#yellow crew

[micaiahjanbo]

@taoisdumb rippin at Santa Barbara’s “Skater’s Point” 

Link to full video here https://youtu.be/a8X880otTKQ

[taoantrim]

Yellow Crew in New York.

[taoantrim]

Spent the week in NYC with YC.

[taoisdumb]

YC on the Hana Highway in Hawaii 2013

[taoisdumb]

zach front and center at soho.

[taoisdumb]

kyle somewhere on the road 

[woodsfae]

This is a post directed at parents of bored/outdoorsy teens, and at bored/outdoorsy/rootless/wandering/confused teens who live in the Pacific NorthWest area of the USA. Or really, any of the above in the USA. You can commute.

To the parents: pretend you're a teen again, and read.

To the teens: I'm one of you! Sort of. I'm really not rootless, wandering, or confused right now, although I have my moments, but the important thing is that I used to be!

Y'see, I grew up rather abused and completely emotionally neglected post-age-12, and eventually got kicked out by said abuser when I was 17. An angel of amazingness (aka, my now-ex's mom) told me that I should do this summer program called NorthWest Youth Corps, which I applied for, completed, then decided it was pretty much the best thing ever.

What is it? A trail crew for youth! Essentially, you apply, pay an application fee (helps weed out people who will sign up for the program, then wig out the day of), get your shirts, boots, and gear, break in said boots, then get dropped off in the ass-end of nowhere. Immediately upon arriving you are shuffled into learning experiences that span everything from pooping in the woods to proper equipment handling. You say goodbye to your parents and become immersed in hippy/conservationist culture. 

Not going to lie, it's terrifying. But it's also ridiculously awesome. 

You get assigned to a crew of usually about 10 fellow teens, most of whom are equally as terrified as you, and head off to work in the woods, sleep in the woods, poop in the woods, cook in the woods, and work in the woods some more. And depending on where in the Pacific NorthWest you get sent, "woods" can often be substituted for "temperate rainforest", "high altitude desert", "the ass-end of nowhere", and more!

Four or five weeks of working later (they change their schedule depending on the US government, since the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service are two of the biggest hire-ers of NYC.) you're done, and don't want to go. Why would you? You've fallen in love with your crew (even if you hate them occasionally), developed a hero-worship crush on your crewleader, and have constant, insane urges to see just how many pushups you actually are capable of doing.

Generally these feelings are accompanied by a new appreciation for condiments, a permanent dirt-tan (one shower every week or two really doesn't take off the perma-grime), and a mantra of "Drink Water!" running through your head whenever anyone complains about anything.

This is a really, really awesome program, I swear. I did it as a troubled, messed up 17 year old kid and I learned so much. I learned that I have ineherent, intrinsic, inalienable value as a person in and of myself. I learned that I am supremely capable of anything I choose to attempt. I learned that my fragile little human shell of a body is strong enough to take on any task. I learned that community is valuable, and a group of people who inspire you should be the people who you surround yourself with. I learned that new experiences are to be treasured, planned with care, executed, and learned from. I learned that even terrifying things can be worthwhile, because facing our fears is part of what turns a person into a tremendous badass. I learned that at the end of the day, the ability to plan and execute a plan are equally valuable. It does no good to see the trail is broken, but not know how to fix it, and it does no good to know how to fix a trail, but not be able to swing your Pulaski with any accuracy! I learned to appreciate quotes of wisdom, and great works of literature as things to occupy my mind as I sweated the impurities of my body out as I worked throughout the hot July days. Most importantly, I learned that I am lovable, and to love myself.

So do this program. Or find a similar one in your area. You shan't regret it.

Also it pays like one and a half grand. Money is necessary--although it totally sucks: barter, not spend!--and summer jobs as a teen can be hard to find