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From Hemlock to Journey-time by Cindy Balaz
A Reflection of the Ripple
When Dan Nellis invited me to Hemlock in 1996, I had already
been working in the field of outdoor education for 10 years.
After years at Highroad, managing a course on St. Simon’s
Island, GA, and contracting around the country with corporate
programs, I was starting to realize that my heart lied in
helping adults learn how to keep a sense of play and learning
in their lives, and to apply that mind-set to their work,
home-life and spiritual being. I love children and I love
the child within each of us.
Before working full-time at Hemlock on a lone Saturday when
it was difficult to find staff to fill a corporate program,
George Thoms called me in to work with a group of master’s
students from GMU, who, were amazingly on their orientation
day. All day I was amazed at the language I was hearing and
the depth these people were going to. At the end of the day,
I found out that 2 of the participants were the professors.
I was shocked and pleased that they were full participants
in the program and not once asserted their authority over
the group or allowed the group to defer to them.
I started talking to the lead professor and she told me more
about the Program on Social and Organization Learning that
was just starting the day. I expressed interest because I
had thought about returning to school to somehow put some
knowledge behind the experience I had. In true Cindy fashion,
these thoughts were definitely not organized and until that
serendipitous moment, I had not committed to anything in my
soul. Ann Baker, the professor, was so inviting and said I
would definitely qualify, said that is I wanted to join them
the next day for the rest of the orientation; I could make
my decision then.
I went home and discussed this new idea with BJ and Cedar.
I cried. I knew it would be expensive and time consuming.
I knew I would be burdening them with my focus switching from
them to school. I cried some more and they supported me completely.
The next day I joined a group of 35 fabulous people. They
were as shocked to see me as I was to be there because a)
they thought I was the expert. (LOL) and b) they had spent
months getting ready for this new step in their lives. I spent
12 hours. I wondered momentarily if I was really worthy and
thought they just wanted my money, but I was offered grants
and internships that day and most of my tuition was paid for
the two-year program. I graduated in 1999.
The result of all of this is so much like that ripple in
the pond that we talk about so often at Hemlock. It’s
a big ripple. Unfortunately, yet for good reasons, I left
Hemlock in 2000, after serving a short time as the Director
of Corporate Programs, thanks for the opportunity provided
to me by Susan Johnson. I followed my husband overseas and
have since served on 3 continents. My experience and master’s
degree has helped individuals in the jungles and Altiplano
of Bolivia where I did experiential workshops in Spanish with
over 250 Bolivian employees of the Embassy, and has been shared
in embassies in La Paz, Bolivia, The Hague, The Netherlands,
Islamabad, Pakistan, and I will soon head for Managua, Nicaragua.
I was always struck with awe at how things happen in our
lives and people pass through our lives for a reason. My story
involves hundreds of people and experiences. My Hemlock days,
along with other parts of my life, keep me going on the darkest,
most difficult days in remote places. When I see some of the
staff I see in this world I think of Hemlock and those of
you there continuing the mission and helping this world on
your way. It is a big thing! Don’t take it lightly!
Put all you have into it while you are there and remember
when you move on, even if Hemlock doesn’t remember you,
you will be able to share Hemlock with the world. I did.
Thanks for listening, From the Heart, Cindy
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