1st Place – Henry Junior Palomo
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Big City Mountaineers,
We go with no fears.
No bars, No heights,
Just reaching higher lights.
It’s not a rap, it’s a rhyme.
It’s the reflection of our time
Between the two fine lines.
Yeah, sunrise thru sunrise is where our work is mostly done.
Ha, We lifted canoes for the fun.
We went swagged out to the fullest.
Some high key, and some low,
But it wasn’t for anyone’s show.
We were hard all week. That’s no lie.
It got better and better as the days pass by.
No one man was a man. He’s the man AND a team.
If this was the Olympics, we’d be the Dream Team.
Yeah, someone tell the world we won gold.
But no prize is better than the beauty of the thing we can’t hold.
As we venture into the world, we become better leaders,
Setting an example for some bottom feeders.
I’m telling you, there were lessons we learned.
But not as half as many as the calories we burned.
But it wasn’t all about the Teen Camp Positions.
It was more about the big transition.
The city-to-nature impossible mission.
A Mission Impossible without Tom Cruise.
Just a lot of kids who’ve been on “snooze”.
But even with a trip like this, no boo-hoos.
No crying babies, just impeccable youth.
We had an amazing leadership group.
Enough said, whoopdididoop!
So once again, this is BCM.
We set the biggest trend.
55 miles and that’s the end.
If you need something done, think about who you’re going to send.
See Henry perform his rap here.
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Julian Clark
2nd/3rd Place
My BCM Experience
This past 2010 summer break I was given the opportunity by Big City Mountaineers to embark on a six-day backpacking trip in the infamous Sierra Nevada Mountains. BCM’s goal is to take a group of kids from big cities and test their mental, physical and emotional toughness in the wilderness, and to teach them a few things as well. My BCM trip did just that. I was selected to attend and represent the East Oakland Youth Development Center boy’s trip.
Before I actually went on the trip, I made sure I got an idea of what it was about from friends and peers who went previous years. They all told me the same thing: “You’re going to hate it while you’re there, but, when it’s over, you’ll really appreciate all you went through.” I was shocked that they said I would appreciate it because the idea of carrying a backpack half my size through the woods all day for six days is not exactly my dream trip. Nevertheless, when Ms. Regina told me she wanted me to go on the trip, excitement was the last emotion I felt. I was scared and wondering what I would be getting myself into.
When I found out who the other teens were that would be going I felt a little better. Brent, also known as my brother/twin/goofball, and are almost always together and knowing he would be there with me in the woods made me feel more comfortable about the situation. Louis is the hilariously loud mentor who can turn any dull moment into one full of light. Isaiah, also known as “the next big rapper”, is such a positive person who sees the glass half full while others may see it as half empty. Then there’s Chris, also known as “Mr. Team Spirit”, who has been leading youth for years and was able to inspire us to push harder. All of theses personalities put together can either be a disaster, or a great thing. Fortunately for this particular trip, it was an excellent thing. Isaiah and Louis were like older brothers to Brent, Chris and I considering they are one to two years older than us, and had a bit more life experience than us. Their “shotblocking” also pushed every single one of us to really push it for a short amount of time. Also, we all sort of had this second-nature competition between us, which compelled me to make sure I pushed myself so that I could keep up with the big boys. In the beginning, I did have my doubts on just how effectively we could work together and survive in the woods, but after a few days in the trip, all doubts faded away.
The group leaders for this trip could not of been any better; Chance (Fireman Sam), Dane (Mr. Anteater), Andrew (The Wise Man), Rico (Mr. Gassy), and Chris (Mr. Athletic) were all grade A mentors. Chance gave great advice on what to do when you see this and how to start/put out a fire. He also gave us a lesson on bobcat poop. Dane made us all laugh with his Dane Cook-like personality and interesting diet. Andrew gave us great tips on how to read maps and tell the time with no technology. Rico’s humor and connection to all of us teens helped us get through the trip with ease. Chris’s openness really surprised me and inspired me, and the others, to stop hiding my feelings and to be open. Also his athleticism made things more interesting in the sports we played. All together these leaders made the trip a fun, yet educational and inspirational outing.
