Lifestyle
Call Me Crazy, But Golden Retrievers Are Overrated For These 17 Reasons
There are plenty of other breeds out there people.
15 October 2018
832
They won't fit your lifestyle, period.
Keep Reading...Show less
There are plenty of other breeds out there people.
They won't fit your lifestyle, period.
Rhode Island College travels 118 miles to Becket, Massachusetts to the Berkshires.
I joined emerging leaders to gain friendships and learn more about myself and how to be a better leader on campus and in my community. The first event we do together is a weekend retreat into the woods for team building. But what we got out of this experience was much more than just that.
We took a bus to the camp and got there in time to have dinner. Later that night we sat around a fire pit and talked about some light topics and as the night progressed and the sky got darker and darker the more personal and deep the questions became. This really brought us together, and created a huge sense of trust.
We did exercises where we had to apply that trust with each-other. Like ice breakers and canoeing. Where we got to traverse the lake and did a couple of competitions out on the water to create some team building amongst our group. After the long, fun-filled day we had s'mores and listened to music, danced our hearts out and learned more about one another's interests.
On our last day we did high ropes which was definitely the thing that challenged us all the most. But even that didn't stop us from completing the challenges ahead. We are one hell of a team. We all faced our fears and did many things we were uncomfortable with, be it opening up to each other about our lives, heights or disappointing the rest of the team. But we finished the weekend with a quiet hike into the woods and debriefed the weekend. Next thing we knew we were on the bus ride home.
This experience was another life changing one. The people I got to work with, our facilitators just made this such a heartwarming experience and I can't wait to work with this group for the rest of the semester where we discuss other topics that effect us, either personally or as a community.
Have you ever seen a white squirrel?
Many people outside of North Carolina and South Carolina have never heard of Brevard, a little town I practically grew up in nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. While everyone spends their summers at the beach, I have always preferred playing outside in the mountains, specifically those in Brevard, for these 15 reasons.
Brevard is located right inside those blue Appalachian mountains that reach up to insane heights and roll amidst the valleys. Photos will never do them justice. If you're in Brevard, take a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway to check out some scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
There are approximately 1700 white squirrels in Brevard that reside mainly on Brevard College's campus downtown. The squirrels are famous in Brevard, and you'll find that you can buy some sort of white squirrel paraphernalia just about anywhere downtown, my favorite being the White Squirrel Sundae from Rocky's Soda Shop.
Madison Foster
Speaking of Rocky's Soda Shop... not only is the food amazing, but the atmosphere will literally transport you back to the 50s. They have classic burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes served in tall glasses.
Madison Foster
Whether it's Mayberry's for Southern food, Quixote for Mexican food, Sora for Japanese food, Big Mike's for Italian food, The Square Root for something a little nicer, or dessert at Downtown Chocolates across the street, you're bound to find some restaurant that you'll love.
Everyone here will greet you with a smile on their face and a "How are you, sweetheart?" Southern hospitality runs rampant here. You'll never meet a stranger.
Madison Foster
The DFR Room is quite literally underground and is located directly under Main Street. It's open Thursday-Saturday nights and features indie, alternative, and rock bands. You'll feel 200 times cooler just walking down the stone stairs that lead to this rocking venue.
The White Squirrel Festival is a two-day tribute to Brevard's beloved white squirrels. It takes place downtown every year during the last weekend in May. The festival features amazing food, handmade art, kids activities (did someone say fair rides?), and fun events for all ages. How much cooler could this get?
Whether it's the Fourth of July, Halloween, or Christmas, Brevard probably has a festival. Each one features tents similar to those at the White Squirrel Festival, but they are often tailored to fit the holiday they represent. For example, the Halloween festival has a costume contest!
Each tree sports a different shade of green, yellow, orange, red, and sometimes even purple. That's basically 85% of the rainbow. It's a sight to see.
Madison Foster
This river is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, or tubing down with your friends and family. It runs 213 miles from Rosman, N.C. to Knoxville, T.N., showcasing the beautiful mountainous landscape between the two states.
Madison Foster
There are over twenty summer camps in Brevard with staff and campers from all around the world. Coming to Brevard during the summer, you're bound to run into some fun people, and if you're lucky, you can find a summer job working at one of their camps.
