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The fieldguides are the heart and soul of our program. They orchestrate the experience from breakfast until bedtime, sharing their outdoor living skills, natural history knowledge, campfire talents, sense of humor, and contagious enthusiasm for camping with kids. All fieldguides have a background working with children in the outdoors and are experienced in safe practices, making learning fun, and group management and teaching techniques. Fieldguides participate in FIELDGUIDES' staff training and are certified in First Aid and CPR. If you feel you have these qualifications, feel free to contact us about employment opportunities. FIELDGUIDES INC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Galen Camp (he/him), General Manager
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Galen is the son of Fieldguides' founders Jessie and James Camp. Growing up he was fortunate to attend the programs and spend time with its amazing staff. Those experiences were a formative force in his life and he knows first hand how spending time outdoors with intelligent, caring, and fun-loving people can positively influence a young person's life. He has worked as a fieldguide and site director since 2007, and is excited and honored to continue the work Fieldguides does as its general manager. He is a University of California at Berkeley graduate, a Wilderness First Responder, and an experienced backpacking and youth leadership guide who obsesses over Bay Area sports and baking the perfect sourdough loaf.
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Becca has been leading wilderness backpacking programs for youth for over 15 years and worked as a certified middle school science teacher for seven years. She studied Biology and Chemistry at Lewis & Clark College and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree from Earlham College. She is thrilled to work with Fieldguides as the Program Development and Outreach Coordinator combining her three greatest passions - science, being outside, and working with kids. Becca is enthusiastic and always interested in playing a good game. She is enjoying life as a new mom and getting to see her son explore the outdoors alongside her!
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Rebecca Eastman (she/her), Program Development
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 Amanda Harwood (she/her), Outdoor Coordinator
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Amanda started working for FIELDGUIDES in the spring of 2024 and is excited to expand her role this year as the Outdoor Coordinator. She loves to be outside and enjoys climbing, backpacking, skiing, singing, and looking for cool rocks. Amanda is from a small town in Humboldt County and studied Ecological Evolutionary and Organismal (EEO) Biology at Chico State with a focus in wildlife. She has worked as a field technician doing environmental restoration and fuels reduction since 2021, and has spent her summers taking youth groups backpacking in the Trinity Alps since 2019. When Amanda is able, you can find her painting or listening to Weird Al.
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Originally from the suburban wonderland of New Jersey, Grace discovered the magic of outdoor programming on a 5th grade school trip to the Delaware Water Gap. After graduating from Barnard College in NYC, she moved west to work as an instructor for a number of organizations, including Naturalists at Large, the North Cascades Institute, and GirlVentures. Now, she works with Fieldguides to bring more students outside and create programs and partnerships. Grace is passionate about karst caves, night hike games, and her own height (5’7”, probably). |
Grace Gorant (she/her)
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Zoe Russell (they/them)
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Zoe is from the Bay Area and started working for Fieldguides in 2023. They love working outside and getting kids excited about the wonders of the outdoors. They have over four years of experience as an outdoor educator and backpacking lead. You can find them in their free time crocheting, watching movies, camping or exploring. |
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Jackson is very excited to be returning to Fieldguides after last being on the team in 2022. He has several years of trip leading experience with both children and adults, and currently spends his summers guiding backcountry adventures in Yosemite and the greater Sierra Nevada. Jackson has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, where he spent much time exploring the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. One of his greatest passions is sharing wilderness experiences with others, whether it is guiding a group on a backpacking trip or going on a hike with friends. In his free time he loves to rock climb, backpack, and play music.
