MWS STAFF
Born and raised in Montana, I was lucky enough to spend my youth skiing, hiking, and climbing in many wild areas—from the Bears Paw to the Beartooth Mountains. Most of my professional life has been in wilderness education, primarily in the backcountry and in the Mountain West. I have instructed sea kayaking and climbing; worked in the wilderness with "at- risk" youth programs; and taught wilderness medicine courses for Aerie Backcountry Medicine both in the U.S. and abroad. During the winter, I am a professional ski patroller and avalanche rescue dog handler at Bridger Bowl. In 2006, my love of education and desire to keep learning led me to a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on place-based learning from the University of Montana. I live in Bozeman with my wife, young son, and two dogs, trying to scratch out time to ski, hunt, and climb between working and learning to garden.
JOSH OLSEN, Co-Founder & Program Director
I was raised in Minnesota and spent my childhood outdoors, camping, swimming, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, skiing…you get the picture. And while much of it was on Lake Superior and in the Boundary Waters, we traveled extensively throughout the U.S. falling in love with every ecosystem we visited. I remember learning how to: start a fire without matches; make my way through the woods with a compass; keep my gear dry when winter camping; the importance of putting tomorrow’s socks in my sleeping bag so they were warm in the morning; and how extra delicious hot cocoa is when it’s -10°. I have had the great fortune to participate in many outdoor experiences as both student and instructor. In my new role as Executive Director, I am looking forward to supporting this spectacular team as we continue to grow our program and our impact.
MARTHA SELLERS, Executive Director
ANNE VOLLERTSEN, Development & Communications Manager
My first wilderness experiences were at my family’s subsistence fish camp back home in Alaska. Surrounded by an abundance of natural resources, I developed an intimate understanding of the importance of wild places and strong ecosystems, as well as the threats they face. While studying Political Science, Philosophy, Economics, and Sociology (PPES) at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, I conducted research on how language and concepts shape our understanding of climate, landscapes, resources, and our collective or individual relationships to them. Since then, I've worked in communications and fundraising, enjoying the ability to connect communities with environmental nonprofits and campaigns. Whether I'm setting nets at home in Alaska, exploring Montana's backcountry, or gardening in my backyard, I feel most connected to wilderness in the quieter moments.
IZZY PITMAN, Admissions Manager
Growing up in Atlanta and in Namibia, I spent a lot of time outdoors—in the Appalachian Mountains, the Namib Desert, the Adirondacks, and New England. These places all taught me valuable lessons about myself and the environment, but I always dreamed of big mountains. A NOLS expedition in Wyoming opened the door to the Rocky Mountains for the first time, and sparked my passion for outdoor education. I divided my college years between the Olympics and Northern Cascades of Washington and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Now, I am so excited to have landed in Montana! I believe in the profound impact of time spent in the wilderness and wide open spaces and look forward to helping provide opportunities to others to access outdoor recreation and learning. In my time outside of work I can be found exploring the mountains, fly fishing, skiing, and looking at maps.
Allie Fuller, Wilderness Program Manager
I was raised in the Colorado Rockies with a rambunctious family, hiking and perfecting my s’mores skills, so by 16 I had decided that for the rest of my life I wanted to work with youth outdoors. For the better part of the last 10 years, I have been guiding teens of all backgrounds in wilderness settings, in summer camps, educational schools, and extensively with at-risk youth. Certified in crisis prevention and with a passion for risk management, I believe that creating community in the outdoors gives space for youth to feel empowered and overcome challenging situations. I am aggressively average at many different outdoor activities, with backpacking and trail running my favorites. I love real cream in coffee, pickles, 80s music, and family style dinners with friends. I firmly believe that good things happen in the dirt with good people, and that sleeping bags make the coziest beds.
Growing up near Lake Michigan, my childhood was a mix of family and sleep-away camp, and international travel as a ballet dancer. Following an Outward Bound course in the Appalachian Mountains, I headed West, chasing my passion for outdoor education. I earned a degree from MSU in Human Development & Family Science with a minor in Sustainability, and was deeply involved in the Outdoor Rec program, leading backcountry trips and teaching wilderness skills. These experiences strengthened my love for instructing beyond traditional classrooms, in stunning landscapes from the North Cascades to the Grand Tetons to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. I believe in the transformative potential of place-based education and am dedicated to connecting youth with Montana’s expansive public lands. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the mountains and rivers in various forms, drinking lots of coffee, and playing backgammon with friends.
