09 Aug Meet The Staff: Champions Retreat and Ropes Course Director Ali Grello
How long have you worked for TOS?
I started as an instructor in the Spring of 2015. I continued as an instructor for two more seasons and then became a Program Coordinator for two seasons. I came back as an instructor for Spring 2020. In 2021, I was offered a full-time position. I’ve also worked for Camp Champions since 2017.
What is your Favorite TOS Class?
It’s so hard for me to pick just one class! My favorite class is probably Critter Collection. The class is super hands-on with collecting our own specimens, using microscopes, and a dichotomous key. It is a great way for students to learn how important insects are to our ecosystem. It also helps alleviate some fears that students have of bugs.
Do you have a favorite TOS moment?
I have so many great moments! One of my favorite and most memorable is from my first season. This was one of my first teams too. We were running a little behind to begin our first class, Teambuilding. My group was freaking out over seeing squirrels. They were so distracted, and it was difficult to get them to focus. I said, “It’s like you have never seen a squirrel before.” All of them informed me that they haven’t. We spent a few minutes watching the squirrels and chasing them around. They had a lot of fun, and we were able to have a great Teambuilding class afterward. This experience helped me become more flexible and realize that sometimes you need to stop and watch the squirrels for a minute. Most of the students on that team had never been away from home, swam in a lake, or climbed on a climbing wall until that trip. I got to help them push themselves out of their comfort zone and gain confidence. That is one of my favorite things that TOS can do for the students that visit.
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