The trail we walk together

There’s a moment I love sharing in workshops and talks. The quiet pause before the first word is spoken.

I ask everyone to close their eyes and think back to the first time they met a mentor. Who was it? A coach? A teacher? A family member? What did you feel intimidation? Excitement? Safety?

Then I ask: Can you picture them clearly? Can you hear their voice?

Now open your eyes.

How many of us could describe that person in detail, down to the exact words that stuck with us years later?

And yet, when I ask how many people in the room would consider themselves a mentor. Few hands go up.

Why is that?

We often don’t see ourselves as mentors. We downplay our impact. We underestimate the small nudges, affirmations, invitations, and the time we spend walking beside others. But mentorship isn’t about titles or formal roles. It’s about showing up. Again and again, with presence, care, and a willingness to walk the trail together.

As an outdoor educator, mentorship for me isn’t confined to coffee meetings or career talks. It’s out on the trail. It’s found around the fire. It lives in shared stories, silent walks, hard lessons, and high fives after a student lights their first match in the rain or leads their group with courage on day three of a backcountry trip.

Some of the most powerful mentorship moments are quiet. They come when we listen more than speak, when we model more than instruct, and when we trust others enough to step back and let them take the lead.

I think of the mentors who shaped me those who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. Their guidance wasn’t about giving answers; it was about giving space to grow. And now, I hope to do the same.

Because mentorship is a circle. The trail winds forward, but we’re always bringing others with us. And we’re never walking it alone.

Take it with you

Think of someone who played a mentoring role in your life. What did they do that left an impact on you? Now, flip the question. Who might see you as a mentor right now, even if you’ve never called yourself one?