The Forest Has Many Paths: Embracing Different Ways to Lead and Learn

By: Dr. Kristin Johnson

We spend a lot of time searching for the “right” way to do things—the right leadership style, the right learning model, the right next step. But the forest reminds us there isn’t just one way forward. Step beneath the canopy, and you’ll see it: no two paths are the same. Some climb steeply, some wander quietly, all leading somewhere that matters.

Maybe leadership and learning aren’t about finding one perfect trail—but about recognizing there are many.

🌿 Feedback from the Forest

In nature, feedback is immediate. A slippery log, a shifting rope, a gust of wind—all reminders to stay present and responsive. The same is true in leadership. The best leaders read their environment, listen deeply, and adjust their stride when challenges arise. The forest teaches flexibility, humility, and awareness—skills that are just as essential in the workplace as they are on the trail.

Research in environmental psychology and experiential learning backs this up. Time spent in natural environments has been shown to enhance focus, creativity, empathy, and emotional regulation (Berman, Jonides, & Kaplan, 2008; Bratman et al., 2015). Outdoor learning experiences activate metacognition—the ability to think about one’s own thinking—which strengthens problem-solving and adaptability (Kolb, 1984). These same cognitive and emotional skills underpin effective leadership and lifelong learning.

When individuals are outdoors, they tend to engage with both curiosity and awareness. There’s no “one right way” to navigate a challenge—each step, pause, or adjustment becomes a personal expression of leadership in motion. This mirrors what organizational research calls adaptive leadership—the ability to respond to complex systems and evolving conditions with openness and learning rather than control (Heifetz, Grashow, & Linsky, 2009).

🌿 Leading and Learning, Side by Side
At Genesee Valley, we design experiences where leadership and learning happen in tandem—on the ground, in motion, and often in the mud. Whether it’s a team navigating a ropes course or a group reflecting beside the lake, participants learn to lead and follow in equal measure. They discover that leadership isn’t about hierarchy—it’s about awareness, empathy, and courage to keep moving forward, even when the path isn’t clear.

In the forest, as in life, progress doesn’t always mean speed or straight lines. Sometimes it’s about pausing, listening, and finding new routes together. When we embrace different ways to lead and learn, we cultivate communities—and workplaces—where everyone’s strengths can shine.

🌳 Bridging the Gap Between Nature and the Workplace

In many ways, the forest becomes a rehearsal space for the workplace. The same mindset that helps someone navigate a tangled root system—staying aware, adjusting course, leaning on others when needed—translates directly to how teams tackle challenges back at the office. What happens outside doesn’t stay outside; it rewires how people show up in meetings, approach conflict, and tackle the unknown. When leaders experience firsthand that multiple paths can still lead to meaningful outcomes, they return to their organizations more willing to collaborate, experiment, and trust the process. Nature doesn’t just teach lessons—it reshapes how we lead, learn, and work together.

Stay connected for more in this series as we explore the powerful connection between nature and the development of executive functioning skills.

Sources

Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science, 19(12), 1207–1212. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02225.x

Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(28), 8567–8572. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1510459112

Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from https://www.geneseevalley.org

Heifetz, R. A., Grashow, A., & Linsky, M. (2009). The practice of adaptive leadership: Tools and tactics for changing your organization and the world. Harvard Business Press.

Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice Hall.

Wharton Neuroscience Initiative. (n.d.). Perspective-taking and leadership decision-making. University of Pennsylvania. (Original research summary referenced.)