An Invitation To The Outdoors - Why the outdoors belong to everyone with Benjamin Morris of Outdoor Recreation Alliance Trails

In this episode we chat with Benjamin Morris, the Development Director at Outdoor Recreation Alliance Trails. Benjamin's love for spending time in nature was ingrained from an early age, with the great lakes and rivers of Michigan serving as his playground. Saving to buy his first kayak, he explored picturesque rivers and canals. Witnessing the revitalization of the Detroit River also instilled in him an appreciation for the importance of preserving and restoring natural spaces. During college, despite being a track runner, Benjamin often found himself drawn to camping and hiking, recognizing the therapeutic and transformative power of nature. Grad school allowed him to explore the Driftless area, study abroad in Germany, and learn from the wisdom of the Ojibwe People. After moving to Detroit, he experienced firsthand the impact of limited outdoor access. Then the opportunity to relocate to La Crosse, Wisconsin, arose, leading Benjamin to discover Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA). Never expecting to work for such an organization, he now serves as the Development Director, channeling his nonprofit leadership experience and passion for community building to propel ORA's incredible mission forward. They're building happy, healthy, and resilient communities by providing access to equitable and sustainable outdoor recreation experiences. If you've ever wondered about the importance of outdoor communities, or why you should give everyone an invitation to explore the outdoors, then this one's for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the approachable and authentic parts of outdoor recreation. Said simply - they “keep it real”. Find them online at actualoutdoors.com or on Instagram at @actualoutdoors.  Tweet us and let us know what you think of this episode! @illuminecollect Find more episodes at www.illuminecollect.com/blogs/life-in-motion-podcast Since 2017 Illumine has donated over $31,626 to outdoor nonprofits and shared over 161 stories on the Life in Motion Podcast.