Although I’m a quasi-adventurous type, there are some activities that simply aren’t my thing.

GUEST POST :: Katherine W., WildPlay Ltd. Director of Network Development

I love climbing, backpacking and skiing activities that keep me attached to something of mass and stability. I also love the water and could spend endless days swimming or kayaking in lakes, rivers, or the ocean. Generally speaking, the excitement and challenge of a new outdoor experience usually outweighs my fear, which is why my various interests have resulted in some thrilling adventures. I’ve climbed the lower Dolomite Alps in Italy, navigated a classic Tyrolean traverse to cross Lost Arrow Spiral (2,000’ above the ground at Yosemite Falls), and backpacked with my family through remote areas that are home to many bears, cougars, wolves and other wildlife.

One of my wildest experiences included rather questionable trade while in Hawaii to tour an area of magnificent hidden cliffs that were off the regular tourist itinerary. Our local guides (also living and doing a variety of fishing, tourism, and other "business" quite off the map) led my group to explore a series of waterfalls where we could hop from one fall to the next. We spent the day making our way to the gorgeous pools of water below, and when it was time to head back, my side of the deal kicked in. I was handed a huge, heavy ice chest with the daily catch to swim back to our waiting boat. As I began to cross the open ocean that stretched far ahead of me, I was struck by a fearful realization that I wasn't the only being gliding through the tide. My clench on the chest of dead fish in my hands tightened, and my stomach knotted, at the thought of the sharks that live (and dine) in the water around me. Needless to say I tested my courage during that adventure, survived to tell the story, and remain a lover of water-based excursions.

On land and sea I've been quite courageous - but when it comes to "airy"-type activities, I’m not interested. Flying in an airplane is an uncomfortable problem in that my desire to avoid flight is equally intense to my desire to travel. As part of the WildPlay clan, I believe in our philosophy that overcoming self-perceived limitations can improve my ability to enjoy and succeed in many areas of my life. This is one fear I’ve tried to tackle head-on; however, after two skydiving attempts (where I landed with the pilot, instead of hurling myself out of the plane), and a begrudging paragliding flight (a result of peer pressure), my fear has remained strong. In fact, I was recently reminded just how strong my airborne discomfort is during a turbulent flight back to my old San Francisco Bay (CA) stomping grounds. The bumpy early morning flight wrecked my nerves for the rest of the day.

Does that mean I'll just get comfortable with a future of "staycations" and living only close to home? No way. I made a plan to visit a close friend who works at her family’s Vintage Aircraft Company in Sonoma. She insisted that I take a 20 minute tour to experience flying in one of their open cockpit biplanes. At first, I tried every excuse to get out of taking the flight, my latest tarmac experience still fresh in my memory. But then I stopped, and thought, “Wait a minute. I’m in the business of encouraging people to overcome their fears and here’s an opportunity for me to do the same thing!”

Still not totally convinced I could handle this experience, I insisted on understanding just what lay ahead of (and above) me. Talking to my friend, her guest services staff, and the pilots, I explained my fears and expectations. I asked what would happen if I felt sick, how I could communicate with the pilot, and other questions that were brick walls in my mind. As they provided explanations and encouragement, I realized just how similar this adventure was to what WildPlay does every day in our Parks. I could feel their confidence and hear their expertise as they talked to me - just like our Park staff help guests face their fears. It was an interesting experience to be on the other side of the conversation.

With the decision made (admittedly with a little peer pressure-induced courage), my much more eager and fearless sister-in-law and I put on our fashionable headgear and nestled into the plane. After a flight over the Sonoma Valley that took my breath away (in a positive way), I landed my open cockpit biplane adventure with a little more confidence in myself - and a lot of renewed respect for our own front line staff who spend every day helping ‘evolve the guest’.