Colin Bunge, Trail Teacher

Colin Bunge has been seeking adventures for quite some time. And he turned that passion into a career – teaching outdoor ed and running outdoor adventure programs for youth in the Western Quebec area.

“A few times a week, we’re out…on the trails and its just incredible to share these experiences,

these physical experiences with the youth in the great outdoors where they’re running around, they’re having a great time, they’re not on their phones, they’re not worried about what they look like or who they’re chatting with. They’re just digging in, to climb a hill, to hike up a waterfall, or do all kinds of different activities and they’re just having a great, great time making memories.”
 
Colin’s family shares his passion for the great outdoors and spending time on trails. They recently returned from an adventure that took them to New Zealand and Africa where they certainly tested their skills on many different types of trails.
 
Back home, Colin perseveres in instilling an appreciation for everything nature has to offer in the young people he teaches.
 
“There’s so much to be discovered about life and the cycles of life and the web of life out here and also just about yourself, about how you’re connected to other people and the other things that are living out here. It’s a great opportunity to reflect, to develop your own strength and develop your own sense of self and connection to place.”
 
A true testament to his success is the fact that both his teenage children are also hoping to pursue careers in outdoor guiding and adventure.
 
“…they love doing these activities, they’re both pursuing careers in these activities, in guiding in the outdoors and sharing the outdoors with more people, whether its camp counselling or guiding adults or youth. It’s exciting to see that and its exciting to see them pass on the love for the outdoors that they have grown into, to share that with other people…”.
 
When the passion is so great it clearly passes on from one generation to the next.

​Hear all of Colin’s reflections on the importance of trails for our communities and our youth by going to the ‘Our Trails, Our Stories’ podcast. 

Listen To Podcast