June Newsletter: Summer is here! Meet our new summer staff.
Meet Our New Summer Staff!
Summer has hit the ground running here at Coombs Outdoors. Not only are we offering programs for more than 175 kids through our K-12 Activate, Engage, Empower programs, but our growth has allowed us to hire seven new seasonal summer staff and two new full time staff to help support the next generation of leaders.
We are fortunate to bring six former Coombs participants into leadership roles within the organization this summer and are proud to continue prioritizing the hiring of staff who reflect the community we serve, a goal that is identified in our new Strategic Plan.
A huge thank you to Laura Gaylord, Maggie Shipley, Ellie Hodgson, and Caroline Drayton: our phenomenal year-round program staff who are working hard behind the scenes to make camp happen. Summer wouldn't be the same without you!
Nayeli Hernandez Lopez
Nayeli, 18, grew up in Jackson and has been participating in Coombs programs for many years. After participating in the first two cohorts as an intern for Coombs, she joined our staff as a full-time summer employee. Nayeli is looking forward to a summer with Coombs before leaving for the University of Wyoming in the fall.
“I'm excited to now be a staff member instead of an intern, and to work with all age groups”
Espi Carrillo
Espi, 20, grew up in Jackson and participated in Coombs Outdoors programs for 6 years as a child. In her adult life, she has worked with youth at Teton Literacy where she helped students feel confident about reading. In 2020, Espi worked for Coombs as a summer camp instructor. Her love for working with youth has brought her back to Coombs as our full-time Activate Program Coordinator and Summer Instructor! Espi is currently attending Central Wyoming College in Jackson and in the Early Childhood Education program.
“I'm very excited to go paddleboarding!”
Britney Maldonado
Britney, 19, grew up in Jackson and participated in Coombs Outdoors programs as a child. She worked as a summer camp instructor for Coombs
in 2021, and is delighted to be back.
Her younger sister, Emma, is a current Coombs participant. Britney is currently enrolled at the University of Wyoming
in Early Childhood Education and will return to school after a summer of Coombs.
“I'm excited to hang out with the kids again and go camping!”
Marcus Carreto
Marcus, 20, grew up in Jackson and participated in Coombs Outdoors programs for about 7 years as a child. He is now attending the University of Wyoming for Engineering. This will be Marcus' second summer working as a Summer Instructor for Coombs.
“I'm most excited to take children out into nature. The places we go are not places you see too often in small towns or cities”
Natalie Johansen
Natalie, 24, grew up in Juneau, Alaska and has extensive experience in the outdoors, including two summer of trail work. Her time in Jackson has consisted of attending the TSS Graduate program and working at Snow King as a ski instructor. Natalie taught a group of Coombs participants to ski during this past winter, and is now joining Coombs as a Summer Instructor.
“I'm excited to show some Jackson kids their local mountain range: the Tetons!"
Mariela Castro Luna
Mariela, 18, grew up in Jackson and participated in Coombs Outdoors programs for many years. Last year, Mariela worked as an intern for Coombs Outdoors through the Empower Internship program. She is excited to return to Coombs as a full-time Summer Instructor.
“This is my first year working for Coombs. Before I was an intern, and a student before that. I am excited to do more backpacking this summer.”
Megan Tattersall
Megan, 24, is originally from Virginia and will be joining Coombs as a Summer Instructor. Megan has experience working with youth through her past job with Teton Youth and Family Services. She will also be working for a summer adventure camp called Moondance Adventures.
“I'm super excited to be with kids in the outdoors and have lots of belly laughter!"
Hannah Branch
Hannah, 23, grew up in Atlanta and has worked with children for many years. Hannah was a Summer Instructor for Coombs in 2020 and is returning as the Activate Program Coordinator. She has worked with local Jackson youth through the Teton County School District, private tutoring, and the Teton Literacy Center.
“I love being able to teach people about the things that make my life so worth living!”
Manny Hernandez
Manny, 18, grew up in Jackson and participated in Coombs Outdoors programs for 6 years. He is excited to return to Coombs as a full-time Summer Instructor. He will be starting school at the University of Wyoming this coming fall.
“I'm really excited to get to know the participants more and spend more time outside”
Kate Swisher
Kate, 24, is from Larkspur, California and has a plethora of experience working with kids. She has worked as a preschool teacher at TSS, a river guide, an elementary school support staff, and an outdoor educator. In her free time, Kate also volunteers as a tutor with Teton Literacy Center. She is excited to be outside every day exploring the GYE through the lens of fellow community members.
“I admire and respect Coomb’s mission to
provide affordable access to the outdoors through meaningful programming.”
The Piper Powers Fund
We are honored to receive a special donation in loving memory of Piper Powers through the Piper Powers Fund. Piper’s parents, Matthew and Hyatt Powers, selected Coombs Outdoors to be the recipient of this fund which was generously supported by many of their friends and family. Coombs Outdoors is grateful to be the benefactor for this fund and will honor Piper’s spirit through the creation of programming that helps Coombs participants foster a love for and connection to the outdoors.
"Hyatt and I are former residents of Jackson Hole and hold the Valley, like so many others, as a place very special to our hearts. It's here that we fell in love, got married and made many lifelong memories and friends. At the end of last year, we tragically lost our newborn daughter, Piper, to a previously undiagnosed illness. It was a huge loss to both of us and we struggled to cope with the grief. One of the biggest things we were going to miss was the opportunity to share Jackson and our love of the outdoors with Piper. We then started to think about how she could make an impact on the lives of others and decided to create the Piper Powers Fund with Coombs Outdoors. This donation will ensure that so many others will have the opportunity to access outdoor recreation and build a life-long love for the environment."
-Matthew Powers
Partner of the Month: Rendezvous River Sports
A huge thank you to Rendezvous River Sports for donating paddle boards for Coombs summer programs and offering discounted ducky kayak trips down the Snake River. Rendezvous has been supportive of Coombs for many years, thank you for all of the memories and successful summers!
Join Coombs Outdoors for your favorite golf tournament of the summer!
Coombs Outdoors continues to grow and thrive, and 2022 has been a record year of supporting more than 350 young people in our community through year-round programming and access to the outdoors. Your generous support and engagement are critical to making this happen.
The five Jackson Hole golf clubs plus Tributary in Driggs are invited to field teams at the 2022 Coombs Cup. As in the prior years, each team will be led by the club professional.
Register here: 2022 Coombs Cup Registration
