| Around the office and in the field |
| Kim Collins (Assistant Program Coordinator) earned her M.S. in Outdoor Recreation at Indiana University in December of 2007 and has been with the Indiana Memorial Union for two years. She moved to Bloomington from the concrete jungle of Chicago nine years ago. In her spare time, she enjoys paddling, snowboarding, listening to music while gardening, reading, and home improvement. She has logged ten years in the outdoor industry, working in a variety of places: Custom Experience Coordinator for IU Outdoor Adventures, Adventure Trip Leader for Camp Tecumseh, Facilitator and Environmental Educator for Bradford Woods, and CILT counselor for Hoosier Burn Camp. She enjoys international travel and hopes to travel to Melbourne, OZ in the next two years. At the Union, Kim is in charge of assisting in planning and developing of adventure trips, marketing, teaching “Intro to Wilderness Leadership,” staff training and development, and overseeing special projects and events. |
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| Ginelle Heller (Office Manager) grew up in Richmond, VA, but fled the lowlands to the beautiful Appalachian Mountains as soon as she could. When Ginelle says she would rather be fishing, she means she would rather be looking at birds with a fishing pole in her hand. She enjoys practicing her endo while mountain biking. She loves playing in rivers in canoes almost as much as much as she enjoys identifying the flora and fauna of forests. She has studied abroad and led trips in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. Currently, Ginelle holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Warren Wilson College. She is pursuing a M.S. in Environmental Science and Public Affairs from SPEA at IU. |
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| Dave Frost (Custom Experience Coordinator) has a B.A. in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the University of Radford in Virginia. Dave is pursuing a career in Wilderness Leadership. Mr. Frost has more than 250 days experience in the Utah wilderness and is continuing his education to become a wilderness therapist. Dave has been with IU Outdoor Adventures since April of 2007 and has found a number of wonderful opportunities both in the field and in the classroom. Dave has extensive survival skills and hopes to assist teaching the class offered through HPER. Dave is responsible for coordinating, briefing, and debriefing custom trips, and communicating with clients about their needs so he can produce the best custom experiences. |
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Melissa Banks (Adventure Specialist and Leader in Training) is a gazillion year senior at IU working on a general studies degree with minors in political science and outdoor education. She graduated CORE in spring 2008 and hopes to be an assistant instructor for the program this spring. She enjoys spending time in her hammock and has managed to find ways to hang it in some impressive places, including on a sailboat and over a flooded campground. As a certified Wilderness EMT, Melissa aka “Momma Mel”, loves running, jumping, climbing trees and fixing all the cuts, scrapes, and broken bones that come with it. Her favorite backcounty activities are cooking, plant identification, and singing goofy songs really off key. |
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| Jack Brumbaugh (Adventure Specialist and Leader in Training) leans toward studying environmental sciences or environmental management. (possibly even a minor in journalism). He entered IU with the intention of majoring in Biology as a pre-med student; however, has since come to the realization he would like to work outdoors. Jack's outdoor interests lie in hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, rafting, and rock climbing. He has experience in backpacking excursions and feels his strengths rest in backpacking and climbing, particularly high alpine. |
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| Ellen Coe (Adventure Specialist and Leader in Training) is pursing a Master's in Outdoor Recreation. |
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Allegra Johnson (Adventure Specialist) is an adventure specialist at Outdoor Adventures. Hailing from the east side of Cincinnati, Allegra is a junior at IU studying Microbiology and French. Allegra’s interests include learning new things, kayaking, canoeing, rapping, Manchester United, politics, dancing, more rapping, anything soccer, and living thug life. Allegra’s life goals include traveling to every continent, curing at least two incurable diseases, and marrying Cristiano Ronaldo. |
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Tyler Kivland (Adventure Specialist) is an adventure specialist extraordinaire here at IUOA. He is originally from Chicago and is the world’s greatest Cubs fan. He will be attending IU in the fall looking to be a Recreation major and eventually a high school teacher. His goal is to educate the youth of society about the wonders of the great outdoors and get them away from the damaging world of video games. He has over ten years experience in team-building courses and rock climbing, has at one time been a trail guide on horseback, lifeguard, circus performer and professional ballroom dance instructor among many other random jobs. These days you can find him having a good time playing some bluegrass music with a fishing pole somewhere nearby. His outdoor motto is “The more miserable you THINK you are….the better the story will be.” |
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| Kyle Meier (Adventure Specialist and Leader in Training) |
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| Logan Owens (Adventure Specialist and Leader in Training) |
