| Staff Bios |
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Name: Michelle
Age: 23
School and Degree: Colorado State University, natural resources,
recreation and tourism
Experience: I worked for Boulder County Parks and Open Spaces for
two seasons, coached girls basketball for 5th and 6th graders, and
led outdoor field trips for elementary school kids.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Every kid has the right
to experience the beauty and wonder of the outdoors. I love working
with kids because they are so much fun and I learn just as much from
them as they (hopefully...) do from me.
Interests: Mountains, hiking running, books, traveling.
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Name: Jessica
Age: 22
School and Degree: University of St. Thomas,
psychology
Experience: My entire life has involved working
with kids and spending lots of time in the wild outdoors.
This past summer, I worked with children with mental and
physical disabilities, taking them camping, rock climbing, and to
various other activities.
I have spent a few years volunteering in school classrooms
and teaching lessons, as well as bringing city kids out to the
countryside to learn about goats, sheep and llamas.
I have also had 22 years of hands on experience romping
through forests and practicing the art of never growing up.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy:
I do not believe in growing up.
For me, one of the saddest things is meeting people who think
they are to busy or too old to swing on swings or make snow angels.
In one of his books, G.K. Chesterton says “the world will
never starve for want of wonders, but for want of wonder.”
One reason I love working with kids is because they have not
lost this sense of wonder.
They are fascinated by everything around them; and in working
with kids I am given the opportunity to both keep this wonder alive
in kids and to rekindle my own sense of wonder.
Interests:
I often wonder why it’s leaves that grow on trees instead of
tigers and why the sky is decidedly blue instead of orange.
I have developed a habit of jumping in puddles and snow-banks
whenever possible. I
find it entertaining to imitate llama sounds, to cake decorate,
cook, knit, read and finger paint.
You might find me running off to explore places, going off to
hike, bike, camp, or roller blade, and asking random people for
their life stories.
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Name:
Amy Age: 25
School and Degree: Westminster
College, Major: Elementary Education, Minor: Childhood Development
Experience:
Newfound Harbor Marine Institute, 22
experiential-based years of life as a kid, 10 of which have been spent
babysitting, teaching vacation Bible school, scouting, and laughing.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
Facilitating the learning process is a
unique opportunity I’ve grown to love. Kids constantly surprise me, making
each day of work a chance to do something meaningful with my life and to
enjoy instant entertainment. Mix in the chance to expose students to
nature and it’s hard to even call this a job!
Interests: Dominating all air
hockey challenges, being nature’s paparazzi, anything to do with the ocean
and being crafty
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Name:
Justin
Age: 30
School and Degree:
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, Sociology/Criminal
Justice
Experience:
I’ve worked one on one with special needs children in school
and home settings for five years and
two years as an adventure teacher at alternative education
schools around Philadelphia.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy:
Working with kids reminds me of my childhood and the
excitement and joy I felt when I learned something new or
experienced something for the first time.
I enjoy helping out special needs children to have them
experience new things and all the possibilities that life offers.
Interests:
Rock climbing, mountains, trees, new places and experiencing
new things. Looking at
the moon and stars in the night sky while pondering how small our
planet is in the universe and having fun!
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Name:
Jessi
Age: 25
School and Degree:
St. Lawrence University, BA in Anthropology
Experience:
I’ve spent the last 20 or so years either in the girl scouts
or working/volunteering for them.
I’ve also worked as an outdoor director as a summer camp,
consulted for a company that does teambuilding and rope course
activities, and taught at a science school in Connecticut.
In my spare time, I’ve wandered and backpacked through most
of Europe, Kenya Ecuador, the northeastern United States and
especially the Adirondacks.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy:
Kids are fun.
I’ve always been working with kids for 15 years now, on and off, and
if I can find a way to hang out in the woods introducing and
teaching kids about community and the environment forever, that’s
what I want to do.
Interests:
In my spare time, I like to hike, wander, take pictures,
sleep and watch for rainbows.
