“I BELIEVE I CAN FLY…”

Conceivably the smallest movement, planting the second foot firmly atop the 30’foot power pole, equates to one huge “elephant” step forward for campers in terms of growth in self-confidence and overcoming fear of heights on the POWER POLE challenge event. As soon as the second foot moves on to the pole top, the encouraging shouts from below demand, “Straighten your arms!”, and in finality to the ultimate goal, “JUMP!” With the grace and poise of a moose performing a high wire act, campers catapult towards the ‘carrot’ which dangles from the highest wire, a leap forward and UPward of about eight feet, in hopes of tapping the prize with their outstretched hand. No worries, Mom and Dad, the entire operation is done with safety harness in firmly in place, secured by a suspension rope tightly restrained by Cadet Instructors and Campers with BOTH boots firmly planted on Mother Earth.

ALPHA Company stepped up in fine form on Tuesday, July 17th…the first company to tackle the High Challenge Course. In addition to the POWER POLE and the ‘HEE BIE JEE BIE’ challenges, this year’s campers are the first to try out the new PIPE DREAMS and RAIDER BRIDGE challenges. PIPE DREAMS and RAIDER BRIDGE are two additions, designed by MMA’s own Major Harold Compton, USMC (Ret), built and implemented the first week of Camp by Major Compton and Gunny Raul Garcia, blessed and inspected by The Association of Challenge Course Technology’s Level 4 vendor ROPEWORKS.

Meanwhile, awaiting their rotation to the High Challenge Course, CHARLIE Company hefted free weights; DELTA Company hit the books in ESL Classrooms; ECHO Company plotted and trialed new solutions on the Reaction Course; FOX Company practiced precision commands for the upcoming Drill Competition (sure to be hot-hot-hot action packed come Friday, July 27 th!); and GOLF Company took to the PaintBall Course…paintball competition administered with a vengeance.

Summer and ESL Camp has caught a united SECOND WIND…onward and Upward to GRADUATION on July 28 th…OORAH!