Our Story is Your Story: Chase

There is so much to be learned from our Youth Ecology Educator, Chase. Just ask the kids! But, for this series, we were delighted to listen to him muse about mentorship and representation, about getting outdoors in Hawaii and in Portland, and about how all of it is connected – from the city skyscrapers to the deepest backcountry. All of it can be an opportunity to explore.

Can you talk about the story of your relationship to the outdoors? How it started? Your earliest memories? That kind of thing.

My first memories that are built with a connection to outdoors is camping out here in the Pacific Northwest, my parents. I think the biggest memories have been with family. And it was only a handful of times. But just those few times were enough to make me get out of my little bubble of East Portland, and experience some parks, some rivers, and mountains that I've never seen before. And some of it is just like the road trip, just the way there. Seeing the tumbleweeds, seeing the desert, seeing the greenery, the trees, the forests. Being by a lake, being by river. That was enough for me, I think, to build that personal connection. And that was just a handful of times. 

And then sixth grade, I did Outdoor School. Almost every student in the state of Oregon has the opportunity to go to a camp and learn about the environment. I learned about the plants and ecosystems for five days. And for a sixth grader, that could be a lot being away from home, being away from parents. But I was really passionate about learning about water and the plants and the animals and ecosystems and all that. It wasn't just that, it was the games, the campfire songs, being around people who actually look like me. A lot of the kids who were actually from Portland. I think that was just a great experience. I mean, me and my friends still talk about it to this day. And that's 15+ years ago.

When I was a senior in high school, I actually wanted to be an Outdoor School Leader. But my teacher said no. I was taking engineering at the time. And I went to college for engineering, but then, the same thing happened. You know, I still had an urge to do something about teaching about the environment and getting kids outdoors. So I switched my major to Natural Resources. And then when I was 19 or 20, I moved back to Hawaii, where my mom is from. And then almost every day when I was living there, I was at the beach, I was hiking. So that was another key moment in my life where that really established my personal connection to the outdoors, with being comfortable hiking. Because hiking can be scary at first, especially when you're younger. Just the fear of like falling off a cliff, getting lost, being caught in a rainstorm. There's other things like Poison Ivy, stinging nettle, wild animals. I think these are common fears that a lot of people have but I went with some experienced mentors who have hike their whole lives, and done those trails many different times. And then when you get on top you can see the views of the ocean. You can see all the mountains, and the valleys, the waterfalls. I think if students saw that, I think that's how you can connect. Just being given the opportunity to do that.

How would you describe your time in the outdoors in Hawaii versus here in Portland? How does it feel the same or different?

I think because Hawaii is more water focused. We have rivers and lakes here in Oregon. But you're really surrounded by water in Hawaii, so the beach is more accessible. So the beach is just a simple thing, just go to the beach, and you see the waves and the tides. And just that is soothing. Like waking up, watching people surf, swim. I also did those things, just being in water was nice. And then the mountains are right behind you. So I wasn't up in the mountains all the time. But you know, on the weekends, when I wasn't in school, go for a hike. So it's combining those experiences. And that's why when people ask, Are you an ocean person or a mountain person or both? I’m both. I gotta have both.

How would you describe your relationship to hiking now? Do you still have any of those fears? 

Oh, yeah. There's things that we teach as educators that’s about just planning and preparing ahead. If I go to a place where I'm not familiar, my instincts kick in. It's like spidey senses, like, I got to really pay attention to the direction where I'm going, leaving markers, paying attention to the orientation that I'm going. If I didn't bring a map. I mean, that happens sometimes. I just do a spontaneous hike. And I just tell myself, I'm gonna go 30 minutes to an hour in, instead of I'm gonna go seven miles. And then you know, from there, that's when it gets harder. So yeah, I did that the other day. I said, I parked my car and said I’m gonna go for a hike. And I just kept walking because it’s what my body wanted to do. So I ended up hiking for a couple of hours. And I didn’t have a lot of the things that you should have. But because I’ve hiked so much, I’m pretty comfortable, especially in an urban setting. It's not like we're out on Mount Hood. Away from emergency services. It's like I roll my ankle. A rock falls, hits my leg. Those are things that I think about. Just because that's what I've trained to think about. But, yeah, for hiking, I keep things simple. Keep it local, somewhere within an hour of Portland, and I just need a couple miles. I don't have to do much. It's kind of like my fix. Just like I just go for a couple miles. I don't need to do anything crazy. That's enough for me.

