Gratitude is an important part of the organizational culture of Adventure Risk Challenge. There’s rarely a shortage of gratitude within the ARC community, but this season helps focus attention on the reasons why that is so. As we reflect on a few events and gatherings in November, we’re feeling particularly grateful for the communities of ARC alumni and volunteers and for one of our most-involved partners, Alpenglow Sports.
During the first weekend of November our board of directors and staff team gathered to create a new three-year strategic plan. That weekend was kicked off by an ARC alumni poetry reading hosted by Alpenglow Sports, during which graduates from as far back as 2008 read poetry they had written as ARC participants and spoke about the long-term impact of ARC’s programs. Jesus Alejandre, who participated in ARC programs as a student in 2011-13 and has been a member of ARC’s staff team since 2015, shared his ARC metaphorical poem written when he was 16 years old. In the poem, he expressed, as a teenager, feeling isolated and alone. “In my poem I say, ‘I am a community of one,’ and that doesn’t resonate with me anymore thanks to ARC because I have this community now, a community of many,” said Alejandre. “I felt alone, and now I feel that I am a part of something different, something bigger [as an ARC staff member and alumnus].”
At the event, ARC Founder Katie Zanto introduced the alumni and shared her gratitude for Alpenglow, which has showcased ARC youth at many local events and has helped strengthen bonds between the Tahoe community and ARC students and staff. “This event allows space for conversation and connections within our community.” said Zanto. “It’s important to engage our ARC alumni in meaningful events and have a space for them to contribute and share their stories.”
Just two short weeks after the poetry Alpenglow Sports event, our most-committed group of volunteers, the ARC board of directors, led a huge team of volunteers in selling raffle tickets and beverages to a crowd of 500 people on November 15th at the kick-off of Alpenglow Sport’s 2018-19 Winter Speaker Series. We had the opportunity to inform a large audience about ARC’s mission and programs before the night’s main speaker, Dave Nettle, entertained us with a slideshow and stories from a recent adventure in the Swiss Alps. Most exciting was that, because of the vision and persistence of Alpenglow’s owner (Brendan Madigan) and a few innovative, anonymous donors, ARC was able to raise thousands of dollars in that one evening. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Alpenglow Sports, the Speaker Series, and the many community members who donated to support ARC’s mission in this season of gratitude. Thank you!