As a teenager, Brandon Medlin found what he still calls “paradise.”
It wasn’t a famous destination or a bucket-list adventure. It was his uncle’s property outside La Porte City, where a cabin sat among thewoods, the Cedar River wound through the landscape, and every visit offered a new sense of adventure.
Looking back, he realizes those weekends gave him more than a love for the outdoors. They taught him that the experiences whichchallenge us, connect us with others, and pull us away from everyday distractions often become the ones that shape us the most.
Today, Brandon is working to create those same opportunities for others.
As Director of Strategic Alliances at LocateSmarter, Brandon spends much of his time helping the company grow through strongpartnerships and long-term vision. Outside of work, that same mindset has fueled his involvement with Impact Outdoors, a nonprofit hehelped establish in 2012 to invest in outdoor recreation, conservation, and youth experiences across Northeast Iowa.
What began as a simple idea to keep locally raised dollars in local communities has grown into an organization that funds projects, educational programs, and outdoor opportunities throughout the region.
As the organization matured, so did the people behind it.
Many of the founding board members became parents, and with that came a broader understanding of what those parks and publicspaces could mean. The conversation shifted from simply creating places to helping people discover them.
“We’re just trying to provide that experience,” Brandon said. “There are kids and families who have never had these opportunities before. We want them to see that there are alternatives, things they might connect with, and experiences they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.”
Each year, Impact Outdoors introduces hundreds of children and families to fishing, kayaking, archery, camping, and other outdooractivities through events like Family Fun Day. Children leave with their first fishing pole, families discover parks they may never havevisited, and volunteers help newcomers experience activities that often become lifelong passions.
These first experiences help establish a deep appreciation and love for the outdoors and prove that adventure is available to you in yourown backyard.
The organization has also helped schools establish archery, trap shooting, and bass fishing programs, providing seed funding that givesstudents another opportunity to compete, belong, and build confidence. Partnerships with organizations like a local urban youthdevelopment program have expanded those opportunities even further by providing camping equipment, transportation, and outdoorexperiences for youth who might not otherwise have access to them.
For Brandon, the goal has never been to create more hunters or anglers. It is to create first experiences because he knows firsthandhow a single experience can shape an entire life.
Brandon still remembers his first hunting trip at 12 years old. He was nervous about everything, from walking into the woods to firing forthe first time. As the years passed, he discovered the outdoors offered something much deeper than the activities themselves.
“When you’re in the outdoors, separated from the everyday noise we all live in, there’s a peacefulness to it,” Brandon said. “Somepeople would say there’s a healing to it.”
That belief has grown into a philosophy he describes with two simple words.
“Go West.”
Each year, Brandon and a group of close friends head west into the mountains, carrying everything they need on their backs andleaving behind the routines of everyday life. Success is rarely measured by what they bring home. Instead, it is found in the challengeitself, the friendships strengthened along the way, and the opportunity to grow through unfamiliar experiences.
To Brandon, “Go West” has become more than an annual adventure. It is a challenge to embrace challenges, pursue growth, and encourage others to do the same.
That philosophy extends well beyond the outdoors.
Whether helping guide LocateSmarter through periods of growth, serving on nonprofit boards, or volunteering through his church,Brandon finds himself drawn to organizations looking toward what’s next.
“I hinge to things that are wanting more,” he said. “They’re wanting to grow… I want to have a positive impact.”
That same vision continues to shape Impact Outdoors. Every youth program launched, every community partnership formed, and everyfamily introduced to the outdoors creates another opportunity for someone to discover confidence, connection, and a lifelong passion.
Brandon often brings his nine-year-old son to Impact Outdoors events, not because he expects him to share every interest, but becausehe hopes he’ll understand the importance of creating opportunities for others. It is another way of passing forward the lessons he firstlearned in what he still calls paradise.
Years ago, Brandon found a place that challenged him, inspired him, and changed the direction of his life.
Today, through Impact Outdoors, he and countless volunteers are helping more young people discover places of their own wherefriendships grow stronger, confidence takes root, and a single afternoon outside can become the beginning of a lifelong adventure.
That commitment to helping others grow reflects the spirit of We Care. At LocateSmarter, caring means investing in people,strengthening our communities, and creating opportunities that continue making an impact long after the day is over.
Learn more about Impact Outdoors at impactoutdoors.org or by following the organization on Facebook.You may even find that the next place to create lifelong memories isn’t far away. It could be waiting at a nearby park, along a local trail,or anywhere the outdoors invites you to discover a little paradise of your own.
“We Care” is LocateSmarter’s mission and promise to serve our community. This guiding principle shapes every client interaction and extends into the daily lives of our team members. The We Care Blog Series highlights the many ways this principle comes to life through our people.
