turn right!  My body was in agony afterward because I fell so many times!  It was an extremely good value, plus in Ireland, we don't have any ski slopes, so it was nice to do something I wouldn't get the chance to do at home.

Monday the 17th of March was Saint Patrick's Day.  I was so happy when I woke up and read the email that classes were cancelled because in Ireland, it is a national holiday, so everyone gets the day off.  People on campus may have seen me walking about with my leprechaun hat as I wanted to remind myself of home and to signify that I am proud of my country.

It is hard to believe that I have only 6 weeks left of my year abroad in the USA - time went by so fast.  In some ways, I will be glad to go home to see my family and friends!  However, I will miss Ferrum greatly, and the friends I have made here will be lifelong friends. The whole experience of a different educational system has been an eye opener and a great experience.  If I had to choose between studying in Ireland or the USA, I would pick the USA because you guys seem to have an education system with more gradual assessments and many more chances to improve your work and grades than I would have at my home university.

Sailing with Ferrum Outdoors!

by Chris L., Panther Blogger

Hey everyone!

On the 28th of September, I went sailing with Ferrum Outdoors!

It was a brilliant day and was a real hands-on experience as we had to sail the boat ourselves.  We got to try out two different boats, which was interesting as both boats handled differently.  You don't need to have any experience to do this - I hadn't a clue what I was doing and had never done anything like it before! 

One thing I could not understand was why only a couple of us went sailing as it only cost us each $10, and that included lunch!  Back in Ireland, to do something like that would have cost me a lot more than $10 -- more in the $60-80 range.  I would highly recommend you to go on the next sailing day that Ferrum Outdoors has planned.  It's a chance to try something new!

My Summer Working at a Boy Scout Camp

by Cari A., Panther Blogger

This summer was one I will never be able to forget.  I met more amazing people than I expected to meet during my time at Boy Scout Camp. That's right - I worked at Boy Scout Camp this summer!  I know most of you are thinking:  a girl? at Boy Scout Camp?  That is exactly the response I got from everyone when I told them my plans for the summer. I even thought the same thing at times leading up to my departure.  This was my first time getting a job all by myself without using family ties or connections to get my foot in the door.  I got one of those dreaded campus emails about locals needing job help for the summer, and Camp Ottari was on that list of places. I was drawn in with the hopes of being able to use my ropes experience from Ferrum Outdoors to work at their 850-foot zip line!

Upon applying, however, the zip line wasn't where I was needed this summer. Having experience as an EMT, the Camp Director thought I would be a great addition to the Waterfront staff.  I cannot say I was excited about that, but I was soon very glad that is where I ended up.  When I was told I would be working at the Waterfront, I figured I would just be a lifeguard and watch kids swim all day long. Relaxing in the sun, tanning and hammocking in my spare time.  Boy was I wrong!  I soon found out that the Waterfront staff had one of the longest days of all the other Camp Program areas.  Most work days lasted from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. with meal breaks.  I wasn't just a lifeguard, I thought.  I was indeed a swimming instructor:  in Boy Scouts, the scouts go to camp to earn their Merit Badges and swimming is a really important one for them to achieve.  I definitely wasn't excited about having to teach 3 classes with 20 scouts each everyday for two months of my summer.  Though there were times I wanted to pull my hair out and throw the occasional troublemaker in the lake, I soon became quite fond of my job.

Camp Ottari is in the beautiful mountains near Radford, VA, where the beauty is like no other and cell service is nonexistent!  Although I still don't full understand why or who decided to put a camp in the middle of a mountain, it definitely made the experience unlike anything I've ever done.

I know some of you are still thinking:  why would you go to a Boy Scout camp where you are barely being paid, you work all day, have to walk up and down the mountain a million times a day, have to wear a Boy Scout uniform everyday, have to see hundreds of scouts day in and day out for 8 weeks, and be happy about it??  I am not sure why I decided to do it because it was definitely out of my comfort zone to go away from home and not know anyone. I had walked into a world where most of the staff were guys who had been in Boy Scouts their whole lives and already had their own group of friends.  Being one of only 8 girls on staff with 40-50 guys on staff, I was in for an adventure.  I almost had to prove to them that I wasn't just there to be surrounded by guys all summer and to get their attention because those were definitely not my intentions at all.  I had to show the guys that I was serious about the job I was given. I believe that I truly made them aware of that within the first week or so.

Being in a group where there are only a handful of girls among so many guys can be weird, but I was part of the family in no time and I met some of my best friends that I will have the rest of my life.  I worked with some of the most dedicated and caring people I could have asked for.  They all had a special place in their hearts for children, and an even bigger place in their hearts for Scout-making.

There are so many things to share about the summer, but I wouldn't be able to put them all into words that would make much sense to someone who wasn't there - many inside jokes, crazy times, and so many times that we made everyone cry and come together.

We all came from different walks of life and had different skills and beliefs, but one of the times where all of that disappeared and we all meshed together was during our campfires.  Every Sunday when we would get new campers, we would have to put on a crazy show to get them so excited to be at Camp Ottari.  No matter how many times we did the skits, we had to be doing them with as much energy as we did the first week of camp.  That was a hard task for some, but for me, I was always really excited for a fresh group of scouts!  On every Friday evening, we would have a similar campfire to close out a great week. These campfires either made or broke the week. It was the tone-setter for the week for sure.  Another special time was when we competed against neighboring camps in what we called the "Reservation Olympics."  Camp Ottari hadn't won this tradition in a long time, but we came together as a team and family, and in the end, we CLAIMED THE VICTORY!!  That was a moment most of us will never forget!

