Jesseca Kusher

As a child, I grew up exploring the mountains of North Carolina, the estuaries of South Carolina, and the rocky intertidal of Maine’s stark wilderness. My childhood was heavily influenced by my Montessori education from pre-kindergarten through the 7th grade, the incredible outdoor educators of Eagle’s Nest Camp, and my nature-loving parents.

From the very beginning of my time on Earth, my family instilled in me a love for our natural places and a desire to protect them. My dad introduced me to hiking and exploring the waterways from a very young age, while my mom encouraged my love of gardening and questioning absolutely everything. I am grateful to my grandparents and great Aunt Merry for inspiring me to birdwatch and learn the scientific names of the birds that visited our bird feeder from the time I could sign my name. My little brothers and I learned all about the macro invertebrates of North Carolina’s rich mountain springs, the critters of the Maine tide pools and everywhere in between.

By the time I entered high school, I was excited by the prospect of becoming an outdoor educator. Through my experiences at Eagle’s Nest Camp in North Carolina I became a stronger whitewater canoeist and backpacker. I began to push the boundaries of my community bubble by going on camping trips and adventures with my close friends throughout the Blue Ridge and low county. My time on my high school’s “Envirothon” team taught me all about silviculture, animal tracks, and the nuances of soil science — by the time I started applying to colleges, I knew I was well-equipped to lead and teach younger students in the natural world.

As I continued my journey into adulthood, I worked for Eagle’s Nest Camp as a garden intern, head cabin counselor, and wilderness instructor. During the school year I also lead trips for the Kenyon College Outdoors Club. I realized quickly that my happiest moments were those I spent helping my participants push their boundaries in the backcountry: trying new things and in turn, learning to respect themselves and the natural world.

Now, as I look to the future, I hope to protect the experiences that have made me the person I am today. I believe in the power of connecting to nature, and one day I hope to be a policy maker so I can keep the Earth safe for future generations. Additionally, I am so indebted to the outdoor leaders who have helped me to be the person I am today, and I want to pay that forward. As I look for employment following my graduation from Kenyon, I really hope to help carve out a space in the world where I can facilitate deeper connections to nature for all: not just those who were privileged enough to grow up with the sort of nature-loving family I have.