Life & Work with Christopher Brown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Brown. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Chris has been dedicated to the intersection of mental health, outdoor education, and mindfulness for the last 10 years. This “triangle” of experience is at the core of the LifeWays project. Chris has lived, traveled, and guided across four continents.

He spent two formative years in central Patagonia, guiding and working for Patagonia Frontiers as he “cut his teeth” in the outdoor industry. Since then, he has worked for The Mountain Institute, Camp Thunderbird, and Open Sky Wilderness Therapy. He has spent over 1500 professional nights in a tent, under a tarp, or sleeping under the stars. He has worked with students in wilderness environments ages 8-85 but feels truly called to work with young people transitioning into adulthood.

Chris embodies the non-linear, often circular nature of a life path. He founded LifeWays because he believes young people should have greater access to therapeutic skills, and supportive adult relationships outside of the family unit, and learn how to integrate these experiences with movement, mindfulness, and the ambivalence and wonder of the natural world. Chris believes that with a deep connection to the wilderness and outdoor spaces, young people have the potential to embody a resilience, presence, and skill set that will benefit them regardless of what they choose to do with their lives.

Chris would not be here if it weren’t for the privilege of his upbringing and the opportunities to experience the full spectrum of human emotion while outdoors. Regardless of where you may be on your journey, know that Chris will welcome you to embrace your strengths, struggles, and uncertainties. Chris is dedicated to creating and maintaining meaningful relationships with all students regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, or religion. Chris is also a Master’s of Social Work student at Colorado State University, working towards clinical licensure in Colorado.

Chris also holds his Single Pitch Instructor certification from the American Mountain Guides Association, holds his AIRE Avalanche Rec 2 certification, and has been a registered Wilderness First Responder since 2014. Chris hopes that LifeWays students embrace the absurdity, struggle, and profound beauty of this life as we all work together to find our path!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Our road has most certainly been up and down. We are trying to create an industry that fully supports wellness, and healing while improving outdoor access. This niche is challenging to surmount. Many people don’t know who we are, don’t know the concept of our program and its capacity, and it’s been a challenge to help people understand our story.

We are dedicated to sharing our truth with the world and want to live as authentically and as honestly as possible. Yet navigating the challenges of our neoliberal world forces us to take significant financial risks to put us in a possible to live out these values.

Our approach has been to partner with a variety of non-profits and school districts in the Four Corners area, and we hope that these efforts will also launch our work into more diverse and far-reaching communities across the state and beyond.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My day job is as the Social-Emotional Programs Coordinator at La Plata Youth Services. I work as a therapist in three schools across the Durango School District and I also support the implementation and administrative tasks of running a small non-profit. I write grants, and contracts, and support healthy professional relationships across La Plata County.

Additionally, I’m a Master’s of Social Work student at Colorado State University, seeking clinical licensure. I’m excited to add some letters to my name to support the work that I do at LPYS and with LifeWays.

And ultimately, I work as the Founder/Director and Lead Guide for LifeWays. I work with a variety of students and families and also support two employees and guides who run the company with me. This LifeWays project is the intersection of many of my passions and I’m excited to be on this journey with my peers, Deer, and Brian.

What makes you happy?
I love spending time outside with people that I love. Community, connection, and movement are all ingredients for happiness. I also love cooking and making meals with my community and partner of 5 years.

I enjoy diving into conversations with people around a fire or over the dinner table. I believe most of my happiness comes from a place of presence and connection to those that I’m with, whether that be the land, creatures, or people.

Pricing:

• Primal Package $800
• Visionary Package $1050
• Mentorship Session $75 per Hour
• Custom Courses = Custom Cost!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lifewayscommunity.com
• Instagram: @LifeWaysCommunity

Image Credits
Felipe Tapia, @Nordenflycht, Chris Brown, Brian Phelps, and Brayden Ferguson