Meet the Staff
Course Directors
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I have been working for positive adventures for one year and have been in this field for two years. I am Wilderness First Responder certified. I also have a degree from UCLA in geography/environmental studies.
I chose this job because I love being outside and helping kids experience the outdoors in a fun way. My favorite part is seeing kids conquer their fears and learn to enjoy being outside.
My favorite thing to do in the outdoors is ski, having grown up skiing in mammoth mountain and racing at UCLA.
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I have been with Positive Adventures since 2019, and have worked in the field guiding youth since 2012. I have a Bachelors in Environmental Biology and a Masters in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation. I have my Wilderness First Responder certification, Lifeguard certification, Leave No Trace Master Educator certification, and First Aid and CPR certification.
One thing I really like about PA is getting to be outdoors a lot. We have programs in some really special areas throughout the year. I also really enjoy the culture of the people who work at PA make for a great community of like minded nature enthusiasts.
I really enjoy being at the beach, snorkeling or scuba diving. I have a good time surfing and rock climbing and riding my bike around town. I enjoy going out camping and having the opportunity to disconnect electronically and instead connect with nature and present company.
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As an educator and outdoor enthusiast, I've had the privilege of working with Positive Adventures since the summer of 2021. It was the perfect opportunity to connect my love for teaching and my passion for nature and the outdoors. I firmly believe that connecting with nature and connecting with others go hand-in-hand, and I'm passionate about creating opportunities for individuals to cultivate these connections and grow as individuals.
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I have been with Positive Adventures since 2021. I have my Wilderness First Responder certification, Single Pitch Instructor for climbing certification, and Lifeguard certification.
The more time I spend in the outdoors, the more I want to explore and learn about the natural environment. I love sharing this with students and seeing them challenge themselves.
Rock climbing is my all time favorite activity, but I also enjoy anything that gets me outdoors including hiking, yoga, kayaking, and napping in a hammock. I enjoy baking and I make muffins almost every Tuesday (though it's gotten more flexible while I've been out on programs).
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I have been working in the field for more than 10 years, guiding in my home country of Argentina and I've been with Positive Adventures since spring 2022.
I’m an Argentinian certified Mountain Guide, Wilderness First Responder provider, AMGA SPI Instructor, Rope Access Technician Level I, and certified Lifeguard.
I love to share my passion for the Outdoors with youth because I believe that Outdoor Education is a very powerful tool that can help us grow as humans and become more connected with ourselves and with nature.
Rock climbing and surfing are the things that I enjoy the most when I’m not working. I also love fly fishing, playing music and just being outside!
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I've worked as an outdoor educator with Positive Adventures since 2018, and as a Course Director since 2019. I've been in the experiential education field since 2014, with particular emphasis on both facilitating and leading ropes courses and team development programming. I am Wilderness First Responder and Lifeguard certified.
The best part of outdoor education is its righteousness - fostering positive developmental experiences, teaching environmental ethics, and encouraging excitement for science in the young people we work with. I really appreciate how many places I get to see and the diversity of activities we involve ourselves in. This staff team is the best I've ever had the pleasure of working with; there's always a wealth of passion, compassion, and intellect among our team.
While I love free-diving, cycling, climbing, and trail running, the outdoor sport I'm most obsessed with is long distance, ultralight, cross-country backpacking, I love guiding young people through similar experiences. Academically, I love teaching astronomy, and really enjoy motivating students to be curious about the night sky.
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I have been with Positive Adventures since fall 2022. I have worked in outdoor education since 2021. I have my First Aid and CPR certification, Wilderness First Responder certification, and my Lifeguard certification.
My favorite part about this job is being a Logi (head chef). Through this job, I am able to create a great environment at the campsite and create interpersonal relationships with every group, not just a singular trail group. I chose PA because I have always loved the outdoors and have enjoyed different things in nature. I was previously in a theater job that was all inside, so having this opportunity to be outside all the time was a change I needed.
Anything in the outdoors that gets me moving, I find amazing.
