John Smith is a member of CYO’s Pro Staff. He’s taught CORE classes and field trip groups since 2022. He was born in Greeley, and (minus a 2-year stint in Arizona from ages 3 to 5) still lives there. John’s full-time job is as a machinist; he has worked in the manufacturing sector since 2006.
Why did you get involved at CYO?
I love the idea of CYO – getting people outside, spending time together, setting down their cell phones. And I get to see it work. People do grow closer while participating together at CYO.
Why do you keep coming back?
It’s good for me! I was in a car/motorcycle accident in 2012, where I lost my right leg above the knee. I’ve dealt with some PTSD because of it. If I spend too much time alone in my house . . . it gets to me. I’m a better person when I’m out interacting with others.
CYO is a place for me to unwind. I’ve found that even when I have a stressful day of work, the stress disappears at CYO. The feeling is a lot like riding motorcycles used to be for me – as soon as I drive through the CYO gate, I breathe a sigh of relief. I know I’m going to have a good time, and I’m going to hang out with good people.
And the people! I come here to see everyone. I care about the people in the office, I have great friendships with the other instructors, and I really enjoy all the participants. We’re all just like a family – we bicker at times, we miscommunicate, we have different ideas about things . . . but in the end, we’re all here for the same reason. We’re here for the kids and their parents.
Being an avid outdoorsman and not having kids of my own, I love sharing the skills I’ve learned over the years. If we don’t keep passing down these skills, if we don’t value the resources we have, they might disappear by the time I’m an old man.
Any favorite stories from your time at CYO?
I love seeing the returning faces – the families that keep coming back to learn more.
There was a kid who was getting involved with gangs. His parents moved him to a new school to get him away from certain influences. When they came to CYO, it was pretty rough. The dad was trying, but his son wanted nothing to do with him or anyone else. As class progressed, they slowly started talking more and more. At the end of class, the father told me he felt better about their relationship than he ever had previously.
I wish that pair would do CORE again – I still think about them. I’d love to know how they’re doing now. I hope they’re still talking.
What is your favorite class to teach?
Anything that goes BANG or TWANG – I love the shooting sports!
One of my first memories was my dad shooting quail in the backyard. I think I was about three. Dad would set me on the fence, and once he shot a bird, he would lift me to the ground to run and fetch it. I was his bird dog!
I grew up doing shooting sports – I was a member of the junior Olympics organization for small bore when I was a preteen, shot competitive archery in college, and I still do a lot of hunting.
Is there anything in our PACD curriculum that you’ve incorporated into your life?
Gratitude journaling. I don’t journal every day, but on rough days it always improves my mood to write down all the good in my life.
Anything else you want to say about CYO?
It’s a great place. I love it. I really do! It’s a place for me to get away, to clear my mind. I get to teach, introducing others to the outdoors, showing them useful skills. CYO is a place I get to help others, which I always love.