Special to the News-Register Sitting atop Emory Peak, the highest peak in Big Bend National Park at 7,835 feet above sea level, are Anna Urbanik, Sam Crabb, Lisa McDonald, Patrick Tighe, Eddric Escamilla and Lisa Flottman.

THIS EDITION Volume 21, No. 1 January 30, 2003

Front Page

The good earth

The Big Bend National Park Field Studies program — how many times have you seen or read those words walking down the campus hallways? Maybe a couple times you even stopped and took a closer look.

Well, there were 21 people who didn’t ignore it and took the chance for a great adventure. I happened to be one of them.

On the cold morning of Dec. 28, we all gathered in North Lake’s parking lot, ready to begin an unforgettable experience. Botany instructor Kent Reppond and his assistant Ann Clark were well-prepared, and I knew then that the trip was a good idea.

Ten hours later we were about to enter a different world. The untouched beauty of nature surrounded us, and for the next seven days we forgot we were still in Texas. Our destination turned out to be located in the heart of Big Bend in Rio Grande Village, our new home for a week.

From the next day on, our days started at sunrise with a cup of coffee around the campfire and the smell of scrambled eggs and bacon coming from the “kitchen.” It’s hard to imagine how wonderful it feels to be there in this magnificent place surrounded by mountains, trees and singing birds as your feet step on the grass still covered with dew.

Special to the News-Register Posing for a group shot at the Rio Grande Village campsite are (bottom seated l-r) Edric Escamilla, Kent Reppond, Ann Clark and Jordan Duckworth. Middle row: Mark Limon, Anna Urbanik, Sana Mustafa, Patrick Tighe, Lisa McDonald. Standing: Cassie Kent, Denise Maeder, Ali Rana, Lisa Flottman, Sandi Brady, Mark Gotlieb, David Brady, Stacey Palmer and Alan Odom.

“Everyone on the van at eight o’clock!” Reppond would say every morning. So off we’d go to hit the trails for hours and hours learning about the incredible treasures called “plants.” Reppond would take the lead and we’d all follow, and listen, and take for granted everything he said, because he was our master, teacher, friend … he was someone we trusted. His passion and wisdom encouraged us to reach out for knowledge for ourselves and realize that “We are this universe and this universe is us,” just as Joy Harjo, a Native American writer, once wrote.

There was also time for Frisbee and volleyball, and, of course, good conversation, jokes and stories at moonlight. Then finally, late at night, exhausted, we’d all hit our sleeping bags listening to coyotes somewhere in the distance or javelinas sneaking right behind the tent. The Rio Grande Village falls asleep to rise again in a few hours together with the sun, but still a little later than Reppond. Then, ready or not, we’d begin another day of the Big Bend experience.

And so it goes, for seven days and seven nights, until Jan. 4, 2003, when it was time to leave. With mixed feelings, I packed my bag. On one hand, a hot bath and bed sounded really good; on the other, however, I didn’t miss the city noise at all. One way or another we were going home, with a bunch of new friends and a handful of great memories.

As we got on the road, it didn’t take long for the cell phones to start ringing and for the radio to start working, and I knew we weren’t in paradise anymore. Then there were hugs and good-byes, and phone numbers and e-mails exchanged.

If this sounds like something you’d like to do, you still have a chance. North Lake College is offering another Big Bend trip during Spring Break and one to Colorado during Summer I session.

For more information, contact Reppond at 972- 298- 2261, or e-mail him at kmr@dcccd.edu.