The crisp air filled her lungs as she stepped onto the suspended cable, her legs trembling wildly. Across the canopy, her partner stood frozen on the tree platform. Ground teams below held the tension lines, locked into every movement, waiting for their cue to respond with support. For these 7th-grade students, this was an unfamiliar threshold: a profound responsibility to listen, adapt, and help navigate an experience punctuated by intense fear.

I initially proposed the idea for my Capstone project in September 2025, after inspiration struck in the middle of the night. I jumped out of bed and excitedly scribbled notes on a scrap of paper envisioning a dual-purpose initiative at Springfield College’s East Campus: an immersive three-day, two-night camping retreat designed to cultivate authentic student leadership, while serving as a foundational pilot for a long-term, sustainable Adventure Education program at my school.

As adults, we know middle school is a pivotal time of identity formation, and a season of life most of us would prefer to forget. Beyond questionable fashion choices and awkward phase trends that make our older selves cringe, finding yourself and your voice can be a turbulent journey. I wanted to create an experience that these students would not want to forget; one that would profoundly shape their development and help them discover their true potential. Adventure Education is the ultimate tool for just that.

In order to bring this vision to life, I felt it was imperative to participate in the annual, week-long outdoor living and field experience at East Campus: Outdoor Pursuits. Although I did not have the opportunity to take part as an undergraduate student while attending college in California, I had recently learned about the program’s rich 96-year history and wanted to experience the traditions and magic that make it so impactful and iconic.

I feel incredibly honored to have spent four days as a graduate student on Team West, learning alongside Ted France, Springfield College professor of Physical Education, and the remarkable team leaders. Through this immersive experience, I gained valuable insight into camp culture, longstanding traditions, outdoor ceremonies, and field-based instruction spanning campcraft, climbing, outdoor cooking, and canoeing.

Bringing this vision to life was a true collective effort, and I want to give a massive shoutout to my graduate peers: Keeley Joyal, Spencer Maraday, and Itzela Darkenwald, whose hands-on support with facilitation brought this experience to life. None of this would have been possible without the guidance of Professor Ted and Angela Veatch, associate director of East Campus and Outdoor Programs. Their unbelievable support highlights what makes our Adventure Education graduate program so exceptional: the freedom to design custom, high-impact experiences that align directly with our professional goals. 

To expand this impact further, I am designing a nine-hour professional development series on Adventure Education for colleagues across all disciplines. Experiencing these initiatives firsthand empowers teachers to adapt core experiential principles to their content areas, helping us to cultivate a true school-wide culture of adventure.

Throughout my graduate work, I’ve often described this phase as my horizontal playground, a creative space for laying the essential foundation required before we can go vertical!

This journey highlights what makes Springfield College’s Master of Education in Adventure Education program so special: it provides the institutional support, theoretical framework, essential fieldwork, and flexibility to turn a nocturnal spark of inspiration into meaningful, lasting educational impact. To any prospective student considering this path, the community and resources here will empower you to lay your own foundation and elevate your vision into reality.