OUR STORY

Being immersed in nature has always been a part of my identity. Whenever I had the opportunity to get my hands in mud or a stream to find salamanders, I did just that. As a kid, I spent many summers outside through different camps. The excitement of discoveries in new places and enjoying time with great people left a lasting impression. Shows like Survivorman and Man vs. Wild piqued my curiosity even more. I'd often imagined being in those remote locations shown on television. For the time being, I settled for the patches of trees in my grandma's backyard in New Haven, CT. Attending summer camps opened my world as a child, and my path to do the same for other children soon became a part of my story.

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I had the opportunity to be a camp counselor for two summers during my undergraduate years. Helping children of color, predominantly from cities, have positive outdoor experiences and participate in lifelong learner-ables was pivotal. As a young adult, I genuinely found my voice, and I found myself stepping into my confidence and recognizing my calling. I saw these children step out of their comfort zone to try new things and soften with a break from burdens that often came with their circumstances. I recognized the magic of being connected with others, especially in nature. In those few months of being in nature, I realized a dual process had occurred. Not only did I gain fulfillment in navigating my healing and growth personally, but I also saw a shift in the participants and other camp counselors. These life-changing summers spent in the blue ridge mountains of North Carolina working with groups led me to envision how I could create 'wilderness therapy.' I was delighted to find out wilderness therapy existed.

 

From that moment on, it was clear that I wanted to increase accessibility to nature-based experiences for people of color. I moved to Boulder, Colorado, for a couple of years while pursuing my master's. During this time, my love continued to deepen for the outdoors. I finally had the chance to camp in remote locations, hike, boulder, cross-country ski, and canoe my way through the western states. Within my own life and observations of others, connecting with nature continues to restore peace, evoke healing, and still leave room for play.