Putting down roots in Portland, Lindsay Babbit’s journey to becoming the Director of Outdoor Education at Catlin | Humans of Catlin Gabel

By Meret Pajkic ‘26

Lindsay Babbitt on a CGS Climbing Trip in 2019. Courtesy of Lindsay Babbit.

Since 2015, as Director of Outdoor Education, Lindsay Babbitt has been a constant grounding force within the CGS community. What many don’t see is the winding path that led her there: the years spent leading outdoor education trips across California, often living out of her car, before eventually putting down roots in Portland. 

Babbitt, an only child, was born on the East Coast, surrounded by family members and cousins who she described as being “the closest thing [she] had to siblings.” In second grade, her parents packed up and flew across the country, initially setting up camp in Colorado before finally pitching their family tent in California. 

As a child and teenager, Babbitt had a passion for dance. Going to the studio almost every day after school from the eighth grade on. She was also an active member of her high school community, serving on the student government.  

However, contrary to what many in the CGS community might believe, Babbitt’s family was not particularly outdoorsy. “We went camping maybe once,” she shared during our conversation.

This is not to say that Babbit grew up without the influence of the outdoors. Starting in the fourth grade, she spent her summers at a sleep-away camp in North Carolina with her cousins. She loved the freedom camp provided, “At camp, I felt like I could be more myself than I could at school.”

During her sophomore year, at her mother's recommendation, she participated in an outdoor semester program through the Mountain High Institute (MHI) in North Carolina. Babbitt recognized this semester to be “a turning point” in her life as it guided her towards the field of Outdoor Education as a profession. 

Lindsay Babbitt during her outdoor semester with MHI. Courtesy of Lindsay Babbitt.

While searching for colleges, Babbitt knew she wanted an institution with flexible graduation requirements beyond her major, voicing that she didn't want to feel forced to take classes she wasn’t passionate about. One of these classes for Babbitt was math: “No offense to math people, but I was very done with that.” 

Brown’s open curriculum fit the brief, allowing her to explore opportunities that hadn’t been available to her during her four years of high school.

In college, Babbitt took full advantage of this newfound freedom. She “studied creative writing, but also took geology, education, and African drumming classes,” continuing by saying that she pursued “whatever [she] was curious about.”

Outside of class, Babbitt devoted much of her time to ultimate frisbee and exploring new activities such as poetry. 

After graduating, Babbitt moved back to California. For three and a half years, she traveled throughout the state, leading outdoor education programs similar to those currently found at Catlin. From rock climbing expeditions in Joshua Tree to pack packing trips in the Sierras, Babbitt was constantly on the move in her 2005 Pontiac Vibe, which she still owns to this day.

Lindsay Babbitt (middle), surrounded by her students, on the first Outdoor Education trip she led in 2009. Courtesy of Lindsay Babbitt.

Although Babbitt found this lifestyle to be “awesome” and a great way to make friends, she felt she was “ready to be somewhere.” Equipped with years of experience and a clear sense of what she was looking for, she began applying for jobs and ultimately found her way to Catlin. From there, she committed to giving life in Portland a good old-fashioned try. 

Now, Babbitt spends her free time filled with numerous hobbies. Some of which include going on trips with friends, skiing, mountain biking, being part of a book club, and getting back into the rhythm of taking dance classes.

Throughout it all, Babbitt remains passionate about her work in Outdoor Education at CGS. She believes that “ outdoor activities are really just a vehicle for learning about yourself and learning how to be in community,” and looks forward to making the program “something that’s just part of what we [the CGS community] do as a school, not something extra.”

You can contact Lindsay at: babbitl@catlin.edu. If you are looking to join an Outdoor Education trip, you can find the current offerings on the CGS website.