Why teach in the elements?

I think there is one in any family, especially any family with several kids. You know what I'm talking about. There is often someone in the family who works outside. Our neighbors who lived across the street have a daughter who has lived in CO and does outdoor/biology research. One of the father's of one my friends from church recently told me that his youngest is into outdoor rec. And in my family, I am that person.

I need to be outside. It is a physical need for me. Maslow's hierarchy of needs for me includes at least 1 hour outside everyday. During the months of Mar-Nov, I work outside, so I meet that quota easily. But during the winter months of Dec-Feb, I have to make time. I walk outside a lot and I make time to go geocaching when I can. Sometimes I take two walks, especially if it is particularly nice outside, particularly snowy, or I'm particularly stressed.

It worries me that "kids today" may not be getting this sort of therapeutic connection with nature. When I walk, I'm often sorting through whatever is on my mind. I know that every person is different and handles various situations and stresses differently, but I've been stuck with this cure since childhood. In high school, when I was particularly stressed or busy, I often visited a local park to recenter my focus. But is this coping mechanism one that kids are not learning today?

Over the last month or so, on my therapy sessions outside, I've been sorting through a variety of questions. These include the following: 1) what happened at camp this summer and how 2011 will be different; 2) what happened at NC this semester and how spring '11 will be different; 3) how can I become the educator that I want to be? The reality is that all of these things are related. What conclusions have I come to? Good question. Let's see what I can tell you at this point.

1) To be successful at NC this fall, I must put the kids first which also means fully supporting and trusting the additions to the team.
2) To be successful at camp, I must delegate, communicate, and rely on my team. Interpersonal relationships will be the key to getting me through this summer. It won't be easy but these are skills I need to develop and improve.
3) Pursue training opportunities to further support my mission of being an educator and showing that camp professionals are, indeed, professionals. This includes as well as developing a brand for myself and marketing this to the outdoor, recreation, and camping community.

I have a little over a month until I return to NC and back into the "do" cycle of my year. In that time I have a lot of writing, researching, and reading to do before getting back to the grind. The grind that I adore.