XML FeedsNew Fall Caving Trip Dates
H1N1 has forced us to abandon and redo our schedule several times. Trips have been postponed and canceled. It looks as though we are through the worst of it and we are committing ourselves to some new dates.
Overnight Trips:
9/26 to 9/28 (free weekend) Punkin & Deep Cave Preserve
10/24 to 10/27 TAG*
Day Trips:
More day trips will be rescheduled and announced asap.
*Unfortunately, not all DCWP participants will be eligible for the TAG trip. In it’s place, Kimery Duda’s Expedition School is offering a surfing trip to the Texas coast. Details will follow shortly.
09/24/09 03:28:10 pm, by Charlton Perry 
, 93 words,
Categories: News and Trip Information ,
Leave a comment » 09-10 Welcome Letter
Canyoneers and extended DCWP family,
Welcome to academic year 09-10 Devil’s Canyon Wilderness Program. Since 1989, the outdoor program at St. Stephen’s has taken students on wilderness adventures throughout North America. Again this year we embark upon another adventurous season. We will be travelling throughout Texas, to the Mountain West and the great Smokey Mountains. Unfortunately, for the time being, Mexico is off limits. On the bright side, we’ll have plenty of time to plan around this. Caving veteran and long time SSES coach Becky Jones is returning this year to head caving. St. Andrew’s graduate and Austin native Will McDonald will be back with his climbing expertise in the spring. Soon you will be able to check out our new website at dcwp.net for more extensive bios and information, as well as photos and videos from past trips. This year, we will have three seasons in which students can earn PE or sport credit. Our students can earn PE credit in the caving program which takes place in the fall every Tuesday and Thursday from late August to early November. During the winter term, every Wednesday and Friday, students can earn a PE credit mountain biking. Rock climbing takes place in the spring from late February to early May. Because rock climbing meets for more hours, students can earn sport credit. In addition, interest permitting, we will carry on with recreational orienteering and Geo-caching.
Key caving information:
-All families need to read a letter on safety and sign a release authorizing their child to participate. All of our programs expose students to risk, as climbing, caving and mountain biking are potentially dangerous activities. We want all parents to be familiar with these risks and comfortable with the activities DCWP directs. There is the possibility of serious injury and even death in any wilderness activity; particularly ones like caving and climbing that involve technical expertise. If you have questions, please contact me and we can talk about the program and what we do to manage risks in practice and in the field. These forms can be downloaded from this webpage under “permission forms.”
-Becky directs the caving program and will be the key person to contact if you have specific questions about practice schedules and trips. Here email is rebeccaajones@earthlink.net and her phone number is 325-247-5165. Practices will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
-DCWP is part of the Athletics Department and in many ways is somewhat like a traditional sports team. Because of the safety issues, we need students to be at every training session (with the exception of illness). Thus, all participants must commit to the season and follow through with their obligations. Consider our off-campus trips as “away games.” Some will be optional, but most will not and we need students to attend these trips. Like other athletes, cavers and climbers will have to look carefully at their academic schedules and plan their time carefully so they can excel both in and out of the classroom. Our coaches are reasonable when academic and program pressures converge. However, to earn sport credit a student must attend all practices and required trips. Missing a trip to go to a concert will not fly.
-For parents, DCWP is also unlike a traditional sport team. While many parents get to go see their children play in a game, this isn’t really an option for this program. This is why we do our best to take photos and post them for your viewing. It is also different in that our off-campus activities don’t always start and end on time like a normal game. We can keep practices on schedule, but safety concerns on trips require some flexibility and patience on your part. Although we will try, we may not always return on time. Other times, we may have to adjust our destination because of weather or other considerations. We will do our best to communicate with you when we make changes, but in wilderness settings this can sometimes be very hard, and in some cases, impossible to do. We ask that you trust our judgment in these areas.
Billing Policies:
-Due to new school policies, we will not be billing out many of our trips this year. Any trip within the state of Texas will be treated like any other athletic trip and will not be billed back. Any and all trips that are outside of Texas will be billed back to the participants. This will include food, vehicle rentals, and, in some cases, airfare. Therefore, all out of state trips are optional. Conversely, in the past the program paid for much of the gear required for climbing and caving. The school will still be providing major equipment (ropes for example), however, the students will be expected to provide much of their own personal equipment. We will go over gear lists with the students early in the year. Becky Jones manufactures caving gear and is also a distributor of a wide variety of outdoor gear and clothing. She can obtain gear and clothing at discounted prices. Thus, there is no need to run out to REI and buy expensive items. For families that may need support, we do have an Access Fund which we use to support students who need financial assistance buying gear or paying for special travel. I handle requests and do so with discretion and confidentiality. This Access Fund is supported by parents and teachers and we always welcome donations. We also welcome any other support a family might wish to give the program from a donation to simply hosting a party for the kids or bringing food to practice.
cperry@sstx.org, if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Charlton Perry
Director, DCWP
08/31/09 03:16:21 pm, by Charlton Perry , 946 words,
Categories: News and Trip Information ,
Leave a comment » 2009 Climbing Season Information
Climbing season begins February 24. This years full time staff will consist of Mr. Perry and Will McDonald both of whom are returning from last year. Additional coaches and guides will be hired as needed to assist with day and/or overnight trips off campus. The following is important information regarding Spring climbing season.
