Another Successful Skiing with the Stars!

We are still smiling from all of the skiing, and community gathering to celebrate Coombs Outdoors at Skiing with the Stars and CoombsFest. We want to give a special thanks to our Stars, MSS Instructors, Volunteers, parents, participants, and friends for joining us to celebrate; we would not be here today without you. We are grateful for our hosts and Legend sponsors, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain Resort, The Mangy Moose, First Republic, and Stio for providing incredible support for our celebrations.

Skiing with the Stars was a magical event, but don't just take it from us, listen to what one of our Stars, Jeff Leger had to say about the event:

"Corbet’s Couloir is about as classic a run as you will find anywhere. Collecting gargantuan quantities of snow over the course of the winter it calls to the adventurous spirit of skiers worldwide to take the plunge. It is a prominent test piece directly from the summit of @jacksonhole that has created dreams (and nightmares) in the minds of powder lovers for over 50 years. Have you been in? How did it go? I was introduced to this legendary spot through the mentorship of Jackson Hole Air Force members as a wide eyed teenager and it remains one of my favorite spots on the planet to this day.

Last week I had the honor of passing on that torch by participating in the Coombs Outdoors “Skiing with the Stars” fundraiser. Coombs Outdoors is a fantastic organization that empowers local JH kids to grow and thrive by breaking down barriers to outdoor recreation through programs, mentorship and community building. The stoke exuded by the kids as we ripped the classic runs on Rendezvous Mountain was infectious. It was an incredible reminder of the magical power skiing has to provide not only amazing entertainment but also a lifelong foundation of personal confidence that reverberates beyond the slopes and into every aspect of life. These experiences trump any commercialized nonsense promoted by our current toxic culture. Take any chance you get to detach from the madness of Madison Ave. and rediscover the joy of pure natural pleasures. And if you have ever had a personal breakthrough moment in the mountains, please consider supporting Coombs Outdoors in any way you can. Skiing is notoriously expensive but the benefits of participation for today’s kids is priceless. Everyone should have the chance to enter the realm of self discovery it affords whether they have empty pockets or a silver spoon in their mouth." - Jeff Leger

That’s a Wrap on Winter Programs

Just like that, our winter programs have come to an end. Last week we wrapped up our Nordic Ositos programming, Learn to Ski programs and Coombs Club at Snow King and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. With over 400 participants in Winter 2022/2023 programs, it has been a busy and exciting season. 

In addition to getting more kids out on the snow, Coombs hosted weekly evening workshops for middle school participants. Our second winter cohort of our Empower internship program provided 8 high school students with competitively paid positions at local businesses including Black Tie Rentals, Teton Literacy Center, Coombs Outdoors/Jackson Hole Ski Club, and Snow King where 2 interns received their Jr. PSIA certifications and were employed as Jr. Instructors teaching younger Coombs participants how to ski. The Empower program also hosted monthly workshops for participants that focused on professional and personal development. 

We celebrated the end of our season with our participants and volunteers competing in an exciting scavenger hunt and costume party at the mountains last weekend, and a pizza party for our Ositos and their families! Special thanks to our staff, volunteers, and participants who showed up to ski every week with a smile on their face. 

Coombs hits the water

We are continuing our second spring of swim lessons! After working closely with Coombs parents and understanding their needs, we learned that access to swimming lessons has been a big need for our community. In response to this we have partnered with Astoria Hot Springs to organize two cohorts of swimming lessons which will bring 13 kids 8 days of swimming lessons over 4 weeks! 

This is a significant achievement not only in the individual lives of our participants, but also in the breaking down of barriers that have kept people of color from having access to swimming historically. Many of Jackson’s summer activities take place on or near the water and knowing how to swim is a critical component of being able to participate in outdoor recreation during the warmer months. Here’s to creating safe, positive, and long lasting experiences in the outdoors.

Coombs wins big during the BTACF Spring Month of Fun Raffle!

The B-T Avalanche Center Foundation was so proud of their board for donating raffle tickets to deserving members of the community. The fact that these skis went to a Coombs Backcountry student is truly what this is all about, keeping the culture of winter sports alive and helping our community to be safe in the backcountry.

