WILD.ECO
Anyone I know who enjoys the outdoors or cares for the natural word can recall a time and place in their youth when they found themselves out there in Nature and felt that connection, that primal bond that unites us to this planet and to life. For me that connection was so strong that I simply never wanted to let it go. When I was a kid, I just loved to roam the woods, fish the lakes, explore the creeks or climb the trees. It is in these moments that I felt alive. My best childhood memories are from a great number of summer camps I attended. They were my definition of a candy store. And the things I learned during these magical summers still impact my life today.
I love the work I do, but I have always felt something significant was missing. If these experiences when you are a kid are so important in the development of our appreciation of Nature, then what was I doing to make sure children experienced the wilderness like I did when I was young? The answer came during a paddle in the San Juan Islands.
I believe that immersion in Nature is an important part of our development, especially during our formative years when it is so critical to discover who we are, develop strong self-esteem, adopt leadership skills, challenge our physical well-being and acquire the capacity to live a balanced life in a world dominated by technology.
Knowing the importance of today’s youth in shaping the future, WILD.ECO (Wilderness Immersion for Leadership & Discovery through Education, Conservation & Opportunities) is my way of making sure I reach out to them. My goals are twofold: offer committed mentorship based on the lessons learned from my time in Nature, and raise funds to give youth, especially disadvantaged students, the opportunity to experience first-hand the positive impact Nature can have on their lives through wilderness immersion camps. This immersion is a powerful first step that can help trigger a desire to explore and discover the natural world. It also helps in understanding how experiencing the beauty and ultimate challenges inherent in Nature can enhance self-confidence and develop valuable leadership skills.
Find out how you can lend your support at www.wild.eco.
