South Fork
Winter 2019
Camp Memories Michael Honey
Alumni Spotlight
RJ Case
2018 Awards
Silver Thunderbird, Distinguished Alumni Award
Feature Article
The One That “Goes” by Erin Coates
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CONTENTS WINTER 2019
Inside the South Fork 03. President’s Letter Letter from Chuck Barber
10. Camp Memories Column Late-night spar pole hunting with Michael Honey
05. Calendar of Events 12. 2018 Awards Upcoming fellowship and service Awards from the 2018 KKAA Banquet
07. Alumni Spotlight R.J. Case
21. Alumni Updates
22. Donor Recognition
15. The One That “Goes” Featured Article by Erin Coates
1930 Kia Kima Leader’s Guide
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PRESIDENT’S LETTER Welcome to the first South Fork of 2019! I hope you enjoy all the awesome content our Publications team has put together. We have lots of great things lined up and I can’t wait for you to be a part of it. This year the KKAA will be working on several projects at Kia Kima along with some new initiatives for our membership. Let’s begin with our service to the camp, I like to call it the 3 Cs. Cherokee — While Camp Osage is wildly successful and attendance is high, our outpost camp hasn’t enjoyed the same results despite having a great staff. After speaking with Council leadership, we have identified some areas of improvement to attract more units and groups to God’s Country. The goal is to fill up the existing sessions and eventually offer more weeks at Cherokee. This year we will be replacing the roof on the Nature Lodge and building a new volleyball court to help enhance the incredible Cherokee experience.
Chuck Barber Alumni Association President president@kiakimaalumni.org
Council Ring — We have a good problem with the Council Ring. It’s not big enough! This area serves both camps and often times the staff has had to work around the space limitations to provide a great program. We have secured a $5000 grant from T-Mobile for this project and additional fundraising will begin soon to add seating, build a new sound booth, and create a new entryway. A major focus of this will be to increase the enjoyment and participation of our special-needs campers through improved audio and visual elements and accessibility. Chapel — Our place of worship at Kia Kima suffers from the same seating issue as the Council Ring, but also needs an overhaul. The structure has been around for a long time and can really use some TLC. This year we will be making repairs on it for the 2019 season while working on a plan to make the space even more stunning and special. We’d love to see our Chapel be used throughout the year and restore it as a focal point of our beautiful camp. As you know, all of these things will require hard work and money. If you’d like to volunteer to work on any of these projects, or donate money or supplies, please contact me. All donations to the KKAA are tax deductible. In other news, we are introducing some great membership perks this year! Danny Van Horn has agreed to join our board and take the lead on creating a directory of services for our membership (Directory@ KiaKimaAlumni.org). This listing will feature products and services provided by KKAA members so we can better support each other. Some will be offering discounts to KKAA members as well! We have also established an Alumni Relations team headed by Ken Kimble (AlumniRelations@KiaKimaAlumni.org). Ken’s group will be in charge of setting up members with mentorship/intern opportunities and a job board for our employers looking for a great new hire. Take the Thunderbird with you on your travels this year! We started #KiaKimaWorldTour on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so you can share photos from your adventures.
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Thank you so much for all you do for Kia Kima, I wish you all a very happy 2019.
BOARD PRESIDENT Chuck Barber
TREASURER Andrew Hinson
SECRETARY Ryan Cooper
CAMP STAFF LIAISONS Jeremy Palazolo, Dalton Cook
PAST PRESIDENT Andrew Schrack
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Activities Committee Adam Leith Historical/Publications Committee Andrew Schrack Membership Committee Michael Downs Merchandise Committee Johnny Tracy Service Committee Brian Leith
MEMBERS AT-LARGE
The mission of the Kia Kima Alumni Association is to reconnect alumni with Kia Kima; to support Kia Kima Scout Reservation and its staff; and to promote the Scouting program. The Kia Kima Alumni Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Arkansas. The Association was founded by current and former members of staff and friends of the camp in late 2014, with a vision to support camp and community and to strengthen the connections between generations of staff and campers. EIN: 47-2796543 www.KiaKimaAlumni.org PO Box 342855 Memphis, TN 38184
Melissa Burnett, George Clarke, Mark Follis, Jason Hood, Ken Kimble, Ken Kimble, Vince Perryman, Bob Winkler, Danny Van Horn
As the governing body of the Alumni Association, the Board of Directors is charged with directing and guiding the organization. The president, treasurer, and secretary are elected in November by the general membership for a one-year term. The Reservation Director and Program Director at Kia Kima are also members of the board with the stipulation that one is a professional Scouter with the Chickasaw Council and the other is a non-professional Scouter. Together with the past president, these officers form the initial Board. The chairmen of the standing committees and the members at-large are nominated by the president and approved by the initial Board. Meetings of the Board are open to all members of the Association.
