Expect the Unexpected

"Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive." — Jamais Cascio, author and futurist

This past Saturday, after I finished up some housework, I spent some time sitting on the front porch with the dog. In a flannel shirt and jeans. Barefoot. In January. In Northern Illinois. And I'm not gonna lie—I kind of liked it. But only for the novelty. I'm probably one of the few people in a 100-mile radius who really wants it to snow and get properly cold.

It's kind of hard to believe that just a little over a month ago, in December, we had a good round of snow followed by sub-zero temperatures. It made for perfect cross-country skiing conditions for a week or so. The weatherman says not to go outside for more than 15 minutes because of dangerous wind chills? I lace up my boots and hit the trails for a long hike or a quick trip round the loop on my skis. It's as close as I get to derring-do.

I was full of excitement and anticipation for the season. I kept my skis out where they'd be easy to grab and go.

But where's all my snow now? In the hopes of tricking winter into being more wintery, I put my skis away in the basement a couple of weeks ago. But it didn't work.

It's been unseasonably warm here, and across much of the country, in the early days of 2017. (In case you're wondering, yes, I do hope that typing this might somehow jinx us into some actual winter weather.)

Is it affecting your plans and programs?

Plenty of recreational and sports facilities create programs for winter fun, from snowshoeing and sledding to downhill skiing and more. And of course, at any time of year, unexpected weather can put the kibosh on your plans. The key is to have a plan in place and adapt as needed.

For me, that means lacing up my hiking boots while casting wistful glances toward my skis. How do you adjust your plans when things go awry? Do you simply cancel programs, or do you change your approach?

Either way, here's to a February full of success for your facility and programs, even if it harbors a few surprises to keep you on your toes.

Cheers!

Emily Tipping
Editorial Director,
Recreation Management
[email protected]