"Learning to backcountry ski has been a great experience. I didn’t only get to learn how to backcountry ski, but also learned about myself and other people. I have learned how much I love trail mix and how much I can eat. I learned how much more fun there is outside of the resort, you can go back country skiing without avalanches, you get to meet new people, and you can build a car by digging snow. Winning these skis means a whole lot to me. I've never had a new pair of skis, these will allow me to enjoy skiing when I get older.” - Joe, Coombs Backcountry Club participant

Dear Friends,

As the snow continues to fall in Jackson, Coombs participants are learning new skills and spending quality time outside. We are in full swing of our biggest winter ever, with over 400 participants out in the snow every week! ❄️ We are so grateful for the continued opportunity to serve our community and grow along with the needs of our families. We could not do this work alone; we depend on our community partners, volunteers, and supporters like you! Together, we are creating real change.

Read more about what our Activate, Engage, and Empower participants have been up to below.

Jump into Winter with our Activate Participants!

This winter we have an incredible 196 participants in Snow King Ski School! Coombs kids are participating in lessons 6 days of the week.

We have 51 snowboarders and 145 skiers in Snow King Ski School

• 62 of these participants are trying a brand new winter sport!

• 28 Coombs parents/high schoolers in our Padres learn-to-ski program.

• 13 participants in Jackson Hole Ski Club's Rockchuck Racers program

• 35 Ositos (grades 3-5) in our Nordic ski program, in partnership with the Jackson Hole Ski Club

See what our Engage Participants are up to!

• We are continuing our Coombs Club ski mentorship program for 153 participants in 6th-12th grade: 106 at JHMR and 47 at Snow King. This program is possible with the help of 60 wonderful volunteers!

• Based on feedback from our fall middle school participant council meeting, we are hosting 11 weekly workshops for middle school participants. We have 17 participants attending weekly and many more that are interested in participating.

• We are partnering with the RAD program at the middle school to provide 4 days of after school nordic skiing for 20 middle school participants in February.

• Coombs supports 4 athletes in more advanced JHSC programs. JHSC deeply discounts the cost of the two freeride athletes. One22 pays the tuition of the two alpine racers. Coombs supports each of the athletes with gear and season passes.

• 14 High Schoolers enrolled in CBC (Coombs Backcountry Club). Participants join Coombs for 9 Tuesday evening practices skinning up Snow King with 6 volunteer coaches for practices including Exum guides and professional skiers. Each participant has the opportunity to attend 2 backcountry tours. Juniors and seniors have opportunity to complete a Level 1 Avalanche Certification with AAI including 2 full days in the field on Teton Pass. 

"I am excited because the backcountry has always interested me. Exploring locations that I have never seen always excites me. I am always open to try new things and follow plans accordingly.” - CBC Participant

Our Empower Participants have big plans!

• Our Empower Internship program is off to a great start this winter season, with 8 interns hired and placed

• All alpine, Nordic, and snowboard instructors were able to go through training and obtain their Jr. PSIA certifications.

• 4 professional development workshops, including resume and cover letter building, professional development, interview skills, and more.

• Internship opportunities with Snow King Ski School, Coombs Outdoors/JH Ski Club, Black Tie Ski Rentals, Teton Literacy Center

We could not be more excited to invite you to Skiing with the Stars! Support Coombs Outdoors and join us to ski and snowboard with your favorite stars on March 2nd, 2023 at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Skiing with the Stars Après Cocktail Party will immediately follow skiing from 4-6pm at the Mangy Moose.

We are excited to be celebrating our 10th Anniversary this year! Coombs Outdoors was founded as the Doug Coombs Foundation in 2012 by Emily Coombs to address the lack of representation and promote inclusion of the whole community in the outdoor recreation opportunities that define the culture of Jackson Hole. The first program funded 28 local children in learn-to-ski programs at Snow King Mountain Resort. 10 years later, we provide more than 400 local youth the opportunity to participate in outdoor programs year-round, spanning from alpine and Nordic skiing and snowboarding in the winter, hiking, biking, boating, and climbing in the summer, and year-round high school internships, swimming lessons, afterschool programs, and more.

