Jonathan Ebersole Email & Phone Number

I have loved the outdoors my whole life, and being active is one of my strong suits. I started backpacking when I was young and I still do it today. An award I am proud of is called the Silver Belt Buckle Award. This award comes from my outdoors backing camp my eighth grade year for my achievements in the backcountry. I knew the trail for the next upcoming backpack because the previous year, my group had done the same trail. On our third day of our four day backpack trip, our group was lost. We were in a marshy area, our group traveled for about six miles that day, and our group was tired. After camp was set up, our camp leader went to search for the trail because we were already two miles from our "x" on the map. I knew the area and decided to go with him. It was one of the first times I used the map, and he told me where we were and where the trail head should be. We found three trail heads, and I told him I believed it was the one in the middle. Tall grass and rocks had grown over the trail head and I had a good feeling about which trail to choose. It was up to the leader and me to convince the group to keep moving and to take down camp and travel two more miles. After a long conversation the group agreed to move, and we went with my decision. Once we came over the mountain side we found our markers and carried on to our destination. When the course was done and it was out last camp fire, our group leaders awarded me the Silver Belt Buckle award for my achievements in the backcountry on the day we got lost, being the cooks assistant for a 19 person group, honesty, and integrity. The Silver Belt Buckle is not awarded every year, and it only goes to the person who deserves it, I was proud to have my group leader's choice for this award.

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  Regis University