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Jackson Halderman (he/him)
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Travis Winter (he/him)
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Travis began working at FIEDLGUIDES as a group leader in 2012. He holds an Ecology degree from UC Davis, and has over a decade of experience in teaching outdoor living and wilderness backpacking. His past experiences working with youth include camp counseling, ski instructing, and teaching English in southern Spain. Travis has a knack for connecting with students and loves to share his passion for hiking, camping, skiing, and just being outside. |
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At 15, Yehudah went on his first backpacking trip with a program like Fieldguides and it changed his life. The experience opened a new world of creativity, freedom, and an overwhelming sense of belonging for him. Fast forward a few years and Yehudah has trekked over 10,000 miles on trails such as the Pacific Crest, Appalachian, and Continental Divide. He's always finding new ways to experience the outdoors, whether it's by bringing his beloved ukulele "Cadence", his watercolors, or his trusty massage ball. He's an expert at making each hike a weird and wonderful adventure and never fails to elevate the experience with his pun-ishingly good sense of humor. |
Yehudah Rice (he/him)
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Kiki Welty (she/they)
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Kiki began working with youth as a staffer at the Lair of the Golden Bear family summer camp in 2019 and 2021. Amongst the great pines of Stanislaus National Forest, she witnessed the connections that formed through intentional space holding outside -singing over fires, playing games, and sharing meals.
She continued to work outside with youth as an intern for a nature connection education program, Outside Now, in California. Here, she deepened her appreciation for the way nature and thoughtful mentorship held space for the wonders of the child mind to unfold. Through this experience, her passion for supporting youth in intentional ways outdoors grew. Additional work with youth includes co-facilitation of an after school program, Guided Passageways, and ski instructing in Ashland, OR. She most enjoys hiking, eating delicious food, practicing yoga, cooking and connecting with others. She is so stoked for the upcoming Fieldguides season and the opportunity to lead children in beautiful spaces! Yew! |
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Tyler is a climbing arborist, traversing and caring for trees around the Pacific Northwest. While climbing trees keeps him busy most of the year, Tyler is lucky enough to live out his passion for education through his work with Fieldguides. Tyler is a returning instructor, with his previous seasons being in 2015 and 2016. Tyler has spent many years as an outdoor educator and trip leader with programs such as Fieldguides, Camp Unalayee, AmeriCorp, Education Outside and Trackers Earth. His hobbies include backpacking, plant ID, snowboarding, basically anything outdoors. Tyler has a Bachelor's of Science from Evergreen State College, and also is an active performing musician, specializing in bass guitar.
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Tyler Gholson (he/him)
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Albin Nilsson (he/him)
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Albin started as a group leader with Fieldguides in 2012. He has over ten years of experience as a backpacking guide and outdoor educator and is returning to Fieldguides as a site director after five years working in the outdoor industry in Vermont. When not working on a building project, Albin spends his free time biking, skiing, and camping. |
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Asa grew up spending summers camping and backpacking -- riding in a backpack before he could walk. He’s spent years as a camper in various summer camps and has worked as a camp counselor at Camp U and the Boise YMCA. The 2025 season will be Asa’s first with Fieldguides, and he's looking forward to sharing his love of the wilderness with a new generation of young people. Asa holds a BS in computer science and a cybersecurity certificate from Oregon State university. Spending years in front of a screen makes him long for the outdoors, and he can be found making music, playing games, and discussing the great problems of our times. Between adventures, Asa makes Boise, ID and the foothills surrounding it his home base. |
Asa Kohn (he/him)
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Kyle Guthrie (he/him)
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Kyle is a a graduate of CSU, Chico where he earned a degree in Exercise Physiology and Coaching. He is passionate about outdoor adventure and wilderness medicine, and has worked as a ski patroller, mountain guide, and raft guide. He possesses and often utilizes his Wilderness EMT knowledge professionally and recreationally! Kyle loves learning and sharing his knowledge, whether on the slopes, in the backcountry, or in the classroom. When he’s not guiding or adventuring, he enjoys pen and ink drawings, exploring new cultures, and finding the best local food spots. Fun fact: He once ate an entire loaf of bread during a single hike.
