I have been an athlete for as long as I can remember. There was always something that I was working towards-- a starting position on the junior AAU (travel) team as a freshman, the varsity basketball team as a sophomore, a college recruitment. As I was nearing the end of my basketball career, the realization hit me like a truck, that all the time and energy I had poured into my athletic career was going to have nowhere to go. The summer before my senior year of college I randomly applied for a position at a summer camp in Dubois, WY. I drove out across the country, for the first out of three times (so far), sure it was with my mom the first time, but a big adventure nonetheless. I didn't even know if this tiny town even actually existed, I was just going on gut instinct, and I am so lucky I did. There I was thrown into backcountry and front-country programming-- horsepacking in the Wind River, lighting one-match fires in the rain (it took me at least 30 matches), canoeing on Bull Lake, hiking in the Tetons, persevering through Bison traffic in Yellowstone, rock climbing in Sinks Canyon, and so on. Not only was I going on these very cool adventures, but I was responsible for anywhere from 5-8 students on these trips. I was learning so much about all these cool hard skills, but the things that made it so important of an experience for me was the "soft skills".  How to work through homesickness, how to deal with conflict, and how to communicate clearly and openly on challenging topics. In short, from there I have continued to incorporate these hard and soft skills into my programming at Windham Woods school where I currently both teacher Outdoor Education, as well as run our summer camp. 

It is hard to point to any one moment or experience that altered my world view. I believe my understanding of the world is influenced and slowly evolved by everyone I meet and everything I do. But what I find the most exciting is how wherever you are, whatever you're doing, there are a lot of good people out there. I think recently it has been spending the weekends intentionally exploring the White Mountains and the area I grew up and learning that there are adventures to be had wherever you are, you don't just have to travel the world for them. 

There are the obvious obstacles of gear malfunctions, maps not downloading, or mostly recently turning an 8-mile hike into an 16-miler. These are all frustrating, and make me second-guess the experience that I have. With that said, I think the most challenging obstacle for me lately has been solo-traveling. My boyfriend and I have a great relationship, and now a new puppy. We go on many of our adventures together and so we have a rhythm of responsibilities that works for us. We would both rather spend time with each other rather than most anyone else. We know what the other needs without having to ask. But he has a lot of work responsibility at the family business (CirC, check them out especially if you're into granola bars, creativity, and adventuring), and being a teacher I have summers off. This means that I have all this time that I seek to fill with adventurers that he just doesn't. I have not found many great strategies to work through this, because it is just really hard for a while. Eventually, we settle into a new routine that involves lots of calling and sharing of pictures. While I'm on my solo travels I try to prioritize seeing friends and family wherever I go because the in-person connection as well as lots of activities helps keep the homesickness at bay.

 I am very privileged to have experience lots of amazing travels in my life, but Dubois Wyoming and Jackson Wyoming, still stick out to me as the most impactful. If you have been to this area of the country, you know, but as you descend from Togwotee Pass from Dubois and into Jackson, you round a corner and there they are. The Tetons in full force seemingly close enough to touch-- absolutely breathtaking.  In reality, you still have 45 minutes until you reach Moose and the official park entrance, but it is the best 45 minutes. I think I have come over this pass upwards of 20 times, and every time I find myself pinching myself. 

But traveling is so much more than the places and sights that we get to see, it is about the people, the stories, and the memories made along the way. That is what Dubois and working at the summer camp gave me that truly made it so memorable. Summer camp, (SOAR) was three 18-day sessions per summer, working with students with learning differences. Communication is hard for any person, but add in homesickness, 18-days together, ADHD hyperactivity, and adolescent hormones and it is HARD hard. My co-staff and I worked tirelessly to build meaningful connection, strong values, and fun every day. The people that I have met through SOAR are some of the most authentic, hard working, fun-loving people. I am fortunate to still have meaningful connections with my co-staff today.  In 2022, after a truly incredible summer of amazing kiddos, watermelon hats, insane rodeo outfits, and meaningful friendships, my good friend left me with the words of Morgan Hite from the essay "After the Adventure", found here. This piece beautifully captures the hard and the beautiful about adventuring. I was so grateful to not only have words for what I always felt being in Wyoming, but now I knew that I was not alone in experiencing this beauty. 

Do some research beforehand. It does not have to be a lot, but it helps to have a list of a few things that are on your "must-do" list. I also like to divide things up by length of time, so that if I find myself with only a certain amount of time I can then fill it in with an activity from my list. Also be sure to get as much local advice as you can. Not sure where to find that before going? Definitely talk to people who are familiar with the area either before or after going. 

This is contradictory, but the thing I try to remember the most is that no picture, no text, no writing can fully capture the full beauty of anything I am doing. The best way to capture the moment is to be fully present, enjoy the company of those around you at the time, and hold on tight to those relationships. Sure, I'll snap a photo, I'll write in my journal, I'll call home, but none of it compares to sitting down with friends many years later and re-calling the heat naps at Shadow Mountain where we created shade with a towel and car doors, or sitting on a chairlift weeks after hiking Kilimanjaro and laughing at how the toilet blew over the night before we summited. 

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