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Audrey Speicher (Adventure Specialist)is a new addition to the IUOA Adventure Specialist team. She is a sophomore at IU and double majoring in fine arts photography and journalism. On any given day she can be found taking pictures, reading a good book in her hammock, cooking a classy meal, playing with her adorable cat Rollie-Pollie, or getting lost on the Southern Indiana countryside. She is currently an IUOA Leader-in-Training and can’t wait to hone in on her wilderness leadership skills. Many people are surprised to find that she competed in the Indiana Junior Miss Competition, grew up on a buffalo farm, and can tear a phonebook in half with her bare hands. Oh, and she is also the coolest person you will ever meet. |
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| Alex Topper (Adventure Specialist and Leader in Training) recently declared his major to be Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management through the school of HPER. He may potentially pursue a minor in Geology. His outdoor interests include, but are not limited to, boating (canoeing, rafting, kayaking, riding cheap blow up mattresses from Wal*mart that get holes in them in river play holes), Rock Climbing, Caving, Mountain Biking, Backpacking, Night Hiking, Trail running, Cooking, Orienteering, Fishing, Skeet Shooting, and off road driving. He also plays a mean game of horseshoes. Nearly all of the experience and interest Alex has in outdoor sports came from his years in Boy Scout Troop 399 where he earned his Eagle Scout rank. In the summers of 2007 and 2008, he guided whitewater rafting trips on the Arkansas River (Class III & IV) in Buena Vista, Colorado. Alex is currently finishing the first semester of his sophomore year at Indiana University and is working as a yeastie boy at the Bloomington Bagel Company. |
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Full Trip Leaders |
Zach Arregui likes to attend retreats, especially retreats in the out-of-doors. He enjoys whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, backpacking, whitewater rafting, and riding bicycles. If a paddle is involved, so is Zach. He has been involved with IUOA for 3 years. He graduated in May 2008 with a B.A. in Classical Studies and History. At OA, Zack is in charge of Inventory files, POS/ WinWard functions, assisting staff with questions/concerns, and ensuring the front desk procedures run smoothly on a daily basis. |
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| Kelli Boner is a senior majoring in Environmental Management with a minor in Outdoor Recreation & Resource Management. She has been with the Union for two years. Her favorite activities are rafting, canoeing, kayaking (anything involving water), backpacking, and climbing. Her aspirations include: living out of her car for extended periods of time, rambling around the U.S., and working on organic farms in faraway lands. One day she hopes to seclude herself from the rest of the world in a log cabin in the woods! |
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| Brittany Collins graduated with a major in Biology. She has been involved with OA for 4 years. Brittany loves everything outdoors and dabbles in many pools, but her favorite activities are rock climbing, kayaking, and backpacking. She also enjoys teaching wilderness medicine courses with Papa Cal. Brittany enjoys long walks on the beach, pooping in the woods, and playing in the mountains. |
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| Brad Holtz has been with OA since the summer of 2006. He is currently an Exercise Science major and plans to attend PT school after Undergrad. His favorite outdoor activities include (but are not limited to): Backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, whitewater kayaking, caving, and mountaineering. Brad has completed two WEA courses, is a LNT Trainer, and summited Mt. Rainier in 2006. Brad fell in love with the outdoors in Isle Royale National Park, Lake Superior. Future goals include expanding his knowledge and experience as an outdoor leader, acquiring new experiences and skills, and climbing Denali in Alaska. Brad is currently in charge of First Aid Kits & Land related gear. He also assists in front desk operations and procedures, and secures pro-deals for OA leaders. |
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| Peter Ippoliti is a camp counselor at a space camp in Turkey this summer...need we say more! Peter likes rock climbing. He also spent a semester abroad in Turkey in 2007. |
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Luke Johnson was inspired to become an IUOA leader because of a mind-boggling experience he had backpacking the Appalachian Trail as an IUOA participant. He has been with IUOA for three years and is willing to lead any trip with the only requirement that it is outside and with good people. In the summer, he co-leads a Teen Adventure camp with fellow OA’ers Joe Grubbs. Luke's future aspirations include elementary teaching, outdoor leadership through hiking the A.T., and many other exciting adventures. |
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Matthew Lattis has been involved with IUOA for 4 years and has had many opportunities for personal and professional development through the organization. In his time at OA, he has been involved in the vertical world of rock climbing, ice climbing, and vertical caving, but has also dabbled in whitewater rafting and kayaking. Mostly moderate and solid mixed climbing environments inspire him in his goals and aspirations. |
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Kathryn Lucas is a senior majoring in Chemistry. She has been involved with OA for a couple years and enjoys everything more outdoors. Her favorite activities include rock climbing, kayaking, snowboarding, surfing, and rafting. Kathryn is interested in medicine both indoors and outdoors. In addition to the outdoors, she enjoys working with children and traveling around the U.S. and overseas.