SOUTH FORK Editor in Chief Andrew Schrack Staff Writers Noah Feder Mike Haskins Copy Editor Daniel Hochstein
South Fork is the quarterly magazine of the Kia Kima Alumni Association. It is created and published by a the Historical/Publications Committee—a team of volunteers—to advance the mission of the Kia Kima Alumni Association by fostering a community among the alumni. The magazine is published online and made available free of charge. For inquiries or to volunteer with South Fork, email SouthFork@KiaKimaAlumni.org. View past issues:
http://www.kiakimaalumni.org/south-fork-magazine.html
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CALENDAR UPCOMING EVENTS
April 18, 2019 | Staph Appreciation Event | Bridges, USA (Memphis) Climbing, games, high ropes, and competition. Under 18 waiver: https://waiver.fr/rg-cjwq3 May 17–19, 2019 | Work Weekend | Kia Kima Scout Reservation Cherokee improvements and preparing for summer camp season. June 1, 2019 | Alumni Gathering | Flying Saucer Cordova Live music and fellowship. Proceeds benefit the KKAA. June 8, 2019 | Staff Appreciation Lunch | Kia Kima Scout Reservation Lunch provided by Alumni Association. Assist with Saturday work crews. June 29, 2019 | Cherokee Takedown/OKKPA Dinner | KKSR & OKK Help with takedown. Dinner sponsored by Old Kia Kima Preservation Association. July 12–14, 2019 | Takedown Weekend | Kia Kima Scout Reservation Help with takedown. Dinner at Leith Residence by Shoats & Skins BBQ Team. Nov. 1–2, 2019 | Trade-o-Ree | Advent Presbyterian Church (Cordova, TN) Event for trading Scouting patches and memorabilia. Proceeds benefit the KKAA.
PARTNER EVENTS May 17–19, 2019 | OA Spring Induction Ordeal | Kia Kima Scout Reservation Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge, Order of the Arrow. https://www.chickasawoa.org/ Sept. 6–8, 2019 | OA Fall Induction Ordeal | Camp Currier Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge, Order of the Arrow. https://www.chickasawoa.org/ Sept. 26–29, 2019 | OKKPA Fall Gathering | Old Kia Kima Old Kia Kima Preservation Association. https://www.oldkiakima.org Oct. 18–20, 2019 | OA Fall Fellowship | Camp Currier Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge, Order of the Arrow. https://www.chickasawoa.org/ Nov. 9–10, 2019 | OA Vigil Honor Induction | Camp Currier Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge, Order of the Arrow. https://www.chickasawoa.org/ Dec. 7, 2019 | OA Family Banquet | Memphis University School Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge, Order of the Arrow. https://www.chickasawoa.org/
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Ken Kimble (Staff ’91–’95, ’98–’00) and Walter Hoehn (Staff ’ 90–’96) recently taught backcountry cooking at the Chickasaw Council University of Scouting
Paul Prothero (Staff ’84–’96) with his son, Mark. Paul is currently serving as Lodge Adviser of Wachtschu Mawachpo Lodge in West Ark Council
Dr. Andy Perry’s twins, Reese (l) and Maddox (r) are Bear Scouts in Honolulu, Hawaii. Reese was one of the first girl Cub Scouts to join Scouts, BSA in the Aloha Council. Dr. Perry served on staph from late 80’s to ’ 96 in various leadership positions including Cherokee Program Director.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT WHERE ARE THEY NOW
R.J. CASE 2007: Cherokee Aquatics, Unofficial Boating Dock Master 2008–2010: Osage Aquatics 2012: Osage Aquatics Director 2013: Health Officer
So much of the Scouting experience reinforces the motto to Be Prepared. Every Eagle Scout is a swimmer, camper, and first aid responder prepared for countless emergencies. RJ Case is the latest Kia Kima alumnus to continue down this path by adding M.D. to his list of accomplishments. Taking after his Eagle Scout grandfather, RJ joined the BSA as just a Tiger. Some of his fondest Scouting memories include his Order of the Arrow ceremony, when he was called out to become “a part of something bigger than myself.” As a young Scout with a “keen interest in emergency preparedness and
