My passion for the outdoors began in Girl Scouts and summer camp- with lots of opportunities to explore nature with backpacking trips and canoeing adventures. After college, I bought a one way ticket to San Diego and started my career as an outdoor educator- working for companies like the Boojum Institute for Experiential Education, Colorado Mountain Club and Big City Mountaineers. I lead multi-day trips, base camp courses for first time campers, high and low ropes courses, and nature education classes. I took 5 months off during that time to complete a through hike of the Appalachian Trail back home on the east coast. Currently, I work in land management as part of the City of Westminster’s Open Space team. I am thrilled to support Women’s Wilderness and ensure that their programming is available for generations of adventurous people now and in the future.
I currently live in Arvada with my husband Andrew and two large rescue dogs, Whiskey and Luna. I love hiking, paddling, fly fishing, gardening and throwing on a potter’s wheel.
The outdoors has always been a place where I have felt most myself. I have dedicated my career to sharing this love and protecting precious wilderness areas for recreation as well as the health of our planet. More recently, the outdoors has been a co-regulating space for me and my little one. Watching her explore and seeing the impact of nature already in her young life reaffirms my desire to spend my time either outdoors or fighting for everyone’s right to nature.
Being a board member with Women’s Wilderness has meant a lot of me over the years- community, purpose and a chance to give of my time and talents to a cause near and dear to my heart. I have made friends in this journey that I know will outlast my board term and I hope my efforts to support the mission of the organization leaves Women’s Wilderness even better than when I found it- much like any other adventure.
Patricia (she, her, hers) has served as a diversity practitioner for 15+ years leading institutional efforts to champion inclusion and equity. Focused primarily in higher education, she has served as a flagship director for multicultural centers, social justice spaces, and other identity-based support services for marginalized student communities. She also focuses on inclusion efforts in volunteer management and philanthropic efforts. To combat the fatigue of getting into "good trouble" (as the late John Lewis would say), she spends her time outdoors on her mountain bike, in waders and fly rod, paddling, and car camping in National Parks.
I founded Firefly Partners in 2007 and have more than 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector. During my tenure at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, I started our first online action network and helped build a database of more than 500,000 pro-choice supporters and helped organize the March for Women's Lives in 2004. I am deeply passionate about our work at Firefly and the organization’s we support. I love to hear what motivates our clients and to think of creative ways our team can help them move their missions forward.
As Firefly’s fearless leader, I set the strategic vision for the company, keep up with the latest in digital marketing and social impact trends, and support our team so we can continue to do great work for our clients. From local politics to reproductive rights to making outdoor recreation more accessible, I am a champion for progressive causes. I live in Boulder, Colorado with my two kids, my preferred mode of transportation is a bicycle, and I have a B.A. in History from the University of Oregon Honors College and an M.A. in Public Policy with a concentration in Women’s Studies from George Washington University.
Julie has worked in the nonprofit sector for thirty years in various capacities including as
a social worker, legislative and policy advocate for LGBT rights, and Julie co-founded the
Colorado Nonprofit Social Enterprise Exchange in 2012. For the past fifteen years Julie has worked in philanthropy as a program officer, foundation consultant and philanthropic advisor on both a national and local level. Julie serves on the board of directors for Prodigy Venture and is excited to join the board of directors for Women’s Wilderness. In her free time, Julie spends as much time outdoors as is possible and is an avid mountain biker and Crossfitter and dabbles in hiking, rock climbing, and skiing.
Aimee is a nonprofit development professional with experience in the outdoor stewardship and youth development sectors. She is currently the Development Manager at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, where she manages foundation grants and an individual giving program. Aimee found her place in the outdoors, fishing the lakes of Minnesota with her family and hiking the mountains of Colorado with her husband and friends. She is passionate about creating opportunities for girls and women to reach their goals and sharing her love of the outdoors with those who have not had the opportunity to find their own place in nature. Aimee spends her free time reading, volunteering with folks experiencing homelessness, and exploring with her husband, Ian, and two dogs, Banjo and Koda.
Everyone deserves to find their place in the outdoors—to feel safe and know that they belong. I grew up with bold women who helped me see my potential, and I cannot imagine where I would be today if they had not been there to support me. I hope that my work with Women's Wilderness can provide this same sense of support and security for the individuals we serve.
There is a myth that the outdoors is free and open to everyone. In reality, barriers to accessing the outdoors, like the cost of travel and equipment, getting time off from work, and feeling unsafe, prohibit many folks from enjoying the benefits of nature. For me, being in nature has added so much joy and peace to my life, so I am thrilled to serve on the board with Women’s Wilderness to help more folks feel welcomed and empowered outdoors.
