What do you hope Outdoors Club will bring to Upper School students?

“I hope that the Outdoors Club gives students the opportunity to learn in a new environment.  I feel that the outdoors is the perfect environment for personal growth, and I hope that by bringing this club to Sacred Heart, students can take advantage of this.  The Outdoors Club is also a great way to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Truly, I hope the Outdoors Club teaches students life lessons.  I have personally learned so much from the outdoors.  I have learned how to be patient, confident, determined, and resourceful.  I think the Outdoors Club is a great way for students to not only learn but also to have fun and enjoy nature.  I hope that students can gain a greater appreciation for the outdoors and hopefully start taking better care of it.  I also hope that the Outdoors Club brings students an opportunity to explore and engage in a stress-free environment where they can have fun.”

What are your goals for Outdoors Club this year?

“I want to encourage students to do something they have never done before.  We plan on having both beginner-friendly hikes and more difficult hikes (depending on student input).  I also hope that we can spark some interest in hiking from our peers.  I have spent so much time outdoors and want to show students truly how fun it can be.”

What ignited your passion for hiking?

“Growing up in a very outdoorsy family, it was hard not to fall in love with hiking.  My grandfather was a big hiker and passed that on to my dad, who passed that on to me.  When I was young, I remember going on so many hikes around where we lived and also bigger hikes in Vermont.  While I have loved hiking since practically my youth, my experiences with the National Outdoor Leadership School sparked my interest in backpacking.  NOLS taught me a lot about what it meant to be a leader and how to respond to difficult circumstances.  I really enjoy being able to unplug from society and engage in an environment free from the stresses of daily life.  I think that NOLS sparked my passion for embarking on longer trips because it allows me to confront challenges that teach me a lot about myself and truly make me a better person.  At the end of the day, I love the opportunity to disconnect, explore, and learn.  I will be completing my third NOLS trip this summer, a month of mountaineering in British Columbia.”

The King Street Chronicle thanks senior Julia Randolph ’24 for her contributions to “Humans of Sacred Heart.”