Staff Bios

Staff Bios

Here are the outdoor education instructors and staff that make High Trails happen!

Leslie

Age: 35
School, Degree, and Certifications: Oregon State – BS in Geography; EMT Certification; Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification.
Experience: Since starting working at High Trails, I have been an Instructor, Support Coordinator, Medic, Site Director, Director, and now co-owner. Those titles mean I’ve done pretty much everything here at High Trails – teaching, snow shoveling, medical care, sales, hiring staff, leading campfires, cooking dinner, all around problem solver and leader. And I can’t get enough!
My Philosophy as the Leader of High Trails: Every single one of us is on a team – the team of High Trails, the team of our community, the team of this planet. Everyone should feel equal parts ownership and responsibility for the welfare of that team. That means we will all have moments to step up and shine, moments to challenge ourselves, moments to learn (and moments to have some fun). If we are all committed to making the team the best it can be, we can foster a community that pushes us to become better teachers, community members, and humans in general, and from there make the world a healthier place to be.
Interests: Mountain biking, cooking, eating breakfast sandwiches, building things, and museuming. On a mission to visit every National Park!

Sarah

Age: 32
School, Degree, and Certifications: Mount Vernon Nazarene University – BS in Biology (Environmental Track); EMT Certification; Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification.
Experience: Before starting at High Trails I had spent time volunteering in many forms: at camps leading ecology sessions, VBS, and for a middle school with their show choir and musicals. At High Trails since 2016, I have been an Instructor, Health & Support Coordinator, Medical Director, and now Program Director – and I loved every part. Getting to learn all the inner workings from the core of the job has allowed me to understand all facets of our Program and to confidently lead new staff from year to year.
My Philosophy as the Leader of High Trails: Work Hard, Play Hard, Rest Hard. This job requires you to Work Hard every single day, not just as an individual, but as a team member who is doing their part. On our weekends we Play Hard, whether we’re mountain biking on local trails, scrambling in J-Tree, or hanging at the beach. We are often going non-stop from week to weekend; excited to see what new adventures get underway! But then you need the all-important Rest Hard to balance it all out. Taking time for yourself to recharge, reset for the coming week, and slow down is vital to a successful time at High Trails: a time that will allow you to be fulfilled through hard work, adventurous through hard play, and replenished through hard rest.
Interests: birding, insects, botany, hiking, baking, dancing (particularly the tap variety), and mountain biking.

Savannah

Age:29
School, Degree, and Certification: San Diego State University, B.S. in Environmental Science; Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification.
Experience: I started my outdoor education journey during my junior year of college interning part-time at a local San Diego nonprofit. After a year there, once I graduated, I knew Outdoor Ed was where I wanted to be. Since then I have been working at camps full time. I have worked at High Trails since 2018 in a variety of positions – Instructor, Senior Instructor, creator of our Virtual High Trails program during COVID, Health & Support Coordinator, and Program Coordinator. In the summers, you can find be leading backpacking trips in Yosemite.
Why I Enjoy Working with Kids/My Philosophy: I attended science camp when I was in fifth grade, and it was the science and the outdoors became really cool and interesting to me. I love sharing my passion and passing on knowledge (as well as gaining some) with kids.
Interests: When I’m outdoors I enjoy hiking, kayaking, swimming, hammocking, camping and biking. When I’m indoors I like to read, cook, knit, and drink coffee. I travel as much as possible; I have been to 15 countries!

Maddy

Age: 26
School, Degree, and Certification: Vanderbilt University: BS in Child Studies; Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification.
Experience: I have been babysitting and nannying for 10 years and worked hard to plan engaging and interesting activities for the kids during their free time, including many outdoor activities and crafts. I have also worked at day care centers, educational summer camps and various nonprofits centering around education and child development.
Why I enjoy working with kids / My Philosophy: I enjoy helping students cultivate their interests while fostering their creativity. My philosophy for working with kids is to listen closely so that I can meet them where they are and use their natural curiosity to help them not only grow in their current interests but to also try new things and find multiple passions. The outdoors is an ideal setting for this, as there is so much to explore.
Interests: Cooking/baking, traveling, hiking, painting, kayaking and trying new things!

Hadley

Age: 24
School and Degree: San Diego State University- B.A. Liberal Studies; Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification.
Experience: I have volunteered in classrooms, been a substitute teacher, and most recently been teaching outdoor education in Colorado.
Why I enjoy working with kids / My Philosophy: My favorite part of working with students is seeing the “light-bulb” moment, when suddenly a concept makes sense. Besides this, kids teach teachers as much as teachers teach kids!
Interests: When I am not teaching outside, I am playing outside! Some of my favorite activities include peaking mountains, running, climbing, skiing, and swimming in the ocean.

