Meet Our Team
Meet our Youth Programs Team!
Alec Backhus, Youth Programs Manager
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
My favorite place in Colorado is being a few pitches off the ground on just about any route in Eldorado canyon.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Anyone who has spoken to me for more than a few minutes will tell you I LOVE getting outside for some rock climbing.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
The power to make any food I want appear at any time, or super strength exclusively in my fingers.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us... why is that animal cool?
Blue belly lizards, they are incredibly good climbers! Plus, they have a sweet looking blue belly!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I took unicycle lessons every morning before school in first grade and mastered the 7ft tall unicycle.
Hana Hamilton, Youth Programs director
What is your favorite place in Colorado
So far, my favorite place in Colorado is Independence Pass. I love the camping spots, climbing options, and getting to jump into the beautiful cold water.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Climbing, hiking, backpacking, camping, and taking dips in cold fresh lakes!
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
If I had a superpower I would like to be able to talk with animals! I sometimes know what my dog is thinking but it would be great to be able to read her mind.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us... why is that animal cool?
It may not be crawly or creepy but I love the Opossum! The obsession started in middle school and they seem to get a bad rep a lot of the time so I like to stand up for them when I can! They aren’t aggressive, they kill ticks by the thousands, are surprisingly agile, and their babies are adorable!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I use to be a flying trapeze performer!
Sarah Schuller, Youth Programs Manager
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
Crested Butte - specifically by the river with a Butte Bagel in my hand.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
I love to camp! So much! And also walk in the woods! And dip my toes in a nearby stream!
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
Refill Powers so I can refill anything I run out of e v e r.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us...why is that animal cool?
Probably just your garden variety earthworm ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯ They are ROCKSTARS in the exciting world of soil aeration!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I played the spoons in an amateur bluegrass band for 2 months. Could’ve gone pro…it’s no big deal.
Sammy Davis, Youth Programs Instructor
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
My favorite place in Colorado is Rocky Mountain National Park; climbing some big rock or ice!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Climbing, running, and dancing are some of my favorite outdoor activities.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
My superpower would be teleportation. I would never miss a weather window for a big mountain climb and could spend time with friends and family much easier!
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us...why is that animal cool?
Spiders are my favorite creepy crawlers. Not only do they eat mosquitos, they can also ride the earths electromagnetic waves! Spiders transport themselves across lakes and even oceans by shooting and riding their webs along the electromagnetic waves. Not to mention they can swim and also form bonds with their owners as pets.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
My soccer team and I won the state championship twice at the ages of 16 and 18 in Massachusetts!
Zahara Bruun, Youth Programs INstructor & Climbing Specialist
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
My favorite place is somewhere in the middle of the second flatiron.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
My favorite outdoor activity is climbing, as long as there’s little to no approach. I also like to paddle board and go on walks with my dog.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
It would definitely be telekinesis cause I’m pretty lazy, also multitasking would be so much easier.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us...why is that animal cool?
Aye-aye, they are a pretty cool primate that are ugly-cute and have a super long, skinny middle finger that is used to drum on, and dig out grubs from a tree.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
A fun fact about me is that I have ongoing research that I’m conducting about the anthropology of women and gender identity in rock climbing.
Katrina mendez, Youth Programs Instructor 
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
My favorite place in Colorado is the summit of a high peak, especially when I’m sharing the view with my dog, Javi.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
I love doing just about anything outdoors. But my favorite outdoor activities are trail running, hiking, backpacking, playing golf, and summitting 14ers.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would choose to have the agility of a Colorado mountain goat so I could traverse the Rocky Mountains effortlessly.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us...why is that animal cool?
Though I’m not usually a fan of “creepy crawlies,” caterpillars would have to be my favorite. For one, there are roughly 160,000 different species. Even more amazing is their transformation into butterflies, which is both beautiful and remarkable. Lastly, caterpillars bring back sweet memories of third grade, when I got to raise them and watch them become gorgeous monarch butterflies.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I have lived and worked in three different countries and continents.
