The trail really has really shaped who I am becoming as a father and educator. Formerly teaching 4th grade, I had a very limited connection to the trail other than sharing with kids how it was not yet completed. That distant and impersonal connection became very personalized when one day, my wife and I happened to drive past a num
ber of cars parked on the side of the road. After taking a closer look, we discovered the Monches trailhead in Waukesha County and vowed to come check it out soon. Within a month of that initial visit, we were members of the Alliance and just a few months later, I took the next step and started leading Tyke Hikes. Now, I lead regular hikes, will be lead a Saunters program this past summer, and am on the trail regularly with my wife and daughter. The trail has opened my eyes to new experiences with my daughter, a new perspective on life with my family, and a whole new outlook on how I will educate the children in my classroom for years to come.