Maggie

Age: 26
School and Degree: St Bonaventure University, BA in Strategic Communications and Marketing
Experience: Five years of Camp experience where I have taught film photography, STEM, lead a community service program and most recently was Program Director. The past two years I also worked for Habitat for Humanity in Buffalo, NY where I was the volunteer services and community outreach coordinator.
Why I enjoy working with kids / My Philosophy: First off, kids are wicked cool! When working with kids I love their genuine joy, creativity and excitement they bring for learning new things. Helping them learn in fun ways and seeing them be just as excited as I am about learning it is why I love teaching. Being able to explore nature and learn about our environment in fun ways also can’t be beat!!
Interests: Photography, climbing, hiking, reading and Music

Hanna

Age: 22
School and Degree: I went to Springfield Highschool in Akron Ohio, as well as Portage Lakes Career Center for fire academy. I graduated both schools in May of 2020 with my Highschool diploma and a Fire card, for firefighting levels 1&2.
Experience: I have had the opportunity to work for 2 summer camps over the past 5 years, for one summer I was a boating instructor, I started out as a C.I.T (counselor in training) which I then progressed into assistant program director. I have worked with children of all ages, specifically ages 7-13.
Why I enjoy working with kids / My Philosophy: I love working with children, as the bonds you make with them can help shape not just them, but yourself as well. You get to experience a different side of yourself while working with them, you can be silly and laugh a lot while also showing them what a good positive role model looks like. Children can be so funny, they have their own sense of humor.
Interests: I enjoy skating, hiking with friends, and watching marvel. I love to cook, especially pasta! I like to go on long drives and hangout with my dogs. I love to be out on the water, whether that’s kayaking, paddleboarding or even canoeing.

Dakota

Age: 26
School and Degree: I have attended some college but most educational experience is military related.
Experience: I started my adult life by joining the U.S Army as a combat medic where I proudly served in Fort Drum New York in a clinic and in the field. I was happy to lead a team of medics as well as serve as senior line medic for the unit I was attached to. I was fortunate enough to deploy alongside my unit to Iraq where I was put in charge of a Role 1 medical clinic.
Why I enjoy working with kids / My Philosophy: While in the military, I was responsible for training new soldiers as they came into the unit. I began to see that as the new soldiers would re-place the old, it was our responsibility to leave our units in the best, most capable hands possible for the safety of the unit as we were medics. I can see this translating well for teaching children, as they are the future. They are the ones who will inherit what we leave and the state of the younger generation is solely in our hands.
Interests: My interest revolves around the forest and mountains. The activities that are present in the setting of a less sophisticated life appeal to me. I enjoy the quiet of the woods and the things that envelop the quietness of the trees. I enjoy hunting and fishing as they are peaceful. I don’t mean to say that I don’t also enjoy excitement. My favorite wintertime activities are snowboarding and snowshoe hiking. Most things in life I have done alone and I relish the opportunity for solitude in the wild.

Eddie

Age: 28
School and Degree: The University of New Mexico: Emergency Medical Services
Experience:I taught my nieces and nephews survival skills, daily life skills and more as we grew up. I was also in the military and would have to give classes to schools about the equipment and duties of my job. We also had several classes join us in a training for a few weeks to show them what people in the military do.
Why I enjoy working with kids / My Philosophy: I enjoy being able to help shape the minds of the next generation and help them learn skills for day-to-day life and other scenarios. I believe that kids should learn many skills and be able to put them to use if the need ever arises. It can help boost their confidence to be seen as dependable and helpful. I also believe kids should have a fascination of the outdoors and skills to thrive in such an environment.
Interests: I enjoy, hiking, archery, camping, shooting, anime, videogames, working out, and doing crafts.

Tori

Age: 26
Experience: I have a lot of experience working with kids. I have been a teacher, a nanny, as well as a summer camp counselor!
Why I enjoy working with kids / My Philosophy: Kids have an eager nature to learn and to play, I like being able to nurture both their curiosity and creativity and give them a safe space to be entirely themselves.
Interests: I love hiking, camping, traveling, cozying up with a good book, spending time with my friends, trying new things, eating sushi, cooking, painting, and the list goes on!

