By Outings Leader Lindsey Hildebrand, Durham
Anyone who's served in the military knows it's not only a demanding job, but a demanding lifestyle with stress that you can't leave at the office when you head home. But I could always find a sense of grounding and solitude when I spent time outdoors – and I saw a lot of the same benefits for my friends who also struggled to balance the demands of military life.
That's why I chose to be involved with the N.C. Sierra Club's Outings program. It's not just the incredible expansion the Chapter has driven in the past year to train and certify more Outings leaders. It's also because I know Outings wouldn't be possible without the Chapter's work to protect our environment – to safeguard unspoiled public lands and make sure we all have safe access to the mountains, forests and shores that make our state so amazing.
When I was on deployment back in 2019, I heard a podcast with Stacy Bare, head of the Sierra Club's Military Outdoors program from June 2012 to January 2018, who talked about his time in the outdoors and leading fellow veterans to enjoy these encounters.
I felt a lot of reflections in my own experiences with the outdoors, and I remember thinking, "Whoa, this is such a cool program and opportunity! I hope I get to be involved in that someday." So when I had an opportunity to become an Outings leader and to be a part of the Military Outdoors program, I just knew I had to do it.
I got my certification last October, when the Chapter sponsored its first Outings Leadership Retreat at Haw River State Park. The Club's "Outings A-Team" guided me and 16 other trainees from across the state through two days and nights of exercises, hikes, and more, teaching us the fundamentals not only of how to safely conduct these trips, but why the Sierra Club's conservation work is incredibly vital to their success.
We wouldn't have much to "explore and enjoy" if it weren't for the Chapter's work over more than 55 years to "protect" the places we visit. In the past year alone, the Chapter's revival of its Outings program (read about it in the annual report) was paralleled by some significant conservation victories and ongoing work to protect public lands:
- In June 2025, the Chapter and Defenders of Wildlife, represented by the Southern Environment Law Center, convinced a judge to block testing of a bird-toxic algaecide at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina.
- This April, the Chapter, SELC and our allies scored a major win for the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests when the U.S. Forest Service's flawed management plan for the forests was blocked due to our lawsuit.
- Later this spring, when the federal government refused to hold a single public hearing on plans to revoke the Roadless Rule (which would open our national forests to logging and construction), the Chapter's staff worked with sympathetic groups to organize our own town hall. Hundreds of people packed the room to send comments in protest of revoking the Rule; we're waiting for news on next steps.
All of this makes it not just possible, but especially rewarding when I can bring my fellow veterans and their families to the places the Chapter works so hard to protect. It means I've got options for adventures that are challenging as well as restorative.
In my day job as a university social worker, I've observed that our military and veteran students – with more life experience and leadership skills – feel something of a disconnect with more traditional classmates. When I got my Outings leader certification, I wanted to focus on how Sierra Club could help this demographic.
My first Military Outdoors outing was this April, a multi-day trip to western North Carolina, where we camped, hiked, and canyoneered for three days. We collaborated with local guides and nonprofits to discuss the relationship between risk management, sustainable recreation practices, and the importance of outdoor recreation for servicemembers and veterans.
At the end of this month, I'll be leading a similar group on a four-day climbing trip at Jomeokee (Pilot Mountain State Park), where we'll collaborate with Pisgah Climbing School to discuss safe and sustainable climbing practices.
This year, the Sierra Club's Outings program marks its 125th anniversary – and the Military Outdoors program is celebrating 20 years of creating opportunities for servicemembers, veterans and their families to be in community and benefit from the healing power of nature.
The Chapter plans to celebrate both by hosting another Outings leadership training retreat later this fall – and if you've ever thought about becoming a certified Sierra Club Outings leader, apply to attend! It's a great opportunity to launch that process with enthusiastic, supportive friends.
It's my hope that we can continue to grow new leaders to advocate for, support and celebrate the outdoor spaces we cherish for the people we care so deeply about.