Meet Our Team
Meet our School Program and Summer Camp Team!
Collin Yarborough, Lead Youth Programs Instructor
What is your name and where are you from?
My name is Collin! I am from a small town, Siler City in North Carolina. I left NC in 2019 to California for a bit and then ended up in Colorado!
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
When I was a kid my parents would take my brother and I to Great Smokey Mountains NP to camp! Running down trails and playing in the river when we would backpack and camp!
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
My favorite place in Colorado is the San Isabella National Forest. I love spending weekends backpacking and adventuring with my dog and family.
What are your favorite outdoor activities? I love backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and playing frisbee with my pup!
What was your first summer job? My first summer job was a camp counselor for children with disabilities. During the week we would help campers adapt outdoor activates to their needs.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
If I could have a superpower it would be to fly so I wouldn’t have to wait in Denver traffic to the mountains to snowboard!
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Instructor? Why you do what you do?
I love teaching the next generation about the amazing and wonderful experiences that our planet offers us. When I was younger, I was fascinated by the natural world and playing outside, however there were not a lot of people to teach me more about what I wanted to learn. Now I strive to pass on my knowledge to the next generation of amazing kids.
What is your favorite thing/activity to teach and why? I love to teach about leave no trace when playing outside, and understanding our impact on the natural world.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us. Why is that animal cool?
I love bumblebees, Its so amazing to watch bumblebees fly around and bump into their environment. How do those small wings support their huge body!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I have seen 43 states in the US and I plan on reaching 45 by the end of the summer!
Matt Biscan, Lead Youth Program Rock Climbing Specialist
What is your name and where are you from?
Matt Biscan. Born in St. Louis, grew up in Illinois, in Colorado since 1985
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
Hiking in Grand Teton National Park when I was eight. I remember very clearly thinking the cliffs and summits looked much more fun than the trails!
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
Lake City in Hinsdale County. Fantastic ice climbing, 14ers, and the most remote county in the lower 48 states!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Ice climbing, rock climbing, alpine climbing, and hiking.
What was your first summer job?
Planting corn by hand in the experimental fields of Dekalb Agriculture, at age 13.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would want to be The Reading Ranger, because I want to bring the joy of reading to everyone!
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Instructor? Why you do what you do?
Students and campers teach me new things with every class and camp. I love the outdoors and climbing and I love helping students and campers come to love those things too!
What is your favorite thing/activity to teach and why?
How to climb safely and have fun doing so!
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us. Why is that animal cool?
Got to say, not a fan of much creepy crawly! But I respect the Prairie Rattlesnake, for its resilience in the face of a harsh environment and the fear of humans. They don’t attack us but warn us to stay away and only strike if we get too close. They remind us to respect nature and to remember our need to live with all the creatures mother nature lets us share the world with!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I have read the complete works of Shakespeare cover to cover three times.
Laura Keeney, Youth Program Coordinator
What is your name and where are you from?
Laura Keeney, Lynchburg Virginia
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
Tubing down the Ichetucknee River in Florida!
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
I just moved here so I am still learning about all of the amazing places Colorado has to offer!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Cycling, rock climbing, camping, hiking, trail running
What was your first summer job?
I worked at Fazoli's fast food restaurant.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
The ability to be able to understand and communicate with anyone no matter what language or ability. Even animals too!
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Coordinator? Why you do what you do?
I love being outside and working with kids. Put those together and you have the perfect job!
What is your favorite thing/activity to teach and why?
I love teaching kids to be confident in their abilities because I think that showing kids everything they CAN do on their own gives them what they need to push themselves even further to keep trying and working towards other goals.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us..why is that animal cool?
(not sure if this is a creepy crawly but...) Octopuses are SO cool because they can camouflage to match anything and each of their 8 legs has its own independent nerve network acting as its own brain. It's as if an octopus has 9 brains!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I love completing 1000 piece puzzles. The fastest I have ever done one start to finish was just under 6 hours.
Alec Backhus, Youth Program Coordinator
What is your name and where are you from?
My name is Alec, I'm from Southern California.
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
I lived above a creek in Portland Oregon for a few years, everyday after school I'd trek down the ravine and make trials and build log huts along the creek.
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.
What was your first summer job?
My first summer job was as an instructor at boy scout day camp, but one of my favorite past summer jobs was as a skateboard instructor at Camp Woodward Action Sports Camp.
