"Driving the Defender is not about conquering the environment, it's about connecting with it" explains Robert Wilson with a smile. The warm tranquil husband and father is not necessarily the driver you picture when you see him imposing his Defender 110 standing tall on 33" tires, but the two make a charismatic duo.

A weekend at Destination Defender offered Robert the opportunity to find the connection he was looking for, with three days of hiking, boating, driving experiences and most importantly, a chance to share stories with fellow off-road enthusisats. "A cool thing about Defender owners," he explains, They aren't cliquey. Everybody's enthusiastic about their vehicles and what they use them for. They want to share knowledge.

The weekend promised clear skies and 70-degree weather - but the forecast had a surprise in store with a sudden downpour. For Robert, this made no difference. He brought along muck boots, just in case. "I choose to be adaptable. That's what capability is all about. Things don't always go as planned - you just embrace it."

Adaptability has always been in Robert's nature; he was raised with passion and respect for the outdoors. "I was in the woods before I could walk. That's where it started. I learned to be less reactionary." he reminisces. It's here he finds space to find peace after a nine to five spent navigating complex issues and cometing egos. "It's like part of myself is always waiting out there."

Acknowledging all that the outdoors has given him, he now looks to return the favor, and "give voice to the voiceless." This often takes the shape of using his Defender to volunteer, hauling donations to local wildlife refuges and animal shelters. He also takes pride in educating others on respecting the trails while enjoying them to the fullest. "You can leave things behind in the forest to prove you were there" he explains, "Or you can leave that place the same, if not better, for the next person to enjoy."

Robert says his Defender is his partner in connecting to the world in a purposeful way. It helps him balance his desire to preserve what's beyond the road while also enjoying the thrill of driving down those unpaved paths. And this mindset hasn't slowed Robert down on the trails. As he plans his next move at Destination Defender he adds, "I'm really looking forward to the off-road driving course. I can't wait to see what my Defender can handle."