SFP Editor: What inspired you to become involved in Sierra Club Inner City Outings program (ICO)?
Thaddeus: My inspiration for getting involved with ICO was my desire to get involved at the local level. I started volunteering with ICO right after I returned from a summer spent in Tanzania volunteering with a rural development program through Volunteer Africa. My trip showed me what a difference a group of dedicated volunteers could make in a community, and that is really what ICO is all about. Like many of ICO's volunteers, I got involved through a friend. Scott Johnson, the current New Volunteer Coordinator, and I went to Colgate together, and when he told me about the program, I thought it was a perfect way of combining things I love: spending time outdoors and volunteering.

SFP Editor: How did you get involved in ICO?
Thaddeus: I saw a flyer at an REI which looked like a great fit since I was looking for a way to help at risk youth burn off some of their pent up energy while participating on great outdoor trips.

SFP Editor: Do you have a memorable trip which highlights your experience with the organization?
Thaddeus: I'm not sure I could single out a single trip because each trip has its own highlights that make it memorable. Sometimes it's watching the children react to their surroundings; other times it's making a real connection with one of the children that makes the trip enjoyable. ICO is an activity that provides a tremendous amount of instant gratification for its volunteers. The affection and joy the children exhibit on the trips is immediate and rewarding. What are the biggest challenges planning outdoor outings for the kids? There is a lot of hard work and planning that goes into each trip by our leaders, but the rewards of the trip make the time spent all worthwhile.

SFP Editor: Do you have a favorite place in the DC area to take kids from Beacon House?
Thaddeus: My personal favorite is the Billy Goat Trail, and I like it for a couple of reasons. First, it is a fun trail to hike: there are good climbing rocks, amazing views of the Potomac (which, on good day, is full of kayakers and rock climbers), and the Great Falls which make for an exciting day of hiking. Second, the location is easy to get to. It shows the children that nature and wilderness are just around the corner -- not something that is only available to them when the ICO volunteers show up.

SFP Editor: What are your goals this year with ICO?
Thaddeus: My goals are (1) to recruit new volunteers who will be ICO's future leaders and (2) to increase fundraising. Washington DC is a transient city, which means we routinely lose some of our most dedicated volunteers and leaders; but it also means that there is a new group of potential volunteers moving to town all the time. This requires us to be diligent about publicizing ICO and letting folks know about ICO and get them out on the trails with us. The reality is that once volunteers give ICO a try, they typically keep coming back. Plus, more volunteers mean we can bring more children on the trips. In addition, I hope to increase fundraising in order to take the financial burden off our volunteers. Ideally, we would ask for nothing more than our volunteers' time and energy, and fundraising activities could be led by people with an interest in development. We have been hosting happy hours around town to help raise awareness about ICO and raise money, and several new volunteers have come forward with an interest in helping us fundraise. The culmination of our efforts is a Hike-a-thon in October.

SFP Editor: What tips do you have for folks interested in leading ICO volunteer activities?
Thaddeus: If you have an interest in coming out on one of hikes, just do it! If you have volunteered several times and are looking to make a larger commitment by taking on a leadership role, then let the group leaders know. ICO thrives on individuals taking the initiative. And if people want to get involved with the group but don't have a real interest in going hiking or camping, then there are many other ways we could use your help. We always need help writing grants, hosting social events (like happy hours and fundraisers), and getting our message out to the general public.

SFP Editor: What brought you to the DC area?
Thaddeus: A girl. The honest reason I moved to DC was for a girl, whom I will be marrying next month. But in the 5 years I've been here, I've grown to really love the city.

SFP Editor: What types of outdoor activities do you do outside of ICO?
Thaddeus: Camping and triathlons are my main two activities. I've always loved packing up the car and spending a weekend camping to recharge the mind and body, to get away from the city, and to let myself get back in rhythm. I started doing triathlons a few years back and have really enjoyed them. They are a great way to get active and spend some time outdoors. They have also been a great way to see a lot of the state parks in the area. Normally I combine the two activities and go camping the weekend of the triathlon.