The demand for Coombs programs is increasing every year and, thanks to support from generous donors like you, we have been able to fill gaps in services in our community and meet the needs of our families. The organization has transitioned over the past 10 years from a "nice to have" for our community to an absolute "need to have" for our families and participants. Through thoughtful planning and creative program development, we are making it a priority to respond directly to feedback from participants and families about what Coombs can be doing better to improve the lives of our youth.

The first cohort of Coombs participants in 2012. Photo by Emily Coombs.

Your 2022 contribution supports: 

• Our largest Fall after-school programs with 75 total participants receiving weekly after school programming

• 50 elementary students learned to swim in Coombs swimming lessons in partnership with Astoria Hot Springs

• 400 participants in grades K-12 skiing and snowboarding weekly in Coombs programs for the 2022-2023 winter season

• 175 participants receiving three weeks of camp each in Coombs Outdoors 2022 summer programs

• 35 High schoolers placed in competitively paid internships at businesses in organizations around the Valley through the Empower program which also provides monthly professional and personal development workshops

• 40 participants benefiting from the launch of specialized clubs and programs for middle and high schoolers including Mountain Bike, Climbing, Kayak, and Backcountry Skiing and Snowboard clubs

• A summer instructor staff that included 6 former Coombs participants hired and trained to be outdoor leaders and role models for younger Coombs campers

• A full-time staff of eight employees, with 6 of them being 100% focused on program development and implementation

Coombs Outdoors programs have been getting kids outside for 10 years now. Our impact is two-fold; we are supporting local working families by providing a safe and affordable place for their children to grow and experience new things; and we are benefiting our local youth by creating access to outdoor recreation opportunities that help them feel included in the community of Jackson Hole. Our programs are designed to connect local youth more deeply to Jackson’s culture and community, helping them build social collateral with their peers, increase confidence and resilience, and improve mental and physical health. 

In celebration of our 10th Anniversary, we have launched a three-year, $1 Million community challenge. A group of 6 generous donors have come together to match all donations dollar-for-dollar up to $333K/year for three years. The goal of the $1 Million challenge is to provide necessary resources for increasing our capacity to meet the growing demand and need for our programs and contribute to the financial sustainability of the organization. We are excited that all gifts received this year will be matched by this challenge. 

We are grateful for your past generosity and hope that you’ll consider joining the $1 Million Challenge with a gift to Coombs Outdoors to support another amazing year of creating access to the outdoors for Jackson’s local youth.

Left Photo: Mariela learns to ski with Coombs in 2012 

Right Photo: Mariela as a Coombs Summer Instructor leading a group of elementary participants up the Tram at JHMR

Then and Now

“I started skiing when I was 8 years old, during the first ever year of Coombs in 2012. I remember there weren’t many kids. We would ski at Snow King and I learned to ski on the tow rope. My favorite part was taking hot chocolate breaks. It was really fun to ski with Coombs, and my little sister got to join me.

10 years later, I’m proud that Coombs is a lot more well known. Now, kids not only have the opportunity to learn to ski and snowboard, but there’s Nordic skiing, and lots of year-round options. Coombs has evolved a lot. This year I was able to lead the younger kids as an Empower Intern for Nordic skiing and then as a Summer Instructor at Coombs summer camps. It was fun to be a leader to them.”

Mariela Castro Luna started skiing in the first Coombs learn-to-ski program in 2012. She has worked for Coombs Outdoors for the past two years, first as an Empower intern assisting with afterschool and summer programs and most recently post-high school graduation as a full-time Summer Instructor. 

Dear Friends,

We couldn't be more excited to kick off our 10 year anniversary this Old Bill's Fun Run giving season. We are looking forward to celebrating and sharing our new set of values with the community. Our five new values guide our day-to-day program work, partnership development, communications with families, and the strategic decisions that we make. These values are Belonging, Empowerment, Growth, Fun, and Adventure. Our goal is to create and implement programs that reflect our values and promote them within the Coombs community. Coombs participants learn these values in programs and can use them in other parts of their lives, including school and relationships.

