Kim Wilson is a big believer in the saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” This philosophy extends to her career as a pediatric occupational therapist in Colorado, where she treats her patients entirely outdoors, year-round.
“I believe in developing grit,” said Kim, a Space Force wife and homeschooling mother of six. “When you choose to get outside, even when conditions aren’t perfect, it’s a great life lesson that we can do hard things.”
Kim’s husband, Lt. Col. Brandon Wilson, calls his wife’s nature-based work “a lifeline for military families.” Many of those military clients are stationed at or around Schriever Space Force Base, where Brandon is the commander of the 33rd Range Squadron.
“The strength of our military doesn’t just come from those in uniform — it comes from the families who support us, the communities that sustain us and the professionals like her who step into the gap,” he said. “When military families are strong, service members can focus on their mission, knowing their children are cared for by someone who truly understands their needs.”
As a military wife for 18 years and an occupational therapist for 21, Kim certainly understands her military-connected clients’ lifestyles. She started treating her patients outside after noticing how many children were struggling with basic tasks like sitting in chairs and holding pencils in school. With a wealth of research demonstrating the benefits of time in nature, she figured she could kill multiple birds with one stone: increasing kids’ hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, social abilities and more while lowering screen time through increased outdoor hours.
On “office days,” Kim heads to a nearby field, forest or park. She might hang objects from a geodesic dome, push kids on swings or hammocks hanging from trees or play ball games in a meadow. Though it looks like play, Kim knows she is strengthening weakened muscles, teaching social skills, developing stamina and exercising little brains — and it works.
“My favorite moments aren’t even in my OT sessions,” she said. “It’s when the families share with me that their kids are now living an abundant life because of what we’ve done in session. That’s what keeps me going.”
Air Force Reserve spouse Brittany Amen has seen that success firsthand. Her son, Axton, has autism and made tremendous gains under Kim’s care.
“My son thrived outside, and she helped me see how much he could connect with me when the other ‘noise’ was gone,” Amen said. “She showed me tools and helped me understand what our life with Axton might look like. Her dedication to helping not only the child, but the families, is something you don’t see often.”
For information on Nature’s Path Occupational Therapy, visit naturespathot.com.