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Name:
Stephanie
Age: 27
School and Degree:
Nevada State College, Environmental and Natural Resource
Science
Experience:
I worked one year previously at Camp Grady Spruce in Possum
Kingdom Lake, Texas as an Outdoor Education instructor.
I also have substitute taught in Las Vegas for a year and
some, in Middle School and High School science classes.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I love
to teach science; I want to be able to share my excitement and
enthusiasm for science with others.
I know in today’s world kids see science as a nerdy subject
and only dorks really like it.
I totally and absolutely disagree.
To understand science is to understand the world that we live
in. I want to help kids
have an excitement for science so they don’t gain the bad feeling
towards it. “Catch them
young.” That’s what I believe.
Interests: I love reading and watching movies.
But on a great day you can find me outside either hiking or
just chilling under a tree reading.
I love to be with friends laughing and enjoying life. :o)
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Name:
Frank
Age:
22
School and Degree:
St. Joseph’s University –
Marketing, University of Metaphysical Sciences – Doctor of
Metaphysical Science (in process)
Experience:
Outdoor education on the eastern shore
of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
Why I Enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
If you live to learn you learn to live.
Life is about finding out who you are
and how to become you dreams.
I love to provide an opportunity for
kids to have a unique experience and perspective on education and to
help them discover how to live their passion.
Interests:
Beauty, excitement, martial arts, new
experiences, traveling, music, stimulating interactions with
wonderful people.
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Name: Matt
Age: 24
School and Degree: University of Iowa, Biology and
Spanish
Experience: AmeriCorps NCCC Corps Member and Team Leader, Crew
Leader for at-risk youth during summer residential program
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy:
Leaving the world a little better than I found it.
Also, I enjoy FUN.
Interests:
Badminton, Rock Polishing, Hiking, Whittling, Volleyball,
Traveling, Camping, Being of Use.
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Name:
Bip Age: 41
School and Degree: Oregon
State University, BS Liberal Studies
Experience: Corvallis Outdoor
School Program, Educational Masters work: volunteer practicum/Westside
Village Magnet School, diverse populations practicum/Early Start Program,
Editor of Young Attitude (a child-written and –driven monthly
publication), subject tutoring in multiple subjects
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
opening eyes to the teachable moment and making connections between
classroom learning and the human condition allows me the opportunity to
feel productive and make personal connections to my world. The outdoor
school environment allows a bridge between sciences and the human role in
the world. Children also keep me feeling young.
Interests: Music, art,
literature, nature
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Name: Aaron
Age: 25
School and Degree: The University of West Florida,
Psychology
Experience: 3 Years at Gulf Breeze Recreation Summer
Camp.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Be the change
you wish to see
Interests: Frisbee, Surfing, Good Music, Some bad
music, Cooking & eating good food, promoting environmental
conservation.
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Name: Brittani
Age: 22
School and Degree: University of St. Thomas; Opus
College of Business, Marketing, and Management
Experience: Taught Sunday School, worked in a 3rd
grade classroom in Montana, tutored at multiple after school
programs, worked with college freshmen for two years as an
orientation leader and then and orientation intern/coordinator. I
also have extensive work experience with international students.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy:
Sometimes the youth are tricked into thinking they are powerless
because they are young when the truth is quite the opposite. It is
important to reinforce a sense of leadership and ability to change
the world among the coming generations.
Interests: Baseball, hockey, fishing, snowmobiling,
skiing, canoeing, playing my saxophone, enjoying music, cooking,
baking, eating mass quantities of chocolate, learning new languages,
and meeting friends at coffee shops.
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Name: Alan
Age: 22
School and Degree: Iowa State University; Biology
Experience: two years as a Camp Counselor, two
years as a Leadership Leader, one year as a Leadership Manager, four
years as an Outdoor Recreation Outtrip Leader
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids: To promote
individuality and responsibility within all.
Interests: Trees, books, canoes, pink tri-cams
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Name: Sharon
Age: 24
School and Degree: College of St. Benedict/St.
