“The faster we go, the less time we have to enjoy where we are,” says Jacob Rothrock, of Coeur d’Alene, whose favorite watersports are paddling and sail-boating. His wisdom applies to life as much as lake recreation. Which is why, as Outdoor Pursuits program coordinator for North Idaho College (NIC), he aims to help students feel better connected to place, whether it’s a local lake or mountain.
For Outdoor Pursuits, he teaches self-sufficiency skills like bike maintenance and outdoor cooking through hands-on workshops and organized overnight trips. For NIC’s physical education department and Workforce Training Center, he teaches sailing, stand up paddle-boarding, and kayaking classes. “I like my job because students are energetic to learn something new, meet new people, and try new experiences,” he says, whether it’s lake kayaking or sailing on a Hobie-Cat. “I’m amazed when people who’ve lived here a long time have never been on the lake.”
[Feature photo: Jacob Rothrock by Amy S. McCaffree]