Chris Johnson, youth programs rock climbing specialist
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
Rocky Mountain National Park – so much great climbing and skiing!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Climbing and skiing.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation – I could see the world, climb and ski at a moment’s notice, and never have to sit in traffic!
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us...why is that animal cool?
Spiders! They eat all the other creepy crawly things.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I competed at the 2012 Olympic Trials in swimming!
Jack Anderson, youth programs overnight specialist
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
Longs Peak, an amazing mountain that can test anyone’s limits.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
I enjoy backpacking, climbing, and fishing to name a few things. And when I get to do all those things at once I am just over the moon with happiness!
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would want to be able to speak to animals. My dog has so much he has to say, and I wish I could understand what all his barks truly mean, is he scared, happy. Or simply talking about the local rabbit population.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us...why is that animal cool?
The Mothman of Point Pleasant West Virginia. A 7-foot-tall half moth half man capable of flight with the strength of a moth and the intelligence of a man!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I built a 13-foot wooden strip canoe last year named it PBR Justin.
Mitch Talick, youth programs Instructor
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
My favorite place in Colorado so far is by far Nederland! It has all my favorite trails and is such a laid back area to visit!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Mine are Rock Climbing, Mixed Climbing, Scrambling, Hiking, Paddle Boarding and doing WFR activities!
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
If I had a super power I think it would have to be super strength, that way I could climb the hardest grades in the world!
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us...why is that animal cool?
My favorite creepy crawly animal is the Arizona Bark Scorpion, because they are one of the closest species to what Precambrian creatures look like! They also glow under a UV light so they are super easy to spot at night!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
A fun fact about me is that I lived in Japan for five years and got to visit one of the most historic towns in northern Japan!
Kennedy Pinkney, youth programs Instructor
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
The thing I love most about Colorado is the endless outdoor spaces to explore. My favorite place that I’ve been has to be Mt. Bierstadt located near Georgetown. It holds many memories for me, as it was the first 14er I climbed. That experience also sparked my passion for the work I do today & the views at the top are always spectacular!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
When I’m in the outdoors, I enjoy hiking, trail running, kayaking, and paddle boarding.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
My chosen superpower would be the ability to transform into camouflage. This would an incredible way to observe animals in their natural habitats without altering their behavior.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us...why is that animal cool?
Despite not exactly being a "creepy crawly” animal, the coolest animal in my opinion is the mountain goat. Not only do they live in places where most other animals can’t survive, but they can scale near-vertical cliffs (with ease). Their hooves also have built-in climbing features, making them, without a doubt, the Greatest Of All Time.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I’ve rafted 40 miles along the Colorado River!
Graham Thompson, youth programs Instructor
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
As I am not from Colorado, I'm relatively unfamiliar with the state. However, I have visited a handful of times, and my two favorite memories were white water rafting on the Arkansas River and skiing in Keystone.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
I love almost all outdoor activities including running, hiking, road biking, mountain biking, camping, backpacking, kayaking, skiing, swimming, playing yard games, walking my dog, reading in a hammock, climbing, and foraging.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
My ideal superpower would be super strength. It would make me incredibly athletic and better at almost all of my favorite outdoor activities.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us...why is that animal cool?
Not sure what exactly qualifies as a creepy crawly, but with that being said- Salamanders! Specifically the Northern Slimy Salamander. These dark, white speckled amphibians can be found under logs and rocks in the northeastern US, making them fun to search for. When threatened, they secrete a thick, sticky mucus from their skin glands that deter predators by making it hard for them to breathe and eat. It's like natural glue!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I've camped on top of a climbing tower! Also, my favorite board game is Settlers of Catan!
Other Fabulous Team Members
Rachel Matveyuk, Youth Programs Instructor (sub)
Trevor Zalkind, Youth Programs Instructor (sub)
Maddy Smith-Wagers, Youth Programs Instructor (sub)
Cindy Smith, Youth Programs Volunteer
Jeff Speak, Youth Programs Volunteer
Stacey Stevens, Youth Programs Volunteer