John’s University; Elementary Education with a minor in Math and
French
Experience: Student teaching in 2nd and
5th grade, teach and coach Olympic style swimming,
challenge course facilitator, Upward Bound Tutor
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy:
Working with kids brings me enough excitement and laughter to last a
lifetime. I get a thrill watching them discover new things about
themselves and the world around them. This is what keeps me pursuing
such rewarding positions. I believe children learn the most from
things they can experience for themselves, which is why I choose to
teach here at High Trails.
Interests: I enjoy swimming, running, climbing,
yoga, looking at the stars, camping, singing, Frisbee, canoeing…
should I keep going? I can.
J
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Name: Dan
Age: 20
School and Degree: I'm an Intern...
Experience: One year swim lesson instructor, three
years summer camp counselor, extensive backpacking and biking.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosphy: I like
working with kids because not only do I help them learn and grow,
but I always learn and grow from my interactions with them.
Combining education with being silly and getting dirty is a great
way to reach the kids.
Interests: The woods, the mountains, snow, rain,
skiing, sleds, tubes, music, dancing, animals, life, longboarding,
skimboarding, mountainboarding, surfing, climbing, biking, playing,
frolicking, fun, friends, High Trails, backpacking, exploring,
wilderness, traveling, the unknown, history, cultures, science,
education, kayaking, white water rafting, relaxing, spelunking,
swimming, cliff jumping, artsy craftsy stuff.
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Name: Ange
Age: 22
School and Degree: Trinity University; Anthropology
Experience: Four summers camp counseling in Texas
Hill Country (heading up the residential leadership program).
Volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosphy: Kids are funny.
I live for the “aha” moment when kids learn something new. It never
gets old and kids make life an exciting adventure.
Interests: Hiking, Swimming, camping, digging for
rocks, reading, and enjoying life!
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Name: Jamie
Age: 25
School and Degree: Long Island University;
Environmental Studies
Experience: The past two summers I have worked at
camps as the Sports and Phys Ed instructor. I have also worked as an
instructor for weeklong camps as an environmental instructor for a
non-profit environmental advocacy group.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I
enjoy working with kids because they are the future.
Interests: I like baseball, longboarding, hiking,
the ocean, music, and seafood.
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Name: Kelly
Age: 22
School and Degree: University of California, Irvine
Experience: Wildlife rehabilitator for six years at
Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center of Orange County. Biotech for two
summers at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge where I monitored
migratory water flow.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosphy:
Everything is more exciting and new to kids. I love watching them
and have new experiences and wonder what they feel with these
experiences.
Interests: Birds, white water rafting, kayaking,
painting, wildlife rehabilitation, watching old musicals!, climbing
trees, eating chocolate
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Name:
Bryan
Age: 29
School and Degree:
University of Colorado, Boulder.
Experience:
teacher, camp counselor, snowboard
instructor, dive master, soccer coach, raft guide.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
Working with kids makes it easy to
laugh and play and makes you feel like you did well at the end of
the day.
Interests:
Outdoors, music, art, good books, fun
people.
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Name: Mitch
Age: 25
School and Degree: Castleton State College, Political Science
and Journalism, Minor in Art
Experience: Mitch spent four years as a Camp Counselor, one
year outdoor education and a winter and a spring at Green Mountain
Children’s Center as a class room Teacher. 25 years of love for the
outdoors..
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: The greatest
education is nature. There is more truth in a sunset than in all the
wisdom of mankind. Working with kids is the most fun, challenging
and rewarding job out there.
Interests: Skiing, art, running, music and books.
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Name:
Milt
Age: 28
School and Degree: Hope College, BA English
Experience: Milt taught high school English in Battle Creek,
MI, trained teachers in Mongolia and taught at a hogwon in Korea
before journeying to California.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Walls and adults
tend to bore me. Nature and kids are fun to work with.
Interests: I enjoy ponies, unicorns, kittens and rainbows.