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Jill Overholt is a graduate student pursuing a Masters degree in Outdoor Recreation. She is a long time veteran of IUOA and leads backpacking, paddling and winter sports trips. Jill is a wholesome Midwestern girl--born in Michigan, raised in Ohio, and transplanted to Indiana for the most recent chapters of her life. She has always dreamed of leaving the Midwest but somehow always seems to end up back here again. Her most recent adventures include a two-year stint as a Peace Corps volunteer in Armenia, surfing and scuba diving in Australia, and travelling in Europe. In her free time, Jill like to ride her bike, cook, read, and take naps in her hammock. |
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| Brooks Proctor is currently a senior majoring in Geological Sciences. He is from Boonville, IN, has been with OA for a couple years, and loves being part of the OA family. Brooks currently leads or assists rock climbing, rappelling, caving, and backpacking trips. He is teaching two courses, Vertical Caving and Backpacking, in the spring semester. Besides being an adventure trip leader, he is a self-proclaimed bookworm and nerd. During winter break, Brooks will be downhill skiing in Colorado. |
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| Elizabeth Simeri |
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| Ben Speicher has been working for OA since spring 2006. He is from Bourbon, IN where he grew up on a buffalo farm and greatly contributed to the noble sport of tree climbing. As a senior majoring in Environmental Management through SPEA, Ben loves to lead rock climbing and canoeing trips for the university. |
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| Taryn Weiss has been with OA for 3 years and enjoys teaching whitewater rafting R1's. She was also involved in the field components of the R317: Intro to Wilderness Leadership course in the fall of 2007. |
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| Assistant Trip Leaders |
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| Shauna Darland is the youngest of four, two sisters and one brother. She was raised in Indianapolis and her family has been traveling to Lake Lemon for years. Growing up at the lake made her appreciate the outdoors and enjoy water sports and fishing. Shauna is a senior at IU, studying Therapeutic Recreation, with an Outdoor Minor and Psychology Minor. She wants to help people with disabilities and use the outdoors and ministry as two forms of therapy for them. |
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| Chris Noel |
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| Leah Russell is currently a junior and working towards Trip Leader status with IUOA. She is majoring in Outdoor Recreation and took part in CORE in spring of 2008. Crazy Leah can talk to you for hours about the Collins Living Learning Center. She has lived there for two years and loves it. She was introduced to the outdoors through a local summer camp. Leah sees herself working with children and teenagers in the future and has been a camp counselor for two years. In the summer of 2007, she worked on the Ocoee River as a Professional Raft Guide with Quest Expeditions. Since then, she made room for the Ocoee River in her life, and plans to return the pristine area next summer. Leah also enjoys whitewater kayaking, body surfing, mountain biking, hiking, and stargazing. |
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| Christina Vernon is a senior studying Public Health. She is enjoys skiing, kayaking, renting equipment. Her interests also include rolling down hills, playing on playgrounds (especially tire swings), skateboarding, and drawing. |
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| LIT's — Leaders-In-Training |
| Sarah Beckerman |
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| Josh Cisney is from a small town called Berne, in northeastern Indiana. His family farms about one thousand acres and owns a business that builds and repairs grain bins, augers, and everything associated with them. Josh worked on the farm during the summers, welding, driving tractors, and doing other various farm chores. Here at IU, his major is Physics and Education with the hope of becoming a Physics Teacher. If I become a teacher, I would love to work at or own a Christian camp, leading backpacking trips for kids wanting to grow in their faith. Josh has had a passion for the outdoors as long as he can remember and prefers being outside to inside any day. He loves the mountains, backpacking, fly fishing, and rock climbing. |
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| Kensey Cohen |
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| Kenny Goff is a freshman studying finance major, soon to switch to a management/entrepreneur major. He also is working towards an outdoor recreation minor. Kenny is most interested in leading backpacking, climbing, caving, rafting and canoeing trips. |
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| Laura Hartrick is a junior at IU thinking about studying Sociology and is working towards an American Humanics certificate through the SPEA. Laura enjoys inspiring, motivating, and leading people. In high school, she was president of the puppet club in high school (which allowed her to create learning scenarios with puppets for an audience of children). Laura has been white-water rafting, camping, backpacking and rock climbing and is excited to finally be given the opportunity to be the one to organize and lead these activities. |
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| Catie Kemp |
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Adjunct Instructors |
Dave Calvin earned his B.S. in Recreation and Park Administration at Illinois State University and his M.S. in Recreation at Indiana University. Originally from Illinois, Dave and his wife, Christine are proud to call Indiana home for the Calvin kids, Bryson, Brooke and Logan. He has been working in outdoor recreation since 1991 and has more than 400 days in the back country as a trip leader. His research interests are in outdoor leadership and decision making. Cal has been with the Indiana Memorial Union for 15 years. |
