Staff » Wilderness Field Staff

Wilderness Field Staff

Staff

The lead guide is a seasoned professional with many hours of experience leading groups into the field. They hold a Wilderness First Responder medical training certification or are a certified EMT. The lead wilderness guide takes primary responsibility for choosing routes and campsites, teaching wilderness skills, and dealing with group risk management. This enables the therapist to focus on, plan, and direct the therapy work.

Our wilderness field staff receives several hours of training before they depart on each expedition, including approximately one to two hours each of clinical, chemical dependency, and wilderness medicine training.

Read about one of our wilderness guides who is featured in Oregon State University's campus newspaper.

Mark Andrews, WFR Wilderness Guide	Mark has a passion for introducing adolescents to wilderness exploration and in helping to facilitate their personal exploration in such magnificent natural areas. His work experience includes wild land firefighting and trail construction. He holds a B.A. in Photojournalism and likes to show great views to anyone he takes into the wilderness.


Jeff Brand, WFR, CADC-I Wilderness Guide	Jeff has been working with young adults for more than 10 years. He has worked as a program director for the Outpost Program and Pretty Lake Vacation Camp, as a coordinator for a tutoring program, and co-founder and director of an after school youth program. Jeff's experience and skills shine through in his work with children and he enjoys helping them learn and grow in the wilderness. He graduated cum laude with honors from Kalamazoo College with a BA in Philosophy. Jeff is an avid runner and recently took first place in a marathon. In his spare time he enjoys scuba diving, reading, backpacking, and traveling.

Meg Casey, BA, WFR Wilderness Guide	Meg has been working with adolescents for more than eight years. She is inspired by the way kids naturally gravitate toward adventure and self exploration. Meg received her BA in Political Science and Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College. She holds Swift Water Rescue, Wilderness Water Safety, and Climbing Belay certificates. In her spare time she enjoys paddling big Canadian rivers, yoga, hiking peaks, photography, and spending time on her parent's farm.

Lis Collins, WFR Wilderness Guide	Lis has a BA in Psychology and has been working with young adults for more than six years. Lis loves to travel along with spreading time with friends and family. Helping young adults to develop their emotional honesty, openness, integrity, and responsibility is very rewarding for her. "It's hard to call it work" she says in response to working with this generation. Her passion for rock climbing helped New Hampshire high school students gain self-esteem, confidence, and problem solving skills. Lis understands that the use of the wilderness can be a very therapeutic environment for everyone.

Jim DeMerse, MA Wilderness Guide	Jim has been working with youth for more than seven years as a teacher and traveling guide. He gets his inspiration working with youth from "…believing in their hopes, helping with their fears, and providing a path to walk into their futures." Jim received his BS in Environmental Science from Michigan State University and a MA in Education from Johnson State College. In his spare time, Jim likes to do a variety of things: biking, hiking, paddling, playing guitar, skiing, fishing, listening to live music, writing, laughing, and just being; but most of all — he enjoys spending time with his dog Amigo.

Liz Feldman, WFR Wilderness Guide	Liz has worked with youth in every job she has had since she was 15. She has a love of the outdoors and has worked past jobs with the Peace Corps in Paraguay and with a reforestation project. Spending a semester in Spain helped put her minor in Spanish to good use (she also has a BS in Biology and a minor in math). Liz went on a series of expeditions as a teenage that influenced her life and were empowering, now she wants to help bring that setting for growth to other young individuals.

Emily Gardner, WFR Wilderness Guide	Emily has been working with adolescents for more than five years. She explains, "It is an inspiring and rewarding experience to help someone achieve something they believed they couldn't do." Emily has studied philosophy, psychology and wilderness education at the University of Oregon. In the past, she has worked at REI which has given her vast experience with the equipment used in the field. Emily enjoys photography and traveling in her spare time.

Melissa Green , WFR, CADC-I Wilderness Field Guide	Melissa has been working with youth for over 10 years. The way youth look at the world and explore their curiosities inspires her. She loves the passion youth can have and their potential for change. Some of Melissa's favorite free time activities are gardening, mountain biking, backpacking, bow hunting, and rock climbing. She loves to go the extra mile to make each expedition more successful and meaningful.