Rambo is my hero. I am also intrigued by the idiosyncratic
arrangements of twenty-six shapes guided by about five pieces of
punctuation.
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Name: Tynan
Age: 23
School and Degree: James Madison University;
International Affairs and Spanish
Experience: Six summers working with kids in
residential/adventure camp settings, three as a wilderness trips
leader. Spring season as a challenge course
facilitator/environmental educator.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Kids
keep you young, honest, and active. They offer fresh perspectives
and interesting ideas. “We don’t inherit the world from our
ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Interests: Whitewater kayaking, snowboarding,
hiking big mountains, foreign languages, travel, chips and salsa,
tracking dragons and other dragon related adventures.
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Name: Drew
Age: 22
School and Degree: University of Virginia, BA in
Biology and History
Experience: Two summers with Camp Invention,
various after school tutoring programs in Virginia, giving
historical tours at Monticello and Sully Plantation to school groups
and families
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: “The
boys [and girls!] of the rising generation are to be the men [and
women!] of the next, and the sole guardians of the principles we
deliver over to them.” -Thomas Jefferson...mostly.
That and kids are just good, old-fashioned fun.
Interests: Running, reading, hiking, biking,
frisbee, guitar, cooking and dabbling.
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Name: Mary Helen
Age: 24
School and Degree: University of North
Carolina at Charlotte
Experience: Served as an Americorps NCCC - Corps
Member and Team Leader working on projects focusing on environment,
disaster relief and youth development
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: There
is no better way to contribute!
Kids are so much fun!
Interests: Hiking, reading, camping, cooking,
drinking coffee, exploring and being around awesome people
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Name:
Joe
Age:
21
School and Degree:
Shippensbug University of PA –
Geoenvironmental Studies B.S.
Experience:
Eight years at Goose Pond Scout
Reservation ranging from Nature Staff to Outpost Director and other
positions.
Two weeks of National Camping School.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
Passing on my outdoor experience to as
many kids as I can is the most rewarding responsibility and always
makes me feel good at the end of the day.
Interests:
Reading, hiking, climbing, camping, so
on and so forth.
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Name: Will
Age: 23
School and Degree: Whittier College, Bachelor of
Arts in History with a focus in Latin America
Experience: A native of New Haven, CT, home of the world's
best pizza and birth place of the hamburger (if you don't believe
me...watch the History Channel). I moved to California n the fall of
2004 to attend the same college where Tricky Dick (Nixon...) went. I
studied history and art o the groove and played in bands such as
"Trees Deep" and "The Voodoo Fix".
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: I am nothing but
a big kid myself and love to learn about the natural world and how
to live happily and sustainably within it. Being paid to take kids
on hikes in the San Bernardino National Forest is, quite literally,
a walk in the park.
Interests: Playing and writing music, snowboarding, camping
and hiking, waterskiing, actin' a fool, starting peaceful
revolutions, driving school busses to music festivals.
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Name: Natalie
Age: 28
School and Degee: California State University,
Fullerton. BA in
Anthropology and Liberal Studies, minor in Philosophy
Experience: I worked for the City of Rancho
Cucamonga as a site supervisor for adult and youth sports programs,
helped run a summer camp and was a youth volleyball league director
for three summers. I
worked at a sports cam run by two of my former teachers and spent
this past summer at Camp Nawakwa.
I’ve been teaching throughout the past four years at Monte
Vista Elementary in Montclair, CA as a long-term substitute, working
mostly with small groups of students that were below grade level
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Kids
are our future and our future needs positive energy.
I like sharing that positivity and teaching children how they
can make a difference in their lives by staying positive and that
they can have an impact on a larger scale by following something as
simple as “The Golden Rule.”
If we can educate them about how life needs to be lived to
preserve the planet with a little love, creativity and fun they will
take that knowledge with them.
Kids make me laugh lots and always teach me more about
myself.
Interests: Sunrises, sunsets, and being outside on
a hike/walk during either.
I camp, snowboard, bake, write, paint, sculpt, and love
swimming in the sea past the break.
