2025 Spring Season Field Instructors
Howdy! My name is Dan, and I’m from Colorado Springs, Colorado. This will be my second season on the HTOEC staff. I’m originally from Nashville, Tennessee and have always had a deep connection to the natural world. I was an English major in college, and quit my desk job this spring to come learn, teach and play outside! I love to read, write, climb, backpack and ride horses in my free time. I worked as a Wrangler for the summer program here this past season, and I’m super stoked to stick around and dive back into Outdoor Education! See y’all on the trail!
Hello! My name is Maddie, and I am so excited to be joining the HOTEC team this spring. I graduated from CSU with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and one in International Development. I'm originally from Pueblo, and after working at schools out in DC, I really needed to get back to nature. Volunteering with both AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps showed me that learning comes from experience as much as it does formal education. Things I love include reading, bug facts, and Dungeons and Dragons. I am very much looking forward to sharing my love of learning and nature this spring!
Hello everyone! My name is Nat Hernandez and I am an environmental science and fine arts major. I just finished working the Summer season at Big Spring as the Arts and Crafts Coordinator and it was an incredibly enriching experience, especially watching the kid’s imagination spark up with the materials we had in our Art Barn. I have a deep love for nature and art, and when those two things combine it is like a magical concoction that occurs right before you. I’m very excited to work at High Trails Outdoor Education Center this Fall!
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Hi, My name is Madeline. I'm from Florida and recently graduated with a degree in Biology. I love all outdoor activities, especially paddle boarding and long walks, and I have a passion for conservation biology. I'm excited to be starting my first season at High Trails! I’m quite passionate about sharing my love for environmental preservation and sustainability. You generally find me restoring habitats and hanging out with the manatees.
Hello! My name is Mason :) I am super excited to be starting my first season with HTOEC this fall. I am from Florida, where I recently graduated with a BA in Anthropology from UNF. Despite my East coast upbringing i have catered a great love for Colorado while camping and skiing all across the state. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, reading, practicing my hobbies such as leatherworking and blacksmithing, watching/ listening to video essays on Youtube about anything under the sun, and exploring nature. Again i am super excited to be joining the HTOEC staff this season, I can't wait to get to know everybody!
Hello! My name is Grace, I'm originally from Boise, Idaho and this is my first season working with HTOEC. A few fun facts about me, I got my bachelors degree in Psychology at Portland State University, I speak French and lived/taught in France for 8 months after graduating, and my favorite outdoor activities are rock climbing and skiing (but I also enjoy backpacking, biking, and being in the mountains when it's time to brush my teeth before bed!). I'm looking forward to joining the team and adventuring outdoors together!
Hi y'all! My name is Logan, and I can't wait for my first season with HTOEC! I grew up in Washington state and was in Colorado for 8 years where I ended up getting my degree in neuroscience and molecular biology at CU Boulder. I love talking about the science behind learning, memory, and development and Iearning about the interests of others! I also enjoy hiking, music, and listening to stories! I am so excited to be a part of this community and to spend time learning in the great outdoors!
Hi, My name is Alia! I am coming from Oceanside, California and am a recent graduate from the University of California, Berkeley. Some of my favorite ways I like to spend time in nature include camping, swimming, snowboarding, and hiking. I am looking forward to being a Field Instructor with High Trails to share these interests with students while teaching and learning more about the outdoors. Can’t wait for this fall!
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Hello! My name is Ben, I am 25 years old and this will be my first season here! I just completed a summer at Sanborn Western Camps which was a total blast and I can’t wait to see what this coming season has to offer! I love to do anything outdoors such as backpacking, mountain biking. I'm enthused to get to share my love of outdoors and childlike wonder with the students. My happy place is anywhere the grass is growing and the trees are blowing.
Hi I’m Jennie! I’m from Northern California and this is my second season working in Colorado. I love camping, road tripping, swimming and spending time outside with my friends. I have a background in Environmental Economics and Disability Studies. I believe that nature is a precious thing and that it should be available for everyone to experience. I’m so excited for my first season at High Trails and the many young lives I get to impact.
Hi folks! My name is Madeline and I am super excited for my second season at HTOEC! I am from Wisconsin and have a background in conservation and ecology. The past four years I have been working in a traditional high school setting and I am thrilled at the opportunity to teach in an outdoor educational setting. I have always loved the intersection of nature, history, and music, and I am eager to share my knowledge and spark curiosity in others!
What’s up y’all. I’m Jamie! I’m from a small mountain village in Switzerland called Malix. I studied Digital Film Production in Zurich for 3.5 years which allowed me to get my BA in Arts. This will be my second time working for HTOEC but I have also worked 3 summers at the summer program. I love making music and playing guitar. I do a lot of songwritting and I am also the singer in a rockband. I love filmmaking as well. Hiking, swimming and skiing are also huge passions of mine. I’m really excited for this fall season and can’t wait to get into the outdoors once again!