Well, I did plan for this to be an occasional blog. Perhaps I ought to aim for more than twice a year.
It’s been an exciting year. I have had my first paying clients, run my first week long trips, planned my first trips abroad, gained a handful of new qualifications and met some amazing people.
I’ve spent time with some fantastic young people who find the school environment pretty challenging, but once they’re outdoors they begin to settle in to who they really are. It’s always amazing to be told you’re part of someone’s best day ever! That definitely never happened in my old job. I’ve also seen the change in me as I have spent more and more time outside where I can develop my skills and passions as I please. It’s so refreshing to be able to nurture that creative side of me that took a bit of a battering in the lab.
Don’t get me wrong, there are still stressful times (16 kids on SUPs being blown downstream…), and there’s definitely times when I miss a regular income, but I wouldn’t change back, ever.
I’m working on my plans for next year. There’s already trips to Sweden and Scotland in the pipeline. Closer to home I’m offering week long guided kayak trips around Norfolk. I’m working on plans for how to give people the opportunity to get out on a microadventure. I understand most people are very short on time, so need a way to get out for a quick blast of outdoors to restore their batteries.
So, that’s all I have to say for now. Hopefully I’ll see you outdoors soon!
Where is Ann? 