Even though I was kind of skeptical about going on the BCM trip at first, because of the hardships I knew I would endure, it was one of the most beneficial trips for me. It taught me a lot about being open and trusting my peers, and it taught me how to make it in the wilderness. It may not seem like it at first, but the trip that Big City Mountaineers has organized is the most positive, inspirational and beneficial trip I have ever been on. Thank you to Ms. Regina and the Big City Mountaineers staff.
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Brent Bell
2nd/3rd Place
EOYDC BOYS 2010 BIG CITY MOUNTAINEERS
After going on Big City Mountaineers to Yosemite national park I believe that I have to be more grateful for the things that I take for granted. BCM was the most consistently challenging week of my life; everyday was literally a new experience and adventure. I am used to my parents taking me everywhere, cooking for me, cleaning for me and just doing everything for me. But there were no parents on this trip. So that meant that I had to grow up and take responsibility for myself. To be honest I was really nervous about who my adult leaders were going to be but after those first ice breakers, I felt almost as if we were already good friends going on this trip. There was Andrew, Chance, Dane and Chris. And just as soon as we were getting to know each other’s names we were off on our 6 day journey.
Our first night was kind of a shocker because the last time I set up a tent was when I was a child not to mention sleeping in one. It was hard to fall asleep because I was thinking all night about how easy this backpacking trip could be. I found out quickly that this adventure would not be a cake walk. Between the higher elevation, blazing heat and 40 pound backpack this easy trip quickly became a challenge. But instead of running from it I faced this challenge head on knowing that the benefits of getting to the summit would be very rewarding. I knew it would take over 3 days to get to the summit of 10,000 feet so from the start I paced myself. 3 days and 4 miles later I found myself looking the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life. I probably spent 2 hours looking over Fernandez pass into the valley of Ansell Adams Park making me question the true meaning of beauty.
After that my adventure was all downhill literary. The whole way back I just wanted to enjoy my last days in freedom. Being in nature made me feel easy and free flowing. They only thing I had to worry about out there were staying with group. While out here I always have to worry about something, whether it is homework, friends or parents. The best achievement as a group was definitely walking 3.5 miles back to our starting point in 1 day. As a whole I believe that the whole BCM experience was highly beneficial to me as I start to become a young adult. It taught me that I can do whatever challenge I want to as long as I put my mind to it. This experience gives me the confidence to tackle any situation whether it is 3 miles deep into Yosemite national park or in the urban jungle of East Oakland I can do it!
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Ann Marie Ndihokubwayo
The most beautiful trip of my whole life
I want to talk about the trip that we were having it was a good trip. It was good and scary at the same time. The scary thing I saw it was when we try to get to the top of the mountain. It was the hard things for us. When I think about how it was hard for us to get to the top of the mountain it give me an example. Like when you have homework and you don’t feel like you want to do it because it feels scary because you will know that you won’t get good grade or go to college. I think when people get to top of the mountain they will feel happy cause they get to the top of the mountain. So that’s the same thing as you do your homework because you know that you will get good grade and go to college. I like the trip that we went because we have a lot of fun we play games, cards and a lot of other things. I think this trip will help me remember to believe who you are and to trust other people, work hard, trust yourself and think who you are I think if we do that then it will be easy for us to do what we want to do. All the things we saw in the mountain it will help us to remember in future what we did. We may teach our children that and tell them to work together with others and to trust who you are. The trip was nice and beautiful I love it I will tell my friend what I did and saw. I will like to say thank you to the adult who went with us and also I will like to thank you the Big City Mountaineers for helping us to go to this trip and god bless you all who help us.