I also travel and intend to spend the next few years
wandering the world passing along that positive energy.
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Name:
Mark Age: 85
School and Degree: Fitchburg
State College; BA Professional Writing
Experience: I am fortunate to
have hiked/camped/and backpacked throughout America for the past 20 years.
Taught children ages 3-13 in Montessori settings for the past 6 years.
Coached children in a variety of sports – hockey and football included,
voluntarily since 1993. Former news and sports writer.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
A child’s enthusiasm, joy, spontaneity, and fun-loving attitude fuel my
zeal for Outdoor Science Education. I believe all children deserve to
stroll through America’s wondrous backcountry areas, learning firsthand
about nature and the environment. Besides, kids are super-cool and awesome
people!
Interests: Hiking, camping,
backpacking, motorcycling, stick and ball sports, ice skating, skiing, and
mountain biking; also known to hug (or try to) Giant Sequoias and other
trees.
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Name: Emily
Age:
25
School and Degree:
Appalachain State University BFA: Painting and Printmaking
Experience: I have had a wide variety of outdoor
jobs (as well as a few behind a desk!).
I am grateful for all of them, from being a camp counselor
and Activities Director for the YMCA, to building trails in Arizona,
to most recently, working as a naturalist and raft guide in Alaska.
I hope to continue working in Outdoor Education, collecting
knowledge of diverse ecosystems in order to better communicate the
complexity of the planet to both kids and adults.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy:
I enjoy using experiential outdoor education as a vehicle to
communicate personal empowerment to youth.
Beyond the raw information we are handling, time on the trail
and in the cabins can be profoundly transformative in terms of world
view. My hope is to
collaborate with youth towards individual ownership of their
choices, creative problem solving, and an awareness of personal,
social and environmental impact.
Interests: I love getting out of there, getting my
hands dirty, waking up outside.
From hiking to bicycle touring, back packing to rafting,
painting to writing, reading to just being, I want minutes to mean
something ad I want to be awake for them.
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Name:
Serena Age: 25
School and Degree:
New York University, B.S. in Communication Studies and Graphic Design
Experience:
after school program counselor, lifeguard, 5+ years caring for children in
NYC and various other places
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
“Live for the moment and never let the moment pass you by”. I love
the energy that kids carry with them and how contagious positivity can be.
Interests:
swimming,
hiking, arts & crafts, music, snowboarding, telling stories, cooking
really great pescetarian food, laughing, never feeling old!
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Name: Dan
Age: 32
School and Degree: University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga
Experience: 11 years of teaching outdoor and adventure education in
a variety of settings
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: They
challenge me as much as I challenge them. They love to explore new
things and get so excited about the simplest experiences. Their
inquisitiveness keeps me on my toes and their enthusiasm helps me
see the beauty in the world that many adults seem to have lost
interest in.
Interests: The Outdoors and all
the amazing things that call it home, walking, biking, reading,
climbing, teaching, learning, laughing, camping and seeing things
for the very first time.
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Name: Elliot
Age:
24
School and Degree: Denison University, emphasis in Religion
Experience: I have worked as a residential summer camp counselor with
kids from 8-18. I am also a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership
School with a semester as an Outdoor Educator. For the last year and a
half I've worked at a political consulting firm in Washington DC.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: I enjoy working with kids
because I get the opportunity to share with them my passion for the
outdoors and my interest in preserving it. Also...what better way to
stay young than to be close to those that are!
Interests: Music, playing guitar, hanging out in the backcountry, the
Chicago Cubettes.
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Name:
Justin
Age: 32
School and Degree: Kent State University/English
and Media Literacy
Experience: Boy Scout troops leader, eighth-grade
Language Arts and Reading teacher, nature studies and bird walks
trip leader for summer camp, previous High Trails instructor.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Youth
is tomorrow’s hope.
Interests: Sushi, birds, anime, hiking, camping,
traveling, snorkling.