This summer we checked-in with Coombs participants and staff to understand how they personally experience these values at Coombs. Hearing the impact that our programs have on participants through their own words and stories is not only inspiring, but also helps us incorporate their feedback to develop more meaningful and collaborative programs. We are excited to share these stories from Coombs participants and staff with you over the coming weeks.

We are continually inspired by the strong values and philanthropic spirit of the Jackson community. Generous donations to Coombs Outdoors through Old Bill’s Fun Run have made it possible for us to invite more than 350 local youth into our year-round outdoor programs in 2022. Your contribution to Coombs Outdoors this year will increase our capacity to share our values with more youth through innovative, inclusive programs that bring us closer to our vision of a community in which youth feel supported, connected, and inspired.

Thank you for supporting Coombs Outdoors!

- Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director, Coombs Outdoors

Donate through Old Bill's today!

From August 12 - September 16, all donations made to Coombs Outdoors through Old Bill’s Fun Run will be matched. This means the impact of your gifts will go even farther!

Donate to Coombs Outdoors through Old Bill's Fun Run

Celebrating 10 Years of Success with a $1 Million Challenge

We are excited to be celebrating the milestone of a decade of service and commitment to local youth and families. Originally founded in 2012 by Emily Coombs as the Doug Coombs Foundation, the organization was established to address the lack of representation and promote inclusion of the whole community in outdoor recreation opportunities that define the culture of Jackson Hole.

“Raising my son in Jackson Hole opened my eyes to the lack of representation of working families present in our outdoor recreation programs and culture. Many of my son’s friends from school were nowhere to be found at places like the ski resorts, local trails, or soccer programs,” said Emily Coombs, Founder of Coombs Outdoors. “In an effort to change this, I founded the Doug Coombs Foundation in 2012 to offer the hard-working families of our community the opportunity to join their peers in sports and outdoor activities. I am thrilled to see the growth and success of this organization over the past 10 years. With the help of our supporters and partners, we have succeeded in making much needed changes that have made the outdoor recreation opportunities we all love available and accessible to more people in our community. However, there is still more to be done.”

The first winter Coombs cohort playing in the snow at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, winter of 2012/2013.
Photo by Emily Coombs.

In an effort to make winter sports accessible to everyone, Coombs Outdoors originally funded 28 local children in learn-to-ski programs at Snow King Mountain Resort. 10 years later, the organization provides more than 350 local youth the opportunity to participate in outdoor programs year round, spanning from skiing and snowboarding in the winter, hiking, biking, boating, and climbing in the summer, and year-round high school internships, swimming lessons, afterschool programs, and more.

"You know how some events happen in your life, and at the moment you don’t realize how important they are but looking back you can remember every second of it? That’s how I feel about being offered a position at Coombs."
- Laura Gaylord, Associate Program Director

Coombs participant Angie learning to ski at Snow King, 2012/2013 winter season. Photo by Emily Coombs.

10th Anniversary Million Dollar Challenge!

A group of generous donors has come together to celebrate Coombs Outdoors' 10-year milestone with a 3-year, $1 Million fundraising challenge intended to build consistent annual operating support that will provide the financial resources necessary to build capacity towards developing more programs that serve a greater number of youth in the community.

To address both organizational growth and community demand in a responsible and impactful way, Coombs Outdoors recently completed a 3-5 year strategic plan in which increasing financial sustainability,  evaluating program impact, and identifying opportunities for growth are highlighted as priority goals. Five donors have cumulatively committed a challenge grant of $333K annually for three years for a total of $1 Million to help Coombs Outdoors reach these goals. Donor contributions up to $333K per year for the next three years will be matched dollar-for-dollar through this 10th Anniversary $1 Million Challenge. 

“Reaching a decade of service to the community is an incredible milestone,” said Marshall Parke, Coombs Outdoors Board Member and one of the grant challengers. “I’ve seen firsthand the growth of this organization and I am inspired by the impact that the life changing services Coombs provides is having on our local youth and their families. I’m excited to see the community show up for this challenge and I’m looking forward to seeing where this type of investment can take the organization in the next 10 years.” 

The generous 10th Anniversary $1 Million challenge donors are Marshall and Veronique Parke, the Staryk Family Fund, Kathleen Brown, Mark and Teri Snell, James and Lindsay Wilcox, and Nancy and Tim Gardiner. All gifts from new and existing donors will be matched dollar-for-dollar through the challenge as well as multi-year pledges to support Coombs Outdoors. 