Can you talk more about your experience camping as a kid with your parents?

My mom’s experience in Hawaii, she talks about going to the local camp. They had a similar program in Hawaii where fourth, fifth, sixth graders would go to the local YMCA camp. And that's all her experience camping, like, she didn't do anything else. My dad grew up here in Portland. There's parts of Portland where he would say, oh, that used to be called the boonies. When that's just Portland now. So Portland has grown a lot since then. You know, older people, Baby Boomers will say, You know, we didn’t stay indoors. We played outdoors. And we stayed out till it got dark, and then you went inside. So that's the way my dad was, but he didn't really mentor me on any of those things. He kind of just let me figure it out on my own. 

But again, there were a few times that we did go camping. That's all it took. We went to Lake Shasta a few times. And, you know, there are different skills being outdoors. Back then, we stayed in a rented trailer by the lake, or we stayed in a tent. My experience with that was like there was a bear that came up to our tent, and I wanted to go see it. My mom yelled at me said No, no, don't do it. But I was very curious. I wanted to see a bear for the first time not in a zoo. In the wild. The other times, with my camping experience, it was on a boat. We bought a boat. And it only lasted one summer. But it was that summer, coming out here on the Columbia River. And that was only a handful times, but that was good enough for me. I felt like I was a pretty sheltered kid but the few times at doing these things was enough for me to connect.

What does the word connection mean to you when it comes to yourself and the outdoor? What does it feel like for you to be out here?

I mean, I think there's a connection to everywhere that you go, whether it's the natural world, or in the city, in the concrete jungle, there's always a connection. And it's, I think, human nature. Humans have been roaming the earth. And then over the past 200 years, all of a sudden, we're working in these industrial type environments, the nine to five, work is staring at a computer that's not natural as a human. So it's in our DNA, to be around water, to have our feet grounded on the earth. Walking on the sand, walking on the dirt, that's what we did for thousands of years. So it's almost like a dog or a cat. You can be domesticated in a way, but it still has its wild tendencies. So that's what we are, these are our wild tendencies. When we are outdoors, this is our natural environment. So it's in us. So it's kind of subconscious. When we are around water, our ancestors were a part of that environment for generations. In the mountains. And foraging for food, and hunting and gathering. That wasn’t that long ago, when you think about the scale of time. And we just lost touch with that. We're city people working this new modern lifestyle. So it's a break from that. You don't have to be totally off the grid and go full hippie, but it's nice to have these moments. And, go back in time, like we used to live. Because it is natural to be out here.

Do you ever have a desire to go full hippie?

Well it’s almost like another definition of hippie. What do you think of when you think about a hippie, or an environmentalist? An environmentalist can look many different ways, it’s just someone who cares about the environment. To me, defining what the environment means, it’s just everything around us. Which includes the city and the natural world, because they’re interconnected pieces. Just because you put concrete on the ground doesn't mean that water and the sun and all these different elements go away. So we still live on planet Earth, it's still everywhere. So in a way, being environmentalists is just making sure that everything is here to stay for generations to come. And we're doing our part to conserve that. And you don't have to be someone who drives a Prius and wears no shoes and goes totally off the grid. You can care about these things, and still be you. And that's me. I'm a hybrid of many different things. And I don't feel like I had to be that type of person to care about the environment. 

Was there ever a time when you felt like the outdoors were not for you? Or have you always felt like you had the connection and access?

Being how white Portland is, it impacts every aspect of my life. You talk about the outdoors. Sports, education. Any aspect of your lifestyle, you go into a white setting, but you know the outdoors is especially white. So I’ve felt that. It’s always been a push and pull, for me. I didn’t get back into the outdoors as a professional or as a career interest till about six years ago. And that's one of the first things I noticed. So this has also been a personal mission for me to always give back to a space where I'm around people who look like me. Because I remember how it felt when I first started. And when you think about the scale of issues that are out there, it's not like a climate change issue. It's not a global change issue. But if we don't have more Black and brown people who care about the environment, then we're going to continue to have the same problems. So it is going to contribute to actual global change. It's much needed. It just may not seem to seem like it on paper. But most of the people live in cities right now. It's gonna continue to be that way. And most of our cities are multicultural. And so that's where we need to focus on. And that’s why Wild Diversity is the future.

What was the catalyst for getting back into the outdoors six years ago?

