This 2025 outdoors season
Upcoming plans and lessons in community & leadership
Spring is here! We just had our first real spring day with a cool breeze and 80 degree ambient heat. After a tough winter, it was just the right conditions that reminded me everything's gonna be alright. I spent most of the day at the park and daydreaming. This summer has a dark forecast due to political uncertainty and yet an optimistic potential for community development. But potential means nothing if it's not activated.
This year marks a shift in my outdoor leadership approach. While I'll continue leading monthly hikes, my priority will be organizing two to three multi-day camping trips from summer through fall. My first major venture - a group expedition to the redwoods - is just months away. With gear assembled, routes mapped, and deposits secured, I'm down to finalizing the menu. After the redwoods, I've set my sights on Maine, Northern Virginia, and either upstate New York or Pennsylvania.
Anyone who knows me knows that I approach challenges with gentle investigation. When someone expresses hesitation about joining our trips, I ask: “Are you open to sharing more about [The problem]?”, “Are you open to an idea?”. I tend to attract beginners, and while I value introducing people to outdoor experiences, my ultimate goal is building a self-sufficient camping community where everyone knows what to do and moves without constant instruction.
For this first group trip, I prepared by completing the redwoods trip already. Scouting. I know what we’ll need and what will make the experience as comfortable as possible for a new camper. I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead people into these new experiences. But my goal is not to introduce people to outdoor lifestyles. My goal is to get to the point where I’m going out with experienced hikers and campers. People know what to do and can move without instruction. I’m seeing that in this upcoming outdoors season that I have to get all the tools we will need based on an assumed maxed out attendance.
Creating standards within our community is essential. We're not cabin camping or glamping, but we'll be more comfortable than ultralight minimalists. To ensure everyone can participate fully, I've developed a physical conditioning routine and decided to provide essential gear rather than expecting newcomers to purchase their own. I'm also taking an emergency first aid course to set the tone for our safety-first approach.
I’m having fun anticipating the needs of the team. This is teaching me a lot about community building and leadership. As much as I want people to be themselves, there have to be standards within my community.The people who continue to show up will probably become more familiar with the tools and techniques as time progresses.
I’m curious to see what people are drawn to the most. What responsibilities will people take on on their own? How will people's understanding of self impact how they communicate with each other?
I’m using a lot of time to plan and communicate with the team. It makes me impressed by people who organize their communities on the daily, weekend or whenever they can. As we move into a season where we face uncertainty, what do we do? Leading an outdoors group has offered a path forward.
Step One: Define and visualize the community you want to be apart of it. Who are they? What do they do? What gifts does each person have? What tools will these people need? Step one point five, Go get the tools.
Step Two: Reach out. Reach out again. Ask questions. Engage and invite. Being persistent feels a little cringe at first but in the end provides satisfaction and information to all parties involved. If you don’t ghost people you can’t get ghosted. I’m working on this myself.
Step Three:Define the meeting place and bring food. Digital or in that 150 ft kitchen. Space doesn’t matter but as long as there is sustenance we create welcoming and belonging.
I’m really excited for this upcoming outdoor season. I’m looking forward to the post cards created from all over. Most of the tools we need are assembled. Just come! And if you need anything - gear, guidance, or reassurance - don't hesitate to ask.