“We are so grateful to our 10th Anniversary $1 Million Challenge donors who so deeply believe in the work of this organization and in the philanthropic spirit of this community,” said Jenny Wolfrom Holladay, Executive Director of Coombs Outdoors. “Our momentum as an organization has been growing year-over-year as we work to address the needs expressed by our families. This $1 Million challenge is not only an incredible celebration and acknowledgement of the last decade of success for Coombs Outdoors, but will also provide us with resources to expand capacity and services during a time when it is becoming increasingly harder for working families to live and thrive in Jackson. By joining this challenge, donors will help Coombs Outdoors meet its goals to leverage the power of outdoor recreation to build a sense of community and belonging, increase self-worth and confidence, and improve mental and emotional intelligence for our local youth.”

Coombs Outdoors will be planning several special 10th Anniversary events throughout the year. For more information on how to contribute to the 10th Anniversary $1 Million Challenge, reach out to Jenny Wolfrom Holladay at jenny@coombsoutdoors.org. 

Help us secure our challenge funding by donating today!

Coombs participants learning to ski at Snow King, 2012/2013. Photo by Emily Coombs.

Do you have a favorite Coombs memory? We'd love to hear from you! Please reach out to vanessa@coombsoutdoors.org if you're interested in sharing any stories or photos from your time with Coombs.

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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!

Donate to Coombs Summer Programs

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

Dear Friends,

We are so excited to jump into a summer full of adventure! The Coombs Outdoors staff is getting ready to begin our biggest summer yet with more than 175 local youth in programs - 101 participants in our Activate Summer Camps, 62 participants in Engage Summer Camps, and 14 Empower high school interns working at local businesses and organizations. We have a brand new summer staff, including six former Coombs participants working as camp instructors, and exciting new programs including our first ever sleep-away camp!

As we continue to grow and expand our programs in response to feedback from our families and participants, we want to take a moment and extend our gratitude to our community. Thanks for being here and believing in our mission to create and expand access to the outdoors for our participants. Together, we will make this our best summer yet.

See you on the trails!
Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director

Activate: A Summer of Adventure!
We could not be more excited to get a jump start on summer. Coombs Summer Camps have turned into the most desired summer activity around! With three different sessions of camp and 101 participants already enrolled, our Activate summer camps are the largest they've ever been!

Some of the activities we have planned for Activate camp include: paddle-boarding and swimming at R park, hiking in Grand Teton National Park, touring a local ranch with the Jackson Hole Land Trust, camping at Colter Bay, making music with Grand Teton Music Festival, cooking with Slow Food in the Tetons, soaking at Astoria Hot Springs, rock climbing with Exum Mountain Guides, art projects, and much more!

Engage: Trying New Things
We are gearing up (literally!) for our 3rd summer of Engage Summer Camp. Summer camps will look similar to last year for our middle school participants with a focus on planning and executing multi-day backpacking trips. We are also excited to be working with several partners to offer a few specialized weeks of camp. Here are some of our highlights!

Teton Valley Ranch Camp
For the first time ever, 40 Coombs participants will get to attend “sleep away camp” and spend 5 days and 4 nights in cabins in the woods. Teton Valley Ranch Camp received a grant from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole to accommodate a large group of Coombs participants to attend a private week of ranch camp at their ranch in Dubois. For many Coombs kids, this will be their first opportunity to experience the magic of an overnight camp.

Snake River Days
The Snake River Fund has run Snake River Days for over 20 years. This year, they have decided to provide this week-long experience centered around the Snake River exclusively for Coombs participants. This week-long camp will focus on the Snake River and its ecosystem. Participants will learn about all things river related from hydrology to animals and invertebrates all while having fun outside. Activities will include fly fishing, a camping trip along the Snake River from rafts and the thrill of floating the Snake River Canyon!

Additional Activities
Similar to last year, we will support participants who wish to dive deeper into different summer time activities through access to existing, or our own, seasonal outdoor recreation programs. This includes our Coombs Climbing Club, the Jackson Hole Youth Mountain Bike League, and the Jackson Hole Kayak Club.

