From Renee:
"Brought my daughter to USD for a tour over spring break. Was soooo stoked to see how much the OA program has grown since 1986. It's come along way since a colored flyer stuck on the notice board in front of Serra Hall. They were looking for volunteers to train as outdoor leaders at SDSU's Leisure Connection so a similar program could be started in a new building that was being completed on campus soon. From that fateful day & decision to volunteer my life took a turn down a path less traveled, and it's made all the difference in my life. I met my hubby of 25 yrs at SDSU and our honeymoon was 21 days floating down the Grand Canyon with 15 of our friends from the Leisure Connection and Kern River Rafting Guides. Many of the Leisure Connection Guides also guided white water rafting trips on the Kern River during the summers. The first Director for OA came from SDSU. To this day our closest friends are from outdoor recreation programs and outfitters and we now live on the Upper Kern River. Our desire for adventures and playtime in mother nature has never ceased and look forward to retire.
It was a nice surprise to see that OA logo that I sketched out so long ago still in use. Even more shocked to show my daughter a group shot from 1986 in Yosemite, in the display case. My daughter, the little brat she is, just had to comment on the fact that it was black & white and asked if color pictures had not been invented yet. She has her fathers sarcasm gene. Then my hubby walked outside to look at a stack of old metal canoes. He came back in beaming and had to drag me & Krystal outside to see his 007 - Q canoe that he named at SDSU when he worked the Leisure Connection. OA apparently bought them and they are pretty sturdy things to this day. When it's ready for retirement, we have a standing offer to take it off OA's hands and give it a home on the Kern River where it can live out it's retirement.
Looking back I realize how much the OA program changed my life. It exposed me to new adventures, tested my fears, allowed me to find confidence to overcome obstacles and the wisdom to accept the fact that sometimes sh*t just happens and ya just have to make the best of it & move on with a smile. I look forward to hearing about my daughters adventures in college and hope she also chooses the path less traveled too. Thanks for memories OA and keep kicking butt!"
- Renee Marra-Bosmans