It was definitely challenging, but it was a great experience and a reminder that growth often comes from trying something new.

While my week may not be filled with the joy and excitement of our programming, I want you to know that what happens behind the scenes is just as vital. I enjoy ensuring our organization runs smoothly and sharing these updates with you, even if they're not as glamorous as the programming you look forward to!

This is not a race about speed and fitness, with one winner. Because when we come together as a city to say enough is enough and that we care, everyone wins.

Seeing the kids encourage each other, be creative, and build confidence reminded me why CAT’s work is so impactful and why creating spaces like this for young people matters so much.

Having the chance to continue trying new things and working to make them better, different, or exactly what people need is amazing and not something that happens in every program to the extent that we do it. 

But most of all we learned about the power outdoor sports have to connect people and help them grow. We started out this trip as strangers, but as one participant said “Where else can such a diverse group of people become friends in two days?”

Having to pivot and think on your feet, while stressful, is one of my favorite things about this job.

Sometimes social justice centered work feels never ending, and in a way it can be, but being able to educate more people and know that new people are always joining the fight fuels me with hope for our future. What we can do together is always going to be more impactful than what we can do alone.

It’s one of my favorite parts of teaching outdoor skills, seeing that A-ha moment for people, especially little humans.

Recently I attended Quiet Adventure for the first time. What I really liked was how personal it felt. Instead of just being a symposium, it felt like a real community where people were connecting in genuine ways.

The point I was trying to make is that getting into adventure sports is not always easy, especially for folks who aren’t exposed to theses sports (for many reasons) at a young age.

I look forward to after-school every week because it's refreshing to know that I somehow contribute to teaching our young people outdoor skills.

Teaching these lessons has helped me grow as a leader, mentor, and communicator, and has reinforced the importance of patience, creativity, and clear instruction when guiding others through new challenges.

This group has discovered a quiet truth: just because something is hard and even if it involves physical or emotional suffering, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth doing.

—

We don’t cancel because, individually and collectively, we decide that fear cannot be the thing that stop us from living our lives, experiencing joy, and doing something that matters deeply to each of us.

There is so much growth ahead this year, both for CAT and for myself, and I’m grateful to be part of this ride because more great and new things are coming.

Week by week, these spaces have become places where participants feel more comfortable showing up as themselves. Watching those connections form has been one of the most meaningful parts of spending time together after school. 

Would you know what to do if you were four miles from the nearest cell signal and someone was seriously injured? Or how to care for a person having seizures when professional help is more than an hour away? Thanks to the SOLO Wilderness First Responder certification course that CAT hosted at Big Marsh Park last week, a whole group of Chicagoans now have the skills to manage these kinds of emergencies in the outdoors.

It was cool to learn about the planning that goes into organizing a Turkey Run, even for something as simple as shirt pick-ups ,it gave me a better understanding of how much coordination happens behind the scenes.

As I close out the week, I find myself feeling deeply reflective and profoundly thankful for the CAT team, for everyone in my network, for the people of Chicago, and for all those across the country who continue forward and together. It takes a much bigger community than we often realize to make everything happen, and every single day continues to be a learning experience for me.

During the awards event, I had the opportunity to give back by supporting attendee check-in, a small task, but one that felt meaningful and allowed me to contribute to the success of the evening. I left feeling proud, inspired, and energized by all of the honorees and by the collective dedication to community, generosity, and impact that filled the room.