When it comes to outdoor education and experiential learning, Outward Bound in the US stands out as a leader in fostering community, care, and curiosity among its people, from students to staff members. These foundations stay with individuals long after their adventures on course, shaping their paths ahead.
In this blog post, we catch up with Mike DeHoff, former Colorado Outward Bound School instructor, welder, and co-founder of the Returning Rapids Project, who says that the lessons and skills he learned at Outward Bound have guided him throughout his career.
Mike DeHoff above Gypsum, Colorado (Provided by Mike DeHoff)
DeHoff’s journey to the Colorado Plateau began with his grandfather, who worked for the FBI in Moab, Utah during the 1950s uranium boom. “I kind of blame him for making me a desert rat,” DeHoff jokes. “He definitely showed me a lot of things worth being curious about, enjoy, and care for.”
Mike’s admiration for the desert as a child led him to work for Colorado Outward Bound School in the Southwest. For 19 years, he worked as a Course Instructor and Director, guiding students through the iconic rapids of the Colorado and Green rivers.
“I would attribute my time with Outward Bound as being foundational to who I am today and what I do because Outward Bound really drills down what it means to be an effective person, whether you take one of their courses or if you work for them,” says DeHoff. “Outward Bound has always been in the business of human potential. It teaches people how to be prepared for taking on life. The different experiences and skills I learned and walked away with are all skills that I still use these days.”
Making Waves in the Moab Community
After a long career with Outward Bound in the Southwest, DeHoff settled in Moab to pursue other passions. He established a local welding business where he continued to build community connections. He regularly found himself in inquisitive conversations with customers. “I’m just someone who likes to ask people questions like, ‘Hey, how’s it going? What’s going on in your world?'”
This unwavering curiosity and investment in community led him to connect with the folks who would later go on to form the Returning Rapids Project, a unique project under the Glen Canyon Institute, that “seeks to document the recovery of the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon, upper Glen Canyon, and along the San Juan.”
The Returning Rapids Research Team (Photo Provided by: Mike DeHoff)
The project began when DeHoff and fellow river rats – and Outward Bound alumni – noticed changes in the Colorado River created by Lake Powell’s receding waters. What started as a simple observation has evolved into a partnership between this team of seasoned raft guides and scientists who brave the waters to observe and document the changing Colorado River ecosystem.
“I sometimes jokingly say that we just run Outward Bound courses for scientists.” DeHoff says.
Back on land, the Returning Rapids Project also works to educate the public and community partners about their findings.
“We want to continue to do our research and communicate it out, so people know what we’re seeing. Hopefully, it can inform the public decision-makers about how we can better manage our resources in the Southwest, be it the river, or other things,” says DeHoff. “I hope that our work inspires other people and gets them thinking about how they can take care of the world around them.”
Finding Meaning in a Changing River
According to DeHoff, their scientific findings have far-reaching implications on how we understand the changing natural world.
“Our research is showing that if we pay attention, there are ways that we can make it through this climate crisis we’re in, and that’s really important these days,” DeHoff explains. “A lot of the younger folks I meet, and younger people we’ve brought onto our research lately, have a lot of anxiety about climate change. Working with us in our research gives them hope that there’s a way forward.”
When asked about his perspective on conservation and stewardship, DeHoff says that some of that goes back to the basic principles of what you’re taught at Outward Bound.
“The efforts that our team is making are based on questions that Outward Bound asks: What does it mean to care about the world around you, and how do you take care of it? A lot of our research is parallel to that philosophy of being curious about the things around you and taking action.”
Reflecting on the conversation with DeHoff, Kelsey Maxwell, Marketing and Communications Manager at COBS says, “[DeHoff’s] story is reminiscent of so many stories I’ve heard from fellow staff members.” She continued, “Outward Bound teaches you to always stay curious and fearlessly pursue your passions. More importantly, it teaches you to care for the people and places around you.”
“The more you can encourage people to take charge and try to make some place close to you become elevated, better protected, and understood, the better,” concludes DeHoff. “That will go a long way.”
Cataract Canyon, Returning Rapids study site and COBS Southwest Rafting course area (Photo by: Olivia Schneider)
This blog is a collaboration between Outward Bound USA and the Colorado Outward Bound School.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY LIKE
Read More
Read More