SOPHIE HOJNACKI, Student Outreach Coordinator
Bri Hoey, Operations Manager
My love for the outdoors developed in a backyard in southern Wisconsin. Sometime in between digging in a sandbox, spending hours playing mermaids in the lake, or running through the neighborhood playing yard games with neighbors, I learned to love exploring and playing in the natural world. Later down the road, I spent summers working at a sleep-away camp where I got to witness the way that spending time outside fosters independence, creativity, and a sense of freedom in young people. Moving to Montana on a whim after graduation exposed me to so many opportunities to get outside. Whether it be through outdoor education or personal pursuits, I'm continuously blown away by Montana's landscape, and I cannot wait to assist in giving youth the opportunity to do the same.
2024 FIELD STAFF
My love for the outdoors began as a kid in Seattle, searching for bugs in my backyard and spending time skiing and hiking with my family. From sliding on snow to sleeping on the ground spending time in nature makes me feel more connected to myself, the people I’m with, and the world around me. While earning my degree in Environmental Science I invested much of time working with my university outdoors program, leading trips, instructing trainings, and curating the perfect long drive playlists. I have spent my summers working in outdoor education, backpacking and climbing my way around Washington. I deeply believe that there is no better classroom than the outdoors and am passionate about supporting youth in finding confidence and growth through exploring wild spaces. I am beyond stoked to explore all the beautiful places of Montana and continue working to connect people with nature and each other.
Sara Bonipart
Ethan Bowen, Returner
Growing up in a family that didn’t sit still, I had the pleasure of getting outside from a young age. Whether through a road trip across the West or just a good night in the woods, I have grown to love being outside and exploring our wild spaces. I moved to Montana 10 years ago and have come to love just about everything this beautiful state has to offer. Through backpacking, rafting, and climbing, I have slowly tried to find my way into all of the beautiful nooks and crannies that the big sky has to offer. My years as a raft guide, snowboard instructor, and recreationist have brought me so much joy helping people explore the outdoors. The opportunity to bring anyone and everyone into our natural world is second to none. Helping folks to find places they can connect to and continue to explore continues to get me stoked on outdoor education and empowering others outdoors.
Colin Burdsall, Returner
My 26 years existing on planet earth has helped me realize that connectedness to the outdoors is imperative to the health and happiness of humanity. It’s hard to say whether I grasped that when I first learned how to start a fire with flint and steel, or witnessed towering Redwood trees while visiting my first National Park. Heck, it might’ve been while I was eating dirt and watching lizards in my childhood backyard. Either way, it’s been those outdoor experiences that cultivated a desire to seek out more…outdoor experiences. Over time I’ve tried various recreational activities and sought to challenge myself physically in the outdoors to pursue a deeper connection to wild places, but I noticed the connection always appeared in much quieter, less obvious moments. I feel driven to help young people find the same. Whether by pushing themselves physically or finding space to embrace the environment around them, I hope they’ll get a taste of how powerful that connection can be.
Eliza Donahue, Returner
I was born and raised in Northern New Mexico, where I enjoyed playing in the southern Rockies and around the Rio Grande River. I started college in western Massachusetts, and later relocated to Montana to finish school at MSU. I got excited about teaching and leading outside through a high school job at my local climbing gym, and later through MSU’s Outdoor Recreation program, where I worked as a student instructor. Having had some incredible outdoor mentors myself, I’m passionate about making space for young people to grow outside. In the winters I’m a ski patroller, and previously I’ve also worked as a community organizer, focusing on climate and environmental justice issues across Montana. I’m excited to return to MWS for a fourth summer in the field and supporting courses! In my free time, you can find me skiing, climbing, running around on trails, floating down rivers looking for fish and raptors, and sharing meals with friends.
