Staff Bios

Staff Bios

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

Leslie

Age: 36
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: 33
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:30
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: 27
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!

Maggie

Age: 27
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: 24
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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Meg

Age: 25
School, Degree and Certifications: University of Missouri – BM in Music Education
Experience: After graduating from college, I worked as a middle school and high school band teacher in Missouri. I was in charge of leading the school’s marching band, teaching middle schoolers how to play in instrument for the very first time, and putting on concerts for the school and community!
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: There is also never a dull moment when you are working with kids, especially in the 5th-6th grade age range. They are old enough to start developing their own identities, while young enough to be eager about learning new things. You never know what kinds of questions, comments, jokes and roasts you’ll get from them!
Interests: Hiking, biking, running, swimming, kayaking, skipping (basically anything that gets you from Point A to Point B), and playing the clarinet (yes, like Squidward).

Cole

Age: 24
School, Degree and Certifications: Olympic College Associates of Arts 2020, NOLS Outdoor Educator Semester 2025
Experience: Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I spent my youth exploring, camping, climbing, and learning from my backyard. Olympic National Park was my training grounds. From mossy valley’s to glaciated summits, I learned how to thrive in the outdoors. My journey took me to the alpine paradise that is colorful Colorado. Here, I expanded my outdoor experience by backpacking the near 500 mile Colorado Trail. Shortly thereafter, I downsized my life to follow my dreams to become an outdoor educator and guide. Last summer working close to Glacier National Park, and most recently I have been a whitewater rafting guide in the north woods of Wisconsin. This journey has lead me to be apart of the High Trails crew!
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: My philosophy is to always be available: available to listen, to connect, and grow together. I am always inspired by a child’s curiosity and resilience, it motivates me to be a mirror that can reflect that same energy to them.
Interests: From rugged trails to rippling rivers, to page turning stories and pawn moves. I like balance – movement and stillness, grit and grace.

Livi

Age: 23
School, Degree and Certifications: University of Colorado Boulder — BA in Environmental Studies
Experience: My experiences include working as the program lead of the Outdoor Adventure department at a summer camp in New Hampshire, guiding campers (ages 7-15) on overnight camping and hiking trips, and working with high school students at a nonprofit farm where I taught about sustainable food systems through hands-on farming practices. During the last semester of my undergrad studies, I served as a student teacher in middle school science classrooms, where I designed and taught STEM-based lessons and deepen my skills as an educator.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Kids embody a sense of curiosity and imagination that encourages me to remain open, creative, and present! Their genuine enthusiasm is contagious and always makes learning an adventure! Working with kids challenges and inspires me in a way that allows me to constantly grow and evolve as a person and as an educator! Kids embody a sense of curiosity and imagination that encourages me to remain open, creative, and present! Their genuine enthusiasm is contagious and always makes learning an adventure! Working with kids challenges and inspires me in a way that allows me to constantly grow and evolve as a person and as an educator!
Interests: I am fascinated by plants and enjoy learning about the medicinal and spiritual properties of them! I also love learning new skills of all kinds – I am currently learning guitar and am always jumping into a new craft or art project.

Neve

Age: 22
School, Degree and Certifications: University of California, Berkeley BS in Environmental Studies and Food Systems
Experience: I started working with kids as a lifeguard and swim instructor in high school, then continued at summer camps through college. One of my favorite roles was at a farm-based camp in Boulder, Colorado, where I taught kids about farming, cooking, and the environment. For the past two summers, I’ve been the garden counselor at a camp on a ranch in Northern California, where I managed the gardens and led hands-on activities around growing food, natural art, and garden-to-table cooking.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I love working with kids because they bring so much curiosity, energy, and honesty to everything they do. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch them explore their passions, grow into themselves, and take pride in their accomplishments—whether it’s trying something new, getting their hands dirty outside, or learning how they can care for the world around them. I believe in meeting kids where they’re at, creating inclusive spaces where they feel seen, heard, and supported. Along the way, I get to grow too—building meaningful connections based on mutual respect, learning from their perspectives, and sharing in the joy of discovery.
Interests: I love backpacking, trail running, hiking, cooking, creating nature-based art, and reading—but especially skiing and gardening. More than anything, I just love being outside in any capacity.

