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Articles by Ty Schmidt
Out 'n' About: Another mountain to run toward
Ryan Kennedy didn’t set out to become a runner. I’ve known him since our Einstein Racing Team days here in Traverse City back in the 2010s, and he’s one of those people who keeps finding new ways to challenge himself outdoors. kAmvC@H:?8 FA :? #@496DE6C w:==D[ 96 A=2J65 D@446C[ 2?5 9:D 82>6 H2D 3F:=E @? CF??:?8] w6 H2D E96 <:5 H9@ 4@F=5 8@ 2== 52J] %96? E96 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ 4@249 2E #@496DE6C w:89 $49@@=[ w2= r@>>6CD@?[ 962C5 #J2? H2D 72DE 2?5 :?G:E65 9:> E@ ECJ @FE 7@C E96 E62>] #J2? BF:E D@446C 2?5 C2?
Out 'n' About: From Boardman Lake to the national stage
Drew Roeder was bored. It was the summer before his freshman year of high school, and some friends told him about a sailing camp at Traverse City Area Community Sailing, or TACS. kAm$@ 96 2D<65 9:D A2C6?ED E@ D:8?
Out 'n' About: From Boardman Lake to the national stage
Drew Roeder was bored. It was the summer before his freshman year of high school, and some friends told him about a sailing camp at Traverse City Area Community Sailing, or TACS. So he asked his parents to sign him up. A couple of days later, he was hooked. “I was obsessed with it, and I haven’t stopped sailing since that day,” Drew told me.
Forum: More testing? The right testing
Assessment helps teachers understand what students know and what they need next. It also helps families, community members, and school leaders understand whether the strategies we’re investing in are working. That’s why I appreciated the Record-Eagle’s recent editorial, “More testing, not less.” Michigan’s recent poor literacy outcomes deserve the spotlight, and the editorial is right that testing anxiety shouldn’t get in the way of using assessment well.
Out 'n' About: Liam, Summer running and the miles most of us don't see
At about 7:30 on a summer morning, while most of us are still drinking our coffee, a bunch of high school runners are already putting in miles. I’ve seen them all summer, and every summer since I moved to Traverse City 20 years ago. Kids being active outside together is an indicator of a healthy community, and every time I see them, it makes me smile.
Out 'n' About: Liam, Summer running and the miles most of us don't see
At about 7:30 on a summer morning, while most of us are still drinking our coffee, a bunch of high school runners are already putting in miles. I’ve seen them all summer, and every summer since I moved to Traverse City 20 years ago. Kids being active outside together is an indicator of a healthy community, and every time I see them, it makes me smile.
Out 'n' About: Side by Side
For the past couple of summers, I’ve noticed Brad Miller and Dr. Russ Van Houzen riding together a lot. Usually sometime late Monday or Thursday morning. Brad on a traditional bike. Russ on a three-wheel recumbent trike. Sometimes another rider joins them, but more often it’s just the two of them, pedaling steadily along the Leelanau Trail. Side by side. kAm%96J’C6 ?6G6C :? 2 9FCCJ]k^Am kAmx’5 H2G6 2?5 D2J 96==@] x <?@H qC25 H6== 3FE <?@H #FDD >@DE=J 3J C6AFE2E:@?
Out 'n' About: What the big water teaches
Like many of my stories, this one starts with a friend, Beth Price. Beth is a photographer whose images of freshwater surfers, waves, and Lake Michigan have given me a glimpse into a world I mostly admire from shore — or from my bedroom, where one of her prints hangs above my bed. kAmx’> ?@E 2? @A6?\H2E6C DH:>>6C] x 5@?’E DFC7] x 5@?’E A255=6] {:<6 >2?J ?@CE96C? |:49:82?56CD[ x 6?;@J @FC 3:8 =2<6 H:E9@FE 7F==J F?56CDE2?5:?8 :E]k^Am kAm{2DE H66<[ q6E9 DF886DE65 x E2=< H:E9 2 H@>2?
Out 'n' About: A gathering place: A story behind a park bench
I heard a StoryCorps piece on Interlochen Public Radio recently about two widows whose friendship began with a park bench. One woman had placed a memorial bench for her late husband. Another woman, carrying her own grief after her husband died on that same bench, quietly began leaving flowers there. Eventually, the two met, shared their stories, and became friends. kAm%96 DE@CJ DE2J65 H:E9 >6]k^Am kAm%96?[ 5FC:?8 >J 7@FC\>:=6 3:<6 C:56D E@ H@C< 2E ~C492C5 rC66< #6923 @?
