As an outdoor educator and enthusiast, Chris Myrick wanted more than to just work in the outdoors. With a desire for more structured expeditions and professional development opportunities, he set off on a search for something new and ultimately found exactly what he was looking for.
Now a sailing, climbing, backpacking, and canoeing Instructor at HIOBS, Chris took some time to answer questions about his experience these past two seasons, where he has not only felt supported, but encouraged to pursue his professional goals.
Why did you choose to work at Outward Bound (and HIOBS in particular) of all the outdoor education opportunities out there?
The variety of programming and depth of institutional knowledge at Outward Bound really appealed to me. Most places I had worked before HIOBS structured trips and expeditions that were a week long at the most. These trips were also limited to narrow age ranges and were missing a mission; something that made going on a trip more important than just being outdoors. I knew the Hurricane Island Outward Bound school contained over 50 years of outdoor programming experience and was an extension of an educational legacy that preceded World War 2.
After arriving at HIOBS, I saw that this experience informed detailed resources such as staff manuals and trainings, student and staff feedback systems, staff mentoring infrastructure and proven expedition curriculum that supported well-studied goals and outcomes which was something many other organizations were lacking. It was with this support that I was able to expand my practice and instruct not only week long courses, but also two- and three-week courses with adult, veteran and college age students across multiple disciplines including backpacking, canoeing, sailing and rock climbing and in my favorite region, the Northeast! At the end of the day, I knew coming to HIOBS meant playing in a new arena that was going to require me to learn and grow to meet new standards of professionalism and excellence. Because of this I have been able to master educational and technical skills that I wouldn’t have been exposed to had I continued working in familiar places.
What would you say are the best parts of your job? What are the most challenging, and what have you learned from them?
For me the best parts are also the most challenging. The people I have met and get to work with are inspired and passionate about teaching and the outdoors. It is easy to have fun outside of work because we are mostly like-minded and it is hard to see them go on an expedition or leave for the season. A similar phenomenon exists when working with students. As their instructor you develop deep bonds while on course because in moments of difficulty and uncertainty you see people as they are. It is never easy watching them leave for the airport at the end of the expedition. Knowing this, I have learned to share myself as fully as I can because you do not always know the next time you might cross paths with someone.
What would you tell your friends and colleagues who are thinking about applying to work for Outward Bound?
I would come prepared with self-care strategies if you are thinking about working for Outward Bound. Expeditions can be rigorous and require your whole self to ensure student safety and quality programming. Living on base can make it challenging to decompress because the people around you may be working. Whatever it is that works best for you, make sure you come with ideas about how to make time for yourself and what helps you feel rested.
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