first aid,” RJ seemed destined to join the KKSR Waterfront Staff where he served for years. He describes a moment early in his Scouting career that crystallized his desire to pursue medicine: We were ten miles into the woods when one of our adult leaders began seizing. I felt panic gripping me. We were able to do what Scouts do best: be helpful. We created a line of Scouts from the woods towards the road to wait for the ambulance, ready to do CPR if necessary. But I never wanted to feel that feeling again: the feeling of not entirely knowing what to do in an emergency.
Learning from “sticklers” Spencer Nesvick and Michael Downs, RJ honed his lifeguarding procedures, which always ended in instructions to “wait for EMS to arrive.” So of course he became certified as an Emergency Medical Responder and then EMT! While serving as an EMT, RJ spent a summer as Kia Kima’s health officer and saw a number of fascinating cases. The 2013 Cherokee Staff may remember a certain incident involving a medical helicopter ride for a young man. Amidst the chaos, RJ handled the incident medically, coordinated with local emergency services, managed adult leaders, and kept the injured Scout healthy and in good spirits, all on a trail in the middle of the woods. Clearly, he could handle any emergency. The itch to know more wasn’t scratched yet, though. RJ writes, “But again, every EMS technique ended with transporting the patient to a hospital, where the patient would receive ‘definitive care.’ I couldn’t help but keep wondering, as I did in my capacity as a lifeguard: what comes next?” RJ enrolled at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine to pursue his doctorate and fulfill the drive to know more. Currently a senior, RJ will soon begin his residency in Emergency Medicine at the very same institution’s Medical Center this summer. His Scout skills already play a huge role in his day-to-day life in the hospital system. While many of his colleagues are learning leader-
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ship skills on the fly, RJ has been leading since his teens when he wrangled hordes of enthusiastic Scouts on the waterfront and interpersonal conflicts amongst the staff. While some doctors may struggle with angry patients and their families, the Scout Law taught RJ to be helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, and cheerful (to name a few). His drive for preparation, leadership experience, and adherence to the Scout Law all serve RJ well… not to mention
his knot-tying skills on a recent surgical rotation. The challenges faced by Kia Kima staffers are numerous. They can be truly profound and humbling: “How do we teach a young Scout who has been told all his life to stay out of the water not to be afraid? How do we prepare for the truly unexpected things when everyone looks to us for leadership?” They can also be less serious (but no
Photos: The University of Mississippi Medical Center
easier to handle in the moment): “How can we get that many plats to that site in the next five minutes? We have to clean what?” Having faced challenges like these, RJ is ready to face any scenario a hospital can throw at him. ⛺
Noah Feder, Staff Writer
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#KiaKimaWorldTour
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Johnny Tracy Sedlec Ossuary - Kutna Hora, Czech Republic
Andrew Schrack Saguaro Nat’l Park - Tucson, AZ
César Alvarado Pichincha Volcano, Equador
Chuck Barber Truth Or Consequences, NM