Liam

Age: 23
School, Degree and Certifications: I attended Colorado College and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Ecology.
Experience: My professional experience has been varied. I have worked in restaurants, on farms, in libraries, in the field on research crews, and as a guide. With all of these jobs I have come to appreciate the diversity of life that we all have access to.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Young people are the future. I think it is incredibly important to ensure that our youth carry a fondness and care for our planet, and are equipped with the ability to critically think and form their own ideas. I hope to offer a place for students and myself to develop these things.
Interests: I frequent mountains and climbing crags on my weekends, or really anything that gets me moving outside. I love to play volleyball and cook a wide variety of cuisines, I just recently learned how to bake sourdough bread! I am, of course, an avid learner. I am still learning to perfect my craft and knowledge base in all these things.

Troy

Age: 29
School, Degree and Certifications: University of Maine, B.S. Ecology and Environmental Studies focusing in Environmental Protection Policy, Natural Resource Use, and Sustainability.
Experience: I’ve been involved in outdoor education for several years, starting with leading hands-on science programs for elementary students in after-school settings. I spent three seasons guiding in remote parts of Alaska, helping people connect with the natural world in some truly wild places. I also served with AmeriCorps on a conservation crew, where I worked on backcountry trail projects and learned a lot about teamwork, stewardship, and hard work in the field.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I enjoy working with kids because I love helping them see the world in new ways. Whether it’s turning over rocks to find bugs or explaining how a glacier formed, there’s something special about watching curiosity spark in real time. I believe that hands-on experiences and engaging education are some of the best ways to connect people, especially kids, to the outdoors and to each other.
Interests: Fishing, camping, bird watching, rock hounding, and relaxing on the beach.

Mikayla

Age: 21
School, Degree and Certifications: University of Minnesota Twin Cities – BS in Computer Science
Experience: I have had a range of jobs. I’ve worked in a garden store, I taught swim lessons to kids, I was a business analyst intern, and a camp counselor, to name a few.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Kids are the future!! It is such a privilege to teach and inspire young minds. Teaching them not only empowers and inspires them to change the world, but also reminds us that we have the power to make a difference ourselves. Everyone has a role to play in making the world a better place, and what better way to spend your day than investing in the next generation? And the obvious reason I love working with kids, they’re so fun!!
Interests: When I’m not working, you can probably find me outside. I love running (3 marathons and counting!), being in any form of water, reading, hiking, thrifting, paddleboarding, skiing, hammocking, finding new coffee shops, learning new things, and more. So much to do, so little time.

Patrick

Age: 23
School, Degree and Certifications: I graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Environmental Conservation and Forest Resources
Experience: I have experience in environmental education, horticulture, outdoor recreation, and public service. I’ve taught environmental lessons to elementary students, led nature-based summer camp programs, and worked in both research and conservation roles across diverse environments
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I enjoy working with kids because I believe in sparking curiosity about the natural world through hands-on learning and outdoor exploration. My philosophy is that early engagement with the environment builds lifelong respect for nature and empowers young people to become future stewards of the planet.
Interests: My main interests primarily revolve around me being outside and in nature, whether I’m going for a hike, fishing, skiing, or running. I also am a big fan of basketball and football with my favorite team being the Eagles. Go Birds!!!

Grace

Age: 24
School, Degree and Certifications: Colorado State University, B.S. in Natural Resources Management Concentrations in Conservation Biology and Global Environmental Sustainability
Experience: I had the pleasure of working in nature education at two jobs prior to High Trails! The first was an elementary after-school club where students learned ecological concepts through crafts, games and other activities. I then worked in the field doing ecological restoration, gaining lots of knowledge about my hometown environment while working to keep it healthy. I then took that knowledge to my local nature center, where I have been facilitating PreK-12 ecology programs and introducing our young visitors to our resident turtles, snakes, and bearded dragon!
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Working with kids in nature education is so important to me because of the present need for the public to be aware of our environmental conditions and the issues they may face in the future. I believe that instilling a curiosity and appreciation for nature at a young age helps kids maintain that connection as they grow older, and to respect and want to protect our outdoor spaces further in life. It’s also just plain fun and enjoyable! I love seeing when a student has found a special interest in a natural subject – witnessing them connect with the outdoors or discover their love for a new animal or insect is so exciting
Interests: I enjoy crocheting, drawing, playing guitar, and hiking. I’m also an avid reader!

