Wilderness Expedition & Legacy
“The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” - John Muir
Dr. Jerry Barker, former associate vice chancellor for student affairs and student health services director at NC State, as well as his presidency of Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, has devoted his life to fostering a deep connection between people and the great outdoors. His legacy is marked by a commitment to leading wilderness expeditions for the Caldwell Fellows over more than a decade and his ongoing involvement with the Mountain-to-Sea Trail (MST).
From 1985 to 2011, Barker served as an advisor and co-leader for the Caldwell Fellows wilderness trips, where he guided students on week-long journeys to diverse wilderness locales across the United States. The enduring impact of these expeditions is evidenced by the program’s continuation today, with alumni assuming leadership roles to sustain its tradition.
Among these leaders was Mark Wagoner, a passionate advocate for leadership development within the Caldwell Fellows community. Tragically, Wagoner passed away in 2003, but his dedication to fostering leadership through wilderness experiences lives on through a fund established by his loved ones. This fund provides opportunities for current students and alumni to pursue outdoor leadership training, ensuring a legacy of empowerment for emerging leaders.
The Wilderness program challenges students to venture beyond their comfort zones and discover their true capabilities in various wilderness settings. Each year the wilderness leader group changes depending on the type of expedition and availability within the trained alumni who lead these trips. This year’s expedition to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) was under the guidance of dedicated leaders like Jerrica Kirkley (class of ‘06), Julia O’Brien (class of ‘20), Thomas Harris (class of ‘16), and Val Ryba (class of ‘24), who create a space that provides transformative experiences for the students.
This year’s trip was a new typology for this program as most trips consist of mountaineering or backpacking. The leaders opted for a new challenge; a paddling trip to one of the world’s most diverse and pristine wilderness areas. The students traveled 40 miles via paddling and portaging, walking with a canoe over their heads, to travel from lake to lake. Many stories, songs, and memories were made along the way, and the students shared their adventures with their fellows at the August Dinner Seminar.
The future of the wilderness program depends on alumni who return for third-party training to become qualified outdoor guides. Support from alumni and donors to the Wagoner Fund makes this training possible. Trainings that our alumni participate in have included Wilderness First Responder, flat water safety and rescue, and 30-day NOLS Outdoor Educator courses.
By donating to this fund, you are helping to ensure that the wilderness leaders have the resources they need to continue their invaluable work. Your generosity supports upcoming leaders and the student cohorts they support. For more information please visit our website at https://caldwellfellows.ncsu.edu/giving/.
