A Degree in Outdoor Recreation
2021-22 Teens to Trails Youth Advisory Council Member and UMaine Sophomore Emily Kidd (top right) guides a group down river for Adventure Bound.
Emily Kidd is a former Teens to Trails Youth Advisory Council member, and currently enrolled in University of Maine Orono in a program called THOR (Tourism, Hospitality, Outdoor Recreation). Her undeniable passion for the outdoors, coupled with her high school outdoor club experiences, have led her to pursue a major in Outdoor Recreation.
As a YAC member, Emily helped plan Adventure Bound — Teens to Trails’ annual camping and rafting weekend. She enjoyed working with peers who were equally passionate about the outdoors. In this leadership role, she also discovered that she loved seeing her ideas come to fruition. “I hadn’t grasped how big Adventure Bound was going to be, and it was great to see so many people piling into boats and having fun together,” she said, knowing she had a part in its success.
During a return trip to Adventure Bound with family, Emily could not deny how much she enjoyed the experience. While watching river guides direct boaters through rapids, she thought, “These people are so cool — I want to be just like them!”
After graduation, Emily’s Outdoor Club advisor encouraged her to apply to Adventure Bound for work, but she decided to wait. She says her freshman year at UMaine was a time for growth, socially and academically. Instead, she worked on campus at the Maine Bound Adventure Center, where she learned about facilitating group activities and games, a skill that would serve her well in the future.
With a year of school and work under her belt, Emily decided to take the leap and apply to be a river guide at Adventure Bound. Training is challenging, and Emily couples the experience with being on a reality TV show. She noted that each day, there were fewer trainees on the bus to the river. “You have to be mentally prepared and confident in your abilities,” she said. “The training is intense, and you quickly recognize the responsibility of taking people down the river.”
Part of that training included repeated flips and swimming in high water, and a willingness to take risks. Emily was one of the first in her group to try guiding down the rapids. “I felt like I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone to prove that I was capable,” she said. “I also realized when it was appropriate for me to take a step back and not raise my hand. I came out of the experience learning how to balance the two.”
In addition to learning all of the commitment and preparedness it takes to be a raft guide, Emily also discovered she wanted to share her knowledge with others, especially high school students who might not be aware of the outdoor opportunities available to them. As a THOR fellow, she is working alongside faculty to create career fairs geared towards rural high schools that showcase UMaine’s Outdoor Leadership major. “I want other students to know that you can make a living and find happiness in an outdoor-focused career,” she said.
Emily is also on the planning committee for the Maine Employer Summit, which highlights employers throughout the state who are in search of resources for workforce challenges.
When asked if she’ll return to Adventure Bound this summer, she offers a resounding yes. “It’s like a second home to me, and the people I met have become so influential. I can see them becoming an important part of my life.”