In 2020, I was presented with a unique opportunity to serve as a mentor and instructor with the Georgia Mountains Children’s Forest Network. Their Next Generation Forest Ambassador (NGFA) program — in which the ATC is a partner — takes middle school students, ages 14 to 16, to the North Georgia Mountains. When I accepted the role, I was told that students would learn basic forestry, wilderness skills, and issues related to equity and access to the outdoors. In addition, they would be able to develop their own stewardship projects, designed with their neighborhoods, schools, and communities in mind. I was excited but had absolutely no idea how it would all take place since Covid-19 was raging across the world.

We chipped away at logistics for months and finally came up with a plan for a virtual program. Student engagement was high even without an in-person format. With that glimmer of hope, we pressed on, unsure of what was ahead. Despite heavy planning and a strong team, the pandemic prevented us from running NGFA in 2021. Amid the disappointment, we remained optimistic and moved ahead with high expectations for the following year.

As 2022 rolled around, we slowly began to see the possibility of having an in-person experience again. This generated tons of excitement in the planning phase. Zoom meeting after Zoom meeting, we discussed the agenda, the venue, and — of course — the monumental task of ensuring the health and safety of each forest ambassador attending the program. With all the precautions in place, we proceeded to plan a three-day program at Amicalola Falls State Park, which included the legendary trek to Hike Inn, a backcountry lodge that serves as the gateway to the Appalachian Trail.

A Love of the Outdoors

I’ve been extremely blessed to be able to share my passion for the outdoors with my family and to see them develop their own connections. My wife is a hiker and backyard birdwatcher who is especially fond of cardinals that visit our home bird feeders. My youngest daughter is a curious soul with a tendency to collect and keep things that she encounters during our hikes for “further analysis” later. My eldest, Mia, was the first of our kids to be baptized in the ways of outdoorsy living. She spent her formative years tagging along as I planned and led hikes, kayaking trips, campouts, and traveled with students locally and nationally.

One day, after yet another meeting, I noticed Mia hovering nearby. It wasn’t a complete surprise that she was standing there or even listening, but it was what she said that blew me away: “Daddy, can I come with you to the mountains? I think it would be fun.” I was shocked.

Several months before, while hiking Kennesaw Mountain, she unfortunately had a severe reaction to chigger bites that put a real damper on our family adventures. Afterward, no matter how much I tried to get her outside for a hike, she wouldn’t even consider it. Yet there she was, asking to go! I agreed faster than a baby’s hand could grab food. I let my NGFA colleagues know that she signed up to join the program and how thrilled I was. But deep down, I was nervous that she would change her mind.

Reconnecting with the Outdoors

Months went by, and the closer we got to taking the trip, the more she talked about it. On the drive up to Amicalola, she sat quietly looking out the window, gazing at the mountains. When we arrived, she checked in, grabbed her tent, and headed up to camp with her tentmate. As the program unfolded, the blur of activities made the days go by very quickly. I checked in on her periodically, but gave her space to make new friends outside of her comfort zone.

In the blink of an eye, we were all at the closing ceremony, sitting in a circle and sharing the words that described our amazing experience together. As I listened to Mia when it was her turn, all I could think about was the fact that she hiked a total of 10 miles over the course of the trip. Despite our past family adventures, it was something she had never done before. To me, it felt like she was getting a new start — a reboot of her experience in the outdoors.

It was all laughs and upbeat music on the way back home, and shared memories of our time in the mountains rang out for days. She completed her stewardship project: a Google Earth virtual map of the A.T. and presented a physical version of it at her school. I was overjoyed!

It was an overwhelming yes from Mia for returning to the NGFA program in 2023. This time she’d participate as a Forest Ambassador alumnus. I watched her help new ambassadors set up tents and give feedback on their stewardship projects. She motivated the tired young newbies during the hikes on the Trail, co-led campfire activities, and expanded her network of friends who were passionate about solving environmental issues.

Our nature outings as a family became more consistent as well. Whenever we had the opportunity, we would find a section of the A.T. to hike. One of our summer highlights was a trip to Damascus, Virginia, to bike the Virginia Creeper Trail. The day before our ride, we walked through the city, enjoyed all of the Appalachian Trail-related artwork, and chuckled at a church sign that read, “We love hikers.”

Now, as a third-year forest ambassador, Mia is an absolute powerhouse. This past summer, she returned as a seasoned veteran, with experience managing her own stewardship projects and ideas galore. When she was interviewed for an article about her experience with the A.T. and the NGFA program, she said, ”I really cherish the ATC’s mission. I want everyone to see how beautiful the Earth can be.” She relaunched the Earth Tomorrow environmental club at her high school, became president of the club, and organized several hiking events for the student body. One of her stewardship projects was recently published on social media by a recognized environmental organization, and she has a thriving group of colleagues that support her efforts.

To say that I am a proud dad is an understatement. Her decision to not let a single experience define her journey has stuck with me over the last few years. It is one of the many things that inspire me in my professional life and as I continue to work with other students. Mia’s resilience and tenacity gave her the courage to confidently find her place again, in nature.

Stefan Moss is a Bahamian American environmental scientist and educator. He launched The Moss Group as a platform for youth mentorship, environmental education, and stewardship. Moss also consults with public and private organizations, such as PBS, the U.S. Forest Service, the Greening Youth Foundation, and the ATC.