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Mountain Alliance Hosts ‘End of Year Celebration’ on Thursday, Nov. 29, at WHS; Potluck, Semester Highlights

Caitlin Barrier on the Alpine Tower

By Jesse Wood

Nov. 27, 2012. To highlight three significant milestones of the fall semester, Mountain Alliance will hold its “End of Year Celebration” with a potluck on Thursday, Nov. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Watauga High School.

During the event, members of Mountain Alliance, which is a nonprofit, housed at the high school and is centered on adventure-based learning and outdoor recreation will receive certifications and speak about the trio of milestones that are listed below.   


Mountain Alliance’s Partnership with N.C. Outward Bound School

This fall, Mountain Alliance and N.C. Outward Bound School partnered to provide 30 Watauga High School students the chance to throw on a backpack and leave mainstream America for three days. Students faced physical and mental challenges, pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.

“Students had to rely on each other to set and work towards goals,” according to the agency’s most recent newsletter. “Every student grew in different ways and all walked away with a sense that they can do more than they thought was possible.”

Outdoor Photography Series

During the six-week program that introduced students to the basics of digital photography, the budding photographers attended a weekend workshop taught by at the Penland School of Crafts. The series culminated with a gallery opening at the Jones House Community Center in November. Students selected their best shot to display and wrote a caption as to why that photo was chosen. Plans are being made to create greeting cards with the final photos to use as a fundraiser for Mountain Alliance’s alternative spring break service trip.  

LIFT: Leadership Initiative for Female Teens

Funded exclusively by the High Country Women’s Fund, LIFT provided many opportunities for young women to develop positive changes within themselves and the community this fall.

  • served and cleaned up an evening meal at the Hospitality House in Boone
  • backpacked and climbed overnight at Little Lost Cove
  • learned the practical forms of science through baking scratch donuts
  • spent a weekend retreat at Worley’s Cave in Bluff, Tenn., eating healthy meals and getting to know one another on a deeper level
  • all events involved character development and leadership building

Front to back: Brynne Wood, Leeza Sebree, Reid Pond, Dedra Humphry, Marley Shelton, Maia Yarborough and Allison Jennings HH Kitchen Manager at the Hospitality House

Although the “End of Year Celebration” is a potluck, Mountain Alliance Program Coordinator Shelly Robinson said “don’t let that stop you from coming if you are not a cook.” Parents, friends of Mountain Alliance and community members are all invited.

Mountain Alliance had 107 members that completed over 800 student program days this fall. More than half of its programs were service oriented, where the students completed more than 400 hours of community service at events/nonprofits such as the Watauga and New River Big Sweep, F.A.R.M. Café and the Hospitality House.

Mountain Alliance will participate in the upcoming Christmas parade in downtown Boone on Saturday.

The Two Big MA Fundraisers

Mountain Alliance has two big fundraisers during the year. One is the Fall Dining Guide which is already out and provides huge discounts at area restaurants. See this article for more information. The other is the annual silent auction, which will be held on January 26. 

For more information about Mountain Alliance, click to www.mountainalliance.org.