“Walking the Trail Before Them: The Power of Recon and the Solo Educator’s Journey”

There’s something profound about walking the path before your students do. Not just to check the trail markers or count the kilometers — though those things matter — but to feel the wind they’ll feel, see the vistas they’ll see, and imagine them, wide-eyed and learning, in the wild spaces ahead.

I just got back from a solo recon trip on the West Coast. And as I moved along the coastline and into the forested trails, I wasn’t just hiking — I was envisioning. Every step carried a question: What will my students think when they round this bend? What challenge will they meet here? How will this moment change them?

Recon — short for reconnaissance — sounds tactical, and in many ways it is. As outdoor educators, we need to be prepared. Safety, logistics, route conditions — those are our baseline. But the true power of recon is emotional. It’s spiritual. It’s deeply personal.

To walk a trail alone as an educator is to embrace solitude with purpose. It’s to carry a whole class in your imagination and to test not just the terrain, but the potential. You’re not just scouting paths — you’re scouting possibilities.

I stopped often, not just to take notes, but to listen. To notice the wind in the trees. To think about how I might turn a moment of silence here into a reflective sit-spot. Or how that muddy incline might be the exact challenge that helps a nervous student discover their strength. I imagined shared stories around a driftwood fire, or the sound of boots squelching in rhythm on a misty morning, laughter trailing behind.

Going solo isn’t about being alone — it’s about being present. It’s about clearing the noise and reconnecting with why we do this work. Out there, I felt both small and steady. I remembered that this job isn’t just about planning a trip — it’s about preparing hearts and minds for transformation.

Educators are trailblazers in more ways than one. We scout ahead so our students can have the chance to explore with wonder. We get rained on so they can have sunlit moments. We carry weight so they can carry joy.

This recon was more than a preview. It was a promise — that I’ll walk before them so they can walk with confidence. That I’ll dream of their awe before they’ve even arrived. That this journey, though first solo, will soon be shared.

So here’s to the power of recon. To all the solo hikes with a pack full of dreams. To envisioning the trail ahead, not just with eyes — but with heart.

Quick Reflection: Solo Recon as an Educator

• What did I learn about myself while walking this trail alone?

• Where did I imagine my students growing, laughing, or struggling?

• What emotions did the landscape stir — and how might my students feel them too?

• What will I intentionally bring back from this recon — beyond logistics?

• How did this solo time reconnect me to the why behind my teaching?