Out 'n' About: Movement as medicine
Spring in Traverse City always brings a kind of quiet return — although, to be real, last week’s flooding of the Ottaway River made this year’s return feel anything but quiet. Still, with another May right around the corner, bikes are coming off hooks in garages. Trails are returning to dirt. Running groups are reappearing in the early morning light.
Out 'n' About: A day hike and an 800-mile journey
Tucson has a special place in my heart. It’s where I met my wife, Johanna. It’s where our older son, Carter, was born. It’s where I made lifelong friends after moving to the Old Pueblo for my first job after college. It’s also where I first fell in love with the outdoors in a deeper way — long days hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, camping, and wandering through the Sonoran Desert.
Out 'n' About: Everyday miles, extraordinary goals: Chad’s winter journey back to the Polar Roll Ultra
On a bitter morning in early February, with the wind pushing snow sideways across his driveway, Chad Schut clips in and starts pedaling toward work. It’s cold. It’s dark. His headlamp cuts a narrow tunnel through the blowing snow. Studded tires on his fat bike hum against ice and packed snow. For most of us, mornings like this are a reason for remote starts and heated seats. For Chad, they are simply part of the routine. kAmw6’D 366? C:5:?8 E@ H@C< E9C@F89 ?@CE96C? |:49:82? H:?E6CD 7@C >@C6 E92?
Out 'n' About: One walk at a time: Dewey, Traverse City walks and a teacher’s lesson
During my years writing this Out ’n About column, one of my favorite parts has been hearing from readers after a story runs. Sometimes it’s a quick note. Sometimes it’s a shared memory. Sometimes it’s a reminder that these stories don’t end on the printed page — they keep going, carried forward by the people who read them. That’s how I got to know Dewey Mummert.
Out 'n' About: Checking back in - New Year, familiar faces
As the calendar turns, I checked in with 12 “Out ’n About” friends who I’ve had the honor of writing about over the years and asked: What are your health intentions or goals for 2026? Their answers, like their original stories, reflect passion, commitment, and community. And as we head into a new year, I hope they inspire more of us to opt outside, move our bodies, and do it together here in northern Michigan. k9bmy2D@? U2>Aj pC:2??6 (9:EE2<6Ck^9bm kAmx?
Out 'n' About: First Tracks: Coach K and the Heart of Hickory Meadows
After a false start to winter in early November — and more than a few days where skinny cross-country skis sat by the door waiting for a reason — snow came to Traverse City for real around Thanksgiving this year. And like clockwork, the first place that truly came to life wasn’t one of our better-known Nordic ski trail systems with fancy groomers, lights, and snowmaking. It was Hickory Meadows. Before the Vasa filled out. Before Hickory Hills’ loops firmed up.
Out 'n' About: The thank-you card that stayed with me
A few years ago, I received a handwritten card in the mail from Sally Thompson. Inside was a simple, heartfelt thank-you for advocating for sidewalks near her home. Sally’s note wasn’t long. But it was genuine — the kind of gratitude that comes from someone who had waited a very long time to see something meaningful happen in their neighborhood.
Out 'n' About: Hometown Hopefuls - Emma and Kyan ready to shine at Iceman
I’ve ridden with both of them this summer. They often showed up to the famous Tuesday Night Ride on Old Mission Peninsula, lighting it up on the climbs and sprints, and making it look easy. But what stands out most about Emma Schwab and Kyan Olshove isn’t just their power or speed — it’s how they treat the people around them. kAm%9:D $2EFC52J :D E96 x46>2? r@>6E9 r92==6?86[ ?@CE96C? |:49:82?’D 3:886DE 3:<6 C246 2?5 @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE A@:?E\E@\A@:?E >@F?E2:? 3:<6 C246D :?
Out 'n' About: Going the distance together on the North Country Trail
As fall settles over northern Michigan, the forests seem to exhale — a mix of color, quiet, and the faint crunch of leaves underfoot. This season always feels like an invitation to slow down, look closer, and take to the woods. For my wife Johanna and me, that movement lately has meant hiking.
Out 'n' About: Feel, Relax, Listen: Kyler’s wing foiling journey
I first got to know Kyler Bradley through Traverse City’s bike scene. We share a passion for building communities through movement—whether it’s on two wheels, walking, or in Kyler’s case, more recently, on the water with a wing in his hands and a foil under his board. As a physical therapist, I believe that movement, especially outside movement, optimizes the human experience. Kyler, the proud owner of MI Moves Fitness, believes the same.
