T VST O E
Catherine Anderson, Alex Lange, Jack Allen, and Grayce Andrews
closely followed by another group heading to Colorado Bend State Park under the guidance of Senior Alex Lange, to hike, fish, and kayak. After each project, we spend time deconstructing the event and listening to lessons learned. Students get to share with the group any changes they wish they had made, obstacles they overcame, and challenges they had to solve. The cohort serves as a peer sounding board to offer suggestions, critique, and acknowledgments. And herein lies the real power of the OLSP for our students. Tackling a real project with very real consequences makes for a phenomenal learning environment! The lessons learned in any of the Signature Program tracts will be lifelong and memorable. Jack Allen said, “Being able to refine and hone my skills as an outdoor leader though this program has helped me not only become a better leader but a better follower as well. No matter what, I will be able to communicate and work well with any team I am placed in.”
A SPECIAL NOTE
Do you think your student might be interested in entering one of our Signature Programs? Applications are available in the Spring of their sophomore year... we have a chair waiting for you!
32
TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL
Stephanie and Brian Allen (parents of Parker ‘17 and Jack Allen ‘20) have spent the last eight years serving countless meals to your students all over our great state on dozens of TOE Core trips. This has been purely voluntary and always involves late nights, VERY early mornings, and having to feed our masses in all conditions. From a snowy Big Bend at 12 degrees to the blazing heat of Mineral Wells to the clouds of mayflies at Galveston Island, the Allens have been amazingly generous. As their youngest heads off to college this May, we are sad to see them move on as well. Stephanie and Brian, TOE is definitely in a better place than you found us through your incredible service and dedication. From the bottom of our plates...thank you for managing this part of the program from behind the scenes for so long. You will be missed more than you will ever know. THANK YOU. Stephanie, Parker ’17, Brian, and Jack ’20 Allen