Chris has served on the Mazama Board since last year and as the board liaison to the Lodge, he has helped shape future plans for that facility, conducting risk assessments, hosting strategy sessions, surveying members, playing an integral role in lodge host training and volunteer operations and representing the Mazamas on the Mt. Hood Climbing Permit Working Group.
When not volunteering, skiing or hiking, Chris continues to help organizations in hospitality, leisure and sports and recreation strategize and launch their sustainability initiatives. Read more about Chris and other board candidates.
Name: Chris Jaworski
Pronouns: He/him
Year Joined Mazamas: 2015
Present-day outdoor activities: Backcountry skiing, XC skiing, kayaking, hiking, sailing, long-distance walks
What’s your earliest outdoor memory? Ice skating/pick up hockey on anything frozen – lakes, ponds, streams, culverts and learning to ski (and dodging the hay bales at the bottom of the runs) at Little Switzerland in Wisconsin.
How did you first hear about the Mazamas, and what prompted you to engage with the organization? A colleague of my brother was a Mazama and talked about the climbing program. If I recall, he had completed the leadership program after Intermediate Climbing School (ICS) and invited me and my brother to climb Mt. Hood, which was my first climb.
As more people seek to recreate outdoors, what advice would you offer them? Just do it:) and learn to be safe so you can experience the deep, rich aspects of being out there, unplugged.
What activities/situations/people most inspire you? Being in service to others. Particularly helping during times of crisis. With my background in hospitality – food and beverage – I’m trying to figure out how to go on assignment with World Central Kitchen to provide really good food for those around the world in situational, desperate need. I’m inspired by people that seek solutions in the most trying of circumstances.
What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/social media account that you follow and why? My favorite book is A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson. I have never laughed so hard by myself. I also enjoyed reading it before the movie came out. If you hike, you will find yourself laughing out loud so be prepared to answer to others if it disturbs the peace:) If you like podcasts checkout Michael Gervais’ Funding Mastery. The breadth of people he interviews is fascinating. Numerous climbers like Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold, Chris McNamara, Lynn Hill, Tommy Caldwell…
What’s on your adventure bucket list? Kilimanjaro. Not the most technical, but it’s Africa!