CAMP MEMORIES I will never forget the brotherhood we built in Scoutcraft the summer of 2010. It was my second year on staff and I had no idea the ride I was in for. It all started with our eager new Osage Scoutcraft Director, Josh Weeden, getting ahead of himself. I would be remiss if I did not introduce the rest of the crew. We had Adam Howard, Drew Swistak, Joey Redley, Michael Yost, Kyle Chandler, and Jake Dover. Normally Scoutcraft staffs build a pioneer project for Scouts to use during Open Scoutcraft on the weeknights, and most summers one would see a Monkey Bridge in the field behind Scoutcraft to serve this purpose. “The Monkey Flower” was beautiful in concept and not so beautiful in execution. The idea was to start by building a monkey bridge, at the half-way point you build a tower, and finish it off with monkey bars. This is all well and good until we in Scoutcraft realize the majority of our spar poles have rotted beyond use. For those uninitiated in the Staff Week, your day goes something like this: spend the morning working on camp-wide projects, then in the afternoon a short training and time to work on your program area, followed by an evening training after dinner. That summer, we in Scoutcraft tacked on an extra activity: spar pole hunting. We got permission from the ranger to go out and take down any dead tree on camp to use as spar poles for our project. This led to many a night being spent out with the crew out
cutting down dead trees with an axe by truck light. Nothing builds friendships like hard work all day and singing camp songs while cutting down dead trees. While the spar pole pile grew so did the ambition for a project. The monkey bridge and the monkey bars happened easily enough, the tower on the other hand only had a few failed attempts. That is when we struck gold, in the form of a 40 foot dead tree at the cope course. We dubbed this monster Little Biggun and spent multiple nights cutting it down. The timing could not have been better when the tree finally gave way. All the area directors were finishing up their evening meeting in the Admin Building, when seven grinning fools come riding by in a truck dragging a 40ft-long tree. There was a sense of accomplishment we shared when seeing shock on the faces of the program directors and the camp director, all the while Josh standing behind laughing.
One night stands out in particular from that summer. After running out of rope from attempting to construct the monster of a pioneering project, we still needed more. Cherokee had already finished their project, we figured they wouldn’t mind if we borrowed some. So that night, after our Scoutcraft fire died down, we mixed the ashes with some water and and off we went into the night covered in ash. We sneaked off to Cherokee making sure to stay hidden along the way. Once there we borrowed some of the rope they weren’t using and were able to finish our project with the rope.The next day, the Cherokee Scoutcraft Director was fuming when he realized what happened the previous night. When he brought up the complaint to the Camp Director at the time, he thought it was a funny story. We got to keep the rope! The point being, the pride we all shared in our program area led to lasting friendships. Most of the crew I still talk to regularly to this day. That tower never got finished; however, we did get a few good stories and a nice flag pole out of it! ⛺
Michael Honey, Guest Writer
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201 9 SEC OND ANN UAL
FRIDAY, NOV. 1 4:00-9:00 P.M.
Advent Presbyterian Church
SATURDAY, NOV. 2 8:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.
1879 N GERMA
NTOWN PKWY CORDOVA, TN 38016
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$
admission
kiakimaalumni.org/tradeoree or contact Johnny Tracy at johnny@kiakima.net or 901.489.6027
For more information and to register go to
TABLE SET-UP 3:00 P.M. FRIDAY
PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE KIA KIMA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION which supports the staff, campers, and friends of Kia Kima Scout Reservation.