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Name:
Chelsea
Age: 22
School and Degree: University of Mary
Washington/Art History
Experience: Babysitting (12 years), Charleston Museum education
department (outdoor summer camp), Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
education department, Czech Republic service/vacation bible school.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: I
enjoy working with kids for the simple reason that I get to be as
goofy as possible while teaching.
Interests: Frisbee, music, my new recorder,
site-seeing, adventures, traveling, coloring, movies and food!!
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Name: Jeremy
Age: 23
School and Degree: Johnson State College,
VT/Outdoor Education
Experience: A lifer in the summer camp tradition of
Frost Valley YMCA, led backpacking trips, rafting, canoeing,
snowshoeing (at Ben & Jerry’s!). Trips all around the East. Taught
percussion ensembles for school and camp groups in Vermont.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: You
know what you love when you have to continually tell yourself, “I
can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this!”
Interests: Getting funky, multi-tasking,
schmoozing, riding any board I can get my feet on. Pretty much
mountains, deserts and beaches… I love California. So hard!
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Name: Nick
Age: 23
School and Degree: Franklin College/Secondary
Social Studies Education: History, Economics and Sociology: content
areas to teach.
Experience: Worked at my local parks and recreation
department for 4 summers. Worked multiple youth football camps and
functions. Grew up always loving and enjoying the outdoors.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: I
enjoy working with kids because watching a child learn and grow
reminds me everyday why I am in the best profession in the world.
Interests: Hanging out with friends, sports,
movies, music, hiking, boating, canoe trips, camping, sitting around
a campfire with friends, and anything else that allows me to spend
time with good people.
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Name:
Johanna Age: 24
School and Degree:
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, B.S. of Psychology in 2006
Experience:
worked for a mental health agency conducting group and individual meetings
in various school districts with students grades 6-12 as part of the
Student Assistance Program, also babysat over the last year for 2
elementary-aged children.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
I enjoy working with kids because they bring out the childish side
of me. Watching kids explore and discover new things reminds me that life
is an exploration and that it doesn’t have to stop just because you get
older. Children help inspire me so I can believe it is my dusty to create
more opportunities for them to learn.
Interests:
My interests
include enjoying the outdoors, loving sunshine and blue skies. I love
being with friends and being a goofball. I love music and dancing, trying
new things and challenging myself. I love coffee and chocolate ice cream!
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Name: Steph
Age: 22
School and Degree: University of Vermont/Recreation
Management
Experience: Babysitting, 3 years as Outing Club
Leader at the University of Vermont, Wilderness First Responder.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Kids
are carefree and will be themselves without worrying what anyone
else thinks. They want to learn as much as they can about the world
around them. I feel that kids are truly the future and I am
super-excited to teach them how they can help protect the planet
while having a lot of fun at the same time!
Interests: Backpacking, hiking, downhill skiing, eating good healthy
food, hanging out with friends, music, animals, family, Disney and
having fun outside.
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Name: Eric
Age: 24
School and Degree: Towson University/Business
Administration
Experience: Lifeguard for 5 years, Wilderness First
Responder, alumni of Costa Rican Rainforest Outward Bound, Fall
2007.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Not
only can you teach so much to kids, but you can also learn a lot. In
my heart I am still a kid who loves to have fun and laugh. The
greatest feeling in the world is teaching a kid something new while
also having a ton of fun.
Interests: Going on adventures, hiking,
snowboarding, trying new things, learning as much as I can,
traveling, playing any sport, comedy and laughing, and always trying
to make other people laugh.
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Name: Ari
Age: 22
School and Degree: Washington University in St.
Louis/Environmental Studies and Marketing
Experience: Working as a camp counselor for both
day and overnight camps, residential advisor at Wash U, STL Urban
Corps, sustainibility committee.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Kids
are our future.
Interests: Scuba diving, swimming, dancing,
singing, playing piano, camping, reading, internet marketing, being
outdoors, jogging, the ocean, and generally anything that involves
laughing and having a good time!
