The inspiration for this movement came from Hunter and Zach's upbringing. "I've always been outdoors; I grew up going camping with my dad. When I came to college and had to make my own decisions, I could choose which places I wanted to explore," said visionary Hunter Mckay. Zach and Hunter started this movement because they want others to be inspired by everyday things in life.
During Zach's interview, he stressed how this idea is attainable for any person in any setting. "We want A&M students to go outside of the beaten path. There's a lot to see, whether it's walking into an art gallery on campus or camping on the weekends, it's all exploring. Abiding Outside doesn't have to be a big trip but a daily idea in your walk of life."
Abide Outside isn't a brand, but more of an influence or idea for a movement of young people who love being outdoors.
The visionaries themselves are quite the adventurers. Some of their favorite weekend trips have been to Huntsville State Park, the Brazos River, the Navasota River and Lake Whitney. Locally, Zach and Hunter love exploring Downtown Bryan, Gabbard Park and the rooftops of buildings across the city; "We've been to a lot of places you probably can't write in this story," Zach admitted about some of their outside-the-box adventures.
The Texas A&M Outdoor Recreational Center is located behind the Rec Center. There you can rent supplies for any outdoor adventure from sleeping bags and tents to canoes and paddle boards. Brayden Gaard is an employee at the Outdoor Adventure Center and explained how easy A&M makes it for students to explore outside. "The school has given us a ton of funding to rent these supplies for students at a low cost." Find out more about how you can utilize this center and go explore!
For visionary Hunter, exploring outside is a release, living in the moment and enjoying your life in whatever setting. When Zach sees a cliff or worthy platform, he thinks, "How can I get to the top of that?" He knows that the view from the top will be incredible and does whatever it takes to get there.
This movement is inspiring YOU to blaze a new trail in your everyday routine. Get away from the craziness of this life. School, studying, jobs, organizations, volunteering and even friendships can make life chaotic. Abiding outside can mean a number of things to different people. To Zach and Hunter, it's their form of worship; "We're enjoying something that God gave us and was created by Him."
Their hope is that Abide Outside makes you want to find new places, see new things and escape the normal routine of each day. Discover what Abide Outside means to you.
This movement has hit the ground running with an Instagram and website. Follow them, submit pictures and stories of how you abide outside and be inspired!
Follow them on Insta: @letsabideoutside and check out their website: abideoutside.com
"There are so many things in this world you won't see if you don't go look for them." – Zach Lawley, Abide Outside visionary