This experience was one of those that make you think.  I learned a lot about myself this summer and couldn't have imagined a better place to spend a summer. I would recommend it to anyone who is willing to go outside their comfort zone and spend 2 months working to make some young scouts' summer dreams come true!

Here's to a great semester back at Ferrum!

- Cari

All In a Day's Work

by Blake S., Panther Blogger

As a biology student, the weeks can easily become very long due to the large amounts of required classwork, lab work, and homework. However, there are a few ways to avoid becoming consumed by a busy and hectic schedule. One of the ways that I cope with my work is to keep a detailed planner of assignment due dates, scheduled meetings, and small tasks that need to be performed throughout the day. As I complete each of these, I cross them off of my planner, and take a small break to refresh my mind before jumping into another task.

Time management also plays a large role in being successful throughout a college career. Determining how much time is required to complete assignments (and how much time is allotted) can make a week's work much easier and less stressful. It is also important to set aside time throughout the day to take breaks and rest. During this time, your mind is allowed to process the large amounts of information that it has just encountered, and it will be more prepared for the next study or homework session.

My textbooks for this semester - spring 2013

Throughout a college career, you become aware of your limits and learn just how important it is to have some personal time. For me, I prefer to work steadily throughout the weekdays, and then participate in activities over the weekend to get away from the dorm and classwork.  Thankfully, Ferrum College provides many different ways for students to have some fun without draining the wallet. The monthly free movie, bowling, and bingo nights are great ways to take some breaks and have a good time.

Fly fishing trip

Also, the Ferrum Outdoors program here at Ferrum College allows students to participate in activities such as caving, mountain biking, and sailing for a great price!  A few of the Ferrum Outdoors activities that I have participated in are canoeing, kayaking, and fly fishing. These were day-long trips in which I was able to make new friends and do something I loved. Spending some time at the YMCA on campus is another great way to get your mind off of classwork and get in a good workout at the same time.

It's great that Ferrum College provides different ways for students to get away from all of the hustle and bustle that we deal with throughout the week. Being a college student is a job in itself, but if you participate in some of the offered activities, your time here at Ferrum can be much more enjoyable.

- Blake

My Work-Study with Ferrum Outdoors!

by Cari A., Panther Blogger

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you may have noticed that I mention the Freshman Scholars Program quite often. This is another one of those times where that program set in motion a lot of things I have now.  One that I am very proud and honored to have is my work-study position with Ferrum Outdoors. I was first introduced to the program when Aaron Conover and Dan Caston brought our Scholars group together to form a family.

During our time with Aaron and Dan, we were challenged to perform tasks that could ONLY be performed with every single member of our team. We as a team worked with balance, communication, problem-solving, and - my personal favorite - trust. We had all just met 11 new and different people, and this exercise not only tested our individual willpower to overcome our own limits, it also forced each of us out of our comfort zones to meet and connect with the 11 other people with whom we would be spending 2 full weeks. This event not only formed several friendships with people I still call friends now, but it showed me that this was something I wanted to do during my four years here at Ferrum.

Since this past summer, I have been hired with Ferrum Outdoors as a recreational leader and have been leading events such as caving, scuba diving rock climbing, kayaking, and most recently, skiing and snowboarding. These trips are all things that appeal to me in different ways. Being a pre-med major, most of my time is spent in a lab studying chemistry or biology, so to get the opportunity to step back from that and go completely out of my major is absolutely keeping me sane!  Through working with Ferrum Outdoors, I have met a whole different part of the campus population here because this activity is so far out of my element. I am very glad that I found Ferrum Outdoors because it has been a major component in keeping me involved at Ferrum and enjoying every minute of being a student here!  Taking the time to relax and take a break from the class work is exactly what every student needs.

- Cari

Greetings from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Cari!

by Cari A., Panther Blogger

 

My name is Cari. I am freshman here at Ferrum, and I am from Salem, Virginia. I have big goals in life: I plan to complete my undergraduate studies, attend medical school, and become a doctor. I am not exactly sure what kind of doctor just yet, but I know it’s what I want to do.

Being pretty local, I knew about Ferrum College but never thought to apply until my high school guidance teacher suggested it. I would look at pictures of the campus and some of the activities, and I knew that Ferrum's location was drawing me in. I was born in the city, but my whole family is from Oklahoma, so I am a country girl deep down. I also saw and read about some of the things that go on in the community and activities that students do for their community to help out. I have always been inclined to help others as if it were a second nature. I am a Virginia-certified Emergency Medical Technician, and I love every minute of it.

I love Ferrum's small campus and class sizes; after only a few weeks of school, I feel like my professors already know my name and are getting keyed into my habits. Unlike Virginia Tech or University of Virginia where there are 300 plus students in a class, having only 20 or 30 in a class is less overwhelming and you can feel more comfortable with asking questions and getting engaged in the discussion. I can already tell that the level of education that I will have obtained after my four years here at Ferrum are going to help me immensely in my studies to become a doctor.

This past August, I was selected to be a Freshman Scholar, and that is where I really found my passion for the outdoors and when my eyes were really opened to my potential work-study job. Because of my time as a Freshman Scholar, I am now an employee for Ferrum Outdoors. I am also on the Rock Climbing Team here. You may say… we have a rock climbing team? Well the answer is YES! Yes, we do! It’s brand new and we are ready to represent Ferrum College. I am also a part of the Rec club and the Minds-n-Medicine club. I am currently taking a SCUBA diving class, so if you see a girl in a wetsuit walking around campus, it’s probably me! I haven’t been at Ferrum very long, but by far, my favorite memories are from the Scholars program. The opportunity to work with 11 other students and 9 professors for 2 weeks really leaves you with a lot of lifetime memories and friends.