KIA KIMA TRADE-O-REE TABLE RESERVATION NAME ADDRESS PHONE EMAIL
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______ TABLES X TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED
$
$20
Make check payable to: Kia Kima Alumni Association and send payment to: The Kia Kima Alumni Association P.O. Box 342855, Memphis, TN 38184
2018 AWARDS STAFF AWARDS The 2018 KKAA Winter Banquet was held December 19 at Craft Republic in Memphis. Among the activities of the evening were the presentations of the Staff, Philanthropy, Silver Thunderbird, and Distinguished Alumni Awards. The Staff Awards are presented to outstanding members of the previous summer’s Kia Kima staff and are voted on by the staff. Most Enthusiastic: Henry Zeringue The Most Enthusiastic Award was presented to Henry Zeringue. Henry has worked in the Camp Osage Scoutcraft area for several years, where he can often be heard cheering and singing. Henry has fiercely defended the title, winning the award for a fourth year in a row. Best First-Year Director: Mitchell Lawrence The Best First-Year Director Award was presented to Mitchell Lawrence. Mitchell has previously served as the Scoutcraft Director in Camp Cherokee, but the staff recognized him for his leadership as the 2018 Cherokee Program Director. Best Work Crew Leader: Riley Heasley The Best Work Crew Leader Award was presented to Riley Heasley. Riley, the Camp Osage Waterfront Director, is among the first staff members awake and ready for Saturday morning work crews at camp. His can-do attitude and leadership keep his crews energized and up to any task.
Henry Zeringue
Rookie of the Year: Whit Ford The Rookie of the Year Award was presented to Whit Ford. Whit served on the Camp Cherokee waterfont staff where he proved himself as a leader and as an excellent instructor. Whit’s willingness to “make it happen” made him stand out as the Rookie of the Year.
PHILANTHROPY Alan Gilmer A plaque was presented to Alan Gilmer to recognize and thank him for his servant leadership. Over the past year, Alan took the initiative and led multiple off-season work crews at Kia Kima using his own equipment, including a bucket truck. Alan’s crews focused on trimming the trees along the roads through camp and other projects made possible by his equipment. His service, donations, and leadership greatly benefitted Kia Kima.
Photos: Melissa Burnett
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SILVER THUNDERBIRD The Silver Thunderbird Award is presented to alumni for the impact they had while working on the Kia Kima staff. Silver Thunderbird recipients are recognized for their outstanding service to camp and are those staff members that Scouts, Scouters and other staff remember when they think on their time at camp. The awards were presented by 2017 Silver Thunderbird recipients, Rhonda Wright and Jeff Hodge. Max “Bear� Aycock
Dennis Cain
Ryan Cooper
Mike Haskins
Andrew Hinson
Walter Hoehn
Hugh Mallory
Andrew Schrack
Johnny Tracy
Dennis Cain
Mike Haskins
Walter Hoehn
Hugh Mallory
Andrew Schrack
Johnny Tracy
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually to an alum who has tirelessly contributed to Kia Kima throughout their life. This is the highest award that the Association bestows and it is given annually to one individual. Previous recipients of the Sitinguished Alumni Award are Brian Leith (2017), Jason Hood (2016), and Drew Armstrong (2015).
Jeremy Palazolo Jeremy has worked tirelessly for camp and Scouting since his first years on the Kia Kima staff. As a youth, Jeremy began working on staff in 1993 and has since spent 20 summers on the banks of the South Fork river. Jeremy has worked for the Chickasaw Council in a variety of positions, including District Executive, Program Director, Lodge Staff Adviser of the Ahoalan-Nachpikin Order of the Arrow Lodge, Reservation Director, and, most recently, Director of Support Services. Throughout the years, Jeremy has served camp through many different projects beyond his normal duties. In addition to designing and refining the Kia Kima program, Jeremy has also helped build and repair many structures at camp, including most recently the Cowboy Action Range and the Cherokee Tech Center, among others.
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Mike Haskins, Staff Writer
SUPPORT GIVING BACK TO CAMP
KROGER PLUS CARD
Members with Kroger Plus Cards who enroll in the Kroger Community Giving program can contribute to the Kia Kima Alumni Association every time they shop at Kroger. Kroger donates a portion of their proceeds at no cost to the individual. Sign up online at Kroger’s website.
AMAZON SMILE
Amazon purchases made through smile.amazon.com will donate a portion of Amazon’s proceeds to the Kia Kima Alumni Association. All purchases must be made through the Amazon Smile website as opposed to the regular Amazon site to qualify for the donation. This does not add any cost to your purchase.
MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS
Many companies and organizations will match contributions made by their employees. The Kia Kima Alumni Association is registered with Benevity and several other of the major programs utilized by companies. To check if your company matches donations, contact your HR rep. If your company uses a program with which the Association is not registered, please email president@kiakimaalumni.org.
Name:
______________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________ City:
________________________ State: __________ Zip: ________________
Donation: $25
$50
$100
$250
$500
Other: ________
In ( Memory / Honor ) of: ____________________________________________ Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________ City: ___________________________ State: __________ Zip: ________________ Apply donation to (specify amount): _______ Cherokee Tech Center
_______ Cherokee Volleyball Court
_______ Cherokee Nature Lodge Roof
_______ General Fund
Mail to:
Amount Attached: _____________ Bill Me: Monthly Quarterly
Kia Kima Alumni Association PO Box 342855 Memphis, TN 38184
Paid by: Check OR Credit Card:
Send PayPal contributions:
https://paypal.me/KiaKimaAlumni
#: _______________________________________________ Exp: ________ CVV: __________
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THE ONE THAT “GOES” BY: ERIN COATES (STAFF ‘08–’14) Type 2 Fun. It’s what happens when your definition of fun is so far outside the realm of what’s considered “normal” that you have to justify, not only to others but to yourself, that what you’re doing is actually worth considering “fun.”
Mud slicked gravel crumbled and collapsed under my boots as I lunged forward, throwing my body’s momentum up a steep pile of breakdown. A waterfall crashing behind my back filled the small room with the rhythmic noise of water on rock, water on rock, water on rock…
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I reached the top of the pile and immediately moved my hands to smother my bright headlamp, filling the chamber around me with strategic darkness. “There.” I whispered after spotting the soft telltale glow of LED lights on limestone walls disappearing
Photo: Jonea Mohn
down a passage behind the narrow 60ft entrance I rappelled into a few minutes earlier. I yelled after the light. I waved my hand in front of my headlamp to signal the light. I started to rush down the passage after it and then… the light disappeared.
They were moving too fast for me to catch them. I didn’t know where I was or where I was supposed to end up. I dropped a pit into a cave I’d never seen a map of and within the first ten minutes I was lost. Type 2 Fun. It’s what happens when your definition
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Main Photo: Valhalla Pit Left: Richard’s Cave, Waterfall Rappel 1 Top Right: Richard’s Cave, Waterfall Rappel 2 Bottom Right: Erin Coates descending 227ft into Valhalla Pit
“That’s the way!” I shouted over the crashing waterfall as my longtime friend and fellow Kia Kima Alum, Jonea Mohn (Staff ’08–’11, ’13), emerged from the tunnel that previously misled us. “Follow the water!” I gestured towards where I saw the lights disappear and brightened my own headlamp to better illustrate The Way. Jonea nodded in agreement. We were looking for four successive waterfall drops to rappel down. Following the water the way gravity was taking it made the most sense.
Chad McCain of fun is so far outside the realm of what’s considered “normal” that you have to justify, not only to others but to yourself, that what you’re doing is actually worth considering “fun.” Caving is Type 2 Fun. Caving is descending into a dark space, hostile to the majority of life on Earth, where extraction in the case of even a minor injury can take hours of skilled expertise. Your mind will play imaginative tricks on you to fill the darkness and silence, the lack of stimulus encircling you. The surface of the rock around you and underneath you will be a combination of smooth, dry, mud packed, slippery, and razor sharp. And oh, the crawling, swimming, slimy blind things you’ll find as you navigate the unfamiliar terrain around you!
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While wayfinding in a cave isn’t simple or straightforward, it is almost the whole point of caving. Whether for pure recreation or for research, surveying, and mapping. Your purpose is to find the way that “Goes.”
Wayfinding in a non-commercial cave is not simple or straightforward. Every experienced caver knows, “You see two caves—the one on the way in and the one on the way out.” Even with a map and knowledge given to you by others who have visited the cave before, it’s highly likely you will find yourself standing in the darkness and wrestling with self-doubt.