Maggie

Age: 25
School, Degree and Certifications: Ithaca College Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies
Experience: I was an Environmental Education Steward for New York State Parks after I graduated college.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I love sharing my excitement for the natural world with everybody. I think that kids are especially fun to work with because they are more in touch with their creativity, curiosity, and playfulness than adults. All of those attributes are super important for understanding the connections between our human lives and everything else that happens on this planet. When I am able to transfer my joy and reverence for the more-than-human world to another person, I feel a great amount of satisfaction and contentment. Awareness of our place in the universe is embedded into who we are as humans; I greatly value the role that environmental education plays in bringing out that awareness in all of us, and its ability to combat our climate crisis.
Interests: I absolutely love plants! I spend a lot of my time walking around the woods of the northeast starring at plants, mushrooms, birds, etc. and taking in the beauty of life on earth! I also love to read, make art, dance, and see live music.

Travis

Age: 24
School, Degree and Certifications: Colorado State University – Human Dimensions of Natural Resources – Sustainability Minor
Experience: In the summer, I lead an outdoors camp in my hometown of Davis, CA. Since college, I’ve worked at two different outdoor schools in the Sierra Mountains
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Working with kids keeps me young! I am a huge believer in giving kids positive experiences in the outdoors. As screens invade more and more of our attention at younger and younger ages, it is crucial we keep pushing kids to experience the real world and have some fun!
Interests: I like hiking, backpacking, and any excuse to get outside! I also enjoy watching baseball and football (Giants and 49ers). I also play pickleball and try to get my steps in everyday

Jacob

Age: 26
School, Degree and Certifications: Studied Natural Resource Management at The Ohio State University
Experience: Started my outdoor education journey as a summer camp counselor at Camp Joy. When COVID shut down the world I moved over to the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks as I studied at university. After college I transitioned into a role with the YMCA of Central Ohio helping develop and maintain youth enrichment programs
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I fell in love working outdoors when I was a camp counselor. That opportunity put me on the path that I am on today. It is important for children of all ages and backgrounds to grow from experiential education!
Interests: Anything Outdoors, Reading, History, Live Music, Tabletop Games

Tyler

Age: 25
School, Degree and Certifications: Prescott College – Adventure Education
Experience: I have been working as an Instructor, facilitator, and guide all over the country for the last few years since graduating from college.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Kids are weird and fun, this makes them exciting to work with. I also believe that this time they spend is these outdoor settings can be important and transformative, so being able to be there for them is extremely rewarding.
Interests: Spending time in the outdoors, cooking, and always trying to learn new things

Anya

Age: 22
School, Degree and Certifications: Northern Arizona University – B.A. Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Experience: I’ve worked in customer service for many years, mainly as a barista! I have some experience working with kids in 2nd and 3rd grade at a garden club, helping them learn about the processes of plant growth and getting them excited about being outside.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I think that working with kids should be fun and everyone should feel included and engaged. I was a super shy kid so I always want to make sure that everyone is encouraged to participate and have fun doing it! I love being able to get kids out of their shell and seeing their personalities shine through when they are having fun.
Interests: Baking, hiking, crafting, reading, and coffee!

Krystal

Age: 23
Experience: I have worked for many kids camps for the past 4 years and have had lots of great experience working and playing with kids. I’ve done summer camps as well as educational camps.
Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I believe kids have the most fun in the world. They are experiencing it for the first time and don’t have anything holding them back from truly enjoying life. That innocence and pureness in their hearts is what I love to see and be a part of
Interests: I love to paint as well as create art in non conventional ways. I play the ukulele in my free time and I also love to read. I ride horses and help my mom take care of her farm animals.

Ian

Age: 23
School, Degree and Certifications: University of Oregon – BA in Comparative Literature

Experience: The past 5 summers of my life I spent working at summer camps in Oregon and California. I have done cooking classes, science experiments, arts and crafts, rock climbing, and all the other fun traditional summer camp stuff countless times. I also waited tables and washed dishes at a French restaurant for a couple years.

Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: Kids are so inspiring and are so much fun to work with. I learn so much about having fun and letting loose with children along with being curious about the people, places, and things around us. I find working with youth to be fun, exciting, and fulfilling.

Interests: love watching movies alone or with my friends and enjoying a good meal. I also enjoy thrifting, running, and listening to music. Recently I have been super into trivia and crosswords.