Empower: Learning Life Skills
Summer 2022 Empower Internships Program is coming in with 14 amazing participants and 7 partners.

We are so excited to offer this summer's internship opportunities with: Coombs Outdoors, Wheel Wranglers, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Stio, JH Land Trust, Hole Food Rescue, REI, and Astoria Hot Springs. Empower Interns will develop a myriad of skills including outdoor leadership and education, bike mechanic skills, customer service, communications and marketing, event planning, educational program development, conservation, and more.

Earning these skills through internships and formal mentorship processes will Empower Interns up for success in their personal and professional adult lives. We are so thankful to our community partners for supporting these efforts!

Family Programming Opportunities through Camina Conmigo
We are excited to support and promote Camina Conmigo - a local group that was developed for for Latino adults and families who like to spend time outside. Camina Conmigo (“Walk with Me”) meetups are focused around hiking, learning about ecosystems and local trails, developing skills and learning risk management best practices, and building relationships and community. The group will host free guided hikes 3 times a month throughout the summer, with the first beginning on June 4. Follow their Instagram or Facebook group for more information!

Donate to Coombs Outdoors

Partner Highlight

Wheel Wranglers supports Coombs Outdoors by partnering in our Empower internship program to host several interns during the summer cohort, helping us tune our bikes, and creating access to bikes for our participants! With the help of Wheel Wranglers and the Outride Fund, we were able to purchase four new mountain bikes this year.

This new bike fleet will play an exciting role in our summer, where Coombs kids of all abilities will be able to improve their bike skills and become more confident riders. We are looking forward to creating our very own mountain bike club

Check out our new Corporate Sponsor Logo!
We have been working hard on reevaluating our relationships with our corporate sponsors to better serve our mission and our relationships. We are so excited to reveal our new Corporate Sponsors logo chart, which highlights brands and partners that have been supporting us at different levels through financial and in-kind contributions.

Interested in starting a conversation about corporate sponsorship opportunities with Coombs Outdoors? Email us below!

Email Us

Dear Friends,

With winter in our rearview mirror (or so we thought), spring is a time for the staff and Board of Coombs Outdoors to reflect back on highlights and lessons learned from our robust Alpine, Nordic, and Snowboarding programs and to finalize plans for the upcoming summer. More than 340 participants were able to join us in programs this winter, some who made their first turns on skis in lessons at Snow King, some who have been skiing with Coombs for years and now confidently make their way down Rendezvous Bowl and the Alta Chutes at JHMR, some who live in Teton Valley, Idaho and attended our new after school Nordic program with Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation, and some who received their Jr. PSIA Instructor certification and taught younger Coombs participants to ski at Snow King as part of the Empower internship program. Regardless of age or ability, Coombs winter programs provide local youth with endless opportunities to get outside, challenge themselves, and build community.

Some of my favorite memories from the winter are cheering for the Ositos Nordic skiers as they raced the clock and each other in the Johnny Curtis Memorial Race at Trail Creek (I’m not crying, you’re crying), working with and learning from the Empower interns at a professional and personal development skill workshop, seeing many of our friends and supporters at our Annual Skiing with the Stars event, and gathering with hundreds of Coombs participants, families, and community members to celebrate and close out a fantastic season at the Panorama House on top of Snow King for Coombs Fest. Winter 2022 was our largest season yet and we are excited to grow our programs and offerings to help make sure that our cherished community pastimes are accessible to everyone who lives and works in Jackson Hole.

Looking to spring and summer, our new learn-to-swim program in partnership with Astoria Hot Springs is teaching elementary schoolers critical water survival skills. With water being a huge part of our recreation opportunities during the summer here in Teton County, Coombs has responded to a need expressed by parents and families for their children to have access to swimming lessons. Thanks to funding through the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole’s competitive grants program, we are able to teach 20 kids to swim this spring. Working with Astoria, we are excited to increase that number throughout our summer and fall programming. Our summer camps are already at capacity with 175 elementary and middle schoolers signed up to hike, bike, climb, camp, backpack, and paddle their way through the warmer months with us. Thanks to creative programming and thoughtful partnerships, Coombs kids will experience the best that Jackson has to offer from June through August.