I’m a passionate marketing professional with over 10 years of experience creating bold, memorable brand campaigns and events that inspire action. As the Local Marketing Program Manager at REI Co-op, I thrive on bringing unique and memorable community activations that spark connection and adventure.
My love for the outdoors was ignited at the summit of Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks, where I realized that the world was full of bigger mountains to climb—literally and figuratively. That realization led me to Colorado, where I’ve made my home and continue to fuel my adventurous spirit. I’m deeply committed to supporting Women’s Wilderness and its incredible mission to empower individuals through transformative outdoor experiences. I truly believe the outdoors has a unique ability to heal, challenge, strengthen, and unite us.
Outside of work, you can find me on the slopes, paddleboarding, or training for my next physical challenge. I live in Denver with my fiancé, KJ, and our rescue dog, Kingsley.
I choose to support Women's Wilderness because their mission aligns with my values and experiences. As a BIPOC individual, I wish I had access to such programs growing up, and I want to help raise awareness about the opportunities they provide. I believe in the transformative power of the outdoors for healing, growth, and empowerment, and I see nature as a space that teaches valuable life lessons, builds strength, and fosters unity. Women’s Wilderness' commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for girls, women, and non-binary individuals is especially meaningful to me, as I recognize the importance of feeling supported and included in outdoor spaces.
Leah (she/her) has lived in Colorado for over twenty years and loves being outside. She believes the outdoors should be accessible for everyone and is thrilled to advance diversity and inclusion in the outdoors with Women’s Wilderness. Leah serves as the executive assistant to the senior vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Colorado Boulder. She has an MBA from CU Boulder, where she focused on sustainability and entrepreneurship, and a BA from Colorado State University. Before her current role at CU, she worked in telecommunications at Lumen Technologies in financial assurance and project management. She has also worked with NGOs that provide adult education classes and domestic violence victims assistance. Leah loves hiking, camping, riding bikes, playing tennis, and adventuring with her partner Osman.
Keerigan (she/her) is a nonprofit development professional specializing in individual giving, event planning, and database management. Her work is shaped by a background in anthropology and environmental sustainability and a lifelong connection to the outdoors. Originally from the East Coast, her love for nature began in childhood while exploring the woods of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and deepened in college while farming with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms in Maine and California.
She has worked across a range of nonprofit sectors, including women’s transformational recovery, environmental stewardship, education and mental health. In her free time, Keerigan enjoys hiking, traveling, crafting and spending time with her partner and their cat, Bug. She is passionate about community centric fundraising, mutual aid and cultivating transformational partnerships, and is a firm believer that local action is essential to achieving a just, equitable, and sustainable world.
Kriste is a writer, speaker, trail running coach and outdoorist. Her work in the field of equity and inclusion in nature combines her passions of speaking and facilitating instructional workshops that connect underrepresented communities to new, empowering narratives of engagement and adventure.
Marley (she/her) grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, connecting with the natural world through her neighborhood parks and car camping with family. When she moved to Denver for college, new friends expanded her world of what adventure means, cultivating her long-term passion for outdoor recreation. Professionally, Marley has spent over 25 years engaging communities in wildlife conservation education, as well as evaluating environmental education programs and measuring impact. Working for Women’s Wilderness is a meaningful intersection of Marley’s passion for outdoor recreation and her commitment to equity, access, and inclusion for individuals and communities historically excluded from experiences in and with the natural world. Marley lives in Westminster with her spouse, daughter, and perfect kitty. Free time for Marley is spent mountain biking, running, snowboarding, floating our gorgeous desert rivers, reading, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and volunteering with a local racing company.
Steph (she/her) is a writer, coach, world-traveler, and truth-seeker. Growing up, she would get lost in reading books and found solace staring at Yosemite’s towering granite walls. Nature has always been a place where she could both reconnect to and meet new parts of herself; which is one of the many reasons she’s passionate about facilitating powerful outdoor experiences for others.
She’s spent the past 7 years working in the coaching industry and childcare, where she applied person-centered, social justice, and sustainability lenses to her work.
Always curious about learning new skills, she first came into contact with Women’s Wilderness in 2017, when she signed up for an outdoor rock climbing class. For the following year (2017-2018) she helped out with social media efforts, wrote guest blogs, and attended different community events as a spokesperson for Women’s Wilderness.
After working as Gear & Transportation Intern in Summer of 2022 she's excited to continue being a part of the team and helping the organization run more smoothly.
