OSI Community Podcast: Recent Episodes
Outdoor Sport Institute
Join Mike and Bryan each episode as they explore what it takes to make the outdoors and human-powered outdoor sports a bigger part of our lives and communities. From developing trails and creating gear libraries, to running successful programs and leading others, there's something for everyone who's ever wanted to get others fired up about getting outdoors! You'll find valuable takeaways from the conversations they have with amateurs and experts alike across the outdoor industry.
When you think about infrastructure that supports outdoor recreation you might think of ski slopes, bike parks, and trails, but in Skowhegan, Maine these days the talk is all about a river park. This kind of infrastructure investment can be a decades long journey fraught with permitting issues, fundraising challenges, and the difficult work of building a shared vision amongst stakeholders. It’s impressive that any small community would take on such a vision, but what’s even more impressive in Skowhegan is that this vision is actually coming to life.
Just this week Kristina Cannon, Executive Director of Main St. Skowhegan and leader of the Skowhegan River Park project, was notified that they’ve been awarded a $4.9 million dollar EDA grant to support construction of the park - a huge milestone for everyone involved.
But what exactly is a river park? What does it mean for the community, and what impact do Kristina and others hope it will have?
At the beginning of the summer we had the chance to sit down with Kristina to ask these questions and learn more. She shared some amazing insights including what she’s learned from returning home to central Maine to take on a leadership role in her community, her belief in outdoor recreation as a pathway for people to re-engage with each other, and how developing an unexpected passion for paddling has helped her rediscover her own backyard while giving her the fuel to consistently overcome the many obstacles she’s faced.
Links In This Episode:
Main St. Skowhegan
Skowhegan River Park
Skowhegan Outdoors
Riverfest
EDA Press Release
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to build resilience in people and communities through (human powered) outdoor recreation. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Through the OSI Community you can access a growing online resource library and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
Chad Thatcher is a professor in Southern Oregon University’s Outdoor Adventure Leadership program. He has worked, taught, and led expeditions around the globe for decades. Yet for someone with an amazing breadth and depth of technical experience, Chad’s focus these days is on developing the emotional intelligence of tomorrow’s outdoor leaders. His goal is to develop people who can take their leadership skills into any environment, not just the outdoors.
If you find a conversation about these topics interesting, you’ll really want to listen as we dive into his research on serendipity and the role it plays in emerging leaders’ development. Chad’s enthusiasm for his craft is infectious, and every time we talk, I come away feeling more curious and more inspired to keep learning. I hope this episode of the OSI Community Podcast does the same for you!
Links Discussed in the Episode: Southern Oregon University
Primal Leadership- Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence
Day One Journaling App
Emotional Intelligence Consortium
Emotional Intelligence 23 Competencies PDF
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Through the OSI Community you can access a growing online resource library and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
This month as we continue to explore outdoor leadership development, we sat down with Seth Walton, the Outdoor Leadership Instructor at the Mid-Coast School of Technology. Seth walks us through his experience combining outdoor leadership training and workforce development for high school students in one of Maine's Career and Technical Education (CTE) Centers. He shared his approach to building a highly sought-after experience, and the ways being a small program can have BIG advantages for students. To learn more about Seth and his Outdoor Leadership program at the Mid-Coast School of Technology click on the link below.
Mid-Coast School of Technology Outdoor Leadership Program
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Personally pursuing outdoor sports,
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors, and / or
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their own community
Through the OSI Community you can access a growing online resource library and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
We're back after a "deep winter" hiatus, and invite you to join us for this first episode of 2022! This time around we found ourselves wandering into a deeper conversation about what's needed in developing outdoor leaders for today's world. We discuss the moments in our leadership journeys that helped us progress, and opened our eyes to the value of community.
Speaking of which, we are now accepting applications for the OSI Summer Internship. If you are over the age of 20 and have an interest in developing your skills while working at the intersection of community and the outdoors, apply today!
Here is a link to the Summer Internship Application:
https://www.outdoorsi.org/summer-internship
To hear more about the US Paralympic Nordic program check out episode 7 with Eileen Carey... OSI Episode 007
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
It is hard to believe, but it's our final show of 2021. Since it's that time of year that so many community organizations are trying to raise funds for their work, we thought we'd pick the brain of someone who is uniquely skilled at building support for grassroots initiatives. On this episode of the OSI Community Podcast we are sitting down with recent "Outsider of the Year" Matt DeLaney.
