Who am I?
I am Milou Peperkamp, living in Huis ter Heide and I am 36 years old. I have a bachelor degree in Social Work and have also worked on many projects related to community-based tourism, projects for the integration of refugees and at the outdoor hostel golan height Israel. A look at my hobbies: walking the world and studying everything that amazes me along the way, birding, acrobatic yoga, sports, cultural trips to worldly live music and dance, eating hummus and stargazing.
Off-the-beaten track and a tad different. As a guide, I like to turn left at the overgrown trailhead when others follow the path to the right. I like to stop at eye-catching flowers and critters along the way or strange birds in the sky. I like to share facts about edible and medicinal properties of plants and also look for animal tracks.
If you had to draw a cartoon of yourself, what would it look like?
This is my appearance usually: big smile, hair in the wind, binoculars around my shoulder and bird on my shoulder, backpack on and fire on.
What drives you in guiding?
Nature amazes, surprises and inspires me. It stimulates my curiosity and enthusiasm. It gets me moving, but also calms me down. Being outside can be anywhere and it lets me experience that I need little to shine while (over)living in and with nature. The more I learn, the more wonderful worlds open up for me. This I prefer to share with other (nature) curious adventurers. Besides sharing my passion for nature, I especially hope to inspire and motivate people to go outside more and go on adventures. I grant everyone a dose of wilderness skills and confidence to dare the wildest dream adventure.
I also enjoy the challenge of being allowed to explore the more unfamiliar, wild places on this globe with others, to marvel at and learn from the other cultures/ customs you encounter along the way.
Do you have a great anecdote or special wilderness experience worth sharing?
My training month in the Canadian wilderness for my Canadian Survival & Woodstravel Instructor paper. Day after day in the wilderness culminating in a solo expedition was an indescribably beautiful experience. Each day my senses opened up more. I saw movement faster and more details. I heard life in the forest better. I smelled the animals. My fear of the big dark forest full of bears disappeared and gave way to confidence and a deep respect for this wild place and its inhabitants.
Which wilderness destination is still on your bucket list and why?
The Stan’s and Iran for unspoiledness, unknowns and culture. New Zealand for the diversity. And into the jungle…because it is bursting with life there.
Do you have a message for the people reading this?
Don’t put off your wildest dreams. Time flies and you can do more than you think. Celebrate life on this wild orb.