Savina grew up in Patagonia, Argentina. Surrounded by the immensity and beauty of that landscape, from a young age, she developed a sense of belonging in nature and a feeling of responsibility for its protection. Once in Colorado, Savina completed her Master's degree in International Disaster Psychology and specialized in working with refugee and immigrant children and youth. As the Outdoor G.I.R.L.S. Manager, Savina is excited to support immigrant and refugee girls in finding community as they discover nature’s ability to offer joy and healing.
Originally from the “snow belt” of upstate New York, Lisa was drawn to Colorado and just had a feeling she would love being here. Her intuition was right! The Army brought her to Colorado and she never left. Retired from the male-dominated fire service, Lisa found strength and support throughout her career by networking with other women firefighters, and wishes to do the same type of women networking in the outdoor industry. Her goal is to welcome and introduce women of all colors to the beauty and benefits of the outdoors, and she occasionally nerds out on wildlife, plants, rocks, stars, and weather, taking those around her along for the ride with nature apps and reference books. She also actually loves the solace of tinkering in the gear room, where she organizes and repairs program equipment. Free time will find Lisa enjoying hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, all season camping (say yes to winter!), and playing ice hockey. A lifelong learner, she holds degrees in zoology, healthcare science, outdoor education, and park ranger technology. Lisa is also an instructor for the WW Trailblazers affinity group.
Linnea grew up in Sacramento, California and moved to Denver in 2021, after checking off some bucket list items that include hiking the PCT, living in New Zealand and getting her Master’s in Adventure Education. She has been venturing outside since three years old, when her mom started taking her skiing, backpacking, and rafting in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Her outdoorsy childhood in combination with helping raise her brother with severe autism, is what inspired her to start working in the outdoor equity space.
Linnea is stoked to work with Women’s Wilderness to increase access to the outdoors and help facilitate outdoor experiences for youth who have faced barriers to the outdoors! She believes in the power of natural spaces to help people grow, overcome challenges, and learn new ways to process.
When she isn’t working, you can find her skiing, mountain biking, hiking, or attempting to make delicious food. There is always a tupperware filled with baked goods in her kitchen.
Community Programs Coordinator - Girls Lead for Life
Sam
Community Programs Coordinator - Girls Lead for Life
Sam grew up on a ranch in Colorado, where she developed a deep love for the outdoors through horseback riding, hiking, and camping during the summers, and skiing in the winters. Her passion for nature and adventure flourished during her seven years at Geneva Glen Camp, where she worked as a Camp Counselor before becoming Head Wrangler, leading barn programs and mentoring campers. While attending college in Bozeman, Montana, Sam discovered climbing and backpacking, finding joy in the challenge of these activities and the sense of community they fostered. Her love for outdoor adventures blended with a commitment to mental health and youth empowerment through her volunteer work with Big Sky Youth Empowerment, where she mentored children and advocated for mental wellness through outdoor experiences. After graduation, Sam pursued her dream of becoming a skilled outdoor leader by moving to New Zealand to earn certifications in rock climbing and backpacking guiding. Now, working with Women’s Wilderness is a dream come true. She is dedicated to making outdoor recreation more accessible and empowering young girls to connect with nature, build self-confidence, and discover a lasting sense of power and resilience. In her free time, Sam enjoys climbing, reading, camping, trail riding with her family, and playing board games.
Alexa (she/her/ella) grew up in Colorado, but her passion for the outdoors, conservation, and wildlife truly began when she attended the University of Colorado Boulder in 2020. Living near the Flatirons and the many natural landscapes surrounding Boulder, and being among the relatively small percentage of women of color who experienced those spaces, helped broaden her perspective on belonging, access, and impact in the outdoors. Since then, Alexa has had the honor of using her perspective and skills as an outdoor enthusiast to encourage and support others in her community in discovering what the outdoors has to offer. In her free time, she enjoys climbing both indoors and outdoors, reading, birdwatching, and spending quality time with friends and family. She is excited and grateful to work with Women’s Wilderness, an organization whose values are deeply meaningful to her. The mission inspires her not only to see her own potential in the outdoors, but also to help ensure that people from all communities have the opportunity to experience these spaces.
Evan (she/her/hers) is from Illinois, and moved to Boulder in 2011 to attend CU as a film student. While in school, she fell in love with the mountains and shifted from film to outdoor recreation, and has been teaching outdoor rec since 2021. She is also a lifelong foodie, and has worked in kitchens on and off since high school, developing a love of the culinary arts. She is excited to plan new menu items and perfect old favorites!
