Derek Branstrom originally hails from the Chicago area. After college, he moved to Denver and began his teaching career in Jefferson County Public Schools, teaching math and physical education for 19 years. During the summer, Derek instructed for Outward Bound for eight sessions and then with SROM with an emphasis in backpacking, climbing, and mountaineering. Derek received his master's in sport administration from the University of Northern Colorado. He has been teaching wilderness first aid for NOLS Wilderness Medicine since 2008. He has been the director of the Outdoor Leadership program since 2015. Branstrom lobbied to add a major in Outdoor Leadership at CCU, which came to fruition in the fall of 2017. He has taken students all across the world from trekking Kilimanjaro to backpacking in the Grand Canyon to rock climbing the granite cliffs of Vedauwoo. He is also a Wilderness First Responder through NOLS, a Leave No Trace Master Educator, Avalanche Level 2 trained with AIARE, an American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Single Pitch Instructor and has completed the AMGA rock guide course.
In this episode, Derek and I talk about the importance of solitude, experiential learning, and how I almost died on a trip with Derek?? Listen in to find out more.
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