Myers Neighborhood Association

Amazing free opportunity for low income high school students

Deadline for next year's summer expeditions is Nov. 24, 2008!

www.stepexpedition.org ( http://www.stepexpedition.org/ ) There is nobetter free opportunity for low-income high school students today. Deadline for next year's summer expeditions is Nov. 24, 2008! Imagine sailing across an ocean with no land in sight, climbing themast of a 125-ft. schooner to look down on a blue whale and her calf, orstanding watch at 3 am under a star studded sky. Imagine sea kayaking past towering glaciers of blue ice, rappellingdown a 100-ft. cliff, or summitting the peak of a mountain at sunrise.Then imagine learning the necessary skills to not only survive in theseenvironments but to lead. Imagine finding a wellspring of talent andability within yourself to thrive in the face of challenge, a groundedsense of responsibility to always do your best, and a quiet compassionto serve others and the greater good. These are just glimpses into the power of expeditioning and theopportunity that STEP is making available to low-income youth whosedream it is to obtain a college degree. For three weeks, STEP students are given the rare opportunity to joinan expedition. They do so with the best in the field, one of STEP’stwo partner organizations at the cutting edge of expeditionary learningand leadership training. The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)takes STEP students out into the backcountry of Alaska to learn and leadin a remote wilderness setting. Ocean Classroom takes STEP students outto sea to participate as active crew members aboard atraditionally-rigged topsail schooner. How are our students affected by this experience? They come awaygreatly changed. Through challenges met, STEP students come to realizethat they have a tremendous wealth of personal strength from which theycan draw to shape their futures. They come to recognize that withdetermination, perseverance, and hard work, success can be reached, evenin the face of hardship. The result is one of individual transformation.Participants come away with enhanced self-esteem, a life-affirming senseof accomplishment, an appreciation for personal responsibility, and adetermination to pursue their dreams. STEP is an unprecedented opportunity for talented high-school studentswith limited financial resources to discover the extent of their ownabilities. In confronting and overcoming the challenges faced during anextended 3-week ocean or wilderness leadership expedition, students gainself-confidence, self-esteem, a sense of purpose, and an understandingthat they have what it takes to succeed. STEP is committed to providing promising low-income high-schoolstudents with: 1.A pivotal 3-week leadership expedition in order to bring about aninternal transformation in the way these students view themselves andtheir ability to succeed.2.Additional leadership opportunities to enhance their skills and buildon their self-confidence. STEP is actively seeking students for fall application season. Hereare the requirements for open enrollment: Doing well in school (about 3.0 or higher); Qualify for free or reduced lunch (open enrollment is scholarshipped)*; Strong desire to attend a 4-year college/university; High school student, 9th-12th grade (15-18 yrs old); US citizen or permanent resident; I am totally available for sharing information with kids (small groups,large groups, or 1:1); kids & parents; parents...whatever works. Ifpossible (and we're organized!), I arranged to have kids who've been onexpeditions come talk about it. I can give info during school, afterschool, or weekends --whatever works. This can also happen at an eventwhere there's an info table/booth (I get some of our students to helpout if it's outside of school hrs). Basically, I'm flexible and workwith and around whatever to get the information out. Our deadline fornext year's summer expeditions is Nov. 24, 2008! Which is right aroundthe corner. (Applications can now be downloaded atwww.stepexpedition.org ( http://www.stepexpedition.org/ ) and clickon "Apply".) *We can also do all-group expeditions (all from the sameplace/school/program/whatever), but then need to work with those folksin joint grant-writing/fundraising that's specifically for their kids. Tracy's opening up the idea of tall-ship expeditions to expand STEP...not sure if it'll be in place for next summer yet... ALMA MOODIE, STUDENT LIAISONSTUDENT EXPEDITION PROGRAM6336 N. Oracle Rd., #326-326Tucson, AZ 85704520-624-2624www.stepexpedition.org ( http://www.stepexpedition.org/ )