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| Dell Hambling spent nearly 2 years living primitively in the wilderness of southern New Jersey with the Tracker School. She and husband, Steve, have run their own company teaching wilderness skills to a multitude of age groups throughout the eastern and mid-western U.S. Currently they teach the wilderness skills and survival courses. Dellvenna is also a full- time high school science teacher at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Indiana, where she teaches Chemistry and Physics. |
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| Steve Hambling spent nearly 2 years living primitively in the wilderness. He and his wife Dell have traveled extensively, teaching wilderness skills and survival. He holds a masters in secondary education and currently teaches Earth/Space Science and Biology at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Indiana. He and Dell also regularly paticipate in adventure races and travel for kickboxing competetions. |
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| Ashley Holmes |
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Kyle Lanoue spends a great deal of time working with kids of all ages in both the traditional and non-traditional classroom, as a professional educator by trade. When he is not instructing for IUOA, he can be found at one of the local high schools where he is a teacher and principal intern. As the former college mascot for his alma mater, you can bet if there is any clowning around to be done he will be near the center of it. Kyle hopes to one day reach all of the highest points in all 50 states - the so called high pointers club. Kyle is from Rensselaer, Indiana, but calls Bloomington home. He has his B.S. in Industrial Technology Education and his Master of Education in Educational Leadership. His favorite outdoor activity is mountaineering. Kyle teaches HPER- R110 Rock and Ice Climbing. |
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| Kristen Pothier lives in Columbus, IN and majored Therapeutic Recreation, and minored in Outdoor Recreation and Psychology during her time at Indiana University. She is looking began nursing school in January of 2008. She has been at OA since 2006. Her favorite trips to teach are Whitewater Canoeing R1’s and Backpacking R1’s. |
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Andrew Prinsen is a 2007 graduate of Indiana University. He is a freelance journalist and filmmaker and currently lives in Indianapolis when he is not overseas. He loves all things out-of-doors and teaches whitewater pursuits for IUOA. He is also the pioneer of wintertime Eggnog-Pong in Bloomington and welcomes challenges anytime his opponent is willing to purchase the nog. |
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| Jackson Wilson has a magnetic personality that often helps him teach Navigational Classes. Jackson would like to be a good rock climber one day, but ends up spending all of his time with students impelling them into value forming experiences. He also instructs for Outward Bound and the Wilderness Education Association. In his spare time, he is working on a Ph.D. in Adventure Education and playing board games. |
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| Mary Williams was born and raised in Northing, Indiana and migrated south to Bloomington five years ago. Upon completion of her studies in the school of HPER, she decided to stick around and is currently the National Office Manager for the Wilderness Education Association (WEA). Mary began her involvement with OA as an undergrad and is currently helping with staff training and R1 skill course instruction. She is also a WEA instructor and is training to be an instructor for the Wilderness Medicine Training Center. Her most recent accolades include three gold medals in the 2007 Desk Jockey Olympics. Mary earned medals in Staple Shooting, Monitor Hurling and the 300-meter Desk Chair Roll. Mary hopes to earn the gold in Speed Rolodexing in 2008 games. During a recent trip to NC, Kim gave her the title “Goddess of the Might Nanty,” as she is able to withstand frigid whitewater temperatures like none other. |
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| Michael Valliant is a master’s student in tourism studies and a long time member of IUOA. His experience with the program and years of professional experience in facilitation and outdoor activities. Michael is the king of the bass and of chopsticks – he is often seen with both (at the same time) at the Farmer’s Market. |
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| Recent Graduates and Instructors (sniff, sniff) that left the great state of Indiana... |
| Ryan Anderson is graduated with a degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration. He has been enjoying the outdoors in some form or another for most of his life. From his first backpacking trip in elementary school, to discovering a taste for rock climbing in college eight years ago, he is eager for adventure. This led him to go hiking, backpacking, climbing, and paddling in four countries and 17 states. |
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| Skippy Baker is from the frozen tundra of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She holds a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation & Resource Management from IU. She is an avid backpacker, loves water-based activities, and enjoys ice climbing (although she has not had many opportunities to dominate the ice in Indiana). Skippy currently works with IUOA Custom Experiences facilitating team-building activities. If you have met Skippy, you know that she is a “crazy animal person” and has a dog named Ashlee that licks feet. She met her super awesome lumberjack-like husband & IUOA leader, Ryan Ridge, while ice climbing with IUOA. Skippy and Ryan will soon be frolicing in Alaska again with the Denali National Park Sled Dog team now that Ryan finally graduated! |
