I am Joy Hauser, the founder and director of Pathfinder Experiential Learning. The vision for creating an experiential learning company grew out of my work at various outdoor and environmental education centers. My career began in teaching and gradually evolved into facilitating experiential programs for corporate groups, where I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of hands-on learning across all ages.

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Early in my career, I doubted whether I was capable of teaching and facilitating in an environmental education setting. With the encouragement and support of my director and colleagues, I made it through that first spring season—and discovered not only that I could do the work, but that I truly loved it. I was energized by the constant opportunity to learn, the uniqueness of each day, and the meaningful connections formed through experiential education.

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Through these experiences, I came to a powerful realization: this is exactly what I needed when I was a child. That realization is what brought me back to Panama to found Pathfinder Experiential Learning. It continues to guide my work and fuels my passion for creating transformative learning experiences for people today.