329. Can Adventure Help Young People Grow Up? The Mountain Goat Movement

What happens when young people step away from their phones, leave behind an increasingly automated world, and enter experiences that require them to be fully present? In this episode Will speaks with Greg Morrissey, founder of the Mountain Goat Movement, an adventure travel and outdoor education organization serving high school and college students. A former literature teacher, Greg explains why he left the classroom to create outdoor experiences that combine skiing, surfing, trekking, environmental learning, digital detox, and long-term mentorship.

Greg shares stories ranging from students attempting to order Uber Eats in the Adirondack backcountry to a reluctant 14-year-old hiker who eventually summited Mount Kilimanjaro. He describes how Mountain Goat Movement partners with schools, educators, explorers, and outdoor brands to help young people develop resilience, confidence, community, and a stronger sense of purpose. Although Mountain Goat Movement is not a therapy program, the conversation explores how adventure, trusted mentors, self-authorship, and time away from technology can provide something deeply therapeutic—and help young people become the authors of their own lives.

Check out the: https://www.mountaingoatmovement.com/

This podcast is supported by the White Mountain Adventure Institute (WMAI.org), where Dr. Will White helps individuals, leaders, and organizations navigate growth, change, and life transitions through coaching, consulting, and retreats.