As the former director of the Millinocket Memorial Library and a founding member of the Katahdin Gear Library, you've likely seen or heard of Matt, or as we like to call him, "Mainely DeLaney". But this time around rather than discussing the specifics of gear libraries, we asked Matt to share his ideas on the process of building community engagement and energy around local outdoor initiatives. Whether you're thinking about trail projects, gear libraries, or local outdoor programs, we think Matt's experience will prove helpful.
And even more importantly, we attempt to set the record straight on where exactly "Northern" Maine really starts despite what some high profile outdoor podcasts would have you believe...
To learn more about the organizations mentioned in this episode or to support their missions, please check out the links below.
Katahdin Gear Library
Outside Magazine: Forces of Good Podcast
Outdoor Sport Institute- 2021 Annual Fund Campaigns
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
It's November... The days are shorter and the temperatures are falling. This makes it challenging to leave the warmth and comfort of home to head outside. It's a time of year that being consistent in our outdoor pursuits can feel downright impossible.
On this episode we speak with Silas Rossi, an internationally licensed IFMGA mountain guide and owner of Alpine Logic Guide Service about the notion of consistency and how it applies to outdoor sports. Silas also discusses how to leverage peak experiences to expand your perceptions of what you are able to accomplish when you return home. We also dive into mentors, mindset and Silas shares some thoughts on managing stress both on and off the cliff.
Silas is a skilled mountain guide, but you don't have to know anything about rock or ice climbing to appreciate this conversation. We didn't fill the episode with technical jargon and climber talk, the word "whipper" does not appear anywhere in this episode! Mike and I had a great time sitting down and catching up with Silas on this episode, and there are a ton of great takeaways.
To learn more about Silas...
Alpine Logic
"The Rise of Superman" by Steven Kotler
"Flow" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Maine Bound-The University of Maine
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
It's October and Fall is in full effect here in Maine. It's always a great time of year to look back on what we've done over the past 10 months. It is also a great time to look ahead to see where we want to go in the months ahead. In this episode, Mike and I sit down and look at what the future holds for the OSI Community Podcast. We explore how we got here, and what themes we want to explore further in the months ahead. It's our meta-exploration of the OSI Community Podcast. Thank-you for coming along with us on this adventure over the past year and a half!
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
While September marks the end of vacation and the start of school for many, it doesn't mean time outdoors has to end. In this episode, we wanted to check in with someone offering youth outdoor programs to see how they are doing amidst academics and COVID. What we got from Jacob Verhaegh from eNRG Kayaking was far more than a report card on his program numbers. Jacob shares...
- His stories of growing up in a family of paddlers.
- Why he dedicates his time to his athletes
- How he makes flat-water paddling more challenging without increasing the risk to his athletes
- The power of video peer review with athletes of all ages and abilities.
- How "eye-opening moments" help develop judgement and decision making and build self awareness.
- The importance of longer vacation paddling trips to build team cohesion and how it gets parents super involved with the team.
Links discussed in the episode....
eNRG Youth Kayak Team
Youth Kayak Team Summary Video
2020 Youth Kayak Team Progression Video
Youth Kayaking Team California Road Trip Video
American Canoe Association US Slalom Kayaking
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
Why is this the perfect time to start an outdoor club at your school? Teens to Trails executive director Alicia Heyburn shares why school administrators are seeing the value of getting students back outside, how to apply for outdoor adventure grants to help get the club going and why more than ever students need to find a new place in the world.
To learn more about the work Alicia and Teens to Trails is doing check out the following links:
Teens to Trails
Teens to Trails Outdoor Leadership Conference
Maine Dept. of Education W.A.V.E.S Initiative
Maine Island Trail Association
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
In this episode we begin to unpack the challenges facing members of our community living with aphasia, and other cognitive and physical challenges. We begin to understand the size and scope of the need for services, as well as what Bruce and Annemarie and the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center are doing to create unique opportunities in our communities. We'll hear about why they founded the AOEC, and what keeps them, their staff, and their volunteers motivated to create and deliver a phenomenal array of programming.
Links Discussed in the Episode...
The Adaptive Outdoor Education Center
The Adler Aphasia Center
The Aphasia Center of Maine Retreat
Acadia Mountain Guides
Best Buddies International
EVO Rock Gym
Maine Bound Adventure Center, University of Maine
Sail Maine
Studio 48
AOEC in the Press
Portland Press Herald Article
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
It's summer, and we are starting to come out of the last year of our COVID-19 socially distant reality, we may find ourselves looking to participate in a race, group ride, or outdoor festival.
