When I was 18, I climbed Mount Rainier for the first time with a group of co-workers from REI. At the time, I was an unlikely addition—nearly two decades younger than the rest of the team. But on a climbing expedition, age doesn’t matter; your value lies in what you know and how you contribute to the team. That experience didn’t just teach me about climbing; it gave me the confidence to tackle challenges I never thought possible.

Back then, I worked at the Issaquah REI store, part of a group of high schoolers who were lucky enough to have supervisors who saw their roles as part boss, part mentor. Our Mount Rainier trip, led by my supervisor John Junke, became a pivotal moment in my life. For a kid with a learning disability who had struggled through high school, the mountains offered something extraordinary: a space to thrive, to collaborate, and to succeed. That experience sent me to college with a belief in myself that I could take on anything.

In college, I found professors, friends, and mentors who nurtured my love for the outdoors and taught me how to turn it into a lifelong calling. People like David Lindsay and Dave Gilbert turned the student activity office into a classroom, teaching me about leadership and program development as we ran the outdoor program. Professors like Mike Poutiatine introduced outdoor education and adventure education in his leadership courses. Mentors like Todd Dunfeild showed took us to place and inspired us to care for them too. And Erik Schmit, a philosophy professor and former NOLS instructor, inspired me to pursue outdoor leadership as a career. My best friendships were forged during those years—hiking, backpacking, and climbing. These connections wouldn’t have happened without the adventures we shared, learning as much about ourselves as we did about the mountains.
But you don’t start with Mount Rainier. Seeds of adventure are planted much earlier, often by caring mentors and a supportive community. My parents, Midwestern transplants from Ohio, had little experience in the Northwest wilderness. But my dad embraced learning alongside me, building a community of parents and volunteers who used Scouting to foster our growth.

Leaders like Jim Berry, whose son had long since “graduated” from the troop, taught the parents about youth leadership and community service, letting the mountains do the work. Other volunteers —like Dr. Smith and John Martino —joined my dad in taking us to the wilderness, letting us fail, learn, and try again. Older Scouts like Jake, Adam, and Jay gave us peers to emulate and learn from. All of those pivotal stepping stones to being able to join that Mount Rainier trip.

Fast forward to today, and I’m privileged to work with Y.E.T.I., a program that ensures young people have access to those same transformative outdoor experiences. The other day, Sam, one of our program coordinators, recounted a story about a recent hike with Cascade View Elementary students to Poo Poo Point on Tiger Mountain.

When the group reached the top, one young girl gazed at Mount Rainier in the distance and excitedly asked, “Ms. Sam! Can we do that one next?” Sam explained it was Mount Rainier and a challenging climb, but added, “If you stay active with Y.E.T.I., learn all the camping, climbing, and mountaineering skills, and work really, really hard, I bet you could climb Mount Rainier before you finish high school.”

That wasn’t an empty promise. Thanks to grants, donations, and incredible staff, Y.E.T.I. offers middle and high school programs that guide students from their first hike to the summit of their dreams. These programs plant the seeds of adventure early, showing young people that the mountains are a place where they belong—a place to succeed, fail, and try again.

I give monthly to Y.E.T.I. because I know the transformative power of the outdoors. It takes mentors, a caring community, and resources to unlock those benefits, and I believe every young person should have that opportunity.

When you donate to Y.E.T.I., you’re helping students gain not only outdoor skills but also self-confidence, resilience, and lifelong friendships. You’re giving them the chance to stand on top of whatever mountain they set their hearts on—whether that’s Mount Rainier or something even bigger.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting Y.E.T.I., so we can continue inviting the next generation outside. Your donation could be the spark that changes a life, just like the mountains changed mine.