Behind every thriving Outdoor Club is a teacher who shows up - not because it's required, but because they believe in what happens when students get outside together. As Teens to Trails celebrates 20 years of connecting Maine youth with the outdoors, we're taking time this year to honor the advisors at the heart of that work. Every other month, we'll introduce you to one of them.
This blog is part of our year-long series honoring the advisors behind Maine's Outdoor Clubs.
Erika Rhile is headed into her 29th year of teaching Science and her 23rd year of advising the Outing Club at Cheverus High School. Erika sees the natural world as an extension of her classroom. Whether her students are conducting a field investigation at Two Lights State Park, examining marine organisms in the lab, or hiking a mountain, she hopes they develop curiosity, resilience, a sense of wonder, and a deeper connection to the world around them. Outside of school, Erika can be found island hopping with her husband and children aboard the M/V Indigo, kayaking around Swan's Island, or hiking in the woods somewhere with her pitbull mix, Freya.
What's your favorite piece of outdoor gear, and why?
I have a couple favorites. My MSR PocketRocket stove is a "go to" item. It's super packable, even for a day trip to boil water for lunch. It's great on a boat, and invaluable for that morning camp coffee. I also love my solar blow-up lantern. So many of our trips incorporate an overnight in cabins, tents, or yurts that either don't have or have limited (i.e., solar-powered) electricity. My inflatable lantern sits in a window so it's ready for any trip, and I'll also admit the colors are just fun!
What's your favorite outdoor space in Maine?
OMG too many to choose; Maine is just so beautiful. I think Borestone Mountain outside of Monson is one of the most spectacular hikes in the state. Big & Little Moose Pond in the Moosehead region is just spectacular in the fall. MCHT's Marshall Island is stunning, and I love hiking the trails and then relaxing on its sand beach. I have the fondest memories of overnights there. My summers are spent on Swan's Island in the Acadia region, and it's my happy place. I'm outside practically all day when I'm there, whether it's hiking, paddleboarding, sailing, etc.
What's one small moment with your outdoor club that's stayed with you over the years?
Again, this is so difficult to answer. I've been advising this club at Cheverus since 2003, and it's my lifeblood. One major standout was the solar eclipse in April 2024. I think I asked in January if I could take the club and miss school that day (it was a Monday). Our principal wished me luck finding overnight accommodations in the path of totality! I put out an APB to our Outing Club families, and within 2 hours we had a place to stay in Rockwood on Moosehead Lake. It snowed a foot a few days before, so we packed snowshoes and cross-country skis. The day of the eclipse, we were cross-country skiing in T-shirts because it was so gorgeous with bluebird skies. Experiencing the eclipse itself with those students... incredible. It was so crazy how the sky turned dark purple and we could see stars! People were on the lake ringing bells. It was truly a moment of deep awe. The students all agreed it was worth every second of the 6+ hour drive back (which on a normal day would have been under 3 hours).
How has your club evolved since you first started working with Teens to Trails?
I think Cheverus was one of the first clubs to join when Bob & Carol Leone started Teens to Trails. We had a small core group of kids. I think back to those early years and the adventures we got up to... I remember climbing 4,000-footers in New Hampshire with a baby on my back! Twenty-plus years later, our club has a Google Classroom with over 75 students who are interested in what we have to offer. Anyone can join the CHSOC at any time. I recently had an administrator say to me that the Outing Club is the most active club on campus when you consider the number of trips offered throughout the school year and how much time we're adventuring.
What does being outside offer students that the classroom often can't?
I believe some of the most powerful learning happens through direct experience. As a science teacher, I strive to get students out of their seats and into the lab, the field, and the natural world. My role as advisor of the Cheverus Outing Club has been an extension of this philosophy. For more than two decades, I've watched students learn through hiking, camping, paddling, skiing, and simply spending time together outdoors. These experiences teach lessons that are difficult to replicate in a classroom: independence, resilience, collaboration, curiosity, and a willingness to step outside one's comfort zone. I think we come away from every trip with some sort of life lesson, be it "should've packed more water" or "drying socks directly on top of a wood stove is a bad idea."
In what ways has being part of the Teens to Trails community changed what's possible for your club?
I am ever grateful for the support Teens to Trails has provided. We've received grants which we were able to purchase gear beyond just sleeping bags and tents, for example, the Club's huge cooler. The fact that Teens to Trails plans trips that we can attend, whether it's been the Acadia Rendezvous, whitewater rafting, affordable downhill skiing, HVNC Day of Play... these are gifts for an advisor trying to map out a school year's worth of experiences. Certifications like WFA and the ETLP have been huge for keeping my students safe, and the fact that kids can get WFA certified is also amazing. There are so many benefits to being a part of the Teens to Trails community!
What do you hope students carry with them long after they've been involved with their outdoor club?
Advising the Outing Club continues to be one of the most rewarding parts of my job at Cheverus. Long after students leave the CHSOC, I hope they carry with them a sense of awe and wonder and a desire to keep seeking it out. I hope they recognize the value of getting outside, of putting down their phones, trying something new, challenging themselves, and being fully present in a beautiful place. I hope they develop an appreciation for where we live and for all that Maine has to offer, while also realizing that the outdoors can be a source of adventure and connection wherever life takes them. I hope they remember that some of their best experiences came from simply being together laughing, getting a little lost, sleeping in a yurt, paddling a lake, or standing outside under a sky full of stars. Those shared experiences create community, and I love that so many colleges have Outing Clubs that can provide that same sense of belonging when students are far from home. Ultimately, I hope the CHSOC instills a lifelong habit of looking up, looking around, and getting outside. There is so much evidence of the positive impact that time outdoors has on our physical and mental well-being, but beyond that, I think being outside reminds us to be curious, to appreciate the world around us, and to make room for a little wonder in our lives.
Stay tuned -- every other month this year, we'll be introducing you to another advisor who is helping shape what's possible for Outdoor Clubs across Maine.