Alex

Age: 26
School, Degree and Certifications: Michigan State University, Environmental Studies & Sustainability
Experience: Sea kayak tour guide on Lake Superior and in Washington state’s San Juan Islands. Trail instructor and the North Cascades Institute Mountain School program. Summer camp counselor/wilderness trip leader at Ogichi Daa Kwe girls camp in northern Minnesota
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: The outdoors is my absolute happy place, and getting to be the link between young people and the natural world is the most rewarding work I have ever found. I believe we all have a place in the outdoors, but we have to use our human tools to do what we can to protect and steward our beloved spaces for future generations of people and critters to enjoy and live within. If we take care of Mother Nature, she takes care of us right back by rewarding us with resiliency, wonder, strength, beauty, and often a whole bunch of fun!
Interests: Singing and writing songs, baking, paddling and whitewater canoeing, reading, watercolor painting, biking, bouldering, hiking, dancing, journaling

Asher

Age: 22
Experience: I’m fairly new to the field of outdoor education, having worked one season at a different outdoor education program. I loved it so much I had to do more!
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I believe there is a transformative power of outdoor education, shaping not just their academic knowledge but also their character and appreciation for the environment. I also really enjoy those moments of when kids put the pieces together and it clicks for them. When they connect the dots between what they’ve learned and their surroundings—is incredibly rewarding. It’s in these moments of realization and excitement that their passion for learning can bloom.
Interests: I really enjoy trade crafts like sewing, woodworking and forging. when I’m not crafting I like to read or scratch a movie off my watchlist.

Fin

Age: 22
School, Degree and Certifications: I made my own major in documentary production and post-production audio editing at the University of Mississippi. I have my wilderness first aid (WFA) and my lifeguard certifications as well.
Experience: I was a camp counselor, trip leader, and watercraft instructor throughout my time in college, and was able to cultivate a deep love of the outdoors that I love sharing with others!
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I have been working with kids for almost eight years now and the one thing I have realized is that you never run out of things to learn! One of the greatest privileges I have had in my life so far has been baring witness to the new perspectives and ideas that kids always bring to the table!
Interests: Anything water related, hiking, climbing, caving, and new experiences!

Jasper

Age: 25
School, Degree and Certifications: Appalachian State University; Environmental, Evolutionary, and Ecological Biology
Experience: I am an avid outdoor enthusiast – an absolute nature nerd! I have thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and traveled the country in search of unique adventures in the search of rocks and cool nature. I have worked as a backpacking guide and in summer camp for years, having lead hundreds of kids in a vast diversity of environments. My passions and experiences combine to make me a passionate outdoor leader who can not & will not stop talking about cool plants and rocks.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I believe we are currently at a cross-roads in human history, where we have so long strayed away from our intrinsic connection to nature. We have so deeply disconnected from our brethren; the plants, animals and natural systems. I want to spend my life setting up future generations to be more and more connected with our world – education and experience are the very best ways to do this. I am here to share my passion for life and for nature, and to hopefully build a tomorrow in which all living beings build each other up in a sustainable harmony.
Interests: Rocks! I am obsessed with geology and cool crystals. I love foraging, be it for edible mushrooms or cool medicinal plants. I am a backpacker through and through – in 2017, I hiked the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail. I love natural history, building a context and a story of the world around us. When it comes to indoor activities, I am a total nerd for games like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic the Gathering.

Moya

Age: 23
School, Degree and Certifications: I spent 4 years in Rome, Italy at John Cabot University to travel, study, and smile all through my Bachelors Degree in Psychological Science
Experience: I have had the joy of working in a Middle School with kids age 11-14 as a 1-on-1 Special Education Teacher’s Assistant, where I helped students in the Interlude Program. These little rascals were dealing with higher levels of behavioral and emotional dysregulation. They taught me the importance of breaking into impromptu dance parties and building time machines. Additionally, I am the Camp Director for an Ice-Skating Summer Camp with kids age 6-12!
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: All people, and especially kids, are sponges to what you expose them to! Infusing wonder, optimism, and attention into where kid’s curiosities lead is the kind of connection we all benefit from. I love finding out what people haven’t heard of or done yet and making that experience a special one for them!
Interests: My interests vary greatly, and include Art Therapy, Sewing and Fashion Design, Ice-Skating, Sign Language, Handwriting Analysis, PLUR Culture, Reading Autobiographies, Writing Poetry, Travel and Exploration, and always with a cup of tea by my side!

Nate

Age: 34
Experience: I gained experience of working with children through the YMCA. I have worked with students in an afterschool & summer camp setting for over 5 years. I have had the privilege to work with children from the age of 2 years to 14 years old.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I find working with children incredibly rewarding. I love knowing that I can make a positive impact on their lives and fulfill my desire to help others. Being able to teach children and make learning fun is something I enjoy the most. I have also learned so much from children’s simple yet profound perspectives, such as their ability to find joy in the smallest things
Interests: My interest include centering myself around creative pursuits & outdoor adventures. I enjoy expressing myself through abstract sketching & digital art. Hiking, road biking, and snowboarding are my favorite outdoor activities. On my down time I enjoy reading a scientific based book.

