Eric kayaking over a waterfall
EST. 1996 Field Journal of an Outdoor Educator CT / Worldwide
Currently · Soaked & Happy

EricCarlson

Whitewater KayakerOutdoor EducatorPickleballerWanderer
“There is no one alive who is youer than you.”
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§ 01 — Field Notes

Who he is

Based in Connecticut. Frequently in the field, frequently caffeinated, frequently grinning.

Eric runs rivers, teaches knots to kids who've never slept under the stars, and has been known to win a pickleball point by sheer audacity. He believes in field pizzas, cultivating figs, morning smoothies, and saying yes before looking at the calendar.

3
Years on the water
12
Countries crossed
200+
Youth taught outdoors
100+
nights outside in a hammock
1
Rabid bobcat defeated
50+
concerts attended
4.2
DUPR · approx.
500+
pickleball games
Eric mid-belaying in a blue climbing helmet, grinning
Mid-Belay in the woods
§ 02 — The Outside

Field photos

Whitewater, ropes courses, and teaching kids how to read the woods.
Sea of Cortez, MX Three small sailboats moored in a quiet bay along Baja's rocky coast

Baja, Mexico

NOLS trip off the coast of Mexico

Phoenix, AZ Tall cactus against blue sky

Desert Spines

Saguaros older than the country

Jay Peak Ski day

Winter in Vermont

The cold makes it count

Italy A cat on a stone wall

Not a rabid bobcat

Found in a Roman alleyway

On the River Boofing rapids

Beaver Fest

Kayaking through the boulders

Roma, IT A small cup of espresso on a saucer

Morning Espresso

No less than six espressos a day when in Roma

§ 03 — Passport

Far away

The countries that rearranged me.
§ 04 — Side Quest

Yes,
about
the pickleball.

Few things in life beat a perfectly placed dink.

2025 Season

Best partnerMy sister
Signature shotDink
Paddle of choiceSelkirk Vanguard
§ 05 — Soundtrack

In rotation

Music to happily paddle along to.
Now Playing

Sunblind

Fleet Foxes
1:24 24
01 Sunblind Fleet Foxes Wandering 24
02 A Minha Menina Os Mutantes Party 4:44
03 Freebird Parquet Courts River 4:11
04 Hold'em Joe Andre Toussaint 3 a.m. 2:04
05 The Wagon Dinosaur Jr. Send it 3:01
06 Holocene Bon Iver Snowfall 5:36
07 This Must Be the Place Talking Heads Home 4:56
08 Fluorescent Adolescent Arctic Monkeys Drive 3:00
09 Old Man Neil Young Late night 3:24
10 Postcards from Italy Beirut Travel day 4:18
11 Roma Fade Andrew Bird Trastevere 4:31
12 Run Joe Pug Trailhead 3:45
§ 06 — Some Advice

Things I'd Tell You

Words to live by.
№ 01
Say yes first. Pack second. The rest will follow.
— On saying yes
№ 02
The top 5 restaurants in Connecticut.
  1. Jewel of the Himalaya
  2. SOHO Pizza
  3. Wilson's in Kent
  4. BAR Pizza
  5. The Mothership
— On eating local
№ 03
Learning to self-advocate is the most important life lesson.
— On life
№ 04
Give a teenager a marshmallow stick and twenty minutes of quiet, and you'll learn everything.
— On teaching
№ 05
Leadership is mostly remembering the snacks.
— On leadership