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I have been working with Positive Adventures since Fall 2021. Before working for PA, I was a team building facilitator at the University of California San Diego's high ropes course for 3 years. I am a certified Wilderness First Responder and Lifeguard.
I love this job because it places our connection and interdependency with nature at the forefront of what we do. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share the outdoors with people of all experience and comfort levels and enjoy the benefits to our wellbeing it brings - mental, emotional, and physical! I also love how spending time outside brings you closer with the people you're with, regardless of how long you've known them! Seeing people leave program with new and stronger friendships then they came with is so rewarding.
My favorite way to spend time outdoors is backpacking! I love the freedom of everything I need with me on my back. Backpacking can still make me nervous, which is part of why I love it. Being so self-sufficient reminds me that I am capable and brave. When I'm not in the wilderness, I have been enjoying learning to play Dungeons and Dragons with my best friends! I'll even bring my dice on hikes just for fun.
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I have 5 years of experience working in the outdoor field, and have worked for Positive Adventures for 1.5 years. I have a degree in Environmental Studies from University of Arizona, and have my Wilderness First Responder certification.
My favorite part about this job is the role of introducing students to a new natural environment and letting them explore and find outdoor activities that challenge them, but also excite them. During my free time I like to surf, backpack, and play volleyball.
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I have been with Positive Adventures since spring 2023. I have worked jobs in the past that incorporate outdoor education, and I am excited to grow in this field of work. In previous roles, I have had a focus on people with disabilities and community integration, helping people gain independence and working on their communication and interpersonal skills. I have my First Aid and CPR certification and am a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.
My favorite part about this job is being able to explore California and see all that it has to offer. I also enjoy being able to meet so many amazing staff with such unique backgrounds. It’s inspiring!
In my free time I like to go hiking or enjoy the beach. I love kayaking, paddle boarding, and just being in the water. I just recently moved to California from Colorado in April, so I’m excited to explore more and be a part of the PA team!
Facilitators
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My first foray into outdoor education began in March 2022 when I started working with Positive Adventures. I have since received Wilderness First Responder and lifeguarding certifications.
My favorite part about working here is finally realizing my potential as an instructor. I have always wanted to be a teacher and have had an interest in the outdoors since I was a child. During the start of COVID, I gained a renewed interest in botany and love sharing what I know. Working with kids is so rewarding not only for instilling a passion for ecology, but by helping them develop and challenge themselves in countless other ways on these truly memorable trips.
Originally from Northern California, the redwoods give me a deep sense of childhood nostalgia and childlike awe, so I really thrive on our Big Sur and Santa Cruz programs. In my free time, I like to dance, sing karaoke with friends, hike, and read. I have also recently gotten into free-diving.
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I have been with Positive Adventures since August 2022. I have been interested in outdoor education since I was in middle school and was able to staff trips in high school, although I started learning about outdoor education very young I was only able to find a passion for this work within the past 4 years. I have my First Aid and CPR certification. And have my bachelors in psychology which I have been able to apply into the work that I do with kids.
I chose this job because I was moving to California from Hawaii and wanted to be able to experience all that the state has to offer while having a job that I'm passionate about.
I thoroughly enjoy going to the beach and I have recently taken up a hobby of sport fishing.
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I have been working with Positive Adventures since fall 2022. I have my Single Pitch Instructor for climbing certification and my First Aid and CPR certification.
I love this job because it is the first one that I've had where I'm outdoors all the time, hiking, which keeps me in good shape. I think it's super awesome that I can be in beautiful places all the time. Through this job, I have been able to meet a bunch of amazing kids that I'll remember for a really long time. I think it's super cool that I’m able to pass on this really special experience to a bunch of youth who have maybe not experienced the outdoors a whole lot.
My favorite things to do outdoors are rock climbing and surfing, both of which I’ve always had a huge passion for.
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I have been with Positive Adventures since spring 2023. I started my first job in outdoor education a year ago. I am certified in First Aid and CPR, along with Wilderness First Aid.
