Packing Away the River Gear By Brian MacInnes, Executive Director With the onset of autumn, as the leaves change color and the weather becomes cooler and wetter, we've wrapped up our river rafting season here at Santiam Crossing. Looking back, we've had a lot of days on the river. Since May, students have spent a total of 60 days rafting/kayaking or doing swift water rescue on our local rivers. That would translate to 30 days for an individual student who was here since May if they went on both River Adventure Weeks.   On the rivers, students trained and practiced flipping and righting their boats, jumping into and swimming rapids, throwing ropes to rescue swimmers, how to read and maneuver through the currents, rocks, and whitewater. They learned how to set up river camps and how to cook for a large group (without poisoning anyone!).   A number of students have used their river experiences to obtain national certification in swift water rescue and have received academic credit for a course titled "Raft Guide Leadership."  It's been great watching students start with little or no river experience and gain both expertise and confidence as they've built river time and skills. If they ever wanted to, most of our students could land a summer job on a river with more experience than most people their age. So, as we put away the boats we'll take care of the gear and repairs, dreaming of high rivers in May.   Goings and Comings We are pleased to announce that  Hannah J. graduated both from high school and therapeutically on October 3. We had a great celebration that included visits from three alumni. Charis W. and Issac T. also graduated this month - both from our therapeutic program and with honors from high school.  A great big welcome to new students Natalie H., Alex P., and Tyler S.! My Legacy By Issac T., Student and now a Santiam Crossing Graduate As I write this, I try to imagine reading it on Wednesday [graduation day] not the act itself, but the accompanying feelings, thoughts, and emotions. Will I be happy? -excited? - nervous? - filled with dread?  To tell the truth, I don't have a clue, and I'm dying to find out.  Nevertheless, I am very much grounded in my immediate surroundings. As I lie on my bunk, absorbing with all senses the world around me - the Small Boys plat microcosm, I realize how I have accepted this place as my home. When I see the stove, the dirty shirt, bunks, the Indo Board, or hear laughter from across the plat or the cooks arguing outside, it is clear how much meaning I find in all of these things. More importantly, this meaning is very deep seated and implicit. I pass through this little universe every day, embracing it, though not always graciously, as if it was all I'd ever known. Taking a step back however, I can see that the mundane details of the plat and campus, and more importantly the peers and staff I interact with, have in part defined me as a person for the last seven months. In my emotional turmoil, I have, as of late, been blinded to how much I have done and grown here, and how important others have been in this process. I am deeply, deeply grateful for all of the people I've met here - staff or student, present or not - and all that they have done for me. Which brings me to the legacy part. I want to leave a meaningful legacy, not to fulfill some lofty notion of leaving some grand and triumphant imprint on Santiam, but to repay this community for everything it has given me. Perhaps my legacy, the gift I leave behind, will be some of the positive traits I offered - loyal friendship, integrity, responsibility, honesty, respect. I know that I looked up to and assumed the traits of those who were here before me. I can only hope to offer the same.  Maybe my legacy will be left with my actions - helping others with school work, working hard at the plat, being a generally positive member of the community. I won't be here to continue as such, but perhaps a memory can make a difference. I sincerely hope, and do believe, that in my time here, I have made a positive difference in someone else's life. If so, I have begun to repay the debt I owe for everyone's compassion, support, friendship, time and energy. Thank you all. A Glimpse at Green Group's Insight   By Tina Hendrickson, MSW Program Director/Campus Therapist The weekend and therapy group "Green Group" has recently been struggling with giving and receiving constructive feedback. A recent therapy group focused on this issue and how to speak so that others can hear you and appropriate ways to respond.    There was an interesting presentation from three students that included formats and suggestions they had learned during their Catherine Freer program and from other therapeutic settings. The students led off with guiding a discussion as to the value of being able to give and receive constructive feedback.   One student spoke to the potential for growth by becoming aware of how their behavior is perceived by others. Another student warned of being hypocritical by calling another on an issue that they themselves often struggle with. And, a third student suggested owning their struggles while pointing out to others with "I too have trouble with...." , as a way to open the door for giving feedback. The students then reminded all of us of the model used at the Catherine Freer program -- I feel ---- when --- and in the future---.  Other formats shared included I feel--- when I think--- I hope (within my control) and a I hope (beyond my control)----.  The students shared their thoughts and strategies for dealing with giving difficult feedback. Most agreed that having a structured format to rely on was helpful.    The discussion turned to receiving feedback during one on ones and in a group. The student presenters shared that feedback is a gift to be received, taken in, chewed on or even tossed aside, but that needs to be acknowledged most commonly with a thank you or I hear you and I will think about that. The group discussed how to avoid becoming defensive and suggested limiting responses to clarifying questions. The group was sincere in their discussion of this topic and committed to being more intentional with their feedback, in both how they give it and how they receive it.   There is still much work that lays ahead for this group. They are developing and maturing as a therapeutic community. It is an ongoing process that ebbs and flows with the influx of new students, graduations and the students' willingness to take on more risk and responsibilities. It is occasionally a challenge, often a joy, but always a privilege to be in a circle witnessing and, at times, guiding this process.