This means you’ll likely shove your way into and through passages that don’t seem passable. Sometimes you’ll find yourself in a tight, deadend constriction, wondering either to yourself or to the nearest cricket, “What have I gotten myself into?” Sometimes you’ll find yourself wriggling out of a corkscrew to a massive room that will leave you standing absolutely awestricken.
The pile of breakdown where I stood and wrestled my own doubt on that particular day was in Richard’s Cave, a relatively advanced multi-drop pit cave in Georgia. It was early October, during a well-known festival—the TAG Fall Cave-In. Pun very much intended. Just a few minutes in and I was already experiencing this phenomenon of “Two Caves.”
“This is the way.” Jonea said to me, pointing her light at an inconspicuous stack of rocks placed on a boulder in a way indicating Mother Nature did not put them there. Jonea found a directional cairn, a gift of orientation left by cavers who came before us. We took this cue and crouched down into the tunnel.
Chad McCain We followed the path of least resistance and we chatted about our jobs. Our relationships. My rock climbing. Her mountain biking. We grew quiet as we slowly separated into different but adjacent tunnels to rejoin back at the top of the boulder from which we had just departed. “Oh good. We went in a circle.” I grumbled, sliding from the top of the boulder, past the cairn, and into the narrow slot beside it. Anytime you find yourself stuck in a cave and you are uncertain of the way to go, stop moving long enough to regain context. You might need to go up, down, over, under, forward, backward, around, or inside to find your way. The walls around us gradually sloped down, gravity’s natural pull, and we could still hear the water slightly below us to our right, though we could no longer see it. We knew we were looking for four waterfall rappels and that they would all be rigged with one 300 foot long static line… “I see the rope! There it is! We found it!” I excitedly blurted out when my headlamp reflected off of our white rope, rigged to two anchors off in the distance at the end of an inconspicuous and low passage that we had not yet considered exploring. The path that “Goes” is not always the path of least resistance.
Ryan Murdo
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We carefully climbed down to a long, wide, sloping shelf and put our tethers on to avoid taking an unintentional express trip down the waterfall. And then, as I often do in any pursuit on rock, in rapid, or along a trail, I stopped. And I looked, I mean really looked at the world surrounding me. Arches of limestone cut by debris filled floods and ceiling collapses emerged from the dark pit before me from the light cast by my headlamp. I could see the path of the waterfall drops, descending in a grand and graceful way into a faint pool of soft glow given off by the rest of our crew at the bottom of the final rappel in the distance. We were in a stone cathedral, a sight so seemingly unreal, you almost forget that it wasn’t hand carved by mankind.
A thin mist from the falls pouring over the edge of the first drop and the fog from my own breath, a pronounced sort of heat against the cool air around me, caught my attention as I shuddered at the thought of descending in the water. I watched in silence as Jonea rigged her rappel rack, being careful to be her second set of eyes on a simple but deadly task should she rig it wrong. She walked tenderly backward, feet wider than her shoulders for stability, out and over the slick lip of the waterfall, and into the all-consuming, daring, and unknown darkness below. In caving, wayfinding is not simple or straightforward. At least once on every single trip I take, I find myself disoriented, frustrated, tired, and cold. Wanting to turn back, ascend out, and hike down to the safety and
familiarity of my old Honda CRV. But I always push onward. I encourage you to do the same. I cosign the exploration of your limitations. I demand you find mentors, sages, and cairns placed by those who have come before you to give your many wandered paths meaning. Don’t be shaken should you find yourself stopped in your tracks, staring at a solid and immovable wall of rock. Turn around, collect yourself, regain context, and push onward to find your way. The one that “Goes.” ⛺
If you want to learn more about caving, please check out the National Speleological Society’s website. Another group worth checking into is a local-to-Tennessee nonprofit and one of the best groups in the country—the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. And remember, always Be Prepared. Find legitimate mentors to teach you how to stay safe in caves. Rhonda Wright was my mentor and I’ve stayed alive thanks to her extensive training and knowledge and her skill at teaching me that knowledge. She’s pretty great like that.