Isaiah Teague
“My experience with BCM”
My first experience with Big City Mountaineers other known as BCM was worth going to. I enjoyed my time so much! I loved the strength I received to move forward, and the knowledge I got to improve my mentality. I will recommend BCM to any youth. I wouldn’t mind going again and again. BCM changed me to where I don’t want to give up as easily. When I was at BCM it was all about Team Work and working to together as one “Unity”. Even though there was a little situation that upset me, far as BCM policy where you can’t interact with other people. I still enjoyed every bit of it! The adult Facilitators Chris, Chance, Rico, Andrew, and Dane, couldn’t have made the trip more fun! Learned a lot from them and I’m sure they learned as well from us youth!! The trip was very “Godly” as I like to say! No negativity, we stood up fro what we didn’t want. We were all ready! We all trusted each other. We shared. It’s like we was a big family for 6 days! We got along great! We joked, laughed until we cried. We pulled little jokes on each other! Most importantly to me we all were just being “Men”. I believe each and one of us individually took something special from this trip! The youth Louis, Chris, Julian, and Brent made the trip “The Trip” as well. I loved their company and ambition to get things done! We all were self motivated which is a great gift to have! We’re all Leaders! We all pushed each other and motivated each other! Everyone was always present; no one was ever left out! The food was not the best but it was a blast making it. All in all I enjoyed the BCM trip too much! I can’t wait to go again. Thank you for the opportunity Mrs. Regina to go on this wonderful life experience trip! EOYDC youth leaders ROCK!
Christopher Webb
EOYDC/BCM
When I first heard about BCM I didn’t hear about anything. Everyone keeps telling me you’re going to have to find out for yourself. This made me want to go even more, because I love a good challenge. When I woke up that morning I didn’t think it was real, because I had been waiting for so long. When I got to the place I still felt like it was a dream. When they showed us what we were going to carry on our backs. I was like man oh man, what did I get myself into. It was great that we learned how to pack and see what goes were. This made me thing, like this isn’t too bad, I want to do this with my family. When we left BCM I was pumped and ready for whatever came. I feel that the trip was more of a mental trip than a physical, don’t get me wrong the physical was there, but I had to figure out things left and right, give my opinion ,listen to someone else’s opinion. I had to learn how to do that on this trip because I was so used to everyone following me. BCM taught me how to back up every one in a while, but still be the leader you can be. If I had to chance I would take not only my family but other youth. This was a wonderful experience. Even after the trip I still feel like it’s a dream because it was so mind boggling. Now I feel like I can do ANYTHING! Thanks EOYDC for continuing to change my life and show me new things and new people.
Louis Summerhill
“BCM”
My experience going on BCM as a peer leader was an asset to me because I had to motivate my peers, and conquer a challenge for myself not to show that this trip is fazing me. I was proud of myself that I could lead my group and lift their spirits when they were down on the hike. The responsibilities that I had were nothing that I couldn’t handle; I love the fact of being a leader because I like to prove to others and myself that I can do it. This was my second BCM trip that I attended and what I learned from the two was that without struggle there’s no success and that is what get me through the journey.
While out in the backcountry I bonded with several others that I knew but rarely had conversations with before and I finally got the chance to get to know them, because of this trip we all made a brother to brother relationship. We all shared our past moments around a camp fire and had each other backs through the thick and the thin, we always offered a hand for one another when we seen someone in need of help.
This trip made me value the things I have in life and what I have back home. When you are used to the materials you use in your everyday life it becomes a habit to check or use it, by being on this trip gone for 6 days without electronics was a challenge. I was missing my iPod and my cellular phone and talking to my girlfriend and my friends, I overcame these challenges by thinking its okay that’s what voicemail and text messages are for, and it’s just less drama and worries for me to worry about. I recommend any teenager to attend this trip for the experience of the outback country, and to learn the survival skills in case something were to happened where you had to live without electricity, then you would have the knowledge and know what to do in those type of situations. I want to thank the East Oakland Youth Development Center for selecting me to serve as a Peer Leader on the BCM boys trip!
