I had too many highlights from my experience as an ENR Scholar to pick just one. Camping in Hocking Hills every year, the windy and treacherous hike at Lake Hope, learning how to rock climb, I have so many highlights. My favorite was probably the Lake Hope camping trip because I got so close to everyone on the trip.

ENR has given me so much. I gained all of my wonderful friends through the program, I learned how to engage in a community in a helpful way, I found the right major for me, I gained job shadow and networking opportunities, I learned countless outdoor and personal skills, I found better ways to manage my own wellness, and I found a community where I felt a strong sense of belonging fairly quickly in college.

For my Spring 2017 project, I travelled to the Everglades for a sea kayaking trip during spring break. We spent five days on the water, paddling by day and camping on a different island every night. It was easily one of the most challenging yet rejuvenating things I have ever done. I felt as though I found something I had been missing for a long time. Outdoor adventure has always been something I have tried to engage in, but this trip was on a whole new level. I learned many new skills, such as navigation, outdoor cooking, and effective packing. I feel much more capable and confident in my abilities. This trip sparked a new love of outdoor recreation that I hope to engage in for the rest of my life.
For new ENR Scholars, my number one piece of advice would be to engage with this community. I would never have gained as much as I have if it wasn’t for doing my best to be involved. Attend, the events that sound interesting to you, engage in the seminars, and try to get to know the other people in the program. Take advantage of the knowledge the upperclassmen have! They’re great resources and they’ll be eager to help you.