Taking the Leap from Student to Instructor
BY CRAIG S., OUTDOOR DISCOVERY PROGRAMS INSTRUCTOR
If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to participate in one of L.L.Bean’s Outdoor Discovery Programs, you’ve already experienced its unique combination of exceptional equipment paired with outstanding instruction. My personal journey from student to kayak instructor began exactly that way. Read on and perhaps you’ll be inspired as well!
I’ve been an L.L.Bean customer since the 1970s and have come to love the brand. It wasn’t until 2019, however, that I took the opportunity to travel to Maine to take L.L.Bean’s Sea Kayak Discovery Course at their Freeport-based Paddling Center. It was a phenomenal experience on every level. The Padding Center is chock full of every kind of gear you can imagine for kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddle boarding. I immediately noticed how detail-oriented the instructors were—they were very patient and took their time with each participant to ensure everyone was outfitted correctly and was ready for the day on and in the water.
As is a hallmark of L.L.Bean’s courses, the instructors began the course with a safety briefing. While I’m sure some participants just want to get on with the class, the safety brief is just another example of the high level of professionalism the instructors bring to the party. Once on the water, it was clear how much experience and knowledge our instructors had. In Discovery courses especially, the level of skill and experience can vary widely. Good instructors are able to adjust their teaching approach to each student’s needs. And that’s exactly what happened that day in Maine. It was a phenomenal experience—I learned so much and had a great time. I’m sure that every student there was enriched by the experience.
With such a positive introduction, I began looking into other opportunities to participate in L.L.Bean’s outdoor programs. I learned that L.L.Bean offered kayak programs near my home in Southeastern Pennsylvania. I organized a group of friends, and we took a full-moon kayak trip on Lake Nockamixon. Remarkably, even though we were hundreds of miles from L.L.Bean’s flagship location in Maine, the experience was no different! From the availability of great gear to the quality of the instruction, the local team delivered a phenomenal experience. I enjoyed it so much, I took the tour two more times!
At the same time as that third trip, I was making plans to retire from my job in corporate America. With thoughts of, “What do I want to do with myself in retirement?”, I took the opportunity to strike up a dialog with the instructors about their own Outdoor Discovery Programs journeys. Unsurprisingly, they shared their experiences generously and encouraged me to get in touch during the winter off-season.
Fast forward to today: I did follow up during that off-season, successfully made it through the selection process, and am beginning my third year as an Outdoor Discovery Programs instructor! In my own teaching, I try to model the excellent instruction that I benefitted from when I was a student; specifically, practicing patience, adjusting my approach to each student, and being a continuous learner. And, just as my instructors did, I try to engage with our guests on a personal level. Learning about people is as rewarding as helping them learn a new skill!
Being on the inside at Outdoor Discovery Programs has revealed a few things. The quality of the program is not accidental. No matter the location, the teams take their job seriously, investing in training, conducting lessons-learned sessions, and soliciting and responding to survey feedback. We actively discuss and implement enhancements to ensure participants’ safety as well as their enjoyment. Many of our participants come back to take additional courses—the ultimate testament that we are doing something right!
So, if you haven’t tried an Outdoor Discovery Programs course, I encourage you to give it a shot. Chances are your instructor will know exactly what it’s like to be in your shoes. And perhaps you’ll be inspired, just like I was, to join the team!
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