Clifford Chalmers – Campfire Stories
This month we’d like to introduce you to a graduate of the Wilderness Works program, Clifford Chalmers. Cliff was in 5th grade when he heard some other boys at school talking about Wilderness Works. He came to the next City Camp (day program) and never left. At that time, Cliff was living in section 8 housing with 3 siblings he was often responsible for and a hard working mother. Cliff’s father was incarcerated for much of his childhood years and his mother worked 3 jobs to make ends meet for her family.
Wilderness Works became a safe place for Cliff, away from the bad influences in his neighborhood. Movies portray the difficult conditions in challenging neighborhoods, where gangs, drugs, crime and suffering are present; these were all a reality for Cliff on his way to and from school each day. Cliff soon came to regard Wilderness Works, its programs, and fellow campers as a safe and secure second home and family.
On his first Field Camp experience, campers went to Tybee Island and later Ocracoke Island. Imagine never having been to the beach, taking your first ride on a speedboat and going fishing and catching your first fish. This all happened for Cliff on his first Field Camp outing. Summer camp would have been unattainable for Cliff, had Wilderness Works been unable to provide that experience.
But there was more ahead for him.
In the 6 years of his involvement with Wilderness Works, Cliff took treks to the Mountain West. His experience at NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership) taught him mountaineering and survival skills. Cliff participated in the the Field Camp excursion to the Colorado Rockies, conquering 12,000 foot peaks over a period of days. This experience, along with Cliff’s story is detailed in the 2018 documentary, That’s Wild.
Watch the trailer for the film showing Cliff’s experiencein the program.
That’s Wild is a must-see film for a deeper understand of Wilderness Works and the impact that these adventures play in young men’s lives.
When asked, Cliff reveals that his involvement with Wilderness Works dramatically changed his life. “I learned responsibility, creativity, humility and patience,” Cliff says. This program offered him a positive direction in his life and provided the opportunity to transcend his environment. Cliff enthusiastically gives back to the program, driving the bus and helping to develop the next generation of Wilderness Works campers.