My favorite part about this job is the opportunity to get people outside, because it's awesome. I have been able to grow and learn a lot, so having the chance to teach people and give them the same opportunity is cool.
I enjoy mindfulness practices, solo climbing, rock climbing, and backpacking in my free time. Rock climbing, which I have recently gotten into within the last year, creates trust with your belayer, and it pushes me to get stronger and better at it. Backpacking is a chance to get out to remote areas and experience solitude, being able to remove yourself from daily things. I lived in South Africa until I was 13 and then moved to Hawaii to finish out my childhood. Being able to travel around the United States has given me an appreciation for everything.
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started working for Positive Adventures in the spring of 2023. My passion for outdoor education began when I started working as a backpacking and interpretive guide in Yosemite National Park in 2015. After years of working with summer camps and after-school programs in Sacramento, I really evolved as an outdoor educator while living and working in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Eventually, taking those skills to Alaska as an interpretive guide as well.
My favorite part about this job is being a steward of wilderness and teaching others about the cultural and ecological history of these beautiful places where I thrive.
You will often find me in the field identifying plants and getting too excited about Mountain Lion scat. Outside of being an educator, I love gardening, painting, and snowboarding as often as possible!
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I have been working with Positive Adventures since spring 2023. I have spent most of my summers attending summer camps, and I fell in love with learning about myself while supporting my friends and bonding in a fun and nurturing environment outdoors! Post high school, I worked at several summer and winter camps and strived to share the same loving and encouraging experience with my campers. After graduating from UC Riverside with a degree in Sociology, I went on to pursue a career in film and television. This was a new and exciting field for me, as I always had a strong passion for movies and comedy. I worked as a production assistant, coordinator, and eventually production manager. Feeling accomplished but still wanting a more fulfilling career, I took the summer off to be a camp counselor. I came across Positive Adventures, and the rest is history!
My favorite part about this job is enabling youth to gain leadership skills. I love being able to educate them on all different kinds of topics regarding the outdoors.
I still work in production during my free time and enjoy many hobbies, including painting, photography, and going on hikes with my labradoodle, Violet.
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I have worked instructing in fitness, with CPT and CES certifications. Also in snowsports instructing with Level 1 ride certification. I love to educate youth about the environment and to be fit and healthy through outdoor activity. Personally I enjoy yoga, hikes, bike rides, and climbing whenever I can. I love to share my passion with others and to create memorable experiences. I want to have an impact on young people that helps encourage them to live more healthy and sustainable lives.
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Hi I’m Bryn! I have been a facilitator with Positive Adventures since Fall 2023. My favorite part of this job is getting to share in the stoke with the students, whether that’s from the beauty of our earth or team bonding. In my free time you can find me rock climbing or hours away on a last minute adventure!
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I stared working with PA in Spring of 2024 but I have been doing recreational programs and summer camps for several years, paired with an abroad sustainability internship opportunity. I graduated with my B.S. from the University of Iowa with a degree in sustainability sciences! I chose this job because I love watching young people gain confidence through exposure with the outdoors and help gain awareness on conservation and environmental issues. In my free time I love hanging out at the beach and being active on and near the water, traveling, rollerblading, and eating fun vegan foods!
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I joined the Positive Adventures team in Spring 2024! My passion for the outdoors began when I started leading backpacking trips as an undergraduate at Trinity College in Connecticut. I recently graduated with degrees in English Literature and Educational Studies and, since then, have continued to pursue meaningful work in the outdoors. Throughout the past few years, I have trip led and worked as an outdoor educator in places like Connecticut, Colorado, Maine, and New Hampshire. I also hold a Wilderness First Responder certificate.
I love working in outdoor education because of the community it cultivates and the creativity it inspires. The outdoors offers an incredible space for collaboration and a unique opportunity to intentionally connect with the natural world.
My favorite outdoors activities are backpacking, canoeing, swimming in lakes, sitting on benches, and just laying in the grass. I also love roller blading, baking, reading, and writing!
