Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this episode, Chelsea Broos joins me to talk about the power in teaching and learning through volunteering and exploring the great outdoors.
Chelsea was born in Edmonton and moved to Calgary just after graduating University. She worked for years in sales and marketing before deciding to stay home to raise her three kids. Although proud of her role as stay at home mom, she recently discovered the term “Family Coordinator” and feels that suits her better. She takes care of the house, although not always as well as she would like to. She volunteers at the school. She chauffeurs her three kids to their various sports. And during the last few years of Covid, she discovered two new passions: hiking and social media.
Listen in as we talk about:
- The important role of family coordinator. Chelsea shares what a family coordinator is and how valuable it is as kids are growing older.
- Purposeful work in helping – as a volunteer. As a family coordinator, Chelsea has had the privilege to volunteer for many different roles over the years.
- Teaching through hiking and perseverance. Chelsea talks about the value and connection hiking has brought her and her family, as well as the lessons they’ve all learned by experiencing it together.
- Teachers are special. Chelsea learned from her parents, who were both teachers, that it takes a special person to be a teacher.
Connect with Chelsea:
- Instagram: @myownprivatebackyardo https://www.instagram.com/myownprivatebackyardo/
- TikTok: @privatebackyardo https://www.tiktok.com/@privatebackyardo
Connect with Tiana:
- Website: https://tianafech.com
- LinkedIn: Tiana Fech https://www.linkedin.com/in/tianafech/
- Instagram: @tianafech https://www.instagram.com/tianafech/
- Facebook: @tianafech https://www.facebook.com/tianafech
- Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course https://amzn.to/3BujR21
THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF FAMILY COORDINATOR
Chelsea challenges the definition and role of stay at home mom, and debunks the traditional view of what stay at home moms do.
After working in corporate for many years, Chelsea and her husband decided as a family it was ideal for her to stay home with the kids. She has three kids, and has become their family’s coordinator. This role requires detailed organizational skills, and balancing the calendars and lives of every family member.
Chelsea the tools she uses to keep her family organized, and tips for other parents to do the same.
PURPOSEFUL WORK IN HELPING
From Special Events coordinator, to Kiss and Ride, Chelsea dives into the impact that helping and volunteering has on our kids and also our communities. While there are so many opportunities to volunteer in our lives, whether it be at our kids’ schools or for causes that are near and dear to our hearts, it brings a powerful level of support to the lives we touch.
She shares how volunteering has helped to shape her life, as well as the lives of her kids, and the valuable lessons they have learned over the years through helping others.
TEACHING THROUGH HIKING
At the beginning of the pandemic, Chelsea’s kids’ activities started to get canceled, and her and her husband decided they needed a new family activity.
They took up hiking, and completed 52 hikes in 52 weeks together! For Chelsea and her family, hiking is a time to disconnect, to be present and enjoy nature to its fullest potential. She started to share her family’s adventures on social media, and teaches other parents how to share the love of the great outdoors with their kids.
In Chelsea’s “Get Outside Thursday” posts on Instagram she features an Alberta hike that she and her family have done. Her posts include eye catching photos, the length of the hike, the elevation, and, on average, how long it takes. Chelsea also includes a WHINE and WINE component to her social media shares. She shares the “whine” meter (a.k.a. how much her kids whined on that particular hike) and her “wine” meter (the glass of wine she chose to enjoy while looking at photos after each hike).
Chelsea sees how this family tradition has taught her and her kids so much about resilience and perseverance. For families looking to get started with hiking, she recommends wearing sturdy footwear, using the AllTrails app, and packing candy!
TEACHERS ARE SPECIAL
Chelsea’s parents and grandparents were teachers and now, her sister is a teacher! She has such respect for teaching and realized growing up that being a teacher wasn’t for her. At report card time, Chelsea saw the hours that her parents would put into handwriting highly personalized report card comments for their students! She also saw how much her mom and dad deeply cared about the children in their classrooms.
Chelsea loves kids but doesn’t think that she would have the patience that is required to be a teacher. As well, she doesn’t feel like she would have the energy to work all day with other peoples’ kids and then, still have energy for her own children.
From her parents, Chelsea learned that “It takes a very special person to be a teacher.” Chelsea feels that there are people who are meant to be teachers. And – even the ones that weren’t meant to be a teacher for everybody, are a teacher for somebody. A teacher can resonate with one student and maybe not another.
LEARNING FROM HER DAD
In answer to the question “If you could sit down and have a conversation with someone that you would love to learn from, who would it be?”, Chelsea said her dad.
Chelsea’s dad passed away when she was 20 years old and she feels that missed out on a lot of his teachings. When you are young, you don’t think that your parents know anything. When you get older, you realize that your parents know everything and that they were right all along. Chelsea’s dad loved the mountains and she would have loved the opportunity to share what she has experienced with her family with him.
SHARE OR TEACH YOUR PASSION
“If you are passionate about something, you will find your audience.”
Chelsea talks about how there are lots of people who will relate to something that you say and want to hear more about it. If you are genuine and have ideas and opinions, share them with people who are interested in them.
Chelsea’s favorite teacher was her high school art teacher. He was a very talented artist who inspired students to do great art. Art was his passion. He didn’t tell you exactly what to do if you were struggling or if you made a mistake. In his class, students were motivated to learn and try new things. Chelsea learned a great deal but didn’t even feel like she was learning in his classroom.
Chelsea is passionate about hiking so she is inspired to share what she loves. She could talk about it for hours but it doesn’t feel like teaching because she is so intrinsically excited about it.
RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS
- What is something that you would love to learn about or something that you would love to learn how to do? Learn how to tie a balloon – with confidence!
- What is a place that is at the top of your travel bucket list? The East Coast of Canada
- What is a book, podcast, or TV show that you have enjoyed recently ?
- Book: Greenlight by Matthew McConaughy (audiobook)
TIMESTAMPS
1:00 Meet Chelsea
2:35 Chelsea’s Story
7:30 What Chelsea has learned from the important work of being a volunteer
13:10 Why Chelsea and her family decided to get into hiking
15:45 Chelsea’s biggest takeaways after completing 52 hikes in 52 weeks with her family
17:40 Chelsea’s “Get Outside Thursday” posts on social media
22:36 Chelsea and her family’s favourite Alberta hikes
24:45 An Alberta hike that Chelsea and her family wouldn’t do again
27:15 Advice for families new to hiking
31:35 Teaching & learning lessons from Chelsea’s parents who were both teachers
34:08 Chelsea’s favorite teacher
36:06 What Chelsea is most proud of looking back on her journey so far
38:05 Chelsea answers some rapid fire questions
47:25 Chelsea’s words of wisdom