Erin Coates Staff ’08–’14
Erin Coates worked on staff at Kia Kima Scout Reservation from 2008– 2014. She served as the Camp Cherokee Nature Lodge Director for two years, Camp Osage Nature Lodge Director for two years, Camp Cherokee Program Director for two years, and Lake Ouachita Summer Trek (LOST) Director for one year. During her time at Kia Kima, she fell in love… with rock climbing and caving. Since then, Erin has honed and developed these passions to fill her spare time with adventure. Ever mindful of the call to serve others, Erin works as the Development Director for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America-St. Louis Chapter. Erin can be contacted at erinleighco@gmail.com
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#KiaKimaWorldTour
Dave Robinson Center Hill Dam - Lancaster, TN
CĂŠsar Alvarado Yahuarcocha Lake, Equador
David Pomerantz Hyderabad, India
Kevin Owens North Shore - Oahu, HI 20
ALUMNI UPDATES
Ryan Cooper (Staff ’96–’04)
(Staff ’08–’13, ’15–’16)
Michael Honey
Alexandra Howard
Ryan Cooper accepted the volunteer position with the Chickasaw Council as the Eastern District Chair. He is the head volunteer in the district and is responsible for membership, finance, and program functions of the district. The district serves Arlington, Collierville, Cordova, Germantown, Hickory Hill, and Lakeland.
Michael Honey received the annual Ground Safety Well Done award at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. Michael redesigned the control systems for the active barriers on base and also coordinated an emergency repair of the airfield lighting. Michael is a civilian electrical engineer with the Air Force.
Alexandra Howard recently accepted a position with Youth Villages as a Business Planning & Policy Specialist in Memphis. She will be developing programs at new locations and working with local officials to expand YV programs. She previously worked as a Youth Villages Family Intervention Specialist in Knoxville.
Bill Jennings
Paul Martin
Emily Ward
Bill Jennings was honored by the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for his service to the Anita Borg Institute and induction into the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame. Bill gave the Keynote address at the SVMB Council’s Annual Meeting.
Paul Martin has taken a position with History Flight, Inc, as a Forensic Anthropologist and K9 Handler. History Flight is a search and recovery organization working with Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency to recover the remains of American Service Members from foreign conflicts.
Emily Ward graduated in December from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She passed her Boards in February to become a Registered Nurse. She is now working as an Operating Room Registered Nurse at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.
(Staff ’86–’88)
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(Staff ’93–’97)
(Staff ’13–’18)
(Staff ’09–’15)
DONORS 2018
Peter Abell
Andrew Hinson
Andy Perry
Sam Agee
Jerry Hinson
Vincent Perryman
Anonymous
Paula Hinson
Alex Peters
Hunter Bailey
Walter F. Hoehn Jr.
Paul Prothero
Jay Baker
Jason Hood
Jody Ratcliff
Tim Barker
Justin Kerr
Joey Reinagle
Chuck Barber
Ken Kimble
Dave “Truck” Robinson
Brad Bradley
David Kiggins
Steve Rosen
Dave Burrows
Mark Lawrence
Chuck Schadrack
James Crain
Brian & Katie Leith
Andrew Schrack
Wayne Dowdy
LexisNexis
T-Mobile USA, Inc
Richard Fast
Jeff Lichterman
Johnny Tracy
Adam Foster
Dan McGuire
Carey White
Jimmy Greer
Spencer Nesvick
David Zelinksi
Sissie Griffin
Nesvick Trading Group
Zuzu’s Petals
Sylvia Henry
The NRA Foundation
2019 Anonymous Chuck Barber Jason Hood LexisNexis Chuck Schadrack T-Mobile USA, Inc
MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS In memory of Frank Simonton Anonymous
To make a gift honoring or memorializing someone, please include a note to that effect with the gift. The Association will send a letter to the honoree or their family informing them of the gift.
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Kia Kima Alumni Association PO Box 342855 Memphis, TN 38184
Join the Community www.KiaKimaAlumni.org www.facebook.com/KiaKimaAlumni/
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South Fork