Guest Contributors: Andy Te Slaa, Area Director
The Trailblazers program was born from a conversation I had with a Club member one day while standing outside of our Loveland-Pulliam Club. She commented on how cool it was that she could see the mountains—something many of us might take for granted.
As we talked, I learned she had never been outside of Loveland. That moment really stuck with me. I realized how important it is to help provide opportunities for our members to experience the outdoors firsthand. With support from community partners, along with Cody (Winona Club Director) and Payton (Field Director), we were able to offer that opportunity to a small group of Club members this past summer.
These members learned valuable outdoor skills like fly-fishing and outdoor cooking. They hiked trails in Thompson Canyon and spent a day at Dowdy Lake putting their new skills to the test. But the experience went far beyond just learning survival skills.Exposure to the outdoors can be life-changing, especially for youth who might not have access to these kinds of opportunities. It fosters a deeper appreciation for nature and helps develop a sense of responsibility for protecting our natural resources. Time outside is also proven to support better mental health and emotional well-being, giving kids a chance to disconnect from screens and stress while building confidence. Trailblazers empowers youth to connect with the outdoors, with others, and with themselves.
In addition, programs like Trailblazers introduce youth to new fields of study and potential career paths in outdoor recreation, conservation, environmental science, and education. These experiences can spark interests that stay with them for a lifetime. In a state where outdoor recreation is part of the culture, it doesn’t feel right for our members to stop short of just “looking” at the mountains. I hope to expand this program and continue providing more of these powerful, meaningful experiences to more kids in the years to come.