Nick

Age: 22
Experience: I have been working since I was 15, with experience ranging from working the drive through and making smoothies at Burger King and Jamba Juice to an EMT at Royal Ambulance. After working as a Camp Counselor in Colorado, I became drawn to the world of outdoor education. I have learned so much from working with kids and I am excited to continue the journey!
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Everyone has unique affinities and interests, and I would like to help foster the growth of these gifts in others. There is a quote from Adam Braun, “The world has far too many problems, and you are far too smart and capable to not help tackle them.” I’m honored to contribute to the education of others.
Interests: My current hobbies include spending time with friends, being outdoors, playing sports, and reading. Going to new places in nature, skateboarding, running, playing soccer, reading a good autobiography; there are many things that interest me, I feel like there is never enough time to do it all

Olivia

Age: 28
School, Degree and Certifications: Unity Environmental University, BS Wildlife Conservation
Experience: Summer league swim coach, Behavior Therapy for kids with Autism, Ranch Hand/Manager at a horse rescue facility
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: They are the future! If I we can share our appreciation of nature with them they will be more likely to be motivated to protect it
Interests: Hiking, biking, camping, paddle boarding, swimming, art, music, house plants

Rachel

Age: 22
School, Degree and Certifications: University of Colorado Boulder, BA in Environmental Studies and Ecology
Experience: I have worked with kids both informally and formally for many years, most recently at home in Telluride, Colorado at Telluride Academy, a kids summer camp that focuses on getting kids out in nature!
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: As a teacher, one has the opportunity of being an influence on these kids’ lives, hopefully making them a better, more well-rounded person in the process. Even if I work with them for a short amount of time, it is really great to get to teach kids new things and watch them become excited about learning more! Working with kids also gives me the chance to learn alongside them and become more knowledgeable with every new question they ask. Kids also say really funny stuff, which is always a plus.
Interests: I enjoy camping, road trips, and really anything outside! You’ll probably find me on the lake in any way I can be out there – probably boating, floating, or having a picnic.

Rory

Age: 23
School, Degree and Certifications: Florida Gulf Coast University – BA in Integrated Studies w/ Minor in Environmental Education
Experience: I started as an educator in college doing peer-to-peer education with seniors from every discipline. I was lucky to start my teaching journey here because it was great exposure to the diversity of thoughts, ideas, and ambitions young adults can have. I also got paid to lead tours in Bald Cypress Swamps, one of my favorite ecosystems. After college, I taught high school marine science but was compelled back outside to teach. I applied my knowledge of marine science as a kayak guide down in a National Estuarine Research Reserve. All of this experience was gained while I lived in Florida but I decided to move out west to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in South Central Idaho to start to understand the western ecology of the US.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I enjoy the wonder kids can have about the world and the amazing questions they can ask. My teaching philosophy is that as an environmental educator and interpreter, I can only be as good as the audiences I have worked with and the ecosystems I have taught in. Because of this, I push myself to work with new audiences and in new environments to better my understanding of the natural world and how different people interact with it.
Interests: Photography, dendrology, hiking, birding, writing, just being in natural spaces

Shea

Age: 32
Experience: I have experience working multiple summer camps starting in Oregon. We had a summer program for kids where we would teach them how to cook, robotics, gardening, etc. I also worked at Camp Elk with the YMCA last summer, and it changed my life!
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I love working with kids because kids are so pure and wholesome; they keep me young. I love inspiring the kids when I tell them about my businesses (I run three businesses on the side!), and I hope to change their lives.
Interests: I love my doggie. Taking her to the beach or on hikes is my favorite. I snowboard and surf, as well as DJing. I love music and DJing is such a good release. I have three businesses: a clothing brand, ice cream treats and desserts business, and an entertainment company with my best friend.

Thursday

Age: 31
School, Degree and Certifications: Currently finishing an degree with Metropolitan State University
Experience: I recently finished a year of tutoring elementary-age students through Americorps. I previously worked in healthcare, most recently as a behavioral health technician on an adolescent unit.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: The teachers I most fondly remember from my childhood are the ones who taught like they really cared about 1) what they were teaching, and 2) my thoughts and opinions on things, too! I strive to be like that. Everything is new and exciting to kids… their enthusiasm for learning and life is contagious.
Interests: I grew up hiking through the “Driftless Region” of Wisconsin (where I am from). I also love to travel and work on my language skills. Recently, I did some backpacking in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Colombia and was able to do some awesome mountain / volcano hikes.

