Summary

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of LandSea at Kalamazoo College. In celebration of this, LandSea is doing a look back in time at the program through the years. Though the elements and location of the program have changed over time, the core principles of the pre-orientation program remain the same.

Timeline

• 1972 – Dr. George Rainsford become the 13th president of the college.
• 1973 spring – President Rainsford introduces his vision for a pre-freshman program centered on an Outward Bound/wilderness education experience.
• 1973 spring – GLCA awarded K $200,000 to develop the vision with faculty and staff training experiences.
• 1973 summer – K new release: “… ten faculty and staff members from Kalamazoo College including President Rainsford, will participate in Outward Bound-wilderness programs… to explore… their future inclusion in the curriculum”
• 1973 summer – 16 incoming freshmen were registered for a wilderness experience with Robert Doud as administrator/leader.
• 1973 fall – Rick Medrick of Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) worked with K leaders Robert Doud and Paul Olexia who jointly led the students on a wilderness adventure in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan.
• 1973 fall – Robert Doud was named Outward Bound Coordinator.
• 1973 fall – Donald Little initiates contact with Toronto Brigantine Inc. (TBI) and arranges a joint meeting for TBI and Kalamazoo leadership teams with the goal to evaluate adding a sea component to the emerging wilderness program.
• 1974 spring – K news release: “A number of incoming freshmen will be initiated into college life by backpacking through the Pictured Rocks National Seashore Park and sailing abroad the 38 ton brigantine vessel Playfair …
• 1974 fall – Michigan by Land and Sea K-78 was fully subscribed with 60 freshmen. Each group had a rotation of two weeks on land at Pictured Rocks and one week on the Playfair. Paul Olexia, David Winch, and Bob Doud were the leaders.
• 1974 fall – Thomas Rhorer assumed administrative responsibilities for the program.
• 1975 fall – Hiking and canoeing elements in Killarney Provincial Park under the leadership of Linda Delene and Paul Olexia. The Playfair under Captain Greg Cook continued the sea experience introduced the previous year.
• 1975 winter – Memo from President Rainsford to faulty and staff: “… advise the College’s desire and commitment to continue various elements of the Wilderness Program for the coming year… We also plan to continue the Land/Sea Program.”
• 1975 winter – Thomas Rhorer confirms 1975 joint venture with TBI. He notes that Linda Delene and Paul Olexia will be directing the prgoram for the coming fall.
• 1976-1991 – David Winch served as the LandSea director.
• 1992-2010 – Thomas Breznau becomes director of LandSea.
• 1992-1994 – Focus and direction for the program: Increase enrollment, assure self-funding, adopt a detailed risk management plan, create in-depth training for student leaders, establish ongoing supportive relationships with Killarney Park staff.
• 1995-2010 – Evolving emphasis for LandSea included: more sophisticated risk management practices, formalized logistics, changes in climb/rappel protocols, more rigorous leader training, park and outfitter relationships stronger, addition of new LandSea coordinators, certification of all leaders as Wilderness First Responders, and preparation of all program guests,
• 2005 – Thirtieth, and final, year of the sea element in the LandSea experience.
• 2010 – Last year under the directorship of Thomas Breznau and last year in Killarney Provincial Park.
• 2011 – Jory Horner appointed Director of LandSea.
• 2012 – Program elements move to Adirondacks, New York.
• 2014 – Solo is changed to “Service & Solo” with the introduction of service projects and group reflection as an alternative (or complimentary option to Solo.
• 2016 – A basecamp (non-expedition style) trip is added as another option for incoming first years. Participants camp at Massawepie Lake basecamp and participate in campcraft activities, day paddles/hikes and conclude with a 3-day overnight.
• 2020 – As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 marks the first year since the 1973 program in which LandSea did not run in any “traditional” form. However, regional meet ups were offered in Ann Arbor, MI; Austin, TX; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Grand Rapids, MI; Kalamazoo, MI; St. Louis, MO; Traverse City, MI, as an opportunity for incoming students to meet with directors and leaders and to spend a few hours outside.
• 2021 – Following the COVID-19 pause to traditional programming, LandSea returned to Michigan at Traverse City’s new facility, GO-REC. There two abbreviated (6 day) basecamp programs were held.
• 2022 – LandSea returns to the Adirondacks for the for the first time since 2019 and the program has its first year of running two programs simultaneously, with a shortened basecamp-like program without a backpacking component at Pretty Lake, in Michigan, along with the basecamp and expedition 18-day programs in New York.

Directors

Being immersed in a situation that challenges
the individual physically, mentally, and
emotionally while guided by an Outward Bound
leadership model.
Both participants and leaders are the heart
of the program. People come to my mind first
when reflecting back upon LandSea. While
there are many memories they start with a
person and only then become surrounded by a
situation. It could be canoeing on Killarney Lake
at night lit by the full moon, feeling the tension
in the shoulders when rapelling, or picking
up a participant immediately after solo. When
moving through these mental images, one can
almost feel the warmth of the sun reflecting
off the water, the pain of foot blisters, a rain
soaked sleeping bag, as well as the smiles, anger,
frustrations, satisfaction, fatigue, and joy. The
feelings bound with the memories of people.
LandSea is experiential learning. Getting the
group lost while you are the leader for the day is
hard. The most common reaction when lost is to
blame someone else or make excuses rather than
dealing with the situation (make camp, prepare
dinner, and make a plan for tomorrow). You, the
participants, are responsible for your actions,
not the LandSea leader. The LandSea leader is a
facilitator, not a camp counselor. This is the core
educational model for the program. LandSea is
a learning experience that shares commonality,
but is ultimately unique for each person.
LandSea has changed locations over the years
(Porcupine Mountains, Pictured Rocks, Killarney
Provincial Park, Algonquin, Adirondacks), but
also the components. It started with sailing from
Toronto Brigantine to Kingston Brigantine, but
that component is now gone. Other different
components, from hiking, canoeing, solo,
to the final expedition have evolved. While
shifting leadership impacts the program,
LandSea continues because of its core program
philosophy–Challenge by Choice–and the chain
of committed leadership.

David Winch (1976-1991)

You can find more information about our current director Jory Horner on our page.