Outdoor Bunnies

My love for the outside world has been imbedded into my psyche ever since I can remember.  In fact, I was born two weeks early and could possibly attribute that to my desire to simply just get out!  My childhood consisted of playing in the dirt, running across rocks along the water, and running amuck on the beaches of southern California.  I was that tomboy competing and playing along with the neighborhood boys.  In a sense, they were my motivation to do most things girls typically did not.  My greatest motivator as well as greatest challenge was someone telling me I couldn’t do something; especially if it included the reason “because you are a girl”.  My stubborn and competitive character responded to such atrocities with “oh yeah? We’ll see about that!”.  My friends quickly realized that I wasn’t going to hold back and could do anything they did.  Eventually, others (i.e. my parents) succumbed to my nature as well and are more accepting of my adventurous escapades.

 

My connection with nature has always served as a source of rejuvenation, play, and healing.  Growing up I had a double sided childhood.  Home was not a place I desired to spend time at whereas outside became a means of escape.  My home situation was not ideal to the say the least.  However, the opportunities for play and exploration made up for it.  I could go on to describe several experiences that offered me comfort and joy.  Though, I think a poem I wrote as a senior in high school depicting one area of solace would suit best.

 

Free From An Insane World

 

I sit on the rocks below a broken home gazing out, over the water.

The rocks serve as my only friend.

They comfort me,

For I know they’ll always be there.

They accompany me while I try to sort out the impossible.

They hide me when in need of getting away,

Getting away from the horrors life can bring.

The rocks are my freedom.

My freedom from a world of insanity.

 

Today, I sit on the rocks below a cloud-filled sky.

The wind brushes up against my body

Giving a warm, chilling sensation.

The water slaps the rocks below me,

But in a playful manner.

My body bursts out with a chuckle.

The Seagulls gawk at each other,

Offering amusement to my sore visage.

The pelicans soar high into the air,

Only to be able to crash through the water’s surface.

Their graceful dives bring amazement to my eyes.

At a distance, waves caress the sand,

My ears falling in love with this sound.

The rocks are my freedom.

My freedom from a world of insanity.

 

I sit on the rocks below the broken home attempting to escape reality.

I am now one with the rocks, the water, Nature.

I am a creature of the sea.

Perhaps I am a porpoise,

A dolphin gliding  through the water;

The cold sea water trickling down my back.

Perhaps I am a bird,

A Seagull soaring through the air;

The wind beating against my face.

I am free from the world in which we live.

Reality no longer burdens my shoulders with its weight.

The rocks are my freedom.

My freedom from a world of insanity.

 

The rocks along the Pacific Ocean in Marina Del Rey, CA described in the above poem are just one of the many places I love being.  In this poem, I’m at rest observing my surroundings.  I am capable of doing so to an extent, but in reality I cannot sit still for the life of me.  When asked what my favorite things to do in life are, I usually cannot come up with a one word answer or a small list.  I like participating in any activity that serves as a challenge and that stimulates my brain.  The challenge is what makes it fun for me.  Thus, one can find me both on land and in water.  Growing up along the coast has leant a playground for surfing, body surfing, free/SCUBA diving, sea kayaking, and sand bagging.  I was a competitive swimmer in high school and played water polo at the NCAA Division Level.  In fact, my water polo career was spearheaded by an 8^th grade school counselor who told me I could not play water polo because it was just for boys.  I proved her wrong by jumping in the pool anyway and played on the high school “boys” water polo team for four years.

 

My outdoor pursuits were spawned by an injury ending my water polo career.  A heartbreaking incident at the time later proved to be a blessing in disguise.  The first two thirds of my life I ate, breathed, and dreamt about nothing, but water.  In my latter years in high school and throughout college I was not allowed to do much other than swim and play water polo.  Even summer lifeguarding at the beach was looked down upon by my coaches for they feared any activity that could cause injury preventing me from playing.  After tearing my trapezoid muscle in a water polo game against Stanford University and playing the rest of the season on heavy pain meds causing further injury, I had to weigh out my choices.  I chose to pursue other endeavors in life.  I continued to explore the marine environment, but my curious nature led me to terrestrial lands.

 

Before explaining what I do today, I must diverge and explain my wanderings in the professional world and how it led me here.  I graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor of science degree in Biological Sciences.  At the time I was volunteering as an assistant researcher on a project studying marine mammals in the Santa Monica Basin.  The winter after I graduated I was looking into doctoral programs in the marine sciences and also needed a job to pay the bills.  I applied to be a substitute teacher for Santa Monica-Malibu USD.  Little did I know that this application would change my life forever.  In August 2000 I received a phone call from John Adams Middle School (JAMS) asking me if I would like to interview for a science teaching position.  Although I had no teaching experience I went in anyway and was hired on the spot.  I didn’t even know what a teaching credential was.  That year I found my calling as an educator.  I spent seven years teaching in the classroom meanwhile earning my teaching credential from California State University, Northridge. 

 

During my seven years at JAMS I was an integral part of the science magnet program, which included taking students on outdoor adventures: Catalina Island, Yosemite, Astrocamp, Joshua Tree, Morrow Bay, and nature hikes in the local mountains.  It was on these trips I realized my true passion.  Not only did I love educating those around me, I also found passing on my excitement for the outdoors even more satisfying.  The kids were able to apply what they learned in the field to the standards covered in the classroom.  More importantly they developed a self awareness not present beforehand.  Those who had attention issues were able to focus better.  Those with low self-esteem found courage and were able to lead their peers.  Those with dismal home lives found a sense of calmness and peace.

 

In 2006, I yearned to explore more of the natural world.  However, some places were currently inaccessible to me.  Of course, I do not like not being able to do something!  J  Thus, I took a mountaineering course for outdoor educators with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in order to acquire technical mountaineering skills needed to explore more challenging terrain.  One can now find me rock/ice climbing, traveling on glaciers, and trekking in areas I wouldn’t have perceived of setting foot on before.

 

In 2007, I left the classroom so that I could pursue outdoor education more full time than what was allowed as a public school teacher.  As such, I have continued my career in the outdoor field.  Though a previous student of NOLS I am now a mountaineering instructor at the Alaska branch and will be instructing my first course in merely a couple weeks.  It is a mountaineering course for Naval Academy students.  Very few women participate in the mountaineering program for reasons including lack of support and self-confidence; something I wish to change.  Although the women’s movement has changed many things, the attitude that women cannot participate in the same activities as men still exists.  Though not all, there are many men and women who believe this to be true.  The outdoor world is open to all; male and female.  As an “Outdoor Bunny” I hope to pass along my passion for outdoor exploration and encourage other females to venture out into this realm creating more role models for all genders.