Trevor

Age: 34
School, Degree and Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development at Sonoma State University
Experience: I have been working in the education field for over ten years. I’ve been a naturalist at Sonoma State, Casa La Pedrera in Spain, and at Walker Creek in Marin County California. Lots of my experience also comes from my hobbies such as hiking, backpacking, archery, rock climbing, bushcraft, and love for nature.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I believe the best education comes from experiences. I focus on inquiry based education, where I encourage students to ask questions about the things they find interesting. When students are given the opportunity to explore the things they find interesting, a life long learner is created. I enjoy working with kids for moments like these.
Interests: I love to rock climb, camp, play Dungeons and Dragons, practice archery, build cool art out of nature’s bounty, play hacky-sack, sing, play music, stare at trees, forage for berries, ask and answer questions, talk about philosophy, and collect really cool hats.

Yosef

Age: 24
School, Degree and Certifications: I attend Eastern Gateway online and I am pursuing my childhood education degree
Experience: I have worked at a various camps around the US under various titles. In camps I have been a climbing instructor, archery instructor, paintball and hatchet throwing instructor. I have also been a housekeeping manager, lead cook, programming and a helping hand to maintenance in camps and retreats. In addition to my camp experience I have been a fly fishing and shooting guide in Montana and a fishing guide in Alaska. I have also worked in a variety of commercial kitchens
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I enjoy seeing the kids learn and seeing the process of learning. I also enjoy seeing the kids come together as a group during activities and learning.
Interests: I am happily married and have a dog named Zeuz. I enjoy fishing and hunting. I also enjoy working with Native Americans for leadership around the United States.

Lyla

Age: 23
School, Degree and Certifications: Western Washington University, B.A in Environmental Studies, Minor in Geography
Experience: I spend summers working in interpretation & recreation for the Forest Service, and have met Smokey the Bear more than once. During the school year, I’ve worked with K-6 students as a field trip guide for the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, as well as an after school care provider for the Boys & Girls Club.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I love the information exchange that occurs between teacher & student. It’s awesome to show kids the things I enjoy about nature, but just as cool to see things they have learned about or noticed. Spending time outdoors is very important to me, and it’s great to instill a love of learning & nature just like my instructors did for me when I attended similar programs in my youth.
Interests: I enjoy a lot of different art forms from painting to embroidery to collaging. I also love foraging for edible plants and mushrooms, and am excited to see what kind of edible flora the region has to offer.

Alex

Age: 36
Experience: I cut my teeth in outdoor recreation working my way up the ladder at my home town recreation department in Wellesley, Massachusetts working a variety of positions culminating in managing an entire outdoor aquatics facility with a staff of 25. I’ve always been drawn to unique jobs that offer the opportunity for personal development and growth and have spent most of my adult years traveling and working in unique positions and locations. Most recently, I was living and working on Lake Chapala in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I feel like the world is the ultimate classroom because we exist in a universe of dynamic systems working and struggling for constant balance. As a kid, I gravitated to the natural world for these reasons, and in my years studying economics I’ve become even more interested in how complex systems exist and operate. Taking fundamentally difficult concepts and breaking them down in a way that leaves a lasting impression on kids – the future stewards of our planet – gives me a sense of fulfilment that drives my passion for this work.
Interests: I’m an experienced backpacker and have completed just over 1000 miles of the Appalachian Trail. I love being in nature and have a hunger for knowledge that usually has me working on at least one book at a time to help me better understand the world we exist in. I have a servant leadership approach that usually finds me looking for ways to improve the various communities I live in and among, and am always looking to acquire new skills or learn something new.

Purple Flying Elephants - Mark Lisak

Want to learn how to integrate storytelling into your classes? Read on... “Hello! You have hired me, Captain Mark, to take you to the Land of Purple Flying Elephants. The Purple Flying Elephants have taken your...

We Don’t Need No GPS! Brad Brainard

The day is September 11th, 2014. I am standing face to face with a weathered and worn wooden sign on the top of a mountain in the middle of Maine. The sign reads, in big,...

Props: Can’t live with them, can’t live without them… Shane Hyre

If you talk to anyone in the outdoor education business – talk about props. Talk about the rubber chickens, the stuffed animals, the rope, the spots, the foam thingies… props have been the underestimated “magic...

Selddir: What Am I? Nate Walker

I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I? Good question. After you solve this, only 32 more...

Mental Limitations-Adriana Boylan

After 26 hours of continuous hiking, multi-pitch climbing the East Buttress of Mt. Whitney, and summiting the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, Ryan and I were completely exhausted both mentally and physically. We...

Snake Reproduction - Mallory Schmackpfeffer

When we talk about snakes, the assumption that we make is that all snakes reproduce by laying eggs, but that’s only part of the story! The truth is that only 70% of snakes lay eggs...

Umm...what was I talking about? - Driz Cook

I'll be honest here. I'm starting to forget my teaching facts. Perhaps it's the advanced age (38), or the children running around the house (2). Perhaps it's the multitude of items buzzing through my mind...

