The Great Outdoors

A Passion for Adventure and Nature

For Maryah Dilbeck, owner of Born To Be Wild Adventures, starting a business that allowed her to spend time with her daughter while earning a living was key. “I brought my daughter to work from the beginning. Now that she’s six, she still joins me when she’s not at school. She helps with the signing of waivers and hands out paddles and vests. Her favorite thing to do is hand out glow sticks for moonlight kayaking.”

With a tiny emerging business-owner-in-training, Maryah added, “The greatest aspect of having my own business is to be able to be present, raise my daughter, and pass along my passion of adventure and nature.”

The World-Bearing Turtle

Legends from multiple cultures describe a cosmic turtle carrying the world on its back. I’d suggest that the closest a human can get to feeling the weight, responsibility, and power the turtle might experience is to take a baby on a backpacking adventure.

When I experienced a painful miscarriage in 2021, I went to the backcountry with a friend of mine. Trudging a canyon in silence, laughter, or intense dialogue. Weighted down with food, water, and shelter … with a fellow woman. This is exactly what I needed to heal.

Giving Wheels … and Hope

Since opening April 1, 2023, C and C Cyclery, Carmen and Casey Hines have donated bikes to those in need, particularly those in recovery/Reentry and children. In doing so, they strive to give hope and strength, as well. Carmen’s goal is to raise enough funds to not only support these groups, but to also start a nonprofit organization (501C3) to include the adaptive/disabled community in need of transportation and much needed outdoor time.

Now, Carmen and Casey are partnering with Josh Lederer, owner of Recovery Electric, and Robin DePalma, an owner of the NAZ Wranglers, for the Pay it Forward Bike Drive and Raffle.

Self-Care Tips that Don’t Break the Bank

Most women struggle with self-care because we’re often told we must put others first. But when you take care of yourself, you are inadvertently improving the lives of those you love.

Here are five easy self-care activities you can do anywhere, anytime, and cheaply.

Swish!

With the help of a generous booster and lots of enthusiasm, the Yavapai College women’s basketball program is bouncing back to prominence after an 11-year hiatus.

A Human Approach in the Age of Online

Those who practice yoga in Prescott have likely heard of or taken a class at BEND Hot Yoga. In its two studio spaces at 434 W. Goodwin Street, BEND offers a comprehensive collection of more than 45 classes per week, including Hot Yoga, Non-Heated Yoga, Yoga for Beginners, Yoga for Seniors, Aerial Yoga, Pilates, Hot HIIT, and more. Since 2012, the team at BEND has proudly provided wellness, support, and strength to the Prescott community. Team members are passionate about cultivating the highest quality, safest, and cleanest space for their diverse and dynamic schedule of classes.

A Metamorphosis for Everyone to Enjoy

The story starts last May, when I was on a hike along the Granite Creek Trail led by Michael Byrd, of Prescott Creeks. We arrived just north of the underpass at Gurley Street, which is home to the massive concrete wall. It was, to say the least, not attractive. Michael mentioned it might be nice if there was something on the wall. As an artist of over 50 years, I immediately thought of a mural.

#Goals

Cori, who graduated from BASIS Prescott in 2018, knew from the time she was an AYSO player, tagging along with her big sister’s team, that she was meant to play on a bigger pitch. That dream became reality when she signed with Cruz Azul this February.

“It was unbelievable,” Matt said of watching Cori play on TV one evening. “I came home from work last night and there on TV was my daughter playing pro soccer in one of the largest stadiums in the world. There are no words to describe the emotions.”

Matt and Tracy traveled to Mexico City in March to watch her play in person, and, Tracy said, “It was very surreal. We watched this kid growing up, playing soccer since she was very young. She’s always been very determined, very perseverant. [Watching her play professionally] was such an amazing joy. It was a mountaintop moment.”

Helping Raise an Active, Healthy Generation

The 2023 Summer Program is much more than just day long care for youth, as Clubhouses offer creative and engaging camp-oriented activities. Each themed summer week includes a wide range of games, sports, recreation, group projects, and crafts. As members explore their way through Adventure Week, they will participate in camping activities and crafts, as well as the Ultimate Journey, a program that includes activities in partnership with the National Park Service. Youth will also have a blast in themed weeks such as Sports Camp, Science Week, Arts Camp, Carnival Week, Beach Week, and so much more!

The Wonders Await You … In Arizona!

Local First Arizona’s mission is to help advance tourism in rural cities and towns. A past Arizona Office of Tourism study found Arizonans were spending a whopping $6 billion annually on tourism in southern California alone. In an effort to shift even a fraction of that money into local communities, Local First set out to make it easier for Arizonans to discover all that in-state rural communities offer as destinations in their own right. Enter WeekendZona!

WeekendZona, just one of several tools and programs Local First launched to promote rural destinations, features guided three-day excursions into rural parts of the state.

‘We Were So Grateful’

The war in Ukraine has been stirring up memories for Mai Nguyen.

The impending North Vietnamese military invasion of South Vietnam forced Mai’s family to flee to the United States in 1975 when Mai was six years old, and she’s never returned. Vietnam has been a socialist republic controlled by communists ever since.

But you won’t hear Mai lamenting her life’s path.

Reclaiming the Wild West

Amy Hale has lived in the Prescott area for more than 14 years, relocating here from Texas, where she worked big commercial cattle operations. When she moved to Prescott, her husband, Gail Steiger, said, “I don’t need you to cook for me, or clean for me, and I do my own laundry. What I need is for you to get on your horse and ride.”