Meet Monica Barrios | Outdoor Adventure Education Specialist

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

Hi Monica, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Breaking and avoiding the bad habits, to establish good ones- LOL Inside Out would not have lasted 30 years without that process.

Here are a few examples:

Keep “your” creative juices flowing to you:
It’s when you don’t compare yourself to others or your organization to others in the field. Even the subtlest influence you let in can steal you away from where you and/ or your organization are supposed to go.

Accept the work – Do the work:
It’s when you focus! It’s when you are present! That focus and enjoyment can slip away easily and can look like procrastination, wishing you were elsewhere, resentfully working, loss in creativity, and unfocused! This one was realized multiple times — work is always more enjoyable and creative when kept in “focus” – ha ha.

Nothing ever stops getting better!
Being open to this concept in all things is amazing and I am grateful for it. Countless times during these 30 years has a new “way” or tweak been incorporated into our programs. Entirely new ideas tested – some work, some don’t. Being open to this means new, means growth! Being Closed to this looks like, not seeing, not listening, not benefitting – resulting in not growing.

What should our readers know about your business?
Lady-powered since 1994, Inside Out is a small organization that does big things! We offer day and overnight experiential field trips for school, college, and corporate groups, all without owning our own facility. That sets us apart from many, many others in our field That very aspect about us was a game changer during the pandemic- the biggest challenge I faced since becoming sole owner and director of Inside Out in 2014.

We persevered, pivoted, got even more creative, and saw the other side. 2022 brought a new venture in selling the very games we created to get us through hosting only day programs for almost 2 years. Adventuregamestogo.com will allow organizations, parks and recreation programs, and schools anywhere to attain creative learning and adventure opportunities! We’ve only just begun, and I can’t be more excited 🙂

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So easy! The agenda would include at least 2- 3 hikes to neighboring Dupont State Forest, Pisgah National Forest, and/ or Panthertown Valley. Then a paddle in a raft and/ or ducky on a section of the French Broad River or Green River. A visit to Sierra Nevada Brewery for the majesticalness and tasty food and beer – or many other local breweries with live music and atmosphere, like Mills River Brewery, Bold Rock Cidery, or Pacca’s Place ……. so many here in the Hendersonville area. If they are a mtn biker – there are multiple options in Dupont, Pisgah, and Kanuga Park. A “maybe” would be a rock climbing experience on a local face or gym nearby. Depending on the visitor a backpack trip may be in order!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My attitude of gratitude comes from so many out there! I could write a novel………… I could write about how each mentor along the way taught me something I still hold true. I could write about how friends gave their time to play a role for Inside Out on so many levels and how memorable they all were. I could write about how clients grew with us, giving grace, accolades, and whatever we needed along the way- 2 of 15 are 30-year clients. I could write about how we do not own a “Facility” to hold our programs that are overnight and have had many along the way that kept us going as a “portable” program by their accommodations.

Being a seasonal organization, I would say the biggest supporting role of all has come from the instructors who have been/still are a part of Inside Out’s programming. Over these 30 years, it’s the positiveness, negativeness, experienced, not-so-experienced, surprising actions, never hire again, want to always keep, program directors, support staff, and volunteers that taught me TONS about being a business owner, manager, and co-worker.

I am grateful.

Website: https://adventuregamestogo.com/ https://www.insideout-inc.com/

Instagram: @insideoutwnc

Facebook: Inside Out WNC

Youtube: @AdventureGTG