I used to be somebody, but now I am somebody else - Camille Seed, Expedition 2009

I was getting packed for a trip that I wasn’t sure what to wear or bring. I was really nervous to leave my family for so long and at first I was very indecisive about it. I couldn’t sleep the whole night and thoughts were scrambling all in my head. I never realized that this trip was going to change my life, until the day I got in a green van. Here is my life changing story.

The first day, we were greeted by our leaders and we all waved as my family drove away. I was shaking at this point, wanting them to come back. I started to meet every one getting a little more comfortable with the new atmosphere. We all piled in the car and started to mingle. There was a long ride ahead of us, meeting everyone and just trying to get all the nerves away. After 3 ½ hours of driving we finally got to our destination.

We all got out and start making camp. This was a reality check for me. I used to have things done for me and now I’m learning how to put a tent up. It took me and my roommate Lisa maybe 7-8 times to finally get the tent up. We were all sitting on the ground talking and playing games. When it was time for dinner, we all helped out which was so cool for me because in my family my mom n dad do dinner and I do dishes. I was scared on what were going to eat and thought it was going to be like all vegetarian foods but we had some of the best food I’ve ever eaten and it was all home made. Our crew leaders were really amazing they were funny and outgoing. They helped us get ready for bed and Lisa and I sat up and talked about our life styles and how we got here and then we fell asleep.

The second day was a lot more interesting. We got up at 7:00 and had breakfast and hiked up this huge mountain to get to our job site to just see what had to be done. I was cold so I wore long sleeve under armor and my Carharts. I found out ten minutes later that was a huge mistake. It took us 2 ½ hours to hike up a 2.7 mile mountain. We got to the top and I just sat there in amazement. It was so beautiful. We were on the highest mountain looking down at little water falls, huge mountains and a whole canyon. I got my camera out and took tons of pictures. Then I started to notice there was A LOT of mosquitoes! I have never seen so many in my life. We were all getting bit and then I got out the spray and handed it down to the rest of the crew. We used a lot of spray.

Our leaders showed us on what work we were going to have to do for the week. It wasn’t so bad -- just some hedging and making trails. We had our lunch on this rock over looking everything. I just could not get over the fact that it was so amazing. We found a fallen tree and cut it into logs also talked about the rules the expectations for us while we ate our sandwiches. When I was packing for this trip I bought a watch and it came in so handy.

Our camp was beside a little creek and we couldn’t wait to cool down and get off all the sweat. Jimmy and Isaac (our leaders) went with us and we all got into this freezing cold creek and sat in there for like 20 minutes to cool off. We got out and ran back to camp and made macaroni and cheese for dinner. It was so good I ate 3 servings! 5 of us stayed up and talked about the day. We were all very different people but we also had so much in common. We looked up at the sky and saw so many stars. It was like a dream. That night was the night of a huge lightning storm. Lightning was striking all around us and we all had to get in the van to get cover. It was so loud and so unbelievable. I was scared at first, but then it just got really cool.

The next day, we had work to do so we got on all of our gear -- backpacks, water bottles, gloves and shovels, and were all ready to go. We started walking up the mountain. I was out of breath 20 minutes in and was thirsty and going slow. It took us almost 3 hours to get to the worksite and I was the third one there. Mosquitoes were everywhere again but the bug spray helped.

In the second week we went to a camp spot On Lake Mary Ronan. This was really different for us because we went from not seeing anyone but our group members to seeing all these campers that have TVs, IPods, and campers, etc. We were smelly and greasy. The work we needed to do was make a trail through this campground. At first it was difficult but then we all got the hang of it and got it done. Two days before we had to leave we had the trail done and looking nice. The hostess was very impressed. So for the next two days we got to sleep in and go swimming. It was so pretty out there with the lake right near us and the sky just shining down on us. This was very memorable to all of us. Our last night was the best …. we all slept outside under the stars when a meteor shower was happening. I really liked how this 2nd week turned out we became a team. This was when all of us started to actually get to know each other and make long life friends.

The third and fourth week work was in Glacier National Park. These are some of my best memories. We got a really nice camp spot and went sight seeing a lot. The work days were spent mostly with the national forest plant nursery. I liked it there; the people were nice and very welcoming. We had a leader teach us about collecting seeds. This was kind of boring but I learned a lot about nature. We went up to the top of the park to collect and store seeds. For a couple of days I learned a lot of names and why plants play a big part in nature.

One day we were picking berry seeds which was very hard because everyone wanted to eat them.  All of the sudden we see a little black bear with her two little cubs, 10 feet away from us! We all stopped and stared and then quietly walked away. It was such a rush I was all hyper and excited. Then a wind storm was starting to act up really fast so we hurried up and left.

We got news that a young boy was on the lake canoeing and he tipped over. Search and rescue came to ask us for help finding him. We got our gear and went on the back side of the lake in an old burned area where there was a fire. The wind was so strong trees were falling down all around us. It was really scary but such a rush. We were calling for the boy. Then finally 8 miles in, the radio called in and said they found the boy so we all scurried out of the forest. I was so happy they found him! When we got back to camp, we were all tired and hungry but we all helped with dinner and dishes. This was the coolest day! Mostly every day at Glacier we would head down to the lake and get all the sweat off. The last days came up so quickly so we said our goodbyes to everyone at the nursery and headed down to see our families.

The next day came quickly to see our families. We hadn’t really talked or seen each other in about month so I was excited. I wasn’t the same girl when I left home. Coming back to my family was exciting. I was a new and improved person. I saw everything in a new way, a new light.

We pulled up to the curb and all of the parents were talking. I looked in the mirror and I just laughed. I got out of the van and my parents ran to give me a hug. We all talked and told stories about our trip and it came to everyone leaving. We all said our goodbyes and I got in the car with my parents. As we were leaving I took off my sweat shirt… that’s when my dad had to stick his head out of the window. Apparently I stunk really bad and my mom sprayed me with a squirt of Fabreeze! We got to a hotel room and I finally took my first shower in a month. It was really cool to get back to my family on my birthday. It was a great present! I told them all about my experience.

My MCC experience changed my life in multiple ways. Before I left for MCC, I never really noticed the small, but important things of nature. I just went day-by-day thinking it was just weeds or just a tree. When I left MCC it was like I got new eyes. I seemed to notice all the little things. With all these new sights and adventures, I started to realize that I have not seen many great things in life because I was blinded.

MCC also helped my leadership skills, by knowing what I can do to help nature be at its best. I realized that nature has so much to offer and that there is still so much to learn about it. That is why I want to do something for the rest of my life, helping out nature and being outside is my life. This program has helped me decide what I want to do for the rest of my life, and how to take precautions and know what to do in bad situations.

I would recommend MCC to any person who likes to be outdoors and wants to help our wildlife.