Dupont is gorgeous no matter what time of year, and there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, or viewing some amazing waterfalls. Plus, it's pretty cool to hike where Katniss Everdeen once started a revolution.
Whether you're hiking or climbing, this mountain and its rock are sure to impress.
Madison Foster
This two-story toy store has hundreds of toys and games, many of which you can test out right there in the store.
Madison Foster
The sign that welcomes you into Brevard reads, "We Welcome You to the Land of the Waterfalls." In fact, there are over 200 beautiful waterfalls in Brevard including Hooker Falls, Rainbow Falls, Looking Glass Falls, Connestee Falls, and Courthouse Falls.
Are you ready to jump in?
The Rainbow River located in Dunnellon, Florida is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Here are the top 10 reasons why people come from across the map to visit.
Up to 600 million gallons of water are issued through the vents of the springs each and every day. These snorkelers give you a sneak peak of what rainbow river has to offer. It's beautiful both above and below the water!
Check out the website for a full look at all of the things to do and see here. There's even a gift shop.
You can also snorkel, visit the waterfalls, and much more for no additional cost!
Kayaks are $16 per hour or $50 for the day. Tandem kayaks or canoes are available for $60 for the day or $22 per hour.
Florida Snapping Turtles, Redbelly Cooters, Softshell Turtles, Alligator Snapping Turtles, Loggerhead Musk Turtles, and Yellowbelly Sliders are just a few of the species of turtles you might encounter at Rainbow Springs.
You can even find manatees in certain parts of the river. Just look out for alligators!
You never know what you might see down in the ponds or up in the trees!
Just make sure to check the weather forecast to avoid rain!
There are lots of options for renting pontoon boats in Florida. It's a great way to enjoy the water and stay dry!
There's something incredibly soothing about watching the sunset reflect over a body of water.
Whether you go this summer or a few years from now, Rainbow Springs is a destination that belongs on everyone's bucket list.
How will you spend the last 6 weeks?
Summer vacation is never as long as we'd like it to be. So how will you be spending the last few weeks of yours? If you're having trouble thinking of ways to keep yourself busy, here are some fun, creative ideas to help you.
Not only is it fun and relaxing, but it's also a good workout. Put on your favorite swimsuit, and get ready to rock that floppy sunhat!
Take some time for yourself this summer. Go with some friends, or go alone! We all need a little pampering now and then.
I can't even tell you how many places I've already been this summer. Raleigh, Durham, Asheville, Myrtle Beach, you name it! Spending my summer in a new state has not been a disappointment.
This is an absolute must at least once this summer. Don't keep going out to eat all the time. It's healthier to make meals at home, and in the long run, it can be less expensive. Plus, it's caused my fiancé and me to grow closer to each other.
I have this horrible habit of pulling the ends of my hair as a way of calming myself in a stressful situation. It lasts the entire school year, and I finally decided to try to break it. This summer, I think I've finally done it!
If I weren't so far from home right now, I would probably be doing this right now. Buy some new pillows, paint the walls, put in a desk, or move your bed to the other side of the room. Change it up!
My favorite hobby is kayaking, so naturally, I always recommend it. It's a great form of exercise, and even on a hot day, the water feels wonderful! Just don't forget the sunscreen. You might be sore when you're through, but it's always worth it!
Mix it up! Long hair can become such a pain in the summer, so I cut around 6 inches off my hair.
Even if it's just the beach at Lake Michigan! Spend some time with your toes in the sand, and work on that tan.
If you've always dreamt of going somewhere, go! Since I was 10, I've always wanted to visit the Biltmore Estate, and I finally went. It was a dream come true!
My mom, grandma, great aunt, and I went to St. Augustine, FL for a week, and my fiancé and I just got back from Myrtle Beach! Even if it's a little day trip, go do something out of the ordinary with someone you care about.
I'm really late to this party, but I've started building LEGO sets with my fiancé. I had no idea how much fun it could be to spend hours building Poe's X-wing. Find a hobby that you love.
Ice cream just isn't the same. I've only had one ICEE this summer, and I feel like I'm really lacking.
I'm terrified of uncooked meat, but I tried sushi a week ago. I don't regret it at all! Try something new, whether it be a new food, drink, exercise method, moisturizer, or form of entertainment!
If you're looking to spice up the last couple of weeks of summer, try out one or two of these creative ideas!
PJ Pamar's Troop 1532 has been a spot of hope in the Denver area.
