Student Acquires Certification In Outdoor Leadership

By Larissa Lytwyn

For David Rod, a 20-year-old Newtown High School graduate, there is no challenge impossible to face.

The ambitious Boston College student, a political science major minoring in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, is as fascinated by the lure of the outdoors as he is by the complexities of politics, religion, and the legal process.

Inspired by his father’s adventures in corporate law, David plans to pursue a career in international law.

In addition, David is an avid traveler and adventurer who recently became a certified River Guide through his completion of a 30-day Rock and River course through the National Outdoor Leadership School [NOLS], based in Landing, Wyo.

“Originally, my older sister was interested in applying for the program,” said David. “The more I learned about NOLS, the more I wanted to take a course.”

Though an experienced Boy Scout and amateur rock-climber, David had not yet tackled a challenge as daunting as the one posed by NOLS.

Legendary mountaineer Paul Petzolt founded NOLS in 1965.

Mr Petzolt believed that if people were simply placed in the wilderness for an extended period of time, teaching them how to respect and understand the environment, they could become strong outdoor leaders.

Graduates of the program include the 2001 Columbia space crew and A Perfect Storm author Sebastian Junger.

David’s course began with a 17-day climbing section in Sinks Canyon, just outside Landing. His group included about 20 other students, mostly ages 18 to 22.

A lot of the students were East Coast residents interested in exploring the American West.

“It was incredible,” said David. “I learned a lot about the area’s history, including the Native American tribes that dwelled there and [Old West] outlaws like Butch Cassidy and Jesse James.”

David laughed as he shared locals’ perception of the so-called “Wild Bunch.”

“Apparently, even though the sheriff, of course, hated them, the people around actually liked them because when they were hiding out they helped do chores and were always respectful,” he said.

In addition to learning about the area’s history, David learned various climbing techniques and skills including knots, rope handling, belaying, anchors, protection placement, traditional and “sport” climbing systems, rappelling, and risk management.

The final 12 days of the course took students through the Green River’s Desolation and Gray canyons. The focus of this section was to master rowing oar boats, captaining paddle rafts, and steering whitewater kayaks through high-water rapids.

“A principle they really sought to enforce was the leave-nothing-behind ethic,” said David.

While an element of conservation and respect of the environment was a consistent theme during his Boy Scout years, David said the NOLS leave-no-trace system brought the concept to an entirely new level.

“It was intense,” he said. He learned how to begin fires by carefully building them on mounds of dirt, a long, painstaking process that sometimes took nearly two hours.

David said he also learned the value of packing and traveling light.

“You don’t want to sound like you have cow bells around your neck,” he said with a grin.

David said the experience introduced him to an interesting variety of people he plans to keep in touch with through steady email contact.

“I have learned to appreciate and understand the environment even more,” he said. “The NOLS experience was definitely one I will not forget.”

This fall, David will be studying abroad in El Salvador.

His older sister has been involved in nonprofit work in Latin America. He has also studied El Salvadorian politics through several of his classes. The Rod family has also vacationed in Ecuador.

David has been studying Spanish since high school and is nearly fluent.

“While I haven’t studied [Spanish] in a while, I am sure that once I am in San Salvador it will all come back,” he said.

He reflected on his education at Boston College, a Jesuit school. “I’ve really valued my education at Boston College,” he said, “and the opportunities it has given me!”

Participating in NOLS, he added, “really gave me a broader sense of the country and its history.”

“All of my experiences have really helped me to shape and expand my worldview,” he said.