By Abigail Kim

Today we live in a world in which smartphones, screens, and social media take up the majority of what we do in a day. When coupled with pressures from school, students may often feel burdened. In light of this, the Outdoor Stoics aim to help students find clarity, connection, and purpose in a somewhat overwhelming world. Founded by co-presidents and juniors Julie Dupont and Ian Chen, the club focuses on hiking and health as well as helping students rediscover the importance of immersing themselves in nature.

In school, members participate in activities such as trivia games centered around topics such as hiking, health, philosophy, and Stoicism. They learn about different local hiking trails and discuss how to safely tackle the different terrains that they may encounter, to learn practical skills that will prepare them for any outdoor adventure. The club also creates opportunities for students to go on group hikes, empowering students to delve into the joys that come with hiking.
Dupont was inspired to create the club after a life-changing experience hiking in Japan, particularly across the famous Mount Fuji.

“I felt on top of the world and authentic: no worries, no anxiety over school, no phone, no distractions,” Dupont said. “It was a hard climb, over 14 hours of steep incline and my muscles burned the entire time. I felt like giving up, but at the same time, I’ve never felt more alive.”
Outdoor Stoics was founded upon their goal of showing others the benefits of detaching ourselves from our devices in order to gain skills such as self-control, self-confidence, and self-discipline. They believe that by spending time in nature, students will be able to achieve a sense of fulfillment that they cannot get from screens.

“After climbing Mt Fuji, I realized that spending time in nature was what I and others like me had been missing in my life and could help us better handle both academic and personal stress, spend quality time with friends and family, and see more beautiful things that the world has to offer,” Dupont said.

“I realized that the club should talk about a wide range of topics including things like, overall wellbeing, the concept of Stoicism, and the connection between mental and physical health,” Chen said.

In addition to promoting physical and mental health, Outdoor Stoics also includes elements of philosophy into their club activities. Named after Stoicism, they too stress the importance of maintaining a connection to the natural world whilst also nurturing virtues such as wisdom, courage, and self-control.

“The Stoic philosophy emphasizes reconnecting with nature,” Dupont said. “Spending time outside away from distractions allows you to think without as much external influence and noise. Often, this makes you realize how trivial some worries are and look at the bigger picture, helping you to handle stress, make better decisions in life, and be a more positive influence to those around you. Stoics believe that embracing the natural world will cultivate wisdom, courage, justice, and moderation.”

Outdoor Stoics is an amazing way students can connect with others, forming new relationships and come up with ways to think outside of the box. The goal of the Outdoor Stoics is to bring students together through health and wellness.

“I think this club is a really good opportunity for Granada students to meet new friends and also to get active,” Chen said. “It can bring super inspiring insights to people and I think it’s just a great opportunity to learn a lot about tons of different topics that can truly improve your life.”

Outdoor Stoics is more than just a hiking club. It provides students with the opportunity to set all distractions aside and focus on the here and now, discovering not only beauty that nature has to offer, but also how to become the best version of themselves. Through hikes, the creation of new friendships, and the sharing of philosophy, the Outdoor Stoics continues to inspire its members to see the world through a different lens.