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At Fieldguides, Dion is lucky enough to combine two passions of his, being outdoors and working with children. Originally from Humboldt County, he is thrilled to get to share his joy in nature with the next generation. He earned a Bachelor's in Environmental Science from UC Davis, is a Wilderness First Responder, Lifeguard, an experienced backpacking guide, and ski instructor. He enjoys watching basketball, playing guitar, and beating people at chess. But not Ursula because she’s better then him. |
Dion Shaughnessy (he/him)
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Kathryn Sullivan “Ryn” (they/them)
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Ryn is passionate about working with youth outdoors and has been following that passion since 2014. From mentoring youth in the art of primitive skills, to guiding new peace makers with the Mosaic Project, to most recently leading expeditions in Minnesota and Texas with Outward Bound, Ryn is stoked to bring their varied experience to Fieldguides. California wilderness feels like home to them and they are so excited to share what they know with the next generation. When Ryn is not working outdoors you can find them playing on a pottery wheel, drawing pictures of plants, and making string out of grass while pretending to play the guitar. Ryn is a certified yoga teacher, wilderness first responder, and chicken pants maker.
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In the past 20 years, Nicco has guided over 150 trips with the Pacific Outdoor Connection, Unalayee Backpacking Camp, Andrew Skurka Adventures, as well as his own organized adventures. On an expedition, Nicco aims for everyone to be challenged and to enjoy the wonder and beauty of the wilderness. A major professional accomplishment was leading a group of 13 -16-year-olds on a 30-day backpacking trip that included a circumnavigation of the Trinity Alps High Route on a record snow year. Nicco seeks to empower participants to make sound decisions in the backcountry, navigate without trails, and have so much fun on their adventures. An important part of Nicco’s process is connecting with and supporting each other as a group, especially as participants step out of their comfort zones. When Nicco isn’t wandering in the mountains, he is exploring his passions as a performing musician, ukulele teacher, storyteller, contact improvisation dancer and father.
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Nicco Tyson (he/him)
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Ursula Harwood (she/her)
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This is Ursula’s fourth season with Fieldguides, and she could not be more excited to be a part of the Fieldguides team! Ursula studied Environmental Science and Forestry at UC Berkeley and works during the year as a field technician. She has a passion for forest ecology and a knack for finding hidden gems on the forest floor. During her free time you might spot her somewhere in her hometown of Arcata, California, where she is probably hiking, climbing, biking, or playing guitar under a tree. |
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Anja DuBois is from Ashland, Oregon, and splits her time between life as a wilderness guide and art educator. She enjoys sound-based humor (specifically off-key recorder performances), staying home reading, sleeping under the stars, and talking kindly to uncooperative technology. She has worked leading backpacking trips in the Trinity alps for over 10 years, and is always excited to combine artistic creativity and wilderness experience. |
Anja Dubois (she/they)
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Rose Myers (she/her)
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Rose is from Humboldt County and this will be her fourth season with Fieldguides. Since age 12 she has spent her summers backpacking and loves leading youth on wilderness adventures. Rose has also been working as a ski instructor for two years at Mt Hood, taking her skills in working with youth to the slopes! In her off time, Rose can usually be found at the dance studio, in the redwoods, or playing in the surf. She is very excited to share her love of the outdoors with the kids at Fieldguides this year. |
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Lila is from Berkeley, CA and is so excited to start her first season with Fieldguides! She studies Earth and Environmental Science and Math at Wesleyan University and can be found in her free time on the trail, playing volleyball or experimenting with new culinary creations (best done over a campfire). Lila spends her summers leading youth backpacking trips in the Trinity Alps. Her most formative memories have been in the wilderness, and she is passionate about ensuring that all kids have similar opportunities to learn, grow and be themselves in the outdoors. |
Lila Sayre (she/her)
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Hannah Larrigan
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Hannah has been working with Fieldguides since spring of 2017. She has an Environmental Science degree from UC Santa Barbara and has since spent much of her time exploring the outdoors with students. She spent over a year in San Diego where she eradicated invasive species, restored native habitats (and developed a fierce loathing of wasps). Even though she loves to spend her time adventuring, she always returns to Fieldguides in the spring and is looking forward to another amazing season!
