Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Tyler.
Hi Andrew, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about being in nature. I run ultra marathons, ski, rock climb, camp, and have hiked the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. I have been working with kids as a drum instructor for 17 years, and about 8 years ago, a student’s mom asked me if I could bring their son out for a hike. I did, and the student absolutely loved going out for an adventure on our local trails. I realized that this could be a great opportunity to get more kids away from screens and having fun doing a healthy activity! Since then, many kids have come out with us to enjoy the views, learn about plants and wildlife in the area, and get a fun work out in! The first kid who came out with us has become incredibly passionate about hiking and trail running and has climbed many peaks in the area, including Mt Baldy and San Jacinto Peak, and even ran a 50k trail race at age 15 last year! He’s 16 now and has been taking other friends out on big hikes around LA!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Since this was a side gig, along with being a drum instructor, it’s been low-stress for me. I truly love doing it and want it to grow, but I’m okay with slow growth.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m most proud of being able to share what I’m truly passionate about with others. I’m able to inspire kids to have a healthy life and achieve goals, even small, that can help build confidence.
At Trail Kidz, we mostly lead hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains. We go over trail etiquette to make sure everyone is respectful to the nature surrounding us and others who might be sharing the trail. There are lots of options for types of trails we do so we start of with easy ones and share fun facts about the plants and wildlife around us. We talk about more challenging hikes with more rewarding views and all of the kids want to work their way up to accomplishing bigger goals! It feels great to get them motivated to chase bigger goals that leave them feeling accomplished and confident!
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One thing I’ve learned is the important of adaptability. Leading hikes in nature can present various challenges in regards to weather and trail conditions, so being able to adapt to each situation and keep it fun has been critical.
Pricing:
- One-on-one Sessions are $70 per hour
- Group Sessions are $35/person per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: Trailkidzsocal.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/trailkidz
- Facebook: Facebook.com/trailkidz
