Here's a summary of his experiences:
* Early Years: He struggled with school and attended 13 different schools in six years. He dropped out of high school at 15.
* Military Service: He served in the US Air Force from 1955 to 1959.
* Construction Work: Paulsen worked as a construction worker in Alaska for a time, building roads and structures in remote areas.
* Dog Mushing: He participated in the Iditarod, a famous sled dog race, as a musher.
* Ranching: He worked on a ranch in Montana.
* Other Jobs: He held various other jobs, including working as a logger, truck driver, and even a rodeo clown.
These diverse experiences provided Paulsen with the real-life knowledge, skills, and understanding of nature and hardship that he later incorporated into his writing.