On this episode of the OSI Community Podcast we're going to take a look at what it takes to plan, and execute successful outdoor events. We spoke to Valerie, one of the race co-directors of Maine's only 100 mile ultra, The Riverlands 100 Trail Race, and a member of the TrailMonsters Running Club. On this episode we also spoke with Will and Emily from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. They are responsible for planning the pre-covid, Bike Maine Cycling Tour which was a 300 mile week long bike tour of Maine. We will learn more about what they have on tap moving forward.
There are some powerful take aways for anyone who is thinking about planning a community event, or in the process of executing their first one. Valerie, Will and Emily will share their decades of event planning experience with you over the next hour.
Here are the links to learn more about some of the things mentioned in this episode...
Trail Monster Running Club
The Riverlands 100
The Dirt Series at Bradbury Mountain
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine
The Bike Maine Summer Women's Rides
The Maine Woods Rambler Gravel Ride
The Bike Maine Weekend
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
May is that month when many of us start checking our certification cards and realize we suddenly need to find a CPR, Wilderness First Aid, or Swiftwater Rescue recertification class in time to start work this summer.
On this episode of the OSI Community Podcast, Mike and I chat with Justin Padgett of Landmark Learning. Justin has been on the receiving end of that frantic phone call to register for a course. Justin, with his partner Mairi, founded Landmark Learning 25 years ago to fill a need in the outfitting industry, to teach fellow guides the skills needed to meet their operational requirements. That niche has now grown to encompass twenty-two-course types that include swiftwater rescue, wilderness medical training, wilderness lifeguarding, and Leave No Trace wilderness travel certifications.
We discuss:
1) why certifications have become an industry standard.
2) how they are an essential part of an organization's risk management plan.
3) the power of nurturing an instructor's ability to look inward and how much fun a positive learning community can be.
Notable Quote:
"Good judgement is the result of bad decisions you survive" -Paul Petzoldt
Links and Resources discussed during the episode:
Landmark Learning
American Canoe Association (ACA)
National Outdoor Leadership School Wilderness Medicine (NOLS)
Leave No Trace-Center for Outdoor Ethics (LNT)
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
We rounded up a few OSI Community members on a gloomy rainy day in April for a roundtable discussion. We discuss this spring's low water levels, the expansion of adaptive outdoor sport in the state, as well as what outdoor programing may look like as we come out of our covid isolation.
To learn more about the organizations discussed in the episode click on the links below.
Adaptive Outdoor Education Center
Skowhegan Outdoors
Rangeley Trail Town Festival
Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters, New Moon Teachings
Wabanaki Reach
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
How do we make gear more accessible?
In this month’s OSI Community Interview we are sitting down with a panel of guests to talk about the different strategies they are employing to make gear more accessible across their communities.
Join us as we talk with Matt DeLaney, director of the Millinocket Memorial Library and creator of the Katahdin Gear Library, Alicia Heyburn, director of Teens to Trails and partner in the growing Maine Gear Share project, and Brian Danz of the Portland Gear Hub to learn more about their efforts, their challenges, and what they’ve been learning along the way that can help others.
Join us as we discuss questions such as…
- What strategies have you found work best in making outdoor equipment more accessible?
- What are the unique challenges you’re trying to address in your community, and how are you trying to solve them?
- What pitfalls and obstacles you’ve faced that might not be obvious?
- What advice would you give to others that are trying to make equipment available in their communities?
Resources and Links discussed during the episode.
Bicycle Coalition of Maine
QBP webinars
Insurance for Outdoor Sport Organizations
Rentle Gear Management App.
Ikeono
Outside Business Journal Article-"Great Gear for All" Teens to Trails Donation Link
Marie Kondo
Notable Quote...
"The more you know, the less you need"- Yvon Chouinard
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community, members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
Why do we need to re-think the games we play?
Whether you’re on foot, on skis, on wheels, or on the water, games can be a powerful tool to help make the experience more positive and rewarding for your participants. Join us for this episode as we are joined by a master game player, and explore how we can more effectively use games in the outdoor sport experiences we lead.
Mark Kaser is a professional group facilitator and director of the Indiana Teen Institute. He has spent decades working with people of all ages playing, learning, and challenging the way they think. As Mark says, great games aren’t just playful, they are “full of play.” In this free discussion-based webinar he’ll be sharing tips and tricks to help ensure the games you play are fun, effective, and engaging.