Nicole

Age: 23
School, Degree and Certifications: University of Arizona, Film

Experience: I have enjoyed being outside for as long as I can remember. Going to the YMCA summer camps, sleeping outside in tents with my friends or enjoying hammocking in the pacific northwest. I worked as a Direct Support Professional for adults with autism, helped with 8-12 month olds teaching them about colors, animals and how to walk. I have learned how to administer medications, teach basic life skills and learn from people around me at every place I go. In College, I was apart of my sorority Alpha Chi Omega with doing philanthropic work raising money for domestic violence awareness, and in high school being apart of the leadership team with preparing food and clothes to the women’s shelter in my hometown.

Why I Enjoy Working With Kids/My Philosophy: I enjoy working with kids because, the best time of growing up was being able to try things for the first time like, playing games with friends you just met, swimming in a cold river for the first time outside or discovering a new type of plant or animal. Children have such a unique way of seeing the world and we can learn a lot from them!

Interests: Reading, Watching Movies, Crafting, Playing Guitar, Traveling

The Wave Of The Future - Rachael Blustein

Before arriving at High Trails, I worked for the Philadelphia Water Department and The Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory. These experiences have exerted a gravitational pull on me to everything and anything that pertains to water....

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...

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...

Solar System GPS? Leslie Urban

Looking up into the night sky it is often hard to conceptualize just how vast of a space you’re looking at. Sirius is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and yet it is...

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...

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...

Birds Battle to be heard over Noise Pollution - Gabriela Antonova

To many, pollution is something dark and disgusting that poisons clean air or pristine rivers, like Dr. Seuss’s Smogulous Smog or Gluppity-Glup. However, pollution can be invisible, sly, and can even inhibit communication. We’re talking...

A Life Lesson from My Brother: Heather Plazak

Can you imagine being 8 years old and being told you have a disease that has no cure? Or finding out that your life expectancy is at best ten more years? Can you imagine living in...

Keeping It Fresh In Year Three - Nasser Rihan

It is that time of year again. The leaves are falling from the oak trees, the wind is becoming cooler and ever more crisp, and for me that means one thing: another year at High...

The Master's - Alex Kaklamanos A master's degree is an advanced academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. Earning a Master’s degree... Learning Styles and Experiential Education.....or Why It’s Better To Do It Outside - Connor Lee One of the best and defining parts of an outdoor science school is that nature is our textbook and our classroom. Our students don’t sit at desks reading paragraphs aloud from a textbook... On the line of Wildfire - Kate Leaf Exploring the Research on How Fire is Changing the West Late summer of 2013 brought the most destructive day of California’s Rim Fire, when wind and prolonged drought conditions created an inferno that transformed 30,000 acres... Can Erosion and Illegal Trails Get Along? - Caroline Blake At the University of Vermont (UVM), I remember not wanting to walk on the concrete sidewalk between the Student Center and the Library because it was not convenient. Instead, I joined thousands of other students... 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 –... A Science Fair Experience - Dawn Cook In education today one of the big buzzwords is STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. A study by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) determined that female interest in STEM majors declines... What Is A Teacher?- Mark Cassio The dictionary defines teacher as one who teaches or instructs; one whose business or occupation is to instruct others; an instructor; a tutor. Yawn… that’s dry, ho-hum stuff. Clearly, teacher commands infinitely more description and... Of Mice and Mothers - Chris Emme Little dudes and dudettes in many mammalfamilies need role models to teach positive behavior. Question: If you knew your interactions with students were having a genetic impact on the way they behaved... Rules of Management: Book Review by Alex Kaklamanos My dad then turned to me and said, “I have to fire this worker. I remember when I was in high school and my dad showed me a picture on the front page of the Charlotte... I Am the Youngest Administrator Here - Sarah Wood I am one of three Medic Coordinators at High Trails, which, in a nutshell, means I am in charge of student health and safety for the duration of a school’s stay here. At 23 years... 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...

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.

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... Attention Getters to Start Your Class - Hadley Conrad Imagine it is the third class of the day; about 3pm. Students have enjoyed a fact-filled day. However, they are loaded with new information and reasonably tired from a hike in the mountains with their... 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... 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...

Rising of the Tides - Meg Swords The oceans make up 71% of our planet, and we are just now beginning to unlock its potential to power our world! According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, marine energy is the largest potential... Exploring Outer Space - Tori Jackson A full moon with a moon ring, photo by Tori Space, a place so vast and unknown that there are seemingly endless opportunities for exploration and learning. In this blog post, we'll... 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... 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... 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...