Meet Joshua Berman | Educator, Wilderness Guide, Writer

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

Hi Joshua, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I think one of my biggest wins as a Colorado parent is striking the right balance between exposing my three daughters to the outdoors and letting them develop their own connection to nature—without pushing too hard. Living in Colorado, the mountains have always been a backdrop to our lives, and as a guidebook author and outdoor educator, I’ve spent countless hours on trails, often with my kids in tow. But I’ve always been careful not to force it. Instead, I tried to make being outside part of our family rhythm—whether it was setting up camp while I researched a book, going for a walk after school, or catching a sunrise on a weekend adventure.

The real success, though, is seeing them take the initiative. Just the other week, my 14-year-old asked me—without prompting—to take her and a friend on a sunrise hike, in the middle of winter! I selected Mount Sanitas, a 1300-foot power climb that was nearly too much, but the two friends (who are both athletes) had each other to share their misery, so in the end, the summit reward was worth the burn.

My goal was never to raise “outdoorsy kids,” but rather to give them the skills and experience to feel comfortable in rather than intimidated by wild places.

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.
My career—and life—has always been a bit of a scavenger hunt, being open as clues appear in my path and following them from one adventure to the next. I’ve spent decades exploring and writing about various destinations and the outdoors, whether as a guidebook author, a travel columnist for The Denver Post, or a wilderness educator helping students connect with nature and with themselves. My latest book, Moon Colorado Hiking: Best Hikes Plus Beer, Bites, and Campgrounds Nearby, is my latest project, a trail companion that pairs hikes with post-trek rewards.

At home, I love watching as my three teenage daughters form their own passions—gymnastics, music, soccer, medicine—and I get to support them, and still take them hiking and camping, to keep their curiosities alive. Watching them carve their own paths reminds me why I do what I do and inspires me to keep looking for clues.

Meanwhile, I keep finding stories. I do gear reviews and profiles for “Elevation Outdoors” magazine, and am proud to be part of a local startup magazine, “Inside Longmont”; I’ve been writing about small Longmont taco restaurants and will do a feature on the yoga community this summer.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I reckon we’d start with a sunrise hike—followed by a breakfast burrito, smothered in green chile. I can make this combo happen anywhere in the state and have a book to prove it. From there, the week could go in any direction. I can turn that sunrise hike into a multi-night backpacking trip, complete with Colorado whiskey and tunes around the campfire and possibly some hot springs. Or we could chase tacos along the Front Range. We’d also have to include some live music by the river, a hot yoga class, and some strange mountain town or campground you’ve never been to.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One organization that deserves credit for helping to shape my story is Outward Bound. Their philosophy and four pillars—Physical Fitness, Craftsmanship, Self-Reliance, and, above all, Compassion—have shaped my career, my teaching, and my approach to life.

I’ve worked for various Outward Bound schools in the United States and guided trips around the world. In my current position as the Director of Middle School Outdoor Education at Shining Mountain Waldorf School, I lead students on expeditions that challenge them physically and mentally while fostering teamwork and resilience. My years as an Outward Bound instructor—leading canoeing, backpacking, and urban expeditions—taught me that outdoor education isn’t just about learning camping skills; it’s about discovering who you are when faced with challenge. Now, I weave those lessons into my work, family, and personal life.

Website: https://joshuaberman.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilotravel/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaberman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshua.berman

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TranquiloTraveler

Other: BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/joshuabermanwriter.bsky.social

Image Credits
Personal photo (in blue hoodie at sunrise) by Chris Roberts. All others by author.