Join us for this free webinar as we explore…
- How we can use games to maximize engagement
- How games are received across different age groups
- What we can learn from a rubber chicken
- Common mistakes and errors in games and their unintended consequences
- Principles we can use to enhance, create and play new games in any outdoor sport
Sign up to receive OSI’s latest free guide: Create Your Playlist Resources mentioned in this episode:
Bernie De Koven-
- The Infinite Playground: A Player's Guide to Imagination
- A Playful Path: The Book, The Spirit, The Experience
- Deep Fun:The Virtual Library of Bernie De Koven
Ben Mirkin-The Backcountry Play Book: Games and Activities
Mark Collard-
- No Props: Great Games with No Equipment
- www.playmeo.com
Cross Country Ski Games from the Nordic Ski Lab
Classic Books and Games from Karl Rohnke
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
It's a new year, and we are moving towards longer days and more sunlight. On tonight's OSI Community Round Table Discussion, we check in with a couple of OSI community members from Northern Maine. We discuss snow, the pursuit of wild ice, the disequilibrium of new outdoor sport venues, overcoming access issues, the four pillars of Outdoor Sport Community Development, and the programs on the OSI calendar we are looking forward to in 2021.
Here are links to all of the things we discussed during the round table.
OSI Winter Leadership Series w/ Dick Chasse
Technique Troubleshooting: XC Skiing w/ Seth Hubbard
OSI Webinar Playing Great Games w/ Mark Kaser
Katahdin Collaborative
Penobscot River Trails
Quarry Road Trails
Helena, Montana: Case Study in community access to mountain bike trails.
Maine Department of Education WAVES Initiative
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Rural Development Tool Kit
Norway vs. Sweden XC Ski Race in New York City Video
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
What can the winter environment teach us about leading others?
Dick Chasse wanted to be a mountain guide ever since he was a teenager, growing up in Waterville, ME. After taking a leadership role in his high school outing club and job shadowing at a university outdoor program he began a career as professional mountain guide and outdoor educator. Dick has been guiding since 1998, building a diverse resume of experience taking him from ski guiding in Iceland, to managing logistics and risk in Mozambique, to sharing his love of Katahdin’s winter magic.
Join us as we discuss questions such as…
- What can guiding and teaching in harsh environments teach us about approaching the outdoors every day?
- What does it mean to have a curiosity mindset, and why is it so easy for us to miss?
- What are some simple strategies for thriving in the winter outdoors that people often don’t use?
- How can we build better systems and frameworks for successful outdoor leadership experiences?
- How can we inspire the participants we work with to develop their own curiosity about the outdoors?
Resources mentioned in this episode:
OSI Winter Leadership Series
Starlight and Storm Podcast
Starlight and Storm-The Conquest of the Great North Faces of the Alps by Gaston Rebuffat
Acadia Mountain Guides
Fit 40 Radio Episode 002 Climbing Katahdin in the winter with Dick
'Patriot' 75' Foiling Americas Cup Challenger Boat article
Team New Zealand AC 75 Video Clip
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community
What makes participation possible?
Eileen Carey has spent her professional life helping others discover their potential on a pair of skis. Over the last decade her focus has been on working with adaptive skiers, serving as the Director Adaptive Programs at NENSA in New England and then the head coach with U.S. Paralympics Nordic Team. In her time in this role she transformed the program into an athlete-centered model that built from 3 medals in Sochi to 16 medals in Pyeong Chang. Eileen was awarded the Team USA Paralympic coach of the year in 2017.
Eileen now serves as the Director of the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Team. Her focus has been on sustaining competitive excellence and building the development of the sport across the country from first time experiences to podium finishes.
This month we’re sitting down with Eileen to talk about the world of adaptive winter sports, and what her experience has taught her about improving inclusivity and participation in the outdoors.
Join us as we discuss questions such as…
- What does the pathway to participation look like for adaptive skiers?
- What is an athlete-centered model, and how can we use these principles to improve non-competitive community-based programs?
- What are the most common barriers and challenges she has seen to making winter sports more accessible and inclusive?
- What can the development of para-athletes teach us about improving access and participation to outdoor sports for all ages and abilities in our communities
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
US Paralympic Nordic Ski Team Resources
US Paralympic Nordic Skiing Recruiting Survey
Andy Soule's Gold Medal Finish in Pyeong Chang, 2018
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community
It’s November, the mornings are getting frostier here in Maine, the mountains are starting to get snow, and we're slowly accepting the fact summer is over. The darkness, snow and the other icy trappings of winter are on their way. But despite all that, winter can be a fun time to get out and explore.
This month we’re talking about the challenges our communities face when it comes to recreating through outdoor sports in the colder months of the year.
- What issues is your community dealing with?
- Have you found unique solutions you can share?
- What does COVID mean for winter outdoor sport programs?
We also talked about the difference and benefits of both passive and active programs: those that people can participate in on their own time as they wish and those that may require joining a group on a set schedule.