I was living in Hawaii at the time, and I was taking kids outdoors. I was in a lot of meetings. But what I was craving was actually working directly with the kids all the time. It’s a mutual experience. Yeah, I get a great feeling of being outdoors. But I love seeing kids being outdoors, too, and making that connection. So that's what pulled me. But I felt like I didn't have all the skills that I needed to be a great outdoor educator. So I took that jump of not making a lot of money, barely getting by, just for my passion of wanting to be outdoors. And being a better leader. Taking youth out. I didn't necessarily have those skills, or competence in doing that. So I had to put myself out there, get that experience. And now I can do it in my sleep. But it just took a couple of years of putting myself out there. Being in spaces like rock climbing and mountaineering and doing things that can be a little scary. But I wanted to give it a try. I just wanted to try something new. It was almost as if I was bored, and I needed something fresh. And I think the outdoors was an opportunity to try something new. And it’s changing my life.

Can you talk about your experience spending time in the outdoors in solitude, versus in community?

 think you always need a balance of both. Solitude is great. Again, to escape the stressors of life. I think you do need reflection. And I think the outdoors really gives us an opportunity to reflect on life and just be present. And that's what's hard, just always thinking about the future or the past. And being out here right now. Listening to the birds chirping. And the boats going on a river. Makes me feel present. Even if I'm talking right now, I'm thinking about just where we're at right now. 

And then you also need community. It is a balance of both. I think it's human nature to feel wanted, to be part of a group, to be included, to be around people who are like minded with the same goals and interests. When you’re with community, you’re looking to have a good time and make memories. And when I think about the outdoors I think about all the great memories, and that was usually with other people that I enjoyed their presence. And we don’t necessarily have to say anything. But just enjoying a view. Like we're sitting on top of the mountain, or looking at the peak. You know, it’s just nice to be around a company that feels the same way. And it's also just being able to be yourself. 

What has wild diversity offered to you that has been surprising or unique or impactful?

Well, in my role as Youth Ecology Educator, there's been a lot of freedom just to do what I want to do. I could sit here all day and talk about the challenges and barriers that a lot of white led environmental education programs have. And I don't have to worry about that here. And a lot of the things that we have to talk about on white spaces, you don't have to talk about it here. Everyone else is focusing really hard on racial justice right now. We're a few steps ahead, just by being an all BIPOC group. There is stuff that you have to consistently work on. But it’s just been different. So internally, as an organization, that's been nice. But there's a lot of challenges that I've seen just as an educator working with youth, as far as developing the curriculum to tailor it to the kids, their needs, and their cultural backgrounds. You know, that can be tough to get approval or just a slow moving process when you're in a large nonprofit, or a white led nonprofit. But you know, Mercy and Wild Diversity, they get it. Like, we get why kids need these spaces. I don't have to explain that.

I’m curious what you would say to the person who is struggling to feel connected, or safe, or like they belong, in the outdoors.

Well, speaking of community versus solitude, so maybe it’s just finding that one individual that you feel comfortable with, and exploring together. Because not everyone likes big groups, and the attention of big groups, or maybe just haven't found that group yet. And if you're going to do it by yourself, then just start small, go to your local park near your house, that you pass by every single day, pitch a hammock or bring a chair, read a book or do something that's outdoors. That's what I picture as the outdoors as well. It's not just going to your local national park or going to Yosemite. You know, just start small, start local, and work your way up to different activities. And luckily for organizations like Wild Diversity, we have activities that will ease you in. And it's not just the activities, it’s the people that understand where you're coming from. So it's just a matter of finding those people and those programs, and putting yourself out there.

What is your favorite way to get outside right now?

For me, it's just going for a walk. I tried to build a habit, every day, at least walking 10 to 15 minutes to 30 minutes a day. Luckily for Portland, where I live, we have a lot of trees, still standing in people's backyards and in green spaces. So, yeah, I am walking through a neighborhood, but I do feel like I'm still walking outdoors as well. So every day I'm still getting out there. I mentioned also that there's a lot of parks that I haven't visited. And I grew up here, and there are a lot of parks that I haven't visited. So one way that I'm going to go out is just continue to look up parks I've never been to, and getting to know the adjacent neighborhood and the people that live there and just observe and and get out there and see the plants, the trees, the birds that exist on that piece of land and maybe even go in deeper and learning the history of that land. And all the different types of people who have lived on that land. So that’s something that I want to work on, too.