January 23, 1999 was a banner day for Baltimore Inner City Outings (BICO), a new chapter of the Sierra Club Inner City Outings rogram. Eighteen youth, ages eight to 14 and not yet matched with mentors by Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Central Maryland, were introduced to the Appalachian Challenge and Initiatives Course at Park School of Baltimore.

The course was developed 25 years ago. It is designed, maintained and run by staff and students at Park School. The BICO volunteers unanimously agree that the first outing was a huge success.

Our introductory activity with the Littles had been canceled due to ice; so there was no opportunity for the young people to be become acquainted with each other or the BICO volunteers. The kids, three Big Brother & Big Sister caseworkers and the BICO volunteers were divided into three groups, each lead by a Park School student volunteer. Trusting your group to take good care of you is an integral part of the challenge course. After adjusting helmets, everyone practiced trust falling and spotting (catching) each member of the team. Then each group headed off to try obstacles with interesting names like Spider's Web, Nitro Crossing, Walking Skis, Horizontal Pipe Ladder, Wild Whoosey, Triangle and Tangle, Pig's Trough, Six-Foot Wall and Low Balance Beam.

Since everyone was a stranger, the first challenge needed some adult contributions (suggestions, questions etc.) During the second challenge, the older kids started taking charge. By the 3rd challenge, the kids got in to the problem solving and the adult volunteers followed their lead. At the challenge dubbed the Pig's Trough, the group had to get from one board to another across a 12 foot gap about four feet off the ground. The group is given two 10 foot boards to assist in bridging the gap. One board will not do the trick. After several false starts, they overlapped the far board on top of the near board with everyone pulling down to support the weight of the person walking across. A shy, retiring 13 year-old girl suddenly volunteered to be the first. It worked beautifully, and she got to the other side with a big smile. After most of the group crossed over, leaving the oldest and thus the heaviest to cross last, the kids discussed how to get the last two across. The same girl, who had previously avoided talking at all costs, volunteered the solution. The change from confusion and helplessness to laughter and congratulations of a task well done was a joy to watch.

In all the groups, the bigger kids really took care of the smaller ones, making them feel important. This quiet group of young people changed dramatically in two hours. They had fun. They got to know each other and more about themselves. Jim Howard who directs the Appalachian Challenge Program for Park School has had over five thousand kids go through the program. However, members of these groups generally know each other. Mr. Howard admitted that the BICO group impressed him because the kids arrived on the course knowing only a sibling, a cousin or no one at all.

In February, a group of seventh grade students from East Baltimore's Canton Middle School, BICO's other initial partner, will have their opportunity on the course. It should be a bit different because these kids will be closer in age and already know one another. Frequently a habitual follower is the one who figures out how to solve a challenge. Seeing this group in action will be fun.

Future plans for BICO include orienteering, an overnight outing at the National Aquarium, a "Five Senses" hikes, and canoeing. We can always use volun teers from hiking and outdoor organizations. If this seems like something in which you would like to participate, as a leader or an occasional volunteer, or to which you would like to make a donation of money or in kind goods please contact:

 Bob Burchard - (410) 744-0510, E-mail: burchard@umbc.edu or Beth Ruekberg - (410) 542-8898, E-mail: Beth_Ruekberg@gfs.org