New Hampshire’s Daniel Webster famously wrote about our Old Man in the Mountain: ”Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men.”
Our mountains make strong women too! And Outstanding Teens. This weekend I will be leading New Hampshire’s second Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey into the White Mountains with an incredible group of women. I am very grateful to the Kelley Family who provide our base camp. And I can’t wait to “Go Wild” with Eileen, Miss New Hampshires Outstanding Teen 2012, before she heads off to the bright lights of New York City for college. We will power down our technology to focus on a rugged outdoor expedition over rocks and rivers. Plus campfire songs, s’mores and a special sunrise hike.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award — Young American’s Challenge was first established in 1956 in the United Kingdom and was introduced to the Miss America Program in January 2009. After completing the adventurous journey requirement I will be able to receive my bronze award on the MAO stage in September!
You’ll want to stay tuned for my recap post of that and pictures! I’m certainly not the most outdoorsy person you’ve ever met, but I know it is going to be an experience to remember! However, I KNOW that as soon as the weekend is over I will be immediately running to my computer/phone to find out who will be joining me at Miss America as Miss Rhode Island 2013 will be crowned on June 1st!
