Quarterly Newsletter
Guiding Girls
Wilderness Instructor Challenges Young Women to Grow
At age 7, she gleefully went off to summer camp – and returned for ten more years. Then she became a camp counselor, earning certifications (like first aid and CPR) and undergoing training (like lifeguarding and canoe instruction). She also gained experience in special education and as a recreation therapist during college, and she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in recreation management in 2001.
Now for nearly three years, Erin Johnson has coupled her love of the outdoors with her interest in therapy to work as a senior wilderness instructor at New Horizons for Young Women. “I am really driven to do what I can to help adolescent girls achieve their goals, build their self-esteem, increase their well being – essentially to improve their
quality of life,” said Erin.
 And here’s how she goes about it…
job goals
“To do what I can do and learn what I can learn every day,” describes Erin’s outlook on her job. She also listed remaining flexible and contributing to the program as important goals.
daily goals
Though she sets out to accomplish certain things every day – safely and productively – Erin doesn’t worry if everything doesn’t get done.
What she does worry about are the girls under her care. “I want to be tuned in to their emotional growth. Whether I’m listening to a girl in tears or a girl bubbling over with enthusiasm, I hope that I can help them get where they’re trying to go – to reach some kind of an epiphany.”
understanding
At bed check, Erin asks each girl to rate her day on a scale of 1-10.
She remembers the time a young woman who usually lagged behind her fellow hikers instead stepped up to lead the way, smiling and engaging with others along the trail. Erin was pleased. She thought the girl was having an “amazing day.” But later the girl rated the day a 4. And Erin wondered, “Why?” Erin learned quickly that to really understand a girl she had to look beneath the surface.
creativity
“I wish I were somewhere else,” girls sometimes say when they’re out on a trip. Erin doesn’t cringe – at least not visibly – when they complain. Instead, she varies the routine. She hopes to teach them that simple things – like being in the Maine woods – can be “super fun.” So she rafts up four canoes and the gang floats downriver as a group. Or she ties a tarp to the front of a sled and sails across a frozen lake. And since no part of the gliding sled can go un(wo) manned, she calls on the young women to hold up the mast and the sail, work the paddles and rudders, and navigate.
Suddenly, they’re a team!
From Your Letters
Paula, our daughter Laura’s therapist, was amazing. She worked with us every week, guided us about issues we should address, and followed up with us, always showing genuine concern. She taught us ways to change our parenting style, particularly our tendency to leap to Laura’s rescue. Thanks to Paula, our family is back on the right track – on the road to healing. It’s nothing short of a miracle.
— Lily P.
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| Winter 2007
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