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Cody spends every summer (and some springs and falls) leading kids' backpacking trips around California, through Fieldguides and Camp Unalayee. He lives and works in Bend, Oregon, where he makes very quiet music, plays all manner of games, and enjoys Bend's many outdoors options. Cody loves how quickly the woods and mountains foster community, and he can't wait for the storytelling, misadventures, and growth the 2024 season will bring. |
Cody O'Donnell (he/they)
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Taylor Griffin (he/him)
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Taylor has been involved in youth backpacking trips for over 20 years, ranging from in-over-his-head 11-year-old camper to in-his-element 30-year-old summer camp assistant director, and everything in between. When not out in the wilderness with kids during the summers, Taylor "Mr. Griffn" Griffin spends his year working as a high school English teacher near Seattle, WA. He has been told he is the most fashionable person in the woods, which isn't a useful wilderness skill, but at least he'll look great if things go terribly wrong. |
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Mimi has spent the past 10 summers leading youth backpacking groups through the glorious Northern California wilderness. For the last few summers Mimi has enjoyed her role as a food manager for youth and family outdoor programs, which includes planning, packing, and preparing meals for camping and backpacking trips. She has been caring for children of all ages since she was fourteen, and is thrilled that her work with Fieldguides combines so many of her greatest joys; living, working, and playing outside with children, and bringing people together through community cooking and nourishing meals. In the “off-season” Mimi works as a maternity massage therapist and infant massage educator in Oregon, and is one year away from completing her B.S. in Applied Health and Physical Education with a focus in health coaching.
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Mimi Chouard (she/her)
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Miro Andre
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Miro Andre has spent several seasons working with Fieldguides and is an amazing naturalist and avid bird watcher. Miro has also worked as a camp counselor at Camp Unalayee, a backpacking camp in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, for almost five summers. Miro is grateful for both of these welcoming communities that have helped shape and inform his values. Miro believes it is an incredible privilege to work with and learn from the youth who come to play outside at Fieldguides. He is always amazed by the joy and change created together in such a small amount of time when folks disconnect from screens and connect with each other in nature. He looks forward to additional seasons filled with all manners of curiosity, wonder, play, and contemplation in some of his favorite habitats in California!
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Owen worked with Fieldguides for the first time in 2020, leading backpacking trips in the Trinity Alps wilderness. He also spent three years counseling at Camp Unalayee and has plenty of experience hiking in the Trinitys, Russians, and Marble mountain wildernesses. Owen graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Environmental Science, Policy and Economics. He hopes to continue his studies and specialize in Marine Policy and Management. He is fascinated by the role policy plays in changing the world and is enthusiastic about a career where he can work along the interface between science and policy. When he's not hiking you can find him playing sports, the piano or getting himself distracted with a book- really any activity that makes him laugh and think.
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Owen Welch
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Dara Noonan (she/her)
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Dara has been with Fieldguides since Summer 2021 and can’t imagine a year without it! She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Boston University and is passionate about exploring how humans interact with natural landscapes. She currently resides in Santa Cruz and spends her time hiking, biking, playing guitar, and obsessing over podcasts about regenerative agriculture. She is forever thankful for the opportunity to work with students in outdoor spaces and finds she learns as much from students’ insights as they learn from her. |
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Owen had a great summer on the staff of Fieldguides in 2020 and is excited for future seasons. The people he has met at Camp Unalayee and the time spent in the Trinity Alps have been really important parts of his life, both as a camper and for the last three summers on staff. During the rest of the year Owen has been learning about plants and music and he loves exploring the woods, dancing, reading, running, and playing the piano.
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Owen Reiss
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Danny Davis
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The redwood trees and beaches of northern California fill her memories of childhood. In the summers, she got to explore the mountains and lakes of the Trinity Alps. She loves spending time in places where she can feel and be her wild self. For the past five years, she has balanced her time between Arizona and California, ocean and desert. She recently graduated from Prescott College, where she studied writing, dance and adventure education, with an emphasis in wilderness leadership. Professionally, her passion lies in bringing people outside, helping give others new opportunities to explore and connect with nature as well as create deeper relationships with themselves, others and the world around them. This could be anything from art classes outside to a month of backpacking or multi day rafting trips down the Colorado river. She currently lives in Prescott Arizona in a little house surrounded by ponderosa pines, the ones with puzzle bark that smells like butterscotch. She enjoys running, gardening, accepting her fear of slacklining and attempting to do it anyways. She wants to continue learning and traveling, working as a mentor, teacher and guide in the outdoors.
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