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Name:
Amanda
Age: 25
School and Degree: Concordia University of
Wisconsin/Computer Information Systems
Experience: Program intern at Springhill Camps and
outdoor education at Camp Lutherhaven.|
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Kids
deserve better than video games.
Interests: I enjoy board games, sewing, sci-fi
movies and trees.
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Name: Evan
Age: 23
School and Degree: University of Hawaii at Hilo
Experience: Lifeguard (6 years), lead and
participated in conservation trips for spring break while in Hawaii,
day camp counselor with YMCA for 3 years.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: I
enjoy working kids because they brighten up my day. By teaching them
about the outdoors I feel that I’m making an impact that lasts for
generations.
Interests: Anything that gets my adrenaline pumping: surfing,
snowboarding, climbing, soccer, football, rode a bull twice. I also
love going to bookstores for hours on end.
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Name:
Emma
Age:
20
School and Degree:
Antioch College /(In Progress) Early
Childhood Education.
Experience:
I have worked with Blind and disabled
children education at the Clovernook Center for the Blind in Ohio
for three years.
I also enjoyed working at an outdoor
education camp called the Cincinnati Nature Center for three
summers.
I also worked with children in an after
school program with Family Service Agency for two years.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
I love working with children because
their perspective on life is so refreshing and honest.
I also really enjoy how much fun I have
when being silly and goofy while teaching.
My philosophy is learning by
experience, when you get your hands dirty you really experience the
outdoors for what it is.
Interests:
I love to cook and bake whenever I have
free time.
I love bike riding, scuba diving,
playing soccer, swimming, going to the ocean, gardening, reading and
listening and dancing to music.
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Name:
Stephen
Age:
24
School and Degree: Northern Michigan
University; B.S. Environmental Science and Policy
Experience:
Spent a year at the Cincinnati Nature center as an education
intern and camp counselor.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
Kids are hilarious! I
enjoy being able to hike in the woods and open kids eyes to the cool
things going on in their outdoor environment.
Interests:
Playing guitar, skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking
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Name:
Chris
Age:
28
School and Degree:
University of Wales Aberystwyth, BSC Countryside Management, Post Grad
Certificate in Education for Geography.
Experience:
Oudoor Education intern-Sierra Nevadas,
Adventure Director-Nova Scotia, Overseas Expedition Leader, Mexico, Venezuela,
India, Geography teacher, Wales, England
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
The world is an awesome and diverse place. I love sharing that with
people.
Interests:
climbing, mountain
biking, backpacking, mountaineering, surfing and anything that is cool outside
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Name: Bryan
Age: 25
School and Degree: Purdue University/English
education
Experience: Taught high school English and
Journalism for 2 years and have been learning from nature and the
world around me my entire life.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Kids
are our future; to expand their horizons, to have them realize
different perspectives and to open their eyes to the world around
them will lead to a beautiful future.
Interests: Fishing, literature, sports, music,
outdoor activities, family and friends.
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Name:
Tara
Age: 24
School and Degree: Saint Michael’s College/Biology
Experience: Four years as Wilderness Program leader
leading trips for college students in backpacking, hiking, kayaking,
and snowshoeing, 7 years summer camp counselor and 2 years as
program director for summer camps.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: Life
is supposed to be fun. Kids always like to have fun and that’s why I
love this job! My goal is to mentor young people and guide them
towards living healthy and happy lifestyles. I also want to help
them realize the value of being responsible and active members of
their communities.
Interests: Hiking, skiing, rock climbing, sea
kayaking, traveling, music and dance, digging in the dirt and
growing my own food, going on adventures with friends, cooking,
being both near the ocean and the mountains and ultimate Frisbee.
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Name:
Emily
Age:
23
School and Degree: University of Mary
Washington; B.A. English and Studio Art
Experience:
University Orientation leader, Hemlock Overlook Center for
Outdoor Education, multiple and various sundry camps and babysitting
jobs.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
Working with kids means I get to run around the woods and act
like a complete goofball having a great time everyday and call it
work. Kids teach us so
much, I really think that the influence that kids have on us is
equal to the influence we have on them.
