Last Friday, 65 seventh graders faced canoes and kayaks down the Okatoma River and pushed off on an adventure. After an early departure from campus and an hour and a half long bus ride, the 
students were eager to study in the biggest classroom in the world – the great outdoors. Basketball Coach Ronnie Rogers shared a message from the Bible’s Psalm 19, describing the wonders of God’s creation and continuing the SOAR program’s tradition of combining spiritual lessons with outdoor experiential learning.
JA’s SOAR Outdoor Program began as a seventh-grade rafting trip more than 40 years ago. The traditional adventure has expanded into a program that focuses on ethics, faith, service, outdoor education, and leadership. Two JA seniors, Avery Adair and Natalie Turner, put their leadership and service skills to work through SOAR last week by helping to lead the seventh graders down the Okatoma River.
“My favorite part of kayaking the river was going down the rapids,” seventh grader Georgia Weeks said. “The last one was like a drop on a rollercoaster.” The fun of navigating a river is not without challenges. Kayakers and canoers must constantly be aware of what lies ahead to guide their boat around obstacles. When riding in the same craft, students practice teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. When Georgia and her partner, Carson Carraway, found themselves stuck, they used all of those skills to free themselves and get back to having a great day kayaking! “No matter how many times I got stuck, I was still having a good time,” Georgia said.
Even as a seventh grader, Jack Satcher is already an experienced kayaker. On the trip, Jack enjoyed helping others learn, exploring nature, and having fun on the rapids. A highlight was swimming across the river to another sand bar. Jack even made several new friends by demonstrating technique and aiding his fellow travelers as they paddled down the river. “I like to go on outdoor adventures because they are interesting and different everywhere you go or look,” he said. “I am looking forward to the rafting trip at the end of the seventh grade school year.”
In the spring of 2022, these seventh graders will take another rafting trip and experience the journey that gave SOAR its foundation. No matter how many times JA students take that journey, the father-child rafting trip is a new adventure and a cherished memory every time.
The seventh graders’ trip last Friday was led by SOAR Program Director WT Taylor with grade-level teachers Rosanne Maxwell, Shelle Pinkard, Sydney Pinnen, and volunteers Ken O’Keefe and Bob Arentson.