Alex Fluegel, Returner
As a student on multiple outdoor education experiences in high school, participating and leading groups in the wilderness produced a passion for continual growth and communal interaction with those I am lucky enough to be outside with. Now, after more than 5 years since those initial experiences, I have a degree in Outdoor Recreation and Adventure and Outdoor Programming, spend my winters Ski Patrolling at Canyons Ski Resort in Park City, Utah and spend much of my free time learning and growing in other forms of outdoor activities such as Canyoneering, Backcountry Skiing, Packrafting, Climbing and more. My favorite part about being outside is not any specific activity itself, but being able to have these experiences with groups of people that allow me to learn and grow as a person. My lift shifted drastically after my experiences as a student in the wilderness, and I love being able to teach and share those experiences with others.
Alex Kendrick
My first memories of the outdoors were always here in Montana. Spending my summers wandering through the Madisons & fishing along the Madison River gave me a deep love for the Northern Rockies. As a teen and young adult, I climbed, skied, rafted, and mountaineered through as much of the western United States as possible. I am goal oriented, determined, never able to sit still, and a diehard advocate for pushing my comfort zone. So, whether it is summiting cascade volcanoes, climbing multi-pitch routes, or whitewater kayaking, I always put my entire heart & soul into every adventure. While in college I studied Outdoor Leadership, and spent years being a raft guide and ski instructor. These endeavors have given me unforgettable experiences, memories, and a passion for teaching in the outdoors. Aside from playing outside, I also have a deep love for knitting, sourdough bread, bird watching, Nintendo, and hosting a girls night in.
Ross Lesslie, Returner
Bio coming…
Jacob Northcutt, Returner
I was born and raised in New England where I was fortunate to be introduced to backpacking and hiking at an early age. In college, I helped run my school’s outdoor club and became interested in rock climbing and other vertical pursuits. After graduation, I worked seasonally at various conservation organizations in the Northeast and focused on becoming a more proficient climber and mountaineer. I then accepted a position at The Putney School (VT), as instructor and advisor, and then at The White Mountain School (NH) where I coached a rock-climbing team. I have always been interested in in finding ways involve students in hands-on learning in the field, where they can connect with human and more-than-human communities. Wilderness expeditions are an incredible way to learn about yourself and your place in the world, and I look forward to traveling through Montana’s wild lands again this summer with my students.
Ryan Peters, Returner
Bio coming…
Hayden Simon
I spent my childhood roaming the rolling green hills of Central Kentucky, splashing around in creeks, chasing lightning bugs and camping with my family. Early on, I shared my love for the outdoors as a camp counselor at summer camps and taking my younger sibling on mini adventures. My intro to much wilder places happened a bit later in life during a NOLS semester in Patagonia where I became captivated with place-based learning and gained a larger sense of what it means to be a human on this earth. I followed this passion into my bachelor’s degree, Environmental Sustainability at the U of Kentucky and Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica. Since college, I have led MCC trail crews in the woods, plains and, mountains of MT, ID, WY, and the Dakotas, including a summer working on remote trails in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. It was there that I fell in love with Montana’s landscape and empowering young adults to do beautifully challenging things.
Ryan Strother
In elementary school, trips to the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Northern Minnesota sparked a love for wilderness that shaped my life. I studied English and Environmental Studies at Denison University, specializing in environmental writing. After college, I worked in science communications for the New York Sea Grant program before exchanging Manhattan for Millinocket, where I worked and lived in the backcountry as a Summit Steward on Katahdin. Since then, I have worked as a field botanist in and around Yellowstone and Arctic Alaska, and I write in the off-seasons with bylines in Explore Big Sky, The Montana Free Press, Engadget Magazine, and others. I live in Bozeman and cherish my community of ecologists, birders, climbers, skiers, and outdoor educators.
Janine Welton, Returner
I grew up in an outdoorsy family in Canada and northern Washington state, and have since lived in many locations around the Northwest. My careers have been wide-ranging, from wilderness ranger, to wildland firefighter, outdoor education instructor, and now as a nurse in Oregon. Throughout all of my experiences, I find working with youth in outdoor settings to be among the most impactful and meaningful, and I love finding ways to help students build confidence, participate in community, and connect with their environment in the outdoors. Montana is close to my heart for its wild places and amazing people, and I was lucky enough to work with Montana Wilderness School in its first year. I look forward to seeing students grow, and have fun and challenging experiences together, and I look forward to returning to MWS this season as a contract instructor.