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Tell us about your first backpack trip.
I bought my first backpack in 2018, but it took me until the fall of 2020 to actually take my first trip. That trip was to Red River Gorge, and was also Nomadology's very first trip. I was part of a hiking group and came across a post from Clara saying she was taking a group of women backpacking. I decided to join, but my mom's concern was huge. She thought I was crazy for meeting a group of strangers in the woods. I signed up because, as a Summer Camp Director, I have spent my career helping youth and young adults enjoy nature, and I absolutely love that. However, a large part of my job also involves the administrative side of running a camp. I spend a lot of time thinking ahead, solving problems, and managing logistics, which means I don't always get to be in nature as much as I would like. I wanted to be reminded of what it felt like to simply enjoy nature and the company of others without being the one responsible for thinking ten steps ahead. What I remember most is feeling incredibly content and happy to be surrounded by people who enjoyed nature as much as I did. I learned that I really loved backpacking and that I need more friends outside of my camp. Tell us a bit about your position at summer camp. I grew up at the camp where I currently work, YMCA Camp Wapsie. When I moved back to the area in college, I applied for a job there. I ended up working seven summers as a seasonal employee, and somewhere around my third summer I started joking that I was never going to leave. I really did want to work in summer camping rather than in a traditional classroom. I have worked at four summer camps over the past 17 years, and I have learned something from each of them. Today, I work as a Summer Camp Director, and I love so many aspects of my job. One of my favorite things is that no two days are the same, and each season brings different responsibilities. I am never bored, and I constantly get to work with amazing young adults and children. I see kids transform at camp all the time, and I see the same thing happen with staff. I have so many success stories from over the years, including my own. I get to help kids and young adults work through big feelings, guide staff as they make major decisions in their lives, and help kids learn to feel loved and worthy. Camp gives people the opportunity to try on new versions of themselves. Sometimes a child who is quiet at home finds their voice. Sometimes a young person discovers that they are capable of more independence than they thought. Sometimes they simply find a place where they feel like they belong. Being able to witness and sometimes help create those transformations is one of the most meaningful parts of my job. How important is it to you to spend time outdoors? Do you think it's important for everyone? Spending time outdoors is incredibly important to me. In many ways, it is the foundation of both my career and my life. I can be an anxious person; I can become easily overwhelmed because I want organization and perfection. Whenever I have the opportunity to spend time outdoors, breathe in fresh air, or, as the kids say, "touch grass," I feel an immediate sense of relief. That has been true throughout my entire life. It started with camping trips with my family, going to summer camp as a kid, spending long days on the ocean, and running cross-country. Later, I ran an outdoor skills program for teens where we cooked all our meals over a fire. Now, I work as a summer camp professional, and I live on a large chicken farm where I take long walks with my pets. Being outdoors allows me to clear my head and appreciate the beauty around me even when life feels like it never slows down. It gives me perspective. Problems that feel overwhelming can feel a little more manageable after time outside. I absolutely think it is important for everyone to spend time outdoors, although I think that can look different for different people. It doesn't have to mean backpacking, climbing a mountain, or spending a week in the wilderness. It might mean sitting in a park, gardening, walking around your neighborhood, spending time near water, or simply stepping outside and noticing what is around you. I think people need opportunities to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and experience the world beyond screens, schedules, and responsibilities.
Tell us about becoming a trip leader for Nomadology. How did you know this was something you wanted to try? What has the experience been like? When I started my backpacking journey, I was doing it partly to get away from the responsibilities. However, when Clara mentioned that she was considering expanding Nomadology and offering guiding opportunities, I knew almost immediately that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be part of what she was building. Leading all-women backpacking trips is the perfect addition to my career. It allows me to spend time outdoors with groups of people while also reminding me of my days as a camp counselor when I was the person getting my hands dirty, being fully present, and experiencing the adventure alongside the people I was leading. The experience has been nothing short of amazing. When I first co-guided a trip, the women were incredibly supportive as I learned and gained confidence. They gave me the space to grow into the role, and that experience has continued to shape my life. Because of Nomadology, I've taken the kids in my family, my dog, and even my cat backpacking, with no other adults along, and they loved it! Camp Wapsie also ran its first teen backpacking trip in 28 years, and it was a success. We are planning three more backpacking trips next summer! I had the confidence to send my staff off knowing that I had prepared them for success. I owe a lot of that confidence to Clara and to Nomadology.
For women interested in backpacking who haven't found the courage for their first trip, what advice would you give them? Find a friend or a group and just do it. I had many of the same fears, and so did my mom when I told her I was going backpacking for the first time. I was meeting a group of strangers and heading into the woods but signing up was one of the best decisions I have ever made. This is something I tell kids when I am helping them try something new: What if you had never tried ice cream? They usually look at me with the biggest eyes. Of course, their lives would be different if they had never tried ice cream. And your life might be different if you try something new, too. You don't have to know everything before you start. You don't have to own all the gear. You don't have to be an expert. Ask questions, and let yourself be a beginner. You might discover that backpacking isn't for you, and that's okay. But you might discover something you love, meet people who become important to you, and find a version of yourself that you didn't know was there. You won't know until you try.
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