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This column typically identifies one individual Cortland faculty, staff or student who gives of themselves above and beyond the call of duty in service to Raquette Lake. This issue’s champions are neither singular nor Cortland based. But what they contribute to the programs at Raquette Lake is immeasurable. They are Jim and Renee Clarke, and they work as a team to facilitate many of the ropes course programs that we provide to our groups at Raquette Lake.

Jim and his Syracuse Police Department colleague Kevin Corcoran first met Joe Pierson (former center director) in 1995, when they brought inner city kids here to teach life and survival skills through adventure education. During this time, Onondaga Nation Chief Vincent Johnson’s granddaughter attended a session and told her grandfather what a great time she had at Raquette Lake. This led to a unique “Bridges” program for Onondaga Nation and Lafayette schools that was partially funded by the SUNY Cortland President’s Office.

Renee met Jim while volunteering at the North Side
Community Police Center in Syracuse, an award winning police/community relationship experiment that was ahead of its time in establishing confidence in inner city policing. Renee and Jim became friends quickly and later married, after working together to deliver adventure education programs both here and in the Syracuse area. Both attended training from High Five Adventure Learning in Brattleboro, Vt. and received advanced certifications in challenge course facilitation.

When the opportunity to assume the responsibilities of the Camp Huntington ropes course became available, Jim, Renee, and Kevin took over the leadership of the annual spring orientation workshop. They continue to assist with training at all levels for facilitators on the course to this day.

When the call goes out from high school, college or adult groups for challenge course programming, we can rely on Jim and Renee to answer promptly and deliver high quality, custom designed activities. Many groups ask for them by name year after year.

When not working with a school here at Raquette Lake, they can be found running an ice fishing derby for inner city kids or volunteering in their new community on Black Lake. One of their favorite events is the annual pumpkin carving they sponsor for kids in the North Country.

We are fortunate to have these two selfless, dedicated individuals to help us provide team building and personal growth programs for our student groups. Next time you find yourself timidly negotiating an element high in the trees on our high ropes course, look down, and if Jim or Renee has you on belay, you’ll know you are in good hands.