Meet Ralph Keyes: Retired Wiscasset High School Outdoor Club Advisor

Keyes shares his experience during a video shoot at Teens to Trails in July 2021. Photo credit: Deb Dawson Photography.

Ralph Keyes began his teaching career at Wiscasset High School in 1987. For over 30 years, he taught science, and also became a dynamic, beloved advisor of the school outdoor club. His years of commitment connecting students to the outdoors is truly something to admire. One of his many students, Maeve Carlson, sums his love for the outdoors up best: “I could always tell he was just as excited to be outside as the rest of us,” she said.

We sat down with Ralph to ask him about his knowledge and experience leading a high school Outdoor Club.

What interested you in becoming an outdoor club advisor?

I was active in my junior high and high school outdoor clubs. These early experiences led me to become an active life-sport enthusiast.

What were some of your early challenges?

For the first many years of my teaching career, and prior to the creation of Teens to Trails, there was no ready resource to turn to for advice on how to start an outdoor club. Thankfully, a newly hired colleague had experience running a club at his previous school, and he enlisted a colleague who had some trip experience through her work at Chewonki. We also had a new principal who was extremely supportive.

For the first few years, I tagged along as an extra advisor. When we started the club we had three students whose parents were strong advocates, including Teens to Trails founders’ Carol and Bob Leone and their daughters.

Is there anything that surprised you about running an outdoor club?

The student enthusiasm to get outside was a welcome surprise. But I was also astounded by the lack of outdoor experience among rural kids, despite lots of outdoor access.

How did your club recruit new members? Were there lean years, and if so, did it affect the club?

There have always been ups and downs in participation, but recruiting happened by word of mouth, and by the appeal of high profile Teens to Trails trips, including October Rendezvous, alpine skiing, and rafting.

What was one of your most memorable trips?

A trip we took to a Chewonki property near Jackman, which included a winter snowshoe/ski-in to our shelter for the evening. I wanted to get everyone there safely before the weather shifted to a -40ºF overnight low. I have lots of wonderful memories of the kids pushing themselves to do something they had never done, the fun they enjoyed, and the sense of accomplishment they experienced.

What’s the best advice you could share with new club advisors?

Get administrative support, find a mentor (Teens To Trails is a great resource), and start small and easy.

Similarly, if you had 5 tips to share for running an outdoor club what would they be?

1. Make trips accessible to all (consider physical abilities and resources).

2. Schedule trips to accommodate as many students as possible (we often planned Sunday day trips to alleviate conflicts with kids in sports, other clubs, etc.).

3. Make the trips fun (lots of food stops are always a good thing)!

4. Get administrative support for transportation, advisor traIning and stipends.

5. Plan to use your stipend to discreetly assist kids who would not otherwise be able to attend.

Are there student leaders that stand out in your mind? Are any of those students in the outdoor industry?

The kids in my club regularly demonstrated leadership by encouraging their friends to keep pushing through difficult stretches. They did this by smiling, laughing and making the challenging parts of our adventures fun.

Some of our students have gone on to lead Outdoor Clubs in college, and most who I have stayed in touch with have adopted favorite activities as life sports, including one student who went on to hike the AT, Continental Divide Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.

Now that you’re retired, what are your plans for enjoying the outdoors?

I’m outside as much as I can be. I have a small aquaculture thing going, and this fall, I really enjoyed my days tending to the scallops all while experiencing native sea creatures and wildlife, including porpoises, eagles and seals, and winter ducks on the bay.

I love Nordic skiing and I’m looking forward to getting out when we have snow!