Stepping Out in

Faith and Making Dreams Come True

There is a saying that if you truly love your job, you will never work a day in your life. That seems to be the case for Brian Hoffman and Ben Brandell, co-owners of Meant 2 Be Outdoors, an adventure company set on introducing southwest Missouri residents to the great outdoors.

Brian and Ben grew up in the same small town but only knew of each other. The two graduated from Spokane High School a few years apart, but both shared a love of outdoor adventuring and working with a variety of entities ranging from Wonders of Wildlife to Camp Barnabas and working with at-risk youth.

Survival Fire Training

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FA/CPR SKILLS

They began working together in 2009 and quickly became friends over their shared passion for the outdoors. Both of them shared a dream about teaching people everything that they loved about the outdoors.

Brian and Ben later worked for The Johnny Morris Foundation where they continued to discuss and dream about one day doing their own thing which happened in 2021. They got the courage to step out in faith and start Meant 2B Outdoors, LLC.

“I’ve always loved being outdoors, and always felt safe,” said Brian Hoffmeyer, co-owner and biologist for the company. “I have learned more about my Creator by spending time outdoors. I love white-tailed deer, I love the land and creation, and it breaks my heart to see it broken and wasted.”

Brian and Ben expressed that it is their hope that their love for Christ and His sacrifice for us shines through in everything that they do, from the way they teach to the way they treat others. If they know that someone would be made uncomfortable or driven further from Christ by including Him in the programs, then they teach the same truths, but without directly relating it to Christ.

If a group or organization would like a more devotional or Bible lesson-type program, they incorporate scripture into all that they do. More than anything, Brian and Ben want it to be known that they love and want to teach everyone, they aren’t called to only educate or include people that just agree with them.

Archery is taught by simply teaching the skills and safety, then allowing participants to put them into practice or they teach archery while including what the Bible says about hunting, being stewards and having dominion over the earth.

“A large part of our programs right now are tailored to home school and public school students,” said Ben. “Some of the things we teach include survival, fire building, creating shelter and gathering food; stream ecology, archery, shooting, tree identification and team development.”

Meant 2 Be Outdoors focuses all of their programs around the outdoors. They believe in sharing skills that allow people to better enjoy the outdoors and be more safe while doing so. All of the programs are considered experiential and hands on.

“It is one thing to learn things in ‘theory’, but we believe learning is reinforced when what is learned is put into ‘practice’,” said Brian. “Survival skills have been our most popular programs, but we teach many other things, like: Stream Ecology, archery, CPR, and first aid. We would also love to book more team building and development programs.”

Brandell and Hoffmeyer tailor adventure packages to the age, experience level and scope of what the organizer or client desires.

“We have had groups as young as Kindergarten all the way up to those in their 80’s,” Brandell said. “The packages all depend on what the goal of the organizer might be. Everyone has their own definition of team-building and team development, so we get a sense of what the end goal is and go from there.”

Some of the memorable events that have taken place on a guided adventure included a trip in 2022.

“We were wrapping up a trip when a father approached us to express how thankful he was for his two teenage sons to experience and learn from two men of God,” said Brandell. “ It was very humbling. We consider ourselves to be so imperfect and just there to love and serve. Leaving there knowing that a father would consider us a positive influence for his children is really a testament to the redeeming work of Christ.

“We messed up a lot in our lives, but He is still using us to impact His people.”

“Watching people gain confidence in themselves while learning something new, really touches our souls,” said Brian. “Another story would be from a spring backpacking trip we did with Springfield Outdoor Initiatives. As dark was falling on camp we set out to teach them about hanging a ‘Bear Bag’. One woman volunteered to serve the group by throwing the rope over a high-up limb. We could see on her face she doubted herself. She let the water bottle with the top tied to it, fly high into the air and as it sailed over the limb, she let out the biggest squeal of excitement.”

March through November is considered to be their busy season. Advance bookings are the best way possible but they do take last minute calls and try to accommodate. During the summer they teach summer camps at local parks, homeschool and public schools.

Meant 2B Outdoors works yearround and loves the outdoors so much they don’t consider there to be an

STREAM ECOLOGY & SURVIVAL SKILLS

offseason. They podcast twice a week all year and share their adventures on the podcast.

In the next three to five years, they would like to purchase property and transition the business to include more options for the individual consumer and not strictly business to business operation.

“We have sacrificed a lot to be doing what we are doing today. We left successful careers and leadership positions to do this, so people should know that we take every program, relationship, and opportunity very seriously,” said Brian. “We believe in leading by serving and because of that we put ourselves fully into developing and delivering programs with lasting impacts.” n