We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
LifeWays is an outdoor therapeutic mentorship company that serves students ages 14-18 and 19-26. Within the wellness and outdoor industries there are very few companies that are able to support quality and impactful relationships with students in a virtual or in-person setting, while also teaching them the necessary wilderness skills to go outside safely. There are the NOLS, Outward Bounds, and AMGA outdoor schools teaching wilderness and technical guiding skills, and then, there are the wilderness therapy programs operating as in-patient treatment centers in the desert and the mountains for students in crisis. But there are very few companies supporting students’ social-emotional development, preventatively, while also getting them outside. This is LifeWays’ niche market. We are crafting a culture that supports the development of the whole person in direct relationship with this planet. We are your community to foster vital connections and train in heart-centered skills to propel you forward with confidence and grace.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve worked with youth and adults in an outdoor and mental health capacity for the last 10 years. This started in the northern reaches of Spain, then the Lakes Region of Patagonia, and back across the lower 48 before settling in Durango, CO in 2018. I’m also currently a Master’s of Social Work student at CSU. I’ve committed my life to the intersection of mental health/wellness, wilderness, and education. I truly believe that this intersection is the most efficacious and simplest way to support all people, while deconstructing parts of ourselves and our culture that are toxic and unjust, and that get in the way of our own healing process.

Trusting this intuition has been lonely, challenging, and demanding. However, I believe in the awakening capacity of humanity and have been a witness to transformative change within hundreds of students and myself. The inspiration to follow this intuitive intersection comes from my relationship with students of all ages. The Freirean dialectic of student as teacher, teacher as student, is at the heart of why the LifeWays model works. We are each an expert of our own experience and as a company we simply wish to create a space for empowerment and belonging while in direct contact with the land. We know that these experiences can change someone’s life and can transform communities. This is what it means to “find you path.” Practice walking this path with a LifeWays professional that is dedicated to you and your process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Durango, the best way to visit is to spend time outside. Durango is a beautiful, secluded nook where the deserts of the Colorado Plateau meet the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The best days in Durango are the ones where you can go ski in the mountains, and raft the river in the afternoon. Or head to Dry Fork for a single-track ride. Or go climb at East Animas for a long, sunny afternoon with an expansive view of town and the valley. Any friend of mine who visits will undoubtedly share a meal at the Himalayan Kitchen, and will have a Ska Brewing beer of choice. But again, this place is about community, time outside, and choosing your own adventure. Any time of year, there’s something to celebrate outside with lovely people. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a Desert Child show at the ACT for a night cap, hip-wiggling’, and rockin’ dance party.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this shoutout to all my friends, family, and community members that have support this vision to develop the LifeWays program over the last 10 years. More concretely, I would not be taking this leap of faith without the support of Jason St. Mary, and Alyssa Lenhart, my bosses and supervisors at La Plata Youth Services. Their financial and programmatic support allows LifeWays to provide 15 La Plata County students with six months of one-on-one weekly mentorship, a 5-night, 6-day backcountry immersion course, and backcountry gear, for free. These non-profit partnerships are at the heart of the LifeWays model and our service to the students and families of La Plata County are paramount. Thank you Jason and Alyssa for your support and trust in this project.

Website: www.lifewayscommunity.com

Image Credits
Climbing photo credit: Brian Phelps. Rest are taken or created by me, Christopher Brown

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