Oliver Green, WFR, CADC-I Wilderness Guide	Oliver has worked with adolescents for more than 10 years. His experience includes working at a ropes course, as a nature instructor, and at other wilderness therapy programs. Oliver enjoys his work with adolescents and is able to relate to them on a core level. When not working, Oliver enjoys mountain biking, climbing, gardening, hiking, reading, writing, dancing, and taking photographs.

Brook Jackson, WFR, BS Wilderness Guide	Brook has worked with young adults off and on for over eight years. "I love the raw aspect of surviving in the wilderness and helping the kids find their emotions without the distractions of society." He enjoys bringing his dog, Action, on all of the expeditions in order to add just another therapeutically positive element to the trip. Brook received his degree in Anthropology from the College of Charleston, but since he was raised in Oregon — he is a Duck fan.

Serg Kagno, BA, WEMT, CADC-I Wilderness Guide	Serg has been working in social services and juvenile justice for more than 14 years. "I have the coolest job in the world," say Serg. "It allows me to have real conversations in the best setting on earth." His favorite thing is to learn a new skill. Serg has a BA in Psychology from the University of Chicago and has also attended a commercial diving school. In his spare time he does martial arts, runs a few marathons, teaches for the Red Cross, and frequents the bookstores.

Marlies Luepges, WFR Wilderness Guide	Marlies has been working with youth for more than five years. She is fascinated by their ability and willingness to try new activities, behaviors, and environments. Marlies is an accomplished raft guide and snowboard instructor (she is certified level III in Switzerland and has attended various snow sport schools). She is currently working toward her BS in outdoor recreation leadership and tourism. In her spare time she enjoys snowboarding, reading, bicycle touring, backpacking, and writing.

Jeff Mathews, BA, WFR Wilderness Guide	Jeff has been working with youth for more than 10 years. He has done more than 25 expeditions with Catherine Freer. Before joining our team, he worked as an instructor for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. When asked what inspires him, he states "The opportunity to watch young people learn and gain insight through new, wilderness based, experiences." Jeff received his BA from Lewis and Clark College in Biology. He is a surf enthusiast and you can catch him surfing in spots all over the world. Aside from surfing and international travel, he also enjoys tele-skiing and spending time with family.

Pete Nagy, WFR Wilderness Guide	Pete has been working with youth for more than 10 years. His experience ranges from working as an environmental educator, at an at-risk canoe program, to working in a group home. Pete received his BS in Psychology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In his spare time Pete enjoys playing the guitar, gardening, and exploring the great outdoors on his bike.

Jon O'Connor, MA Adventure Activities Trainer	Jon is our first specialist in his field of white water rafting and challenge courses. He received a Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership. He also has a BA in Religious Studies specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies. Spare time is limited for Jon as he also does consulting and training when he is not working for us. He has traveled and worked all over the globe. We are fortunate to have his expertise and skill.

Jima Reed, BS, WFR Wilderness Guide	Jima has been working with youth for more than 10 years. His experience includes working as a climbing guide, white water rafting guide, outdoor educator, and substitute teacher. He received a BS in Environmental Biology and Science Education with a minor in Botany from Humboldt State University. Jima holds a teaching credential in California. He takes his inspiration from, "The moments when the light bulb goes off and they get it." In his spare time you will find him with climbing, backpacking, and white water rafting.

Tiffany Searsdodd, WFR Wilderness Guide	Tiffany has been working with youth for more than five years. She began her career mentoring teenagers in association with a Portland area therapist. She has worked at Santiam Crossing School as a Cabin Counselor before becoming field guide. "I have been an avid outdoor enthusiast since I was in the womb, accompanying my family on camping, hiking, and climbing trips," states Tiffany. Tiffany says she gets her inspiration from, "…the dramatic changes I see on expedition, and the knowledge that I am positively contributing to the lives of young people." In her spare time Tiffany enjoys cycling, bouldering, playing disc golf, and going hiking.