Out 'n' About: The gift of growing up on our trails
Earlier this summer, I went back to my hometown in rural Manitoba for the first time since before the pandemic. It was great to catch up with friends and family — and to ride around my old neighborhood again with a buddy from high school. That ride brought back some of my best summertime memories. Memories made on two wheels, pedaling through the woods for hours with friends. Those rides weren’t about exercise. They were about exploring, freedom, fun, and feeling connected to the place I grew up.
Out 'n' About: Loneliness, friendship and Traverse City’s East Shore Running Club
If I didn’t ride my bike, I’m not sure I would have many friends. Group rides like the Saturday morning Shootout were how I made friends when I moved to Tucson after college. The same thing happened here when I moved to Traverse City nearly 20 years ago with the Tuesday Night Ride. Sure, I’ve made friends through my kids, at work, and by being involved in the community, but nowhere near as many as I have because of riding bikes. kAm%92E C62=:K2E:@?
Out 'n' About: School’s out - is Traverse City ready for our kids on the move?
Every Wednesday this past school year, I spent my lunchtime at Traverse Heights Elementary as a Lunch Buddies volunteer, playing recess and eating with some great third-graders. It was during those visits that I got to know Bryce — an energetic, thoughtful, and fearless young lady who just finished her first year as a Roadrunner. She’s 8 years old, turning 9 this October, and she’s already a veteran of biking Traverse City’s streets and trails.
Out 'n' About: Uncomfortable on Purpose: A Traverse City Crew’s Grand Canyon Misogi
Sometimes, you have to descend into the depths to discover just how high you can rise. That’s exactly what my friend and neighbor Keelan McNulty — and seven other Traverse City dads — did last month when they took on a soul-shaking, body-breaking adventure: a rim-to-rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon (or an “R3,” as the locals say) in a single, continuous push.
Out 'n' About: Bay Mornings: Five years post-pandemic, Chelsea keeps rising with the sun
It’s hard to believe that the pandemic began five years ago. The spring of 2020 was brutal — on so many levels. In that first pandemic spring, when everything felt like it was being canceled — school, work, events, gatherings — I found my lifeline in a simple, defiant mantra: Outside isn’t canceled. kAm(96? :E 76=E =:<6 E96 H2==D H6C6 4=@D:?8 :?[ x 7@F?5 42=> :? 62C=J >@C?:?8 H2=<D 7C@> >J 9@>6 :?
Out 'n' About: Snow Good: TCAPS teacher bikes the bike this winter
Much like walking the walk, biking the bike means living your values — not just talking about them. It’s about integrity, commitment, and authenticity. Instead of just saying you believe in things like sustainability, health, and wellbeing, you prove it in your daily choices—like by riding your bike to everyday places, including work, no matter the season.
Out 'n' About: Will and growing outside winter kids
Outside kids during the winter are an indicator species of a healthy, vibrant northern Michigan community. Seeing Traverse City kids sledding at the Civic Center, skiing at Hickory, and skating at F&M last week made me smile. These sights remind me that, as a community, we’re getting things right. kAm(6’C6 :?G6DE:?8 :? A2C<D[ D<: 2C62D[ 2?5 AC@8C2>D E92E :?DA:C6 <:5D E@ 6>3C246 H:?E6C]k^Am kAm(6’C6 3C62<:?8 5@H?
Out 'n' About: Oh Deer: Megan, Iceman and Traverse City’s Good People
Rule No. 9 of the Iceman Cometh reads: “Watch for Deer. We have posted signs for the deer to tell them to be aware of riders; however, in the event the deer can’t read, please watch for them.” The warning of Rule No. 9 has always been part of Iceman’s charm — a reminder of the unpredictable. But for Megan Doerr, reality came at her all too quickly on race day this year.
Out 'n' About: Three TC bike-to-hikes with Bob
On the heels of a gorgeous September, we’re having a spectacular October here in northern Michigan. The air is crisp, the colors are radiant, and there’s no better way to fully embrace this splendor than by hiking and biking in our local forests. I decided to put this theory to the test with my friend and neighbor, Bob Otwell. Bob, who many know as a dedicated walk/bike advocate and community leader, is also an author.
Out 'n' About: Bike Happy: A two-wheeled electric dad bus
I’ve always loved riding bikes as a kid, but it wasn’t until my 20s that I realized that biking was really good for my mood — and helped me be less crabby. I had just started my first real job as a physical therapist in Tucson. The commute from my house was 18 miles, and the traffic was always terrible. I’d often arrive at work stressed and wound up. Then, one day, I decided to ride my bike. Sure, it took a lot longer and wasn’t easy, but my attitude was way better when I got to work.
