Dusk 'til Dawn

By the start of April, the students of Southern Adventist University are growing restless. This year's long winter has too long kept them indoors, away from the mountains, the rivers and the trails. But in one night, that will all change. People will crawl over campus, climbing ropes, blindly moving through tunnels, racing the clock and each other to claim the prize of winning this year's Dusk 'til Dawn Adventure Race.

It's exactly what you'd expect it to be: an adventure race that lasts through the night, from dusk until dawn. Outdoor Leadership Adventure Program Coordinator Mike Harris swears it's so much more than just a race-it's a skills competition, a team building exercise and a way to push your limits.

And while that seems run-of-the-mill, consider this: There's building climbing, rope climbing and rock climbing, followed by pool challenges, tunnel crawling and fire building. To win, every team must have at least three members complete each task ... and be the first to do so. All in the darkness of night. Once, the school tried to turn the tables and offer a "Dawn 'til Dusk" race, making the competition more accessible.

"We started in the morning and went throughout the day," Mike laughs. "But it failed! No one liked it. The students wanted to be up all night and the best part is that it's all night long. The students love it."

Together with assistant to the Outdoor Leadership Program Ryan Kloosterhuis and a band of volunteers, Mike is finalizing this year's obstacles. More than a dozen "elements" face the competitors, and they change yearly. The first year valiantly featured a helicopter, but due to complaints from Collegedale, that was removed. Fearing that a long, grueling caving expedition wasn't a favorite activity, it was nixed. So was carrying 100-lb body weight out of a smoky building while wearing firefighter gear.

But favorites, like scaling Wright Hall and zip-lining on campus remain. Repeat competitors will start wearing their shirts around campus from previous years, speculating the year's changes.

"People have kind of expected this to be hard and difficult, so we're trying to get it to that ruggedness and to that extreme activity," Ryan says. "But it's also hard to get through the night. When 2, 3 or 4 a.m. comes around, you've got to push past it."

Sometimes the teams are comprised of active college students. Sometimes the teams come from nearby towns and competitors ages can range from 8 to 60. And then sometimes, like Becky Djernes and Cindi Young, they are comprised of four 50-somethings who work in the administration offices of the school.

One day, Cindi walked into Becky's office.

"She came in and said to me, 'you should probably just say no,' and then, 'really ... say no," Becky says. "But I didn't. It was such a spur of the moment thing."

The pair never gave it second thought. They grabbed coworker Marty Hamilton and Clair Kitson, all over the age of 50 and formed Team Nifty Fifty.

"We had no aspirations but to finish," Becky says. "But really, if anything, it was a night of firsts for us who had never done many of these things before."

Like climbing blindfolded to the top of a telephone pole, being verbally lead by team members to jump in a leap of faith and grab onto a rope.

"But you're going so hard and so fast that you don't even have time to think about it," Becky says.

"All of it is a challenge," Cindi adds. "But the volunteers and the students are so supportive and encouraging. It's really wonderful, and it really bonds you with your team. The morale is great and it's really great for the school, as well."

As it turns out, the race isn't just a competition for fun, it's also a way to reach out to the students of SAU and the community. All proceeds from the race support SAU's Outdoor Leadership program, which is more than just a top-down educational structure, or an academic requirement. The undergraduate and graduate program works with Wild Trails, puts on adventure races and programs for businesses and schools, leads environmental

classes for school groups like Calvin Donaldson Elementary School, among other things.

It's all in line with the program's mission: to train competent outdoor leaders who serve, who are dynamic leaders in their field and who help others enjoy the outdoors.

"The Outdoor Leadership program is unique in that its footprint is all over campus. We have students from all over," Mike says. "And really, our classroom is everywhere."

The adventure race doesn't take students to far off natural wonders- instead the activities are held on campus, making use of the geography and nature that Collegedale has to offer. Behind Wright Hall, there's exposed rock to climb. The biology trails make a perfect mountain biking area. It's all there around them, and it's celebrated by this race.

Even though Cindi and Becky haven't given thought to competing in the race this year, their enthusiasm grows as they recount their experience. They said they probably wouldn't do it again. Then suddenly, Becky's checking her calendar.

"If you're thinking about doing it, whether you're in shape or do any activities whatsoever, just do it. You won't regret it," she says, grinning. "I think I have to do something that day, but maybe."

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Registration is available up until the time of the race on April 12. Registration is $30 for each person, $25 if you've liked SAU's adventure Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Dusk-til-Dawn-Adventure-Race/195604347131407.

Upcoming Events