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I have worked within the outdoor industry since 2020 with experience containing: rafting, backpacking, hiking, and rock climbing! I have my swift water rescue certification, wilderness first aid, lifeguard certification, and AED/Epinephrine. I also have a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business.
Working at Positive Adventures has allowed me to translate these skills into a fun and educational environment. I am constantly trying to learn new things and open my mind to new experiences. I love sharing these experiences with students and giving them the opportunity to grow in their natural environment.
My favorite thing to do in my free time is rock climb; you can usually find me in Yosemite NP or Red Rock Canyon!
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I’m an avid camper and hiker with a bachelors degree in Kinesiology. I have been an outdoor fitness instructor, swim teacher and camp director.
I enjoy helping children understand the importance of health, fitness and confidence. I’m excited to camp and travel to national parks with Positive Adventures.
As a water lover, I swim, surf, wakeboard and kayak in the ocean, lakes and rivers. I also have a passion for animals, dance, cooking, creating and crafting.
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I started my first season with Positive Adventures in Spring, 2024! I recently graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt with my Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and Family Relationships. I have been working with children and families for many years and am so excited to continue to do so with PA!
I am passionate about the outdoors and introducing the knowledge and beauty it holds. Providing space for children to learn leadership and environmental awareness is something I strongly value and am excited to foster.
My hobbies include bouldering, playing music, reading, identifying insects and spiders, and being active in any way I can.
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I joined the Positive Adventure team in the spring of 2024! Prior to coming to PA, I spent 8 years working as a dance instructor, a camp counselor, and a nanny. I have an AA in Child Development and a BA in Environmental Studies. I also hold a Wilderness First Responder certificate.
I am very passionate about experiential learning and helping people get outside. I believe the best thing we can do for the future of our planet and ourselves is connect with the natural world! I can’t wait to spread stoke for the environment and learn alongside PA participants.
When not working I love to ski, camp, surf, dive, or chill on the beach!
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I joined Positive Adventures as a facilitator in Spring 2024. I've been in the outdoor education field in support roles since 2021 and have also been an educator in after school STEAM programming since 2017.
I have always loved walking on trails I had easy access to but it wasn't until I was an adult that I began to spend intentional time outdoors. It has been an incredible journey and I love being able to share that with others, especially youth. I love seeing students make new connections with their surroundings!
When I'm not working I love taking long walks, biking through the streets of Philly, and going backpacking in high alpine environments.
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I began my first season with Positive Adventures in Spring 2024. I started my first outdoor education job while in college working at a summer camp in Colorado. I have been guiding students in the outdoors in many different environments, most recently in the Alaska wilderness. I have my CPR/first aid and Wilderness First Responder certification.
I love working in the outdoors with students, helping them push themselves, and watching their group dynamics grow. I am passionate about all things outdoors. Rock climbing, backpacking, and snowboarding are my three favorite hobbies. Growing up near Tahoe I was able to dedicate lots of my time and effort to them. My other interests include ceramics, playing piano, guitar, and bass.
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I worked with UCSB outdoor programs and summer camp as an outdoor guide and am interested in environmental management and ecosystems. I love spending my day outdoors and teaching people about the wonders of nature!
You can find me on mushroom foray adventures, identifying plants and journaling/hammocking in my free time! Also love to surf/climb/hike/SUP/handstand/talk about my feelings.
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Hi my name is Max Freedman and I use He/Him pronouns. I have been working with youth in the outdoors since 2019. This job makes me feel like I can impact the world by helping students develop empathy, resilience, and a love for nature. I love sharing my passion of climbing and mindfulness with my students.
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I have been working in outdoor education since 2017 and spent time volunteering in educational museum spaces. My favorite part of education is seeing how excited kids get to problem solve together during team building activities. In my free time I enjoy hiking with my dogs, surfing with friends, and gardening.