Interests:
Photography, jewelry making, reading, fishing, arts and
crafts in general, wearing ridiculous outfits, stargazing, board
games/games in general, singing out of tune, and adventures.
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Name:
Lindsay
Age:
23
School and Degree:
Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ)/Parks and Recreation
Management, Outdoor Education emphasis
Experience:
Spent a year in between college (2006-2007) volunteering with
Mennonite Voluntary Service in AmeriCorps in Fresno, CA, leading and
assisting, river and outdoor education programs. As part of my
internship in 2009, I led student field trips and activities for the
Thorne Ecological Institute in Boulder, CO. After graduation, I
spent my summer as an outdoor education field instructor for the
Thorne Natural Science School in Boulder.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
Kids keep my smiling and laughing which brings even more joy to my
day. I enjoy learning from their fresh perspectives and watching the
look of awe in their eyes as they experience something for the first
time. Sharing love and respect I have for nature with children truly
gives me hope and joy for the future.
Interests:
Enjoying nature’s playground – any and all outdoor adventures. I
also like stargazing, watching sunsets, listening to and playing
music, chocolate, cooking, reading, world travel, and really, really
like laughing! Smiling is the best.
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Name: Jana
Age: 27
School and Degree:
Brevard College, Wilderness Leadership and Experiential
Education
Experience: Summer
camp counselor, WIlderness Therapy Field Instructor, Teacher
Aide in an alternative school, Outdoor Educator in Western North
Carolina.
Why I enjoy working with
kids/my philosophy: Kids keep my spirit alive when I
see the innocence in their faces when they learn something or
try something new.
Interests: Hanging
out with friends and family, walruses, live music, and chillaxin'.
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Name: Megan
Age: 21
School and Degree: Still working...Warren Wilson
College...I'm technically an Intern.
Experience: I volunteered for one season at Long
Branch Summer Camp at the Cincinnati Nature Center, and worked as a
Camp Counselor for an additional season.
I also spent one year as a teacher’s aid at Mountain Area
Child and Family Center.
In the summer I am a raft guide, which allows me to plan &
participate in back country and river trips.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
Learning is a process that does not always occur in a
classroom. I dig outdoor
experiential teaching because it is hands on, and fresh air is not
just for break time. I
enjoy working with kids because their energy gives me energy.
I like that kids are open minded and wide-eyed.
I love being silly and kids get it.
Kids are pretty resilient and positive, which are behaviors I
try to model.
Interests: Boating, dancing, singing, playing
guitar, going to festivals, hot springs, camping, traveling,
yoga, jazzercise, hiking, biking, climbing, making jewelry, reading,
photography, and vegetables.
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Name: Laurel
Age: 23
School and Degree: Whittier College, major in
psychology
Experience: I worked as a teacher's assistant in a
preschool in Denmark. I was an assistant teacher in a middle school
and developed and implemented after school activities. I taught
English to young students in Costa Rica and assisted in bouldering.
I also worked on organic sustainable farms in Costa Rica. I was the
lead rehabilitation therapist for adults and conducted group therapy
at a local hospital.
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy: I
enjoy working with kids because they are curious, imaginative, and
energetic. They truly are our future, and the information
learner at High Trails has the potential to influence their
lifestyles and potentially all of those around them. Being with
children is a joy and a challenge; to see the world through their
eyes is fascinating.
Interests: I enjoy yoga, reading, writing, walking
my dog, cooking, dancing, and music. I also love to travel and see
new places. |
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Name: Cheri
Age: 24
School and Degree: Indiana University, degree in
interior design and gender studies.
Experience: I've been an English tutor in Madrid,
Spain, a volleyball coach, a volleyball instructor, and I've been
babysitting for many years...
Why I enjoy working with kids/my philosophy:
Getting to experience new activities, people and cultures is an
exciting part of life and I suggest everyone try it out!
Interests: Traveling, reading, outdoor recreation,
new activities, photography.
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