JZBG | Free Full-Text | Continuous Video Monitoring of Zoo Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) Reveals Differential Engagement Patterns for Environmental Enrichment Items Based on Sensory Category
All articles published by MDPI are made immediately available worldwide under an open access license. No special permission is required to reuse all or part of the article published by MDPI, including figures and tables. For articles published under an open access Creative Common CC BY license, any part of the article may be reused without permission provided that the original article is clearly cited. For more information, please refer to https://www.mdpi.com/openaccess.
Out 'n' About: Growing strong outside, together
I used to be able to do more than a few pull-ups. Back when Johanna and I lived in Tucson, there was a park with a pull-up bar near our home. Most evenings after dinner, we’d stroll over with Carter. He’d play while I did a few sets of pull-ups. I got stronger because someone decided to put a pull-up bar in our neighborhood park, and Carter saw his dad staying healthy— all while having fun. Fast forward 18 years, and now Carter can do way more pull-ups than I can.
Just Walk, Traverse City
This story was originally published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle One of the questions Tim Ferris asks in his book “Tribe of Mentors” is if you could put any message on a billboard, what would it be? For some reason, I find myself thinking about this a lot.
Out 'n' About: Staci, Traverse City’s open-water community, and the Swim For Grand Traverse Bay
I don’t open-water swim, but I hang out with people who do — people like Curt Cummins, Paula Colombo, Rachel Plum and Amy Powell. Johanna and I sometimes join them at Good Harbor for beach days. While they swim across the depths of Lake Michigan, I sit under an umbrella, eat snacks, and read the newspaper while trying not to worry too much about how small their swimmer buoys are getting. The idea of swimming in deep water makes me uneasy — and by uneasy I mean terrified. Unable to touch the bottom?
Out 'n' About: Lo, Community and a Daring Backyard Adventure
We were just over 50 miles into the inaugural Chicken Leg 100, a point-to-point mountain bike ride from Tippy Dam on the Manistee River to Mt. Holiday, and a few of us decided to take a break at Ed’s Overlook on the North Country National Scenic Trail. Nick Weirzba began picking and smelling random trailside plants while collecting white flowers to adorn his helmet. John O’Hearn ate a snack. Brad Pauly snapped photos of the stunning views over the Manistee River and forest.
Out 'n' About: Bike TC: Nine kids’ ideas to make Traverse City better
In recognition of National Bike Month, which featured Bike to School Day, I had the pleasure of interviewing nine Traverse City kids to hear their ideas on improving how people get around on bikes here in northern Michigan’s capital. These young voices, aged 8-10, come from seven neighborhoods and four schools.
Out 'n' About: Chef Paul, bikes and No Kid Hungry
While riding my bike down Rose Street earlier this week to have lunch with second graders at Traverse Heights Elementary for Marvelous Mondays (quick side note: please Google “TCAPS Lunch Buddies” and apply to mentor this spring!), I reflected on the impact of no-cost school meals for all Michigan kids this year. Why? Because one in seven Michigan children under age 18 lives in households that experience limited or uncertain availability of safe, nutritious food at some point during the year.
Out 'n' About: Together we run, an ultrarunning love story
Traverse City has many couples who run together — friends like Molly and Jason Johnson, John and Erica O’Hearn, Jessie and Eric Houghton, and Jeff and Jessie Houser come to mind. But I only know one couple who run ultramarathons (anything longer than the traditional 26.2-mile marathon) together. Arianne and Jason Whittaker — Traverse City’s ultrarunning royalty. Running long distances, a journey of shared passions, endurance, and mental toughness, binds the Whittakers together.
Into The Blue: A Legendary 20 Years in Traverse City
This story was originally published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. In the heart of Traverse City’s Oak Park neighborhood resides a legend. A legend who’s a local hero in sustainable food systems, an avid sailor, a devoted husband who loves to run with his wife, Cindy, and, when winter blankets northern Michigan’s capital with snow, an A+ sidewalk shoveler. But there’s more to my friend Evan’s story than meets the eye.
Out 'n' About: Into the blue: Evan's legendary 20 years
In the heart of Traverse City’s Oak Park neighborhood resides a legend. A legend who’s a local hero in sustainable food systems, an avid sailor, a devoted husband who loves to run with his wife, Cindy, and, when winter blankets northern Michigan’s capital with snow, an A-plus sidewalk shoveler. But there’s more to my friend Evan’s story than meets the eye. You see, Evan has a ritual, a monthly pilgrimage that has woven him into the fabric of Traverse City’s identity for nearly two decades.