Resources discussed during this episode:
OSI December Webinar: Managing Risk & Improving Your Community Outdoor Programs
"How To Make This Winter Not Totally Suck" VOX Article
Junior Maine Guide Program
Skowhegan Outdoors
Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department Winter Explorers Club
Winter Kids App- Find out about tons of Winter Activities in NH and ME
The Snow Tells the Story of the Winter: A guide to understanding the snow pack.
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community For Free!
This month we got into a couple different conversations. The first was about the challenges of networking and collaborating with other outdoor organizations locally, regionally, and beyond.
The second conversation focused on the topic of mindset, and practices people are using in their own programming
Networking Conversation Links & Resources
Some people are natural connectors, and that’s a valuable role to play as discussed in Malcom Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point.
Macaroni Kid by CertifiKID was mentioned as an e-newsletter and website that features events, activities, and products for kids and families on a hyper-local level.
Other examples of regional, state, and national level outdoor-minded collaboratives mentioned include –
- The Katahdin Collaborative
- Rural Aspirations Project
- Nature Based Education Consortium
- Outdoor Alliance for Kids
- Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation
Click here to learn more about Gateway and Natural Amenity Regions and the University of Utah's G.N.A.R Initiative.
Mindset Links & Resources
There are a number of models out there to help understand mindset and the broader category of building social and emotional capacity. Check out these examples –
The Collaborative for Academic Social & Emotional Learning (CASEL)
RULER is a framework created by Dr. Marc Brackett and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. You can learn more about it in the book, Permission to Feel.
Interesting to note the similarities with the more clinical practice of Dialectical Behavior Therapy
These models point to raising self-awareness as a first step. Just asking our program participants to note how they feel before and after time spent outdoors could be a simple and powerful practice. Tools like a mood meter could help.
Learning to shift concentration and focus is another powerful tool talked about in the sports psychology and mindfulness fields.
This article from Vox makes a compelling argument for getting our focus off of our internal world in the months ahead.
To be part of November's round table discussion on Wednesday, November 18th @ 4PM sign up here!
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community
How important is mindset really?
The outdoors can challenge us physically, but it’s the mental obstacles that often prove the hardest to overcome. We hear terms like “grit”, “resilience”, and “growth mindset” all the time. But how does time spent outdoors actually translate into a stronger mindset? And is there anything the rest of us can learn from those pushing the absolute limits of sport? On this episode of the OSI Community Podcast, we’re catching up with someone who knows a thing or two about both. Professional kayaker, big wave hunter, HUGE rapid specialist, and all-around hilarious human, Benny Marr (@bennymrr) will be joining us for a special conversation about mindset and outdoor sport. To learn more about the OSI Course: Building a Better Mindset for Outdoor Sport taught by Benny in November click Here. To see what it looks like running Site Zed from the seat of Benny's Kayak, click Here. Looking to learn more about Yoga from home, check out doyogawithme.com Click Here to learn more about Ujjayi Breathing Technique. Want to connect with Benny visit his Homepage Or follow him on Instagram @bennymrr Or on Facebook Benny Marr Or to see more of Benny doing what he does on You Tube For more info on all upcoming OSI Events click HERE The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
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What difference do great trails make in getting us outside? This month in place of our normal roundtable discussion we hosted a free webinar where we sat down with Steve Kasacek, a professional trail planner, designer, and builder with IMBA Trail Solutions. Join us as we discuss questions such as…
- What does it take to bring great trails to life?
- What impact can trails have on community?
- What does it mean to build “sustainable” trails?
- What do different trail users want out of their experience?
- How do design and construction needs change based on type of trail?
- What are some of the common pitfalls that get in the way of having quality trails?
Links and Resources:
Learn more about planning and building trails by signing up for the* OSI Online Trail Building School with IMBA***
I.M.B.A. International Mountain Bicycling Association
IMBA Trail Accelerator Grants Match grants to help with planning and development
IMBA Resource Guide to Building Sweet Single Track
IMBA Guidelines to Quality Trail Experience
Professional Trail Builders Association
Vermont Community Forestry Environmental Planning Resources
Vermont Community Forestry Town Forest Recreation Planning Webinar
"Clino"- A tool for determining how steep a trail is or will be.
OSI Online Trail Building Course
The Outdoor Sport Institute & The OSI Community Our mission is to help people in rural places make human-powered outdoor sports an integral part of their lives and communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The OSI Community is a peer-driven network of people who are -
- Pursuing outdoor sports personally
- Teaching and mentoring others outdoors
- Building capacity for outdoor sports in their community
Through the OSI Community members can access online and in-person instruction, a growing online resource library, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Join The OSI Community