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 do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Instructor? Why you do what you do?
I have a passion for teaching, encouraging participants to think critically and be inquisitive while helping them develop new skills is a gift. I find teaching to be incredibly fun and fulfilling.
What is your favorite thing activity to teach and why?
I love teaching climbing, I would talk about climbing all day for free to anyone willing to listen. Being able to share my stoke with participants eager to learn about climbing is a real treat!
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.
Elaine Matucan, Youth Program Instructor
What is your name and where are you from?
I’m Elaine and I was born in Denver, moved away for a bit, but I couldn’t stay away from Colorado so I’m back!
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
Going on camping trips as a little kid with my friends and calling algae Bigfoot boogers.
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
Anywhere during wildflower season!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
I love to ski, hike, climb, and try to identify plants.
What was your first summer job?
My first summer job was babysitting.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would definitely want to be able to speak every language.
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Instructor? Why you do what you do?
I love being able to share my love for the outdoors with others, and being able to help people get outside and enjoy the Earth and explore at the same time is amazing!
What is your favorite activity to teach and why?
Looking for little critters in the creek is so fun.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us... why is that animal cool?
I think scorpions are cool because they glow under a back light!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I was named after a Tv show character.
Madison "Maddy" Smith , Youth Program Instructor
What is your name and where are you from?
I’m Maddy and I was born here in Colorado.
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
Grand lake holds a special place in my heart. My family moved there 5 years ago, and I’ve been lucky enough to spend a few summers with them! The hiking and camping is incredible up there.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
There’s lots I enjoy, but my top three are probably backpacking, climbing, and napping (outside).
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Instructor? Why you do what you do?
I love love love getting people outside and sharing new experiences with them. It’s so exciting watching as kids fall in love with the outdoors, and being a part of that process is so rewarding.
Isabella "Iz" Namaksy, Youth Program Instructor 
What is your name and where are you from?
I'm Isabella from Conifer Colorado.
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
Camping with my family down in Big Bend. We explored canyons, paddled down the Rio Grande in canoes, and looked at the stars through our telescope. The stars down there were absolutely incredible and I remember realizing just how big and amazing our world really is.
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
I absolutely love the Weminuche Wilderness. Backpacking in the Weminuche has given me experiences that have been unmatched to anything else.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
I love climbing, backpacking, paddling, hiking, mountain biking; if it's outside I love to do it.
What was your first summer job?
I worked on a chainsaw crew with a Conservation Corps doing fire mitigation and trail clearing.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
To be able to move around without being detected. Imagine all the cool animals you could sneak up and see without them ever knowing you were there.
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Instructor? Why you do what you do?
I love seeing kids connect with the natural world around them. The world around us is so amazing and helping build and strengthen that connection is incredible.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us... why is that animal cool?
Cockroaches. Their resilience is unmatched. They've been around since the dinosaurs walked the earth. They can live just about anywhere from the Artic to the Tropics. I still don't like finding them in my house, but they are super cool nonetheless.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I enjoy juggling and can ride a unicycle. Including a 5ft tall giraffe unicycle. As a kid I would also ride on trails and "mountain unicycle".
Hana Hamilton, Youth Program Manager
What is your name and where are you from?
Hana Hamilton – Originally from Maui, Hawaii then Florida!
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
Being lucky enough to hike through bamboo forest in the Maui rainforest.
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!
What was your first summer job?
Working in a bakery making mini cupcakes.
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 do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Manager? Why you do what you do?
I love that each day has been different and rewarding in multiple different ways. It is great to share my own passions while getting to see youth experience new things. When ever we are exposed to new tasks/adventures we grow a little and it is great to see this first hand in the youth coming through this program!
What is your favorite thing activity to teach and why?
I really enjoy stream ecology. The kids are so excited that they got to be hands on and playing outside in the water is always fun! rock climbing is a close second. I personally enjoy rock climbing so it is great to share this past time with others.
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!
Other Fabulous Team Members
Lauren Barden, Youth Programs Instructor (sub)
Preston Hopkins, Youth Programs Instructor (sub)
Cindy Smith Smith, Youth Programs Volunteer
Stephen O'Brien, Youth Programs Volunteer
Stacey Stevens, Youth Programs Volunteer
Brittany Olson, Youth Programs Volunteer