News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Peter Hoffmeister has built much of his life and career around a love of the outdoors - a passion sparked in his youth by time spent in Sisters Country.
A highly regarded teacher and author, Hoffmeister will explore the benefits of an outdoor life in a talk at Paulina Springs Books on Friday, August 5, at 6:30 p.m.
Hoffmeister is the author of "Let Them Be Eaten By Bears," a non-fiction rallying cry for parents to loosen the ties on their kids, remove the bubble-wrap and not only allow but encourage them to adventure outdoors. That is, after all, the way Peter grew up.
"My best friend growing up, his parents had a cabin in Camp Sherman," he recalled.
Peter and his friend spent summers and winter breaks there, and when Peter decided at age 14 that he was going to camp out for 100 nights straight, he spent the first 14 of those nights in Camp Sherman.
"My parents were a little bit laissez-faire about allowing me to adventure," he said.
Hoffmeister is passing his upbringing on to his daughters, now 11 and 15. They spend about 20 nights a year camped near Whychus Creek in Sisters.
In addition to his writing, Hoffmeister teaches an integrated outdoor education program at South Eugene High School. He is ardent in his belief that getting kids outdoors - and letting them roam on their own - makes them healthier and happier.
"I think kids are happier if they're given more freedom," he said.
While "Let Them Be Eaten By Bears" is non-fiction, Hoffmeister says he's "mostly a novelist now."
He'll also be sharing his most recent work, "This is the Part Where You Laugh," a coming-of-age novel about good kids going through tough situations, and their efforts to rise up their struggles.
"It's an Oregon novel, but it's not by nature an outdoor novel," Hoffmeister said.
Of course there are outdoor activities in the story, including paddling, inspired by time spent in Central Oregon.
Paulina Springs Books is located at 252 W. Hood Ave. For more information on the event, call 541-549-0866.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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