50 Ways To Survive Winter In The San Bernardino National Forest - Graham Goodman

1. Waterproof everything you own from head to toe. 2. Borrow a sled from a coworker. 3. Purchase snow chains for your car. 4. Spend at least one day on Bear and Summit. 5. Take a daytrip to Redlands,...

Camouflage! - Hope Batcheller

“Camouflage!” I yell, and start counting to twenty. I hear the rustling of students scattering in every direction, rushing to find good hiding places behind thick-trunked trees or downed logs. It is the middle of our...

The 11th Essential - Kate Leaf

When walking into an outdoor store like REI, I am often overwhelmed by the sheer amount of outdoor gear, equipment and clothing available to keep us safe and healthy in the outdoors. But what do...

Where Have All The Monarchs Gone? - Melissa Mercier

Monarch butterflies are amazing insects; they can change from caterpillar to beautiful winged creatures! What you may not know is they perform a second and equally amazing feat... Monarch butterflies perform a four generation long trek...

Esquith, Kohlberg, & their 6 Levels of Moral Development - Caroline Burdick

Last summer, I accepted a new position at High Trails as Program Coordinator. At the time, I was unclear exactly what that meant. Honestly, as we moved forward in the school year, I was still unsure as to...

Environmental Justice, Air Pollution and California - Leslie Urban Our job, as outdoor educators, is to figure out ways to inspire our students, get them excited about the environment, and make a lasting impression. In order to do this, we have to figure... Burn Bright, Not Out: Dan Bowman It was 1998, my first summer in outdoor education. We had 10 weeks with students from the most challenging neighborhoods in Cincinnati, OH. Each group was out at our rustic semi-permanent tent site for one... Talking With School Teachers - Nick Miller Like most of you, I often times wonder about the impact we make on students and what they actually learn and take away from their experience here at High Trails. We are in the unfortunate position... Group Development - Connor Lee At High Trails Outdoor Science School we teach thousands of students from over 100 schools each year. High Trails students learn hands-on about their environment and themselves in small groups with students from outside... Who are these "Support Coordinators"? Noel Leon The Coordinator is an active manager of daily operations, ensuring that the program runs smoothly and efficiently. The Program Coordinator provides a vision, plan, and leadership for program development, training, and performing evaluation on staff. Here... American Sign Language in Science - Sarah Beery How do you teach science to a deaf student if sign language doesn't have a way to sign the word? Science is its own language with all the varying terms ranging from photosynthesis to camouflage to... Beauty after the Burn: Ecological Succession - Mari Schramm “Are fires good or bad for the forest?” I ask my students. They respond with a variety of thumbs up and down. “Why are they bad?” I ask one of the more adamant students. “They kill animals!” He... Winterizing Your Home for Pests - Christina Shores Ahhhh… yes. Winter. That beautiful time of year when there is nothing better than snuggling up by the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa and your favorite book, while the snow falls gently outside....

Popular Parent Links

Special Concerns: Information and form for special situations. Health Consent Form: required for every student attending High Trails. Medication Form: required if a student is bringing medication to High Trails. Discipline Form and Packing List: general information to prepare for your trip. Forms Video: check this out for a visual explanation of our forms. Printable Parent's Guide: used in lieu of the online Parent's Guide. Menu: a weekly list of the food up here.

