Danny Quinlan

Q: Why do you work in wilderness therapy?
A: I work in wilderness therapy because of the simple pleasures of living and working in the outdoors; watching the sunset every night, sleeping under the stars and watching wildlife. But more than that, I do this work so that I can be a part of the healing process that I believe our world needs right now.

Q: What do you believe our students need?
A: I believe our students need a safe space to explore themselves and their emotions. They also need to be challenged so that they can identify and become comfortable with their personal strengths and limitations.

Q: Why do you think the wilderness works?
A: Wilderness works because it’s real. The beauty is real, but so are the cold and the heat, the wind and the rain. It inspires humans to wake up out of their comforts and accept the reality of the time and place. It can be stubborn and difficult, so it engenders patience and provides many rewarding experiences.

Q: What are your unique gifts, experiences that help our students?
A: My personal gifts include a wealth of knowledge about the course area and its natural and cultural history, a deep appreciation for the spiritual practices, enduring patience, and the ability to make music anytime, anywhere.

Q: What do you do for fun?
A: I like to hike, snowshoe, backpack, make and drink tea, play guitar, listen to music, read books about anthropology, religion, and linguistics, write poems, and have really great adventures.

Q: Who has been your greatest inspiration, and why?
A: Overall my greatest inspiration has been my maternal grandfather. He taught me to love the mountains and the desert, to pursue knowledge and learn as much as I can while retaining a sense of humility, and, most importantly, to have the courage to be the kind of person I want to be.

Q: What is a defining moment in your life that has led you to where you are today?
A: At the age of 15 I went through my first wilderness solo experience. I was on an Outward Bound course, rafting the Labyrinth Canyon section of the Green River in Utah. My solo was 48 hours long and I had a great site up in a tiny slot canyon. This experience solidified within me a yearning for adventure, for experiencing the beauty of nature, and for helping out my fellow human beings.

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