After 34 years as a CPS nationally board certified physical
education teacher, Gary Wojton left Peterson Elementary School
and was ready for a change. A move to Scottsdale, Arizona, in
2008 could have had all the makings of a sleepy retirement, but
Gary wasn’t looking to slow down. He immediately landed a job
with the Scottsdale Unified School District as an instructional
assistant, tutoring reading and/or math, and then set out on
his own path of learning.

A lifelong athlete, Gary developed a passion for hiking, and used
the Arizona wilderness as his personal classroom, educating
himself about the Sonoran Desert. He put his teaching skills to
work and shares his knowledge and experience with elementary
students, helping them gain a firsthand understanding of hiking
etiquette and safety and an appreciation for Desert wildlife. He
takes first graders at Laguna Elementary on desert walks and
leads Scout groups of all ages on guided hikes to explore plants
and cacti. His Family Walk program has become a popular auction
item at annual PTO fund raisers.

Gary has traveled the McDowell Mountain
Trails in Scottsdale, enjoyed trips to Sedona and even hiked the
Grand Canyon (from top to bottom and back to the top again, a
17-mile, 9.5 hour journey). “I try to hike every other day during
the summer months and 2-3 days a week during the school year,” he
explains. “Being a former Physical Education Teacher, I have a
firm belief in staying active throughout one’s lifetime. The
opportunity to ‘retire’ has given me a chance to develop a new
passion and explore an entirely new environment and to share it
with a whole new generation of students. I love being outdoors,
literally pushing myself to new heights. I have met so many
people on the trails and just love it when I can share some of my
knowledge of the desert with them.”