Trail Games #1- Kyle O'Dea So what do you do while hiking with a large group of students through the forest? Play games of course! Here at High Trails Outdoor Science School we have an arsenal of games we... Guided Questioning: Turning Wah into Wow - Mark Kerstens Ever have a cool fact, idea, or concept that comes up as you hike that you want to share with the students? These teachable moments happen all the time, and are a great way to... Props: Can’t live with them, can’t live without them… Shane Hyre If you talk to anyone in the outdoor education business – talk about props. Talk about the rubber chickens, the stuffed animals, the rope, the spots, the foam thingies… props have been the underestimated “magic... Don’t Rain on My Parade! Shannon Diaz Have you ever had to teach students while outside in the rain or snow ? Here at High Trails, we hike and teach our students in three different seasons with all sorts of weather. Whether we... Morphology Makes You a Science Wizard - Jenna Ikwe Mennen “Who knows one characteristic of a mammal?” says every High Trails instructor, once a week. “Warm-blooded!” answers an eager student, remembering to raise their hand only after already blurting out the words. Now, how do we... Ode to Button-Pushers - Alex Rice Do you know the student who throws a stick when their instructor isn’t looking? The one who goes past the boundary their teacher very explicitly creates or breaks the rule that was thoroughly reviewed three... Toothpaste: Show Don't Tell - Kelsey Wentling Once inside the cabin, everyone shivers off their jackets and eagerly starts buzzing around the warm haven: home for the next three or four nights. Soon after, buzzing turns to chatting and not far off chatting... Why We Lorax - Penelope Burgess “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” –Dr. Seuss What is The Lorax? Every Friday morning at High Trails Outdoor Science School, groups of 40-120 5th or... Frontloading and Debriefing - Shannon Diaz “On your mark, get set, go!” “Huh? I don’t even know what we’re playing!” Have you ever tried playing a game or doing an activity that wasn’t explained completely or didn't make sense to you? This can... American Sign Language in Science - Sarah Beery How do you teach science to a deaf student if sign language doesn't have a way to sign the word? Science is its own language with all the varying terms ranging from photosynthesis to camouflage to... Growth Mindset - Alicia Imbrogna Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. -Tim Notke How many times in your life have you encountered a situation that was frustrating or annoying and often appeared too difficult to overcome? Have... Flip Distractions into Discussions: Verbal Jiu-Jitsu- Alex Eisenreich You are a Teacher. So you probably know that Random Tangent Student. The one that takes extra prompting to engage in class; the one that needs redirection to stay on task; the one who doesn’t volunteer... “Whatever GRABBSS their attention...” - Shane Hyre Team Discovery Hike: it's the first activity you do with your field group on their first day at High Trails. It's time for the group to discover who you are, where they are, and what... Analogies are to Teachers as Utility Belt is to Batman - Hollyann Duskin A streak of light burns bright and brief across the night sky. A collective gasp comes from the group of students huddled in the darkness as they exclaim, “a shooting star!” As we discuss that shooting... Scientific Method in Everything - Leslie Urban In sixth grade I remember losing a spelling bee because I did not know how to spell ‘hypothesis’. Our science teacher, Ms. Miers, had spent the entire fall semester pounding the Scientific Method into our heads... Your Name? I Don't Have A Clue - Haley Cushing Instructor: “Ok, who can tell me an example of a renewable resource?” Unnamed Student Raises Hand. Your mind goes blank. You look down at your attendance sheet. Back at the student. Back at the attendance sheet.... Improv-ing Education - Cass Language Friday afternoon— busses are delayed due to snow, and you find yourself with 15 students for an hour longer than you expected. Or maybe your boss tells you to lead a 10 minute activity for... Teaching with Music - Jordan Rowell "Alright class, it’s time to earn our beads for our Furry Friends class. Let’s review what you can remember about adaptations of mammals. John, tell me at least one characteristic of a mammal?" Uhhh…. Uhhh oh is... 3,2,1, Bonus Point! Caroline Blake “Single file line in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,” This is what I shout to my students within the first 5 minutes of their arrival. The kids scurry to get into the best line that they... Building Communities - Jess Fangman “This needs to come from your heart,” I said in a soft tone. I watched anxiously as 12 different sets of eyes peered back at me in puzzlement. I had asked my cabin group of sixth... A Unique Class is a Memorable Class - Paul Adams A few weeks ago, I was attending a music festival in Santa Barbara. As I was walking around the camp ground, I met a man named Brian who invited me into his camp. We had... My Former Self - Shannon Diaz Have you ever thought back to when you were in fifth grade? What was the world like for you then? I remember when I was in fifth grade, and getting ready to go to Camp... Why Visit A Classroom? Tamara Perreault Working at High Trails, I quickly became a proponent of teaching outside. There are a lot of clear benefits. In California, class size is almost always 20 or more, but our groups are rarely more... Home - Tamara Perreault What makes a place a home? This can be a tough question. Think about it for a moment. When you say, “I feel like I’m at home” what makes you feel that way? 2,000 years ago... Science Fiction Is a Teaching Tool - Jake Sheaffer As instructors at High Trails we are constantly trying to relate the material that we teach back to the student’s daily lives. Sometimes this is difficult, because not all students understand why topics like...