TRIP DATES
Day Trips:
4/8
4/16
4/23
5/13
Day trips may include missing all, part or none of the academic day; this will be announced closer to the date of the trip. The destinations will be in or around the greater Austin area, including but not limited to Reimer’s Ranch, Bull Creek and the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
Overnight Trips:
3/27 to 3/29 Enchanted Rock
4/30 to 5/03 TBA (outside of Texas)
DAILY SCHEDULE/ATTENDANCE
-Practices will be held Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. Participants must attend all practices and trips inside the state of Texas in order to receive a sports credit. Missing practice for unexcused reasons will result in the loss of a sports credit and may result in dismissal from the program.
-Regarding attendance and participation, climbing season should be seen as a traditional sports team. All participants must commit to the season and follow through with their obligations. Because of the emphasis placed on safety skills, participants must attend every practice. All day or overnight trips within the state of Texas should be seen as away games. All trips outside the state of Texas are optional.
-As with athletes in other sports, climbers will need to manage their academic and climbing schedules and use their time wisely if they wish to succeed as both students and climbers. The staff will be reasonable as academic conflicts arise. Neither the self-imposed stress of procrastination nor the latest show coming through town will be seen as legitimate excuses to miss.
-Unlike traditional sports, off campus climbing activities are impossible to predict and schedule in finite detail. While on-campus practices will be held to a tight schedule, unpredictable wilderness conditions and an absolute necessity for safety will require patience and flexibility. Destinations and target times for departures or returns will be announced well in advance. Whenever these must be amended, we will do our best to communicate changes. Unfortunately, given the nature of some of our activities, instant communication is often difficult and sometimes impossible. Please trust that safety ranks as the highest priority over recreation, entertainment and punctuality.
GEAR
-Gear lists will be issued before every trip, however, all participants are expected to provide there own basic personal gear. This would include items like personal camping equipment and climbing gear. Group camping and climbing gear such as tents and ropes will be provided by the school. The climbing gear necessary for participation is as follows: a helmet, harness, belay device and two carabineers. Climbing shoes are recommended but not mandatory.
-DCWP has an equipment deal with a climbing supply company and can purchase gear at reduced prices. Otherwise, any area outdoor retailer should carry all the equipment needed; for example Whole Earth or REI. The estimated cost of all the necessary equipment should range from $75 to $125, or about the same amount as a high-quality pair of soccer shoes.
-For participants who need additional financial support in order to participate, we have an Access Fund. If the gear or out of state travel expenses exceed a families means please contact Mr. Perry. All requests are handled with discretion and confidentiality. This fund is supported by enthusiastic parents and teachers, if you are interested in supporting this fund or the program financially please feel free to do so. St. Stephen’s and DCWP cultivate a family atmosphere. If you wish to pitch in in any way it is always welcome, whether it be through donations of money or time, hosting a party or bringing snacks for trips or practice.
SCHOOL EXPENSES POLICY CHANGE
-Don’t cringe, this is good news. For those of you who don’t already know, DCWP is now a part of the St. Stephen’s Athletics Department. In keeping with athletic department policy, all DCWP day and overnight trips within the state of Texas will be treated as away games. As such, the expenses from these trips will not be billed back to the families of the participants. All trips outside the state of Texas are considered extra and will be billed to the participants. All trips outside of the state are classified as optional and attendance will not be required in order to earn a sport credit.
RELEASE FORM
-All parents need to read the letter on safety and sign the release form authorizing their child to participate in DCWP. If this has already been completed for caving, it is not necessary to do it again. All of our programs expose participants to risk. Rock climbing is an inherently dangerous activity. All parents should be familiar with these risks before allowing their children to participate in DCWP. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Perry to discuss the program and how risks are managed, both in practice and on trips. These forms can be downloaded on the News page from our website at http://blogs.sstx.org/dcwp/?cat=25 .
Now as always, you may contact Mr. Perry if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns.
email:
cperry@sstx.org
cell phone:
512-731-6518
01/12/09 05:22:52 pm, by Charlton Perry , 880 words,
Categories: News and Trip Information ,
Leave a comment » DCWP WINTER TERM
New this year DCWP is offering Winter Term weekly activities for PE credit. Because of increased interest and participation Orienteering/Hiking and Mountain Biking have been added.
ORIENTEERING/HIKING:Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Orienteering and Hiking will consist of traditional compass work, g.p.s., geo-caching and plenty of hiking.
MOUNTAIN BIKING:Wednesdays and Fridays 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Mountain Biking will take place on campus trails and will include some trail maintenance for which participants will receive community service hours.
Participation in these activities is very flexible, however, those participants who attend regularly are eligible for PE credit.
If you have any questions regarding these activities, contact Mr. Perry. cperry@sstx.org
01/12/09 09:22:54 am, by Charlton Perry , 114 words,
Categories: News and Trip Information ,
Leave a comment » Punkin & Deep Preserve Trip
Attention, there has been a date change
Depart: Nov. 7, 8:00am from the Green Room.
Return: Nov. 9, afternoon to the Green Room.
Packing and equipment lists are the same as always. Plan for two nights and the possibility of low overnight temperatures.
Bring sufficient funds to feed yourself to and from our destination (two meals).
Emergency Contact info
Charlton Perry cell: (512)731-6518
Becky Jones cell: (325)248-3619
TCMA Property Manager Geary Schinel cell: (210)326-1576
10/30/08 12:07:44 pm, by Charlton Perry , 72 words,
Categories: News and Trip Information ,
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