Students Challenge Themselves and Push Past Their Own Perceived Limits

Acclaimed public motivational speaker Fred DeVito claims: “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you”. This June, 20 LPP students from SUNY Cortland’s program visited Camp Huntington, SUNY Cortland’s Outdoor Education Center on Raquette Lake for a four-day, three night adventure. DeVito’s quote above became the slogan of this year’s Raquette Lake trip.

During their stay, students were exposed to many activities that pushed them outside of their comfort zones including participating in an overnight camp with students that they may not have known, helping with daily chores such as preparing meals and cleaning camp, and being without cell phone reception and stable Wi-Fi for four days. They also faced many challenges to their perceived limits as they hiked, swam, and paddled canoes and kayaks to immerse themselves in the Adirondack experience.

New and unfamiliar experiences can be frightening, especially when those experiences take place several feet above the ground. On the third day of the trip, students participated in a ropes challenge course that included both low and high elements. The high ropes challenge course is not for the faint of heart, but students were able to successfully overcome their own perceived limits to complete this activity. What’s more, is that many of them offered encouragement and support for each other. With the help of the Ropes Course staff, trip chaperones, and each other, students conquered their fears and truly “rose” to the occasion, high above the ground.

The 2024 Raquette Lake trip was certainly a major success. Students developed new friendships, experienced (and conquered) challenging activities, and grew immensely in a very short period of time. Students and staff alike came away from this trip feeling energized, motivated, and happy.

Written  by Gabe Fadale, Assistant Director of SUNY Cortland LPP