Participant Spotlight: Erin's Journey of Growth and Adventure

Erin, a Putnam Vocational High School senior, joined our expeditions to challenge herself and connect with her peers. Despite finding her first expedition quite difficult, she returned. Two more times. 

“I really enjoy the night skies. I love looking at the moon and stars, and it's so much easier to see it all in the woods.” 

Over the course of three expeditions, Erin not only embraced the challenges of hiking, camping, and navigating lakes and rivers but also emerged as a leader within her group. 

Erin moves through challenges quietly and persistently. When a peer needs support, she appears and offers compassionate guidance. Her all-male crew shared that they respect her, inside and outside the boxing ring, for her strength and kindness. Erin also discovered that you don’t have to be perfect, loud, or totally sure of yourself to lead. 

“I learned that you don't have to feel like you're doing really good to be someone's leader or role model.” 

Her journey with Outside Perspectives didn't end with expeditions; Erin's passion for the outdoors led her to participate in our Wilderness First Aid (WFA) class in September. She hopes to take her skills to the backcountry on her snowboard, to personal backpacking trips, and eventually to lead expeditions one day. Erin also feels that the personal growth she experienced will serve her well post-graduation.

“I had an amazing time on the expeditions and really enjoyed being outside. It helped me feel confident about the steps I plan to take after graduation. I plan to enlist in a military branch to help pay for college, and going on these trips has helped me build the confidence that I can get through tough things.”

Erin's dedication to empowering herself and others is truly inspiring. Her story exemplifies the profound and lasting impact of outdoor experiences on the lives of young individuals. 

“It's important that kids get out on these kinds of expeditions and adventures. We're all so distant from each other now because of our new online connectivity that it's hard to really see what's going on. Disconnecting helps you learn so much about your friends and group members. Also, you learn so much about yourself and what you're capable of.”

Thank you for your continued support in making these transformative experiences possible for youth like Erin.
Location: New Hartford, CT 06057, USA

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