Bridgett Moroney's Adventure

Adventure Location
Mid-Atlantic Region (Baltimore, Chesapeake Bay, Potomac)

Adventure Activities
Sailing, canoeing, backpacking

Adventure Duration
23 days

Number of Adventure Participants
9 participants, 3 instructors

What made you apply for the scholarship?
"I've always wanted to go out and explore the world around me, especially the mountains. I saw this scholarship as the opportunity to do it, so I went for it."

What was your favorite activity on the trip?
"I definitely loved the backpacking phase the most although everything I did on the trip was fantastic. It was awesome to look out over the ridges and peaks and see nothing but forest and mountain for miles on end, especially when we got to higher elevations (it was an awesome sight to see it all through the low clouds). It was the most challenging aspect of the trip, but also the most fun."

Describe your best day on the trip.
"My best day was the day we went rock climbing. I have a pretty bad fear of heights, but I was able to overcome it that day. The actual rock climbing aspect of it was a big mental puzzle of trying to find a stable foothold. I got to complete each rock face, and even made it to the top of the hardest one! The rappelling part was a great challenge to my fear. We had to rappel off a 100 ft. fire tower. After I was able to put my fears aside and was over the ledge I had a great time on the way down, and the view was fantastic! I was really proud of myself that I could overcome all that and realized that it was only "a mental adjustment" to conquer those obstacles."

Would you do it again? Why or why not?
"Definitely! There's a whole world out there to explore and an unlimited number of adventures to go on! I'd love to just spend the rest of my life living day to day on what I carried on my back just so I could see the sights I saw and do the things I did all over again."

How has your adventure changed your outlook?
"I realized that the simplest things in life are what make us the happiest. All I need is food, water, and love and I'm completely satisfied. I definitely appreciate things a lot more, and I realize the potential for success I possess when faced with a challenge. I also saw the unlimited possibilities of what can happen in life, and everyday definitely has its own challenge and adventure."

Advice for potential Adventure Scholarship applicants:
"Have fun, relax, and just be yourself."