Six months ago eight high school students from Incline, Truckee and Petaluma, Calif. kicked off a six-week stay in the wild with a campout to Desolation Wilderness with an eight-day hike.

In total, it was an experience they now say they'll never forget.

The Adventure, Risk and Challenge (ARC) leadership and literacy program brought together the eight English Language Learners (ELL) not just for a challenging look at nature but for an intense academic program interspersed with daily lessons in leadership.

Even though all eight participants "graduated" from the program, their community service effort continues throughout the year said program founder and organizer Katie Zanto, a teacher at Sierra Nevada College.

"When they complete half of the year (of community service) they receive the last bit of their small stipend they earned over the summer," Zanto said. "It's important to recognize them for the work they put in."

This year two Incline High School sophomores, Karen Duran and Jenny Martinez, are busy completing their volunteer work. Karen for Project MANA and Jenny for Boys and Girls Club in Kings Beach.

The ARC program, gearing up for its third year at UC Berkeley's Sagehen Creek Field Station just north of Truckee, gives students the opportunity to participate a sun-up to sun-down regimen featuring morning runs, small break-out classes throughout the day, cooking, cleaning, nightly meetings and course work which will culminate in final group and individual writing and science projects.

For the upcoming summer ARC session, Zanto is already looking to recruit more students from Incline - but that's a pipe dream unless she can raise more money she noted.

"Each student (for the summer) costs about $4,000 in scholarships," Zanto said. "Basically what we need is support from the Incline community... it's got to come from the (ARC) kids. Whether there's three or 10 kids who want to participate, we need to see who's dedicated and that starts with those who've participated in the program."

Incline High's Duran agreed. She said she's "talked a lot" to other students about her summer experience and said she plans to help out with fliers and presentations as the year goes on. Zanto said many organizations on the California side of the basin including the Truckee/Tahoe School District, several local service clubs and even corporate and individual sponsors, who give financial support to students in the area could be emulated in Incline.

"The Incline community has the same student population (as Truckees') but it's a whole other world for (securing funding)," Zanto said. "We know there are people in the community interested so it's a matter of getting the word out."

An ARC 2005 reunion is slated to take place at Northstar on Jan. 28. The eight participants will convene to learn to snowboard, catch up and talk about how they may volunteer with this summer's class.

"All of us are excited to see each other; we still e-mail - we keep in touch," said Duran. "The program helped so much. I'm doing especially well in English this year. And, I'm probably going to keep volunteering (with) MANA. I try to use my whole day and not be lazy and just sit around....

"I've just changed in many aspects and I hope I can help with this coming year's program I can help. It's a good thing to keep going."



The Adventure, Risk and Challenge leadership and literacy program raised $40,000 in 2005 to support this year's program. Organizer Katie Zanto is looking for additional public or private funding for next summer, especially in Incline. For information or to donate to the program, contact Zanto at (530) 583-2520 or e-mail Klfesus@yahoo.com.