From Camper to Coordinator to GA Administration: Elevating Outdoor Education

On a cool summer night at Tripp Lake Camp, after a long day of hiking and cooking over a fire, the smell of smoke mixed with the day’s sweat and sunscreen. Most of the staff drifted into their own conversations. As a Rocks, Ropes, and Outdoor Living Instructor, Jaydon Gansen was wrapping up the last tasks when a small group of 14-year-olds approached him, wide-eyed and with a simple request: Would he play “Friends trivia” to fill out their team? It wasn’t a request many staff members were eager to accept, but Gansen simply said "yes."

Two years later, one of those campers told him that moment meant everything. It was the choice to sit, laugh, and play with them rather than join the staff circle. “That story reminded me that small actions can have a huge impact,” Gansen says. “I want people I work with to know I care. Not just in the big ways, but in the little ones, too.”

Today, that philosophy guides every aspect of his work as an outdoor educator, trip leader, and graduate assistant in UNI’s Recreation, Tourism, and Nonprofit Leadership (RTNL) MA program.

A passion for teaching skills and watching students grow

Gansen’s love for outdoor education began with skill instruction. What excites him most isn’t standing atop a rock wall or coordinating a complex trip. It’s teaching someone a new skill and watching their confidence grow.

“I love teaching the RTNL activity classes because students often start with no experience,” he says. “By the end, you see their growth, not just in skill but in their appreciation for the experience.”

As a teaching assistant, he has taught rock climbing and winter skills, helping groups of 15-20 students master both technical skills and the teamwork needed in outdoor settings. For Gansen, those moments--when a nervous beginner becomes a capable participant--are the heart of outdoor education.

Five years of camp leadership and growth

The graduate assistant’s professional path began in 2021 at Tripp Lake Camp in Poland, Maine, where he joined the Rocks, Ropes, and Outdoor Living program as an instructor. He worked with girls ages 6 to 16, teaching climbing, ropes and camping skills, and quickly demonstrated talent for mentoring youth and facilitating safe, engaging challenges.

Within two summers, he was promoted to department head, overseeing staff training, program operations and equipment and supplies. He will return to camp for his sixth summer in 2026, a testament to his commitment to youth development and outdoor learning.

Building leaders at UNI: From trip coordinator to graduate assistant

Back on UNI’s campus, Gansen began coordinating outdoor trips in Fall 2021. Leading college students on adventures that demanded technical competence and strong interpersonal leadership, he learned that effective outdoor education requires more than skill; it requires presence, empathy and thoughtful guidance.

During his senior year, he was invited to continue as a graduate assistant with UNI’s Outdoor Adventures program while pursuing his RTNL master's. In this dual role, he balances teaching, program administration and mentorship, shaping the student experience and the next generation of outdoor leaders. His graduate research examines how trip leaders respond to ill-structured problems, situations with no clear right answer. For Gansen, this blend of scholarship and practice has affirmed his goal of building high-quality outdoor programs that support youth and young adult learners.

According to Kathy Scholl, RTNL professor and OA program overseer, “Jaydon and the other TAs, past and present, are a major reason Outdoor Adventures is successful. His decision-making, problem-solving and ability to read group dynamics make him an exceptional outdoor educator.”

As a second-year GA, Jaydon demonstrates advanced leadership and independence. He organizes coordinator training trips, mentors first-year TAs, and leads outdoor trips ranging from weekend excursions in Wisconsin to a multi-day rock-climbing expedition in Kentucky. He also teaches a 1-credit rock-climbing course that helps students develop technical skills while reinforcing leadership and safety practices.

Balancing teaching, trip facilitation, and program administration requires strong time management, adaptability and clear communication. Jaydon consistently delivers high-quality work in budgeting, logistics and curriculum development. “I’ve always loved instructing and leading trips,” he says. “But this role showed me how much work happens behind the scenes to build a strong program. It’s made me a better leader.” 

Scholl adds: “Jaydon’s leadership fosters trust and growth. His presence strengthens not only the coordinators he supervises but also the entire Outdoor Adventures program.”

A leader who makes others better

Whether teaching belay skills, observing student morale on a trail or helping new staff find their footing, Gansen’s leadership is defined by presence, encouragement, and intentional care. He recognizes potential in people, campers, students, and peers, and helps them develop not only outdoor skills but also transferable life skills. He is the kind of leader who stays after class, volunteers to help a nervous climber, or plays trivia with campers who need an adult who listens. Those small moments add up.

Looking ahead: A career built on connection and outdoor learning

Jaydon’s long-term goals center on outdoor education, youth development and leadership training. He hopes to continue building programs that help people feel seen, supported and challenged to grow, as he has for so many at UNI and Tripp Lake.

From camper circles to coordinator meetings to graduate-level administration, Jaydon Gansen continues to elevate outdoor education by leading with empathy, skill and genuine human connection.