Out 'n' About: Into the backcountry at the neighborhood hill
After our second warmest December on record and a balmy start to January, I was a little worried about winter this year, but Mother Nature came through, and Hickory is open. Game on. Much like Traverse City kids learning to sail on Boardman Lake, Traverse City kids learning to ski at our neighborhood ski hill is a rite of passage — a tradition. Passing on from generation to generation a love of having fun outside with friends during the winter is a beautiful Traverse City custom.
Winter Solstice and Traverse City’s December 100
This story was originally published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. During the years of writing this Out’ n About column, I’ve encountered inspiring stories that reflect the diverse tapestry of people here in Traverse City who like to walk.
Out 'n' About: Winter Solstice and The December 100 Original
During the years of writing this Out’ n About column, I’ve encountered inspiring stories that reflect the diverse tapestry of people here in Traverse City who like to walk. From Petra von Kulajta’s 20 years of brisk commutes, to Jim Huckle’s innovative walking meetings, to Micah Bauer’s incredible thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, to Peggy Harold walking every street and alley in Traverse City during the pandemic — each is a unique tale of determination, community, and joy.
Jeanne, Luke, and aWinter Walk in Traverse City
This story was originally published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Winter walks in Traverse City are magical. They’re one of my favorite things. Not only quiet, reflective and beautiful, but they help me connect with my neighborhood and the people in it. The gentleman with the white headphones on Washington Street. The 40-something guy with the Stormy Kromer hat near Boardman Lake. The two neighbors with the little white dog at the Civic Center. The older couple on Eighth Street.
Out 'n' About: Feathers, forks, and the Turkey Trot Original
If you’re lacing up your running shoes for the Turkey Trot this morning, keep your eyes peeled for a tom on the loose. Chasing him will be a gang of four hungry — and fast — runners carrying forks. No, this won’t be a scene for the new Fast and The Feathery movie; it’s just the Bullochs — Matt, dressed as a turkey, and Kelly, Reagan, Charlie, and Teddy armed with forks — bringing a dash of humor to Traverse City’s Thanksgiving tradition.
Out 'n' About: Concrete dreams and building community at Traverse City's skatepark
A simple life hack to learn all sorts of cool things? Always stop, no matter where you are, to read the plaque. For those who haven’t stopped to read it, there’s a special plaque dedicated to Michael Dendrinos at our Civic Center that reads in part: “The development of these facilities was inspired by Mike’s wish that the youth of our area should have suitable grounds on which to play and grow.” This commemoration concerns “Mike’s Fields” — the ball fields.
Out 'n' About: Concrete dreams and building community at Traverse City's skatepark
Born and raised on the Canadian prairies, Ty is now a proud northern Michigander who lives in Traverse City’s Oak Park neighborhood with his wife and two sons. He can be reached at ty.schmidt.tcmi@gmail.com. React to this story: Love Funny Wow Sad Angry Articles Images Videos Commented
My Buddy Jack and This Once-In-A-Century Opportunity
This story was originally published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. I met Jack on March 1st, 2019. He was a fifth grader at Eastern Elementary. It was after school, on a sunny Friday afternoon, and I was at his school to interview him, his brother Max, and his friend Tripp about their quest to bike to school every day of the 2018-19 school year. I liked Jack from the get-go. Smart, funny, and thoughtful. We've been buddies ever since. Jack is the kind of kid that wants to be outside.
Out 'n' About: Venturing into the impossible: Micah's Epic Pacific Crest Trail adventure
Sometimes, discovering your limits of what's possible requires venturing into the realm of the impossible. And that's precisely what one young Traverse City man did this past summer. While his classmates were donning caps and gowns at Kresge Auditorium in June, Micah Bauer was in Campo, California, embarking on an extraordinary journey — thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). For those unfamiliar, the PCT is a staggering 2,659-mile odyssey from the Mexico–US border to British Columbia, Canada.
JZBG | Free Full-Text | The Evolution of Zoos as Conservation Institutions: A Summary of the Transition from Menageries to Zoological Gardens and Parallel Improvement of Mammalian Welfare Management
1. Introduction The role of zoos in society has expanded beyond entertainment and leisure, as present day institutions are expected to fulfill missions of conservation and public education in addition to recreation [1,2]. Because of this, modern zoos have become leaders in species preservation, a role aided by regional, national, and global conservation organizations like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) [3].
Identifying Early-Life Behavior to Predict Mothering Ability in Swine Utilizing NUtrack System
4. Discussion The results of this analysis indicate potential for early-life activity traits to serve as additional indicators of parity one reproductive performance beyond what has been known to the scientific community to date. Moreover, activity trait distribution and statistical significance validated the consistency of NUtrack as a continuous monitoring system for group-housed livestock.
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