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I joined PA in Spring of 2024 after working in the Community Development sector for three years. I have an Urban Studies & Planning Degree and Environmental Systems Minor from UCSD. I am Wilderness First Aid and CPR Certified and have been leading hiking and backpacking trips for my community since 2020.
What truly excites me about working for PA is our ability to offer students unparalleled experiences to challenge themselves and connect with nature and their peers in a beautiful outdoor setting. Working at PA is really rewarding because our day-trips and overnight field excursions inspire unique questions, curiosity, and confidence in students. I believe it is crucial to instill in young people the skills and ethos of safe and respectful outdoor exploration because it enables them to carry these invaluable lessons forward and continue their adventures beyond PA programs.
When I am not guiding students or my community on outdoor adventures, you'll likely find me at home, enjoying a cup of tea and reading a good book. I also have a passion for seeking out live music and planning exciting local or international trips with my friends and family.
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Ayubowan! I'm Senal, originally from the stunning tropical island of Sri Lanka. Spring 2024 marks my inaugural season with Positive Adventures, though I've been an outdoor educator for over 7 years, fortunate to work in breathtaking locations in Sri Lanka, the Swiss Alps, and the United Kingdom.
My passion lies in outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, camping, and scuba diving. I'm a Scout and I've been involved in marine conservation projects and coral reef restoration efforts as a scuba diver. Most importantly, I'm dedicated to bringing my enthusiasm for the outdoors and non-traditional education to positively impact the lives of young people, which led me to join Positive Adventures. If you spot me around, be sure to say "Hi!"
I'll leave you with a little riddle: "What can fly but has no wings?"
Operations Team
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I began working as an environmental educator during college at Common Ground High School, Urban Farm, and Environmental Education Center in New Haven, CT. When I moved to San Diego in 2019, I joined Positive Adventures as a field staff member and then transitioned to a Program Coordinator. I have a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Eckerd College. I have certifications in First Aid and CPR, Wilderness First Responder, and Lifeguard.
I chose this job because I want to provide children with unforgettable outdoor experiences in which they learn more about themselves and nature and bring those lessons with them into the future. My favorite part of this job is knowing that I coordinated a trip that the school loved.
My favorite things to do in my free time are going outdoors, hiking, and biking.
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My entire career thus far has been in the Outdoor Education field, starting when I served on a conservation education team at a state park fresh out of college. I've been part of Positive Adventures since Fall 2019 when I joined the company as a Field Facilitator. I have a Bachelor's degree in Biology and love sharing nuggets of knowledge about the natural world and assisting others in seeing its beauty. I have had a Wilderness First Responder certification since 2017.
Thinking about the memories the students will make motivates me to plan epic programs, and I love weaving the school chaperones' educational and social-emotional goals into the trip schedules. I am inspired by our field staff who work with our students every day rain or shine.
In my free time I love to hike and backpack, express my creativity through music and writing and DIY projects, and snuggle with my pets!
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I joined the Positive Adventures team in February 2022 after spending the winter working at a local San Diego public school. I was drawn back to the outdoor education realm after working in the classroom because I knew how valuable non-traditional learning experiences, especially those in nature, are to all students, and I missed it! I have worked within the outdoor education field for various companies since 2019 and have a passion for spending time outdoors and sharing that experience with others. I studied marine biology and environmental studies in college, propelling my SCUBA experience to a Rescue Diver certification, and entering the field as a Marine Science Instructor to share my stoke for marine biology and conservation with students. After receiving my Wilderness First Responder certification, I took my work experience abroad by leading cultural immersion & leadership programs with high schoolers to different countries.
I enjoy sharing my passion for the ocean and love for the outdoors with others as a way to hopefully inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, and allow the opportunity for students to connect with nature in a similar way that I do!
In my free time you'll find me anywhere near the ocean... surfing, beaching, snorkeling, scuba diving, playing beach volleyball or biking/rollerblading on the Mission Beach boardwalk. Other than water activities, I love to ski, hike, backpack and eat ice cream all year long!