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| Kevin Chapin has been a trip leader and instructor with IUOA since his freshman year at IU. He got his start with IUOA as a participant on a Wilderness Freshman Orientation trip to the Linville Gorge in North Carolina and has been climbing ever since. Kevin primarily leads rope-related courses such as rock climbing and caving, but has been known to submerge a kayak and strap on a snowboard from time to time. Kevin is a graduate of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Public Policy. |
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| Joe Grubbs' life after OA will never be the same. For now, he will be working with the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department – playing in the sunshine of summer camp and then spending his last summer working with the Teen X-treme program. After that, Joe will go where the wind blows... |
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| Laura Koenig is currently clerking for the next year for Judge David Hamilton in Indianapolis, IN. She is in the process of looking for public defender positions and keeping a look out for those indigent accused! Laura loves all things water and enjoys climbing up big piles of rocks just about anywhere and skiing whenever she can. |
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| KoFan Lee |
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| Shannon McCarthy graduated with a degree in Recreation and Tourism Management. She enjoys indoor and outdoor rock climbing, camping, hiking, swimming, urban and traditional backpacking, caving, visiting parks, biking, and jumping from planes and quarries. She now lives in beautiful Alaska! |
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Allyson O’Connor is working for the Canyonlands Field Institute out in beautiful Utah! She was living in Denver before that. |
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Sarah Jane Pepper wishes she could spend more of her days munching chocolate chip cookies in the Eastern Sierra and less days reading textbooks and writing papers. A sucker for knock-knock jokes, Reese's Pieces, and Mary Oliver poems, Sarah Jane's favorite outdoor activities are caving and eating macaroni-and-cheese. She is often found blaring Reggae music. |
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| Mandi Renslow worked at IUOA for 2 years as an Adventure Specialist. She is an R110 instructor and Trip Leader. She enjoys Water Rafting and Backpacking. She has been a Trip Leader and Trainer at Mountain Adventure Guides for the past two year. This year she is working for Outward Bound Discovery in Florida! |
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| Ryan Ridge is moving to Alaska! |
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| Amy Shellman is completed her Ph.D. in Leisure Behavior at IU. She came to Bloomington from New York by way of Australia. Her favored activities include climbing (mountains, ice, rock), X- Co skiing and sharing the outdoors with others. She'll try just about anything once and has learned there is nothing more valuable on the trail than a good co-instructor/companion! |
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| Frank Vernon has worn many hats for IUOA over the years – Trip Leader Supervisor, Office Manager, Interim Assistant Program Coordinator, Lead Instructor, Instructor Trainer- but lately he is more than satisfied with teaching the occasional course or training and getting more time to play in the outdoors. He and his wife Katie are settling down in New Hampshire for awhile. He is working on a graduate degree in outdoor education. When not with OA, Frank is also a lead whitewater rafting and mountaineering instructor for Outward Bound Wilderness in Oregon, a crazed hunchback over a sewing machine making custom ultralite outdoor gear, and brewing a stinkin' fantastic cup of Mexican hot chocolate at a local coffee shop. They do not know he is secretly adding cinnamon and cayenne pepper to normal hot chocolates for customers yet. |
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| Katie Vernon is originally from Chicago, but is now moving on to Keen, New Hampshire. Her favorite activity is walking with everything she needs on her back. A little-known fact about Katie, she has a black belt in Karate and was a junior Olympic fencer. Sheand her husband, Frank, spent many weeks hopping around on the AT and the John Muir trail throughout 2008. |
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| Tim VanHaitsma has been with OA for two years and loves rock climbing and whitewater paddling. He enjoys taking out new people and enjoys seeing the excitement on their faces when they learn a new outdoor activity. He is just starting a new life out in Utah, continuing on with his graduate studies. |
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Lindsay Vinikoor earned her B.S. in Exercise Science from Indiana University and originally hails from Arlington Heights, Illinois. Her favorite activity is white water canoeing. If she could trade her arm for anything it would be either better dancing skills or the opportunity to cuddle with a baby sea otter.
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| Aiko Yoshino is from Tokyo (Konnichiwa!) and completed a Ph.D. in Outdoor Recreation/Education. Her favorite outdoor activity is climbing on rock, ice and water falls. She is now teaching Outdoor Recreation/ Education courses in Ohio! |
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The IMU -
Union Board is the largest student programming body on the IUB campus. It organizes a diverse range of events and activities around which students may come together, explore multiple world views, historic and current events, and learn from one another.