Lillie, what brings you joy as an instructor?
The thing that brings me most joy as an outdoor educator is seeing my students find community and new friends, all while finding new passions and love for different outdoor activities.
What’s one of your favorite memories from last summer?
With so many incredible moments and memories at Adventure Treks, it’s truly hard to pick just one, but if I had to, I would say our Mount St. Helens summit on my first trip and seeing the joy and excitement on my students’ faces once we made it to the top and while glissading back down. It was a full circle moment for me because the first time I had ever hiked St. Helens was when I was on my first trip at AT as a student! Being able to be a part of my students’ experience was truly one of the most rewarding memories I have from last summer.
When you’re not adventuring with AT, what keeps you busy?
I try to stay outdoors as much as possible, whether snowboarding, mountain biking, trail running, or hiking. I have recently gotten into CrossFit and go to classes four times a week, and I have also rekindled my love for swimming. I love to bake and cook for my friends and family, as well as play board or video games or just laugh together.
What’s your advice for new instructors this summer?
Practical tip: Get organizer cubes for your bags! It makes prepping for the next day 100 times easier if you have all of your clothes and gear organized, and it truly saved me so much time digging in my bag, which gave me more time to hang out with students and have fun.
Normal tip: Be present with your students as much as possible. Even if you are doing something that might not be considered “fun” or might be just a little time-consuming, like prepping grocery lists or fixing gear, let students sit with you, talk, learn, and even give you ideas. They are so fun and creative and just want to hang out with you. Those little moments add up and mean so much to them.
How can students prepare for their trips this year?
Practical tip: Make sure you are doing your hikes and walks in your boots well in advance. Don’t wait till the last moment to get started. Broken-in boots are the best way to ensure your feet stay comfy all summer long.
Normal tip: Stay present and authentic to you! The easiest way to have the best summer ever is to be yourself. Don’t worry about anything other than that, and you’ll have so much fun
What’s your next big adventure?
I want to learn how to play the piano, begin learning to speak Russian, and possibly become an EMT this year.
Tell us some fun facts about you—what would surprise us?
- I love karaoke/singing, and I used to be in many small bands with friends. My students and fellow instructors can confirm my love of singing… a lot.
- I am also an avid reader, and you can often find me with my Kindle devouring a new book. I read 175 books last year, and this year I hope to read 200!
- I was a competitive swimmer for close to 15 years.
- Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I usually have at least three different costumes per year.
- I love pickles, to the point that it is one of the many nicknames I am called.
- I also love watching college football, especially my favorite teams, Utah and Ohio State.
