The Story of Jumping Mouse
Every year at the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council’s Wilderness Therapy Symposium, a Jumping Mouse Ceremony is held to recognize an exceptional Field Guide from each participating program. Each Open Sky award recipient demonstrates outstanding commitment to the work of field guiding and represents Open Sky’s values of courage, community, and excellence.
The Jumping Mouse award is based on the Native American folk story of the Jumping Mouse, a story that has long been part of the history and lore of wilderness therapy and Open Sky. Jumping Mouse hears a calling—one that is both unusual and challenging—to journey to the Sacred Mountains. He heeds the calling and leaves his comfort zone to do something exceptional. Along his journey to the Sacred Mountains, he must give of himself to help Buffalo and Wolf on their own journeys. It’s a story of spirit and of determination; a story of trust in, and of service to, others.
Each field guide below has demonstrated this type of spirit, determination, trust, and service. Get to know Open Sky’s Jumping Mouse Award recipients and discover more about the outstanding work of our Field Team.