Technology has become so ingrained in our everyday lives that sometimes it’s hard to break away from it. Cell phones and the virtual world have become so ingrained in our culture that sometimes it can be hard to see just how much the world around us is changing, and the effect it’s having on our kids.
Founder and CEO of iTrekkers, Tom Mulliez, knows all too well the crisis we are facing when it comes to the way that families and children interact with not only each other but with the natural world. Tom recently took the time to address these issues and the ways that iTrekkers can help while presenting at the Chelsea Drinkard/MGM Networking Event this past week. The event was held at TD Bank where a room full of professionals from Tampa Bay came to face to face with the reality of how children, as well as adults, interact with the outdoors in the technological age.
Tom began by showing a video, which focused on three generations within several families. The older of the two generations spoke fondly of memories of being outside and playing or bonding with family members over camping trips and adventures. The youngest generation, however, spoke of playing videogames or how attached they were to their phones.
The video certainly left an uncomfortable air in the room as each attendee came to realize how today’s kids are deprived of those outdoor experiences, which once allowed them to form relationships and grow up in awe of the natural world.
Suddenly the event was transformed from a business presentation into an open conversation, led by Tom, about the ways to combat the loss of childhood and interpersonal relationships by spending time enjoying the outdoors. One way to do that is through iTrekkers, which serves as an affordable and easy way to get families, teams, and even coworkers to come together and enjoy outdoor activities such as learning how to fish, paddle and the basics of camping. They also do these programs for groups that are looking for unique activities to bond over while learning new outdoor skills.
iTrekkers focuses primarily in the Tampa Bay area, offering outings to St. Pete, Safety Harbor, Apollo Beach and numerous other locations for outdoor excursions. The iTrekkers team carefully scopes out the location and gives adventure seekers in-depth lessons and information about how to maximize their outdoor experience. The big idea is to teach people how to get involved in the outdoors in the hopes that perhaps it becomes a habit for them or something that can become a special family tradition.
Tom made a point to emphasize the affordability of partnering with iTrekkers, stating that more than anything the mission of iTrekkers is to see people outside and enjoying the beauty of Tampa Bay, together.
