Danielle (she/her) has always called the natural world her home and greatest teacher.
Growing up in Northern Colorado, she has spent her life backpacking in the Rocky Mountains,
frolicking in wildflowers, and dancing in the rain. The outdoors is where she feels the most
empowered, and she strives to provide that same experience to others. The earth keeps her
youthful spirit alive as she embarks on the next chapter of her life as a LifeWays guide.
Over the past few years, Danielle has connected to the outdoor world in many different ways as a
student, educator, and guide. She will be graduating with a bachelors in Adventure Education
and Psychology from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO in May, 2025. Throughout her college
experience, she has served as a Student Outdoor Leader for Fort Lewis College’s Outdoor
Pursuits program, leading college students on various outdoor adventures and deepening the
bond between nature and students. Additionally, she managed Fort Lewis College’s Peer Support
program, where students provide one-on-one counseling-type sessions promoting student
wellbeing on campus. In her Adventure Education major, she gained experience in leadership,
risk management, and group facilitation through various technical and inter/intrapersonal-based
repertoire. Psychology has taught her skills in counseling, motivational interviewing, and human
compassion. Together, she has succeeded in providing transformative experiences for fellow
students and youth alike. Danielle is certified in Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue,
and is working towards her Single Pitch Instructor. She strives to promote mental health in the
outdoors, always seeing nature as her best healer, and hopes to help those around her find their
own unique connection to our beautiful world.
Danielle is appreciative of her time at Fort Lewis College as it opened her eyes to the uniqueness
of humanity. There are so many different people in this world, and each of them deserve to find
where they belong. She remembers being a young girl beginning her journey in the outdoor
industry, and quickly realizing the pre-existing challenges and stereotypes surrounding a place
that should be free of expectations and full of curiosity. After participating in an all women’s
backpacking course, she felt empowered by the women role models around her, feeling less
alone. This led her down a path to examine social inequities in the outdoor industry and
breakdown barriers for historically marginalized groups of people. In college, she developed an
Equity & Inclusion course to not only teach herself on the topics of social justice in the outdoors,
but to also educate other outdoor leaders on its importance. She then worked at an all girls
expeditionary camp to inspire other young women to get outside and embrace their authentic
selves. Additionally, she had the privilege of working as a Rock Climbing Supervisor at a
summer camp, showing more kids that it’s possible to do what you love and learn from
challenges, no matter who you are. As she continues to learn from the beautiful people around
her, she aims to increase awareness of her biases and utilize her privilege to increase
opportunities in the outdoors for others.
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Danielle (she/her) has always called the natural world her home and greatest teacher.
Growing up in Northern Colorado, she has spent her life backpacking in the Rocky Mountains,
frolicking in wildflowers, and dancing in the rain. The outdoors is where she feels the most
empowered, and she strives to provide that same experience to others. The earth keeps her
youthful spirit alive as she embarks on the next chapter of her life as a LifeWays guide.
Over the past few years, Danielle has connected to the outdoor world in many different ways as a
student, educator, and guide. She will be graduating with a bachelors in Adventure Education
and Psychology from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO in May, 2025. Throughout her college
experience, she has served as a Student Outdoor Leader for Fort Lewis College’s Outdoor
Pursuits program, leading college students on various outdoor adventures and deepening the
bond between nature and students. Additionally, she managed Fort Lewis College’s Peer Support
program, where students provide one-on-one counseling-type sessions promoting student
wellbeing on campus. In her Adventure Education major, she gained experience in leadership,
risk management, and group facilitation through various technical and inter/intrapersonal-based
repertoire. Psychology has taught her skills in counseling, motivational interviewing, and human
compassion. Together, she has succeeded in providing transformative experiences for fellow
students and youth alike. Danielle is certified in Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue,
and is working towards her Single Pitch Instructor. She strives to promote mental health in the
outdoors, always seeing nature as her best healer, and hopes to help those around her find their
own unique connection to our beautiful world.
Danielle is appreciative of her time at Fort Lewis College as it opened her eyes to the uniqueness
of humanity. There are so many different people in this world, and each of them deserve to find
where they belong. She remembers being a young girl beginning her journey in the outdoor
industry, and quickly realizing the pre-existing challenges and stereotypes surrounding a place
that should be free of expectations and full of curiosity. After participating in an all women’s
backpacking course, she felt empowered by the women role models around her, feeling less
alone. This led her down a path to examine social inequities in the outdoor industry and
breakdown barriers for historically marginalized groups of people. In college, she developed an
Equity & Inclusion course to not only teach herself on the topics of social justice in the outdoors,
but to also educate other outdoor leaders on its importance. She then worked at an all girls
expeditionary camp to inspire other young women to get outside and embrace their authentic
selves. Additionally, she had the privilege of working as a Rock Climbing Supervisor at a
summer camp, showing more kids that it’s possible to do what you love and learn from
challenges, no matter who you are. As she continues to learn from the beautiful people around
her, she aims to increase awareness of her biases and utilize her privilege to increase
opportunities in the outdoors for others.