Your support, friendship, and belief in the work that we do are instrumental in making these programs happen. The enthusiasm we hear on a daily basis from kids, parents, and community members is beyond fulfilling and motivates us to continue to grow, both as an organization and on a personal level. Thank you for all you do and thanks for reading our April newsletter.

See you on the trails!
Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director

Making waves with swimming

"For my husband and I it is very important that Cami learns to swim. We know for a fact that swimming is not only a great sport to stay active and healthy, but also a basic survival skill that every person should have. This is especially true in a place like Jackson, which is surrounded by lakes, rivers, creeks, and so many water activities in the summer.

We are so excited about the Coombs programs and how they offer access to these skills for our daughters and for ourselves. The best is that they are financially attainable, and the program schedules work around our school and work schedules. Cami is so excited to start her swim classes this spring with Coombs Outdoors "

-- A testimonial from Paulina Munoz Ferndandez, mother of Coombs Participant Camila. Our swim programs were created in direct response to community need. We are so excited to continue offering swimming lessons this spring and create waves of change on our community! Big shoutout to our incredible partner Astoria Hot Springs and to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole for helping us make this program possible. Photo by Zach Montes from our first ever swim lesson cohort this spring.

Spring Break Trip!

We spent our spring break with high schoolers on a trip to Lander and Riverton visiting Central Wyoming College. 11 students and 2 staff members spent 4 days learning the ins and outs of higher education.

Highlights from the trip included a Q&A with current CWC students enrolled in Outdoor Education, Outdoor Recreation, and Expedition Science, a tour of the Riverton campus, a chilaquiles breakfast, and learning to rock climb and mountain bike in Sinks Canyon. Participants received great advice from both enrolled students and professors about how to select college majors, schools, and more.

It was an amazing week where Coombs kids had the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and think about their futures, as well as enjoy some outdoor recreation (and Pizza!) outside of Teton County.

Coombs in the News: Making Winter More Welcoming

This season, Coombs was featured in Cross Country Skier magazine. This article discusses our partnerships with JH Ski Club and the Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation to create positive Nordic skiing experiences for our Activate participants.

"At the end of the day our goal is to help all youth feel like they belong to the community. The culture of Jackson is centered on outdoor activity; if you aren't able to be included, you feel like you don't belong" -- Jenny Wolfrom Holladay, Executive Director of Coombs Outdoors. Read the full article below!

Cross Country Skier Magazine Feature

Arc'Teryx Academy

This winter Coombs launched our first backcountry initiatives to introduce participants to the benefits of winter backcountry travel. With support from Jackson-based Exum Mountain Guides and the reimagined Arc’teryx Mountain Academy, participants were able to engage in a number of introductory activities throughout the season, including a family backcountry information night, an uphill skiing and splitboarding workshop, and two weekends of mini on-snow backcountry clinics at Snow King! Participants were able to dip their toes into the backcountry ski world and grow in their mountain safety knowledge, technical skills, teamwork and confidence. Together, we helped more than 100 Coombs participants foster a respect and appreciation for the winter backcountry!

Our participants were given the tools and resources to cultivate an incredibly positive backcountry experience. In fact, the kids loved skinning uphill so much they wished we had more time to hike up (something we have never heard them say before!). Big thanks to Exum and Arc’Teryx for supporting safe and inclusive access to backcountry spaces. Also, shout out to Hoback Sports and Backcountry Access for supplying important discounted and donated gear to make these events happen!

Below are some photos of our on-snow clinics including beacon rescues, probing, snow science, and pit digging.

Donate to Coombs Outdoors

Partner Highlight!

Stio continues to be our official outerwear sponsor and invaluable partner, providing warm, stylish and technical ski and snowboard jackets for all of our participants in winter programs. In addition to providing apparel for programs, Stio employees volunteer their time over the weekends to ski with our Powder Pals mentoring program at Teton Village. Stio also provides summer apparel for our camp participants and supports Coombs Outdoors events with generous product donations for auctions and raffles.

We are honored to have such extensive support from an amazing local brand. This partnership embodies our hope for a stronