Pool of the Winds, Mt. Hamilton, WABiography
Hi there! My name is Winston. I started Treks for Kids in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many kids were indoors, bored, and isolated. Following CDC guidelines, T4K became a way for kids to get outside, safely socialize, and learn natural science through direct experience. That remains our vision today.
I grew up camping and hiking with my younger siblings in Massachusetts and came to Portland in 2014. I was blown away by the incredible beauty of the PNW: glaciers, hot springs, old-growth rain forests, and ocean—all in one place! While studying philosophy at Portland State University, I worked as a teachers’ aide in Portland Public Schools. I got the sense (confirmed by science!) that kids are simply not getting enough time outside in the modern era. I created Treks for Kids to help change that.
We focus on three things: education, stewardship, and adventure. Through our guided day hikes and workshops, kids learn about nature by being immersed in it. I believe this achieves what an Ipad cannot—kids learn about the world on a sensory and emotional level, and they understand and appreciate it more deeply. They then learn the important role they can play as a steward—a protector—of their ecosystem: we stay prepared and mindful, we carry out our trash, we keep on the trail, we appreciate critters from a distance, we communicate respectfully with each other and other hikers. Finally, kids challenge themselves on big hikes in incredible places—and strengthen their self-confidence.
I’ve personally witnessed the amazing growth (in confidence, curiosity, social skills, etc.) of our returning hikers, and I feel so lucky to be part of this (growing) community of T4K families.
Hope to see you on the trail!
– Winston Meier, Spring, 2025
