F.L.I.N.T. Hike Up Looking Glass

Rising 11th graders are known as FLINT (Forging Leaders INTentionally), and rising 12th graders are known as Men of STEEL (Summer Training Encouraging Emerging Leaders). In FLINT, they are fully campers, but there is an emphasis on building leadership skills this summer that will help them in all areas of life.

During the summer our FLINT guys will become “master campers”, and if they are invited to return next summer as Men of STEEL, they’ll be our counselors in training. Men of STEEL are a select group that has gone through an application process, similar to applying for a job at camp. After proving that they live by our Falling Creek Code during their years as campers, they’ve been invited back for a final summer, learning what it means to become a counselor, and assisting in cabins and activities.

One unique part of the FLINT experience is the “TOG” hike, or the Top of Glass hike, where the whole group goes on a challenging but rewarding trek to the summit of Looking Glass Rock. Looking Glass is a granite rock face in Pisgah National Forest, near Brevard, North Carolina. Its easily recognizable dome stands proudly among the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. From the valley floor to the top, it scales almost 4,000 feet of elevation.

On Monday, Yates Pharr and John Allen led the group of young men, along with FLINT advisor Zach Rivera, and cabin counselors Frankie Wimbish and Pat Greenwood. They provided encouragement and support along the way during the steep and challenging sections of the hike. John said that trying to keep traction up the tough climbs was like “trying to walk around like a cat.”

The group was fortunate to have incredible weather, and enjoyed the opportunity to take in the views of the mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway once they made it to the top. Against the beautiful backdrop of nature, Zach spoke with them about where they are in their journey of life. He explained that as they’re beginning to become leaders, one of the first steps of becoming a leader is to identify your values.

One of the goals of the FLINT program is to help these young men not only determine the values that are important to them, but to identify ways to live out those values in daily life through habits and actions. Zach invited them to write a letter to themselves, telling their future self about current worries on their mind, goals they’d like to accomplish, and positive thoughts about their future. He will mail these letters to them at a later date, to remind them of where they are at that moment, how far they have come, and the goals they’re still working towards.