Hi, my name is Syd (she/they). I am a lead rock tech and I have been running rock climbing courses with Women’s Wilderness since 2017. I am a certified AMGA Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, climbing instructor at Movement climbing gyms, and validated nerd. My favorite jokes are ones with puns and my favorite group game is zip zap zop. My goal with Women’s Wilderness is to bring out the confidence and strength in everyone and to connect with others though climbing things, sharing jokes, and asking any and all questions. If you could have any food truck, what would it be? What will you do to get yourself to smile today? See you out there!
Danielle grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and discovered her passion for the outdoors during her college years at Purdue University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. It was at Red River Gorge that she first experienced the thrill of rock climbing, igniting a lifelong love for outdoor exploration.
With over 15 years of climbing experience, Danielle is dedicated to empowering women through outdoor challenges. As an instructor in the Girls Lead For Life program, she is committed to helping young women build confidence, resilience, and a deep connection to nature and themselves. Danielle believes that outdoor and physical challenges are powerful opportunities for participants to discover their inner strength and self-assurance, which they can carry beyond the wilderness.
Danielle is a certified Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) and enjoys mountaineering, exploring alpine lakes for tranquil swims, and continuing to discover the vast landscapes that inspire her.
Climbing has had a positive impact on Meg’s life. She loves to spend long days outdoors, striking a balance between epic-ing and relaxing in the mountains. Some of her favorite memories have been in the Mendenhall Towers of Alaska, Peru’s Cordillera Blanca, Castle Valley Utah, and Mallorca. But more important than the place or the objective, it’s about how and who we get to share our experiences with! She loves exploring new perspectives, supporting climbers in their mountain goals, and occasionally sending the gnar. She is an AMGA Certified Rock Guide, Apprentice Alpine Guide, Ice Instructor and EMT in Colorado. 🙂
Mac (they/them) grew up in rural South Jersey and recently made their way to Boulder, CO in 2023. Mac graduated from Hampshire College in 2019 with a BA in Critical Youth Studies. Mac was awarded the Business with Purpose Scholarship from Clif Bar in 2019 to fund a full-year independent project, where they worked with the National Eating Disorder Association and youth programs local to New Jersey/Philadelphia to create a body image and self-esteem outdoor education curriculum for girls. Following this, Mac spent several years as a Faculty Instructor at the Philadelphia Outward Bound School, leading backpacking, canoepacking and rock climbing courses for youth. Mac is continuing this work with Women's Wilderness in the Girls Lead for Life program, as well as working as a Mental Health Advocate at Nederland Middle/Senior School. Mac is passionate about helping young women and non-binary folks develop connections, a sense of self and community advocacy skills through outdoor education. When they aren't working, Mac can be found playing with their cat, making art and playing board games.
Born and raised in Central New Mexico, Amber spent summers wandering through the ponderosa pines and jumping junipers of the Sandia Mountains. Amber has experience working intake, logistics, and operations for various outdoor education organizations, including the Northwest Outward Bound School. She has been a guide in Wilderness Therapy and Nature-Based Early Childhood Education (Forest School!) and believes the natural world can be our greatest mentor. Amber is a certified Wilderness First Responder and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Social Work.
Her passions include supporting accessibility and representation in the outdoors and reminding women/girls of their power. In her free time, Amber enjoys trail running, snowboarding, drinking tea, and napping in the sun with her pup, T-bone.
Hi! I'm Satya (she/her) and I'm excited to be joining Trailblazers this summer as a guide. I have multiple years of leading hiking and camping trips and a fair bit of experience sea kayaking and rafting. My favorite post long day in the forest meal is pizza. My dog is a big fan too (he gets the crusts). I'm also really into plants and history if you like to talk about that sort of thing on the trail. See you soon!
Jessie loves to play in the mountains and share her joy outside. She discovered climbing as an adult and wants everyone to feel welcome to give it a try, particularly fellow women of color. Outside of climbing and guiding, Jessie teaches college courses on environmental and social justice, plays with her pup Zephyr, and seeks out sunshine and good stories. Jessie is an AMGA single pitch instructor and wilderness first responder.
I grew up in Colorado’s Western Slope and now call Boulder, CO home. I split my time as a mountain guide and a social worker in the mental health and advocacy realm. I’m passionate about making outdoor adventure more accessible to all types of humans, and approaching guiding from a trauma informed lens. Outdoor adventure (especially climbing) has been a a tool for my own growth, healing and community building. Because of that, I’m passionate about brining others into this space!