Finding Abundance in Scarcity: Pinyon Pine Harvest - Lyla Biddle Relocating to the mountains of Southern California from the abundant Pacific Northwest, where water flows year round and moss covers every surface, I expected foraging in such an arid climate to be quite sparse. Stumbling back... Food Waste & The Clean Plate Club - Sam Farrell Food waste is one of the most important things students learn about here at High Trails, but it is also easy to overlook. While most people don’t consider it to be a big deal, as... Where Have All The Monarchs Gone? - Melissa Mercier Monarch butterflies are amazing insects; they can change from caterpillar to beautiful winged creatures! What you may not know is they perform a second and equally amazing feat... Monarch butterflies perform a four generation long trek... Steller’s Jays: The birds you hate to love - Shannon Pappas When I say that I don’t always like Steller’s Jays, my students are always shocked. I, of course, understand where they are coming from. I remember when I first came to these mountains and was immediately... How Plants Can Be Medicine - Canot Walker High Trails is located at 7000 feet in the San Bernardino Mountain Range, and one of the first topics we learn about in Team Discovery Hike is who lived here before us. The Yuhaviatam arrived... Mars InSight Lander - Karen Solange Fraser Mars’ latest lander, InSight, launched in May 2018 and landed in November 2018. At approximately 5 feet long and 20 feet wide, it features two solar panels, two cameras, and three scientific instruments with a... Snake Reproduction - Mallory Schmackpfeffer When we talk about snakes, the assumption that we make is that all snakes reproduce by laying eggs, but that’s only part of the story! The truth is that only 70% of snakes lay eggs... Seed Dispersal of the Black Oak - Davíd Valencia Did you know that one of the largest populations of all Black Oak trees in southern California is in the San Bernardino National Forest? [1. Tyler, Claudia M., et al. “Demography and Recruitment Limitations of... Contour vs Downy Feathers – Frazer Winsted It is the middle of Feathered Friends class. After discussing that there are multiple feathers on a bird consisting of contour and downy feathers, one of my students says: “Mr. Frazer, what is the difference... Non-flowering Plant Reproduction: Conifers – Ryne Tobar Of the classes I get to teach at High Trails, my favorite is Plant Detectives. Plants are incredible organisms. While they might be immobile, plants are able to propagate, or reproduce, far beyond their immediate vicinity. When... Plastic is the New Black – Lillian Johnson Do you know what you're wearing? When discussing the natural origin of materials with students, discovering that plastics are typically made from crude oil – the same fossil fuel used to power our cars –... Benefits of Rock Climbing - Peter Le People ask me if climbing is a good way to stay in shape; I tell them I stay in shape to be good at climbing! Why do people climb? That is the question all instructors ask... Purpose of Pupils - Allison Hanson Over the summer, I went hiking with some students at summer camp. On the trail, we ran into a woman taking her goats out for a walk. Yes, GOATS. Goats are great. I was then... Over the Moon...Cycle - Suzanne Bosman “The common theme of calendar making is the desire to organize units of time to satisfy the needs and preoccupations of society. In addition to serving practical purposes, the process of organization provides a sense,... Outdoor Education & Line Dancing - Jade Koenigs When I say the words “Line Dancing”, the faces of my students scrunch up into a mixture of emotions. Some voice excitement, some voice disgust, but most faces bare the unmistakable feeling of apprehension, scared for... Can A Formula Predict Floods? - Anne Sweney “From where we stand the rain seems random. If we could stand somewhere else, we would see the order in it.” –Tony Hillerman For people living in climates that are dry and arid, understanding the water... We Don’t Need No GPS! Brad Brainard The day is September 11th, 2014. I am standing face to face with a weathered and worn wooden sign on the top of a mountain in the middle of Maine. The sign reads, in big,... Diggin Deep into the world of the Thatch-Mound Ant - Kyle W. Gray What is that mound thing? When sauntering about in the San Bernardino National Forest you may notice large mounds or domes made of grass, leaves, pine needles, and numerous other plant materials. What exactly are these... Replenishing the Water Cycle - Kevin Williams Did you know the scientific term for the water cycle is the hydrologic cycle? I was on a hike the other day and thought about the apple activity I do during our Water Wonders class to... Bird Sounds of Spring - Danny Walden Spring is here, and it's an exciting time! Our bird friends in the San Bernardino mountains begin to sing, and these year-round populations are complemented by a whole new host of migrants. To many people,... The Spirits of the Water: Loons - AleXANdra Barteldt There is a loonie legend about a small lake in rural Maine named Flying Pond. As the story goes, the Native Americans of the region returned to the northern lakes every season for fishing and... Archery in North America - Hannah Livezey As staff members at High Trails, we are offered opportunities to visit other outdoor schools and exchange ideas with others in the outdoor field with hopes to deliver the best possible curriculum to the students... Speak Like A Yuhaviaatam - Ikwe Mennen You're staying in the Condor cabin? I think you mean Qwat cabin! Yuhaviaatam means “people of the pines” in their own language. They are the native peoples who lived on top of our mountain, in the... Welcome to Subirdia: Book Review - Mark Kerstens Ever wonder how our ever growing suburbanization and development affects wildlife populations? Have you heard that urban development is exclusively bad for bird populations? I thought so, too, until I read Welcome to Subirdia by... Rock Climber or Amateur Geologist? - Michael Perez Is igneous bliss or are all the little sediments of rock knowledge metamorphosing climbers into rock experts? Ha! As rock climbers, we experience many different types of rocks when we go to climb at various crags...