There are shared qualities that drive us to be High Trails’ instructors. Mostly, we all share a love of the outdoors. We tend to discover early on that working in an office, teaching in a classroom, or learning in a passive manner do not work for us. We work hard and play hard. And since most of us are human, sometimes we forget how lucky we are to work in a beautiful forest, laugh with kids every day, and teach alongside our best friends (who are more like family).

I thought about the most important lessons I have learned throughout my life that have shaped my values as an adult. Many of which, coincidentally or not, seem to have really solidified in the past two years. Even though I know these lessons to be true (at least for me), I occasionally need to be reminded not to forget them, and live closely in tune with them each day. These blog posts by fellow staff members exemplify those values, and help me remember what matters most. In no particular order:

#5: Challenge yourself. And don’t stop.

Blog Post: Life Lesson from the AT: I’m talking about long and short-term goals. Some days, when I am busy and stressed, my challenge is to just take ten minutes, go for a walk, and relax until I feel like me again. But I also need big challenges to stay motivated—a backpacking trip to plan, a race to train for, or a professional milestone to achieve. Currently? I’m getting back into yoga, which I have not practiced regularly in four years. And I’m hoping to do a through-hike—PCT, maybe AT, in the next two years.

#4: Be you.

Blog Post: Memorable Class: The lesson plan is a tool, and it’s full of great information. But as instructors, we know our best classes are the ones we personalize with our individual personalities, styles, quirks, strengths, and even acknowledging our weaknesses. I don’t particularly care for repeat-after-me songs, but sometimes my students do. So I encourage them to lead, and I sing along. This applies to life as well—it’s okay to be yourself. And if you are honest, people tend to respect you for not trying to be anyone else.

#3: Do work that fulfills you, even if it’s off the beaten path.

Blog Post: Summer Camp: Most of the people I graduated with—high school, college, even my graduate program—are living a very different lifestyle than I am. Many are married, have children, own a home, and don’t have the tight-knit community of co-workers/housemates/friends-that-feel-like-family that High Trails creates. Sometimes I envy their long-term stability, whereas I’m not sure what the next five years (let alone my career path) hold. But since coming to High Trails, I’ve never felt happier—that I am where I am supposed to be, doing what I am meant to do. I’ve developed a passion for alternative education. I’m not sure where I’m going, but thus far, doing what I love has worked out well. So I’m happy to call that my long-term plan.

#2: Love. And tell them.

Yes, these are my parents.

Blog Post: Love Like Heather’s:   I’ve been working on this one both personally and professionally. As medic, it is sometimes easy to get lost in the paperwork and caring for students, and forget to check in with staff members. But taking that time to interact, laugh, and support instructors is a huge part of my role on the admin team. Love is the one thing we have to give that is endless, but we so easily forget how to show it. So I’m trying to call my mom and dad more often. Send mail to friends I haven’t spoken to in a while. Be more warm and caring, and less sarcastic to those around me.

#1: Live in the moment, choose to laugh.

Blog Post: 50 Ways to Survive Winter in the San Bernardino National Forest: In the past, I was always anxious (this runs in my family). My focus was often on “what if?” and “what’s next?” I always looked to the future as the source of happiness, and therefore worried I would not find it. It’s taken some practice to mindfully focus on the present, but I’ve slowly relearned to have a natural reflex of appreciating each moment. Happiness is a choice, a state of being, and feeling content with what we have. Even on a cold snowy day in the San Bernardino Mountains, there are endless amounts of laughter, wonderful people, and natural beauty all around us. That’s a pretty great life, right there.

It’s not always easy to be the best possible versions of ourselves. There are plenty of days that when I look back, I think I could have handled a situation differently and gotten a more desirable outcome. Or I catch myself feeling stressed or cranky, and realize I could have had a more positive attitude and enjoyed the day more. But I consider myself to be lucky to be surrounded by some pretty great folks who continuously push me to follow my own path and encourage me to be my most authentic self.

At High Trails Outdoor Science School, we literally force our instructors to write about elementary outdoor education, teaching outside, learning outside, our dirty classroom (the forest…gosh), environmental science, outdoor science, and all other tree hugging student and kid loving things that keep us engaged, passionate, driven, loving our job, digging our life, and spreading the word to anyone whose attention we can hold for long enough to actually make it through reading this entire sentence. Whew…. www.dirtyclassroom.com