Alicia Heyburn

Alicia's work is centered on building respectful, reciprocal relationships between people and the outdoors for personal health, ecological awareness and thriving communities. She is the Executive Director of Teens to Trails, helping middle and high schools offer growth-oriented outdoor experiences to Maine youth and serves on the board of the Maine Island Trail Association.

On a fall trip to Maine’s Bold Coast, Alicia spent a total of $4.68 (on superfluous snacks) for 3 nights under the stars and 4 days of spectacular outdoor adventure. Then she was shocked to realize the original cost of the well-worn gear on her body and in her backpack was roughly $2000. Her outing no longer seemed so inexpensive, and she committed to improving access to durable gear so that more people can feel safe, prepared and comfortable to undertake their own transformative outdoor experiences.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

"If once you have slept on an island, You'll never be quite the same..." excerpted from a poem by Rachel Lyman Field