When I was looking for a topic to write about this week, the headlines I was immediately beset upon with were all about the U.S.—Mexico border and the enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy by the Trump administration in regard to illegal immigration, primarily in regard to the separation of illegal immigrant children from their parents by ICE officials.
And while that is a compelling story, that is not what I wrote about.
As gut-wrenching as those images are and as complicated the issue is, I do not want to write another story about the sadness of the world. Instead, here I would like to tell a story of hope. The world could use a little bit of that.
Boy Scout Troop 1532 of the Denver area is mostly what you would expect from the Boy Scouts. Camping, cookouts, and canoeing are among some of the varied activities that the boys of the troop engage in throughout the year and especially during the summer.
The catch? The majority of the boys are refugees.
Founded by PJ Pamar, a refugee family doctor in the Denver area (himself with something of an immigrant background having been born in Canada to Indian parents and subsequently moving to the United States as a 1-year-old), Troop 1532 provides a haven to immigrant refugee children from the perils of growing up in a world that, especially at the present, is not always welcoming of the political and local reality that they represent.
"I wanted to offer these kids some of the Scouting opportunities that I had, in an environment safe from racism. I wanted a place where I can relate to them about the challenges of growing up as a 'third culture kid', or where they can have fun without worrying about those challenges for a weekend," said Pamar.
As a Boy Scout himself in the 1980s he frequently found that kind of environment with the Scouts, one which was often at odds with the hostility he would encounter at school. Experiencing taunting, racial slurs, and all other forms of harassment, Pamar "got heavily involved" in his Troop and the Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouting's version of a national honor society. Perhaps one of the most touching things about Pamar's early experience with the Boy Scouts was: "I discovered white kids who weren't racist. Maybe it was because there was more adult supervision, or maybe because the families involved in my Troop held more inclusive values, but I felt welcome."
What moved me so much about this story, I think, was my own personal involvement with the Boy Scouts of America. As an Eagle Scout myself I understand the camaraderie that can develop when boys are boys (in the best way possible of course). The kind of bonds I made with some of my fellow scouts in the program were lasting ones, and much like Pamar, I have taken the Scout Law and the Scout Oath to heart. It's the thing most on my mind when I endeavor to "do a good turn daily".
Yet, as Pamar is adamant about in a personal blog (the CNN story was not so holistic in its coverage) everything is not all fun and games. As one might imagine, there are certain unique challenges that the Troop faces, one of these being names and birthdays. That is, with kids so suddenly transplanted from one culture to another (one that is largely alien), their names don't always translate well into English spellings or characters. They might also be misspelled by someone along the way. Birthdays are an issue too because of the difference in how a date is written (for example May 7th, 2018 is 5/7/18 in the U.S., but 7/5/18 in a lot of other countries) and thus sometimes it's not known how old a scout really is. Language too, can be an issue, though many of the scouts know at least some degree of English.
Gear is another hurdle. As virtually all the scouts come from an impoverished background, really none of them have tents, sleeping bags, or other camping equipment to speak of. But for Pamar, that's an easier issue to overcome, as his organization, Mango House, which supplies refugees with all sorts of equipment, is more than able to stock enough gear for the scouts to go on campouts.
Despite all the challenges, it seems to me an incredibly rewarding experience. It's no secret that the Boy Scouts of America has struggled with identity over the past couple of years. The question of admitting gay scouts and leaders, as well as a controversial new move to begin accepting girls, have each sparked both outrage and approval. It's worth remembering too that the Boy Scouts do not have an impeccable record when it comes to race, at times banning black and Asian scouts from joining troops.
And yet, in my mind I think those moves are to be welcomed and should be here to stay. So what if a scout is gay? Does that affect how well he can lash a rope? So what if a girl wants to be a member of a troop? Who are we to say who can canoe or not? Girls (albeit usually sisters and mothers) were always welcome at my troop's outings, after all.
And so too for these scouts. So what if a scout is a refugee? Mightn't the Boy Scouts give him a direction, a sense of purpose, a sense of community, and perhaps guide him to what I hold should be among the utmost of American principles: equality and kindness?
For me PJ Pamar's Troop 1532 provides a sense of hope for struggles present and future. Whether it be over immigration or other divisive issues, there is the hope that all might be transcended by something unlikely: a campfire in the woods.