Doing The Hard Things
What’s inside: From Basecamp – Podcasts are LIVE – Become a Volunteer Leadership Summit 2025 – Jumping into the Outdoors The Polar Roll – Experience I’m finally a part of the 906 Adventure Team! To understand my excitement is to go back to the beginning. Now, I wrote a lengthy story for this newsletter – I am not a human of few words – but many. However, rather than fill up the entire first edition of this newsletter – I asked Todd if he wanted to record a podcast and talk about the experiences that brought me here and why my passion for this organization is so personal. I’ve never been afraid of doing hard things, in fact, I seek them out. A quiet and shy child I was drawn to broadcast television not because I wanted to be famous or loved the spotlight, but rather because it scared me…. pushed me outside of my comfort zone. From my time in the news industry as an anchor, reporter and co-host of a lively lifestyle program to backpacking Isle Royale, Pictured Rocks, Glacier National Park and beyond… I have throughout my life sought out challenges and adventures that pushed me to my limits. It’s where I found myself. It’s where I connected to that “something that is bigger than all of us.” It’s where I found my strength and cemented my values. I shared that with my daughter from a young age. Taking her backpacking, canoeing, hiking… I watched her thrive, connect, push her limits, break and build herself back up through outdoor adventure. Parenting my son was a completely different experience, one that pushed me to 906AT. This organization was the catalyst to incredible growth for my son. And it’s the story I wanted to share with all of you. It’s a story about commitment, doing hard things, having open conversations and never giving up. Click here to listen to my conversation with Todd and the first episode of the new #blametodd pod. After you listen, I think you’ll understand why, I have for years been waiting for an opportunity with 906AT that fits my skills, my beliefs, and my life’s mission. And why I want to be a part of the team that cultivates a space that encourages and creates space for kids to push their boundaries, do hard things and find their inner strength, confidence and worth. I’m here for it all. I’m here to do it myself… to keep pushing through my discomfort. The world needs this. Our kids need this. And I will work my tail off to keep the 906AT mission moving forward. By Elizabeth Peterson Made U.P. Podcast – these episodes will be longer formatted, deep conversations about the inner workings of doing hard things. They’re honest, raw, gritty, tough conversations and topics about life, living, failing and picking up the pieces. They’ll be about 906AT events and they won’t be. We’re making it up as we go. You’re going to have to tune in to see where it takes us. *intended for audiences 18 and older. #blametodd pod – these episodes will be shorter – focused on topics around 906 Adventure Team, people, experiences and programs. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube ChannelClick here to follow us on Spotify “Am I good enough to volunteer?” That’s the question we hear – the question that may be holding you back from volunteering and potentially giving a child an opportunity to participate. Here’s our answer: It all starts with showing up. If you know how to ride a mountain bike and have experience on a variety of trails; paved trails, two-tracks, singletrack, etc, you’ll be just fine, and by the end of the summer your riding skills will be better, too. Our common ground isn’t skill based. It isn’t performance driven. Our common ground is core values and providing opportunity for people to discover a better version of themselves. Getting better takes hard work, patience, and let’s be real, a community that supports you. Last year 1,200 kids got on bikes through Adventure Team programs in 13 communities. This year we’re growing that number to 1,300+ kids in 15 communities. That means we’ll need 550+ volunteers. We can’t do this without you. We can’t get kids on bikes without you. We need you. VOLUNTEER NOW Leadership Summit 2025 The 2025 Leadership Summit will look a little different than past summits. This year 906AT implemented a new learning management system for volunteer coaches. This new system is branded and streamlined, which allowed 906AT to require the online training for all volunteer coaches. This change to the volunteer training is providing an opportunity for an expansion of the volunteer training (rather than an in-person version of the online training). The two-day summit will focus on an indoor training day to include sharing the 906 story, practicing connections with kids, first aid in the field and Q&A for a panel of current lead coaches. The second day will focus on outdoor training and will include bike skills and bike mechanics. REGISTER NOW Have you ever climbed a tree? When I was a child, my siblings and I were allowed to climb as high as we wanted as long as we could get ourselves back down. I do not remember my parents ever “saving” us, nor did we sustain any injuries from falling out of the tree. I just witnessed this same policy with a group of pre-school children who were on an adventure with a forest school class. I think it is a bit unusual to see an outdoor school class with this policy these days. At the adventure that I witnessed the kids were safe – not safe from all risk but safe in that the adult on site knew where the child was and that the child could explain how to get themselves back down. Imagine the feeling of accomplishment that child felt when they successfully managed the climb and descent on their own.