A Wilderness Inquiry adventure is so much more than a trip. It’s an experience, an opportunity for connection, a place where everyone belongs. And we think no one is better to tell that story than those exact people who explore the natural world with us. This is Devin’s story.
Devin’s journey with Wilderness Inquiry began as a participant on our Hawaii Hike and Explore trip through a scholarship program at his college. He traveled to Hawaii for the first time and met Executive Director Erika Rivers, who Devin bonded with as they hiked around the Big Island. Near the end of the trip, Erika told Devin about the Wilderness Inquiry Fellowship program and encouraged him to apply. At first, Devin was nervous to apply because he had very little outdoor recreation experience. However, he was intrigued by Wilderness Inquiry’s mission and purposeful adventure approach after the Hawaii trip, so he went for it. After being accepted into the fellowship program, he packed his things and moved to Minnesota to start his fellowship rotation for the summer of 2023. Coming from upstate New York, he didn’t know anyone in Minnesota besides Erika and had some doubts about spending the whole summer in a new place. But after only a week in Minnesota, he fell in love with outdoor leadership.
Like the first ripple after dipping a paddle into water, his outdoor leadership career was only just beginning. Over three months, Devin went from his first outdoor experience in Hawaii to becoming a Wilderness Inquiry Fellow to leading his first adventure to the Apostle Islands. He spent the summer learning all he could about outdoor leadership and the benefits of time spent in nature.
I personally benefit from being in the outdoors because I feel less stress and it just makes me feel better at least knowing that I’m making an impact on other people’s lives.”
Early in the fall, Devin signed up to go on an eight-week Canoemobile tour that spanned from Milwaukee to Atlanta. His primary reason for doing so speaks to the deep connections he made over the season: there were two outdoor leaders on that rig who he simply didn’t want to say goodbye to at the end of the summer. He didn’t know what to expect when he committed to the tour, but before he knew it, he was off on another adventure traveling across the Midwest and down the East Coast. He even happened to meet his future best friend, Eileen, during this time, and they are still in contact daily. Canoemobile tours are often exciting learning opportunities for all involved, and this one was no different. Throughout the eight weeks, Devin spent his time absorbing information, supporting the rig team, and connecting with Canoemobile partners.
Soon after the whirlwind tour wrapped up, he was introduced to our new Outdoor Leader Coordinator role – a staff position that bridges the trail experience with the administrative pieces of delivering programs and adventures. And so, Devin thought, why not? He applied, interviewed, and was offered the role of Outdoor Leader Coordinator of Extended Adventures. As a big life pivot, he quickly found an apartment and moved to Minnesota full-time.
Now in his second year as an Outdoor Leader Coordinator, his role involves itinerary building, trip planning and coordination, trip directing, and leading several extended canoe, kayak, and hiking experiences each year. In a particularly memorable opportunity this February, Devin co-lead our two Military Families Outdoors trips to Florida.
The wildlife encounters were unforgettable—we saw everything from alligators and anhingas to swimming with dolphins! These trips truly embodied our mission, ensuring that everyone had an enriching and inclusive experience in nature.”
He spent two weeks traveling with 24 military family participants starting in Miami, through Big Cypress National Preserve, and concluding in Everglades National Park. This is just one of many amazing adventures that Devin has experienced since starting with Wilderness Inquiry. Soon after, using the experience and knowledge he gained from his own Hawaii trip, Devin acted as the trip coordinator for our Hawaii trips this March.
Core to our organizational model – the Pyramid of Outdoor Engagement – is the belief that repeat and reinforcing outdoor experiences build stronger people and more resilient communities through shared outdoor adventures. And within this model, leadership and career opportunities – like Devin’s – provide connections to community and support well-being, belonging, and lifelong engagement in the outdoors. From that first Hawaii trip in 2023 to his return to the Big Island this March, Devin’s Wilderness Inquiry experience has evolved along the many pathways designed to offer deepening levels of participation, exploration, and connection within nature. As Devin continues his career trajectory with Wilderness Inquiry, we are proud to adventure alongside him in the outdoors – and we are proud to have him on our team. As Devin ultimately summed up:
Wilderness Inquiry has taught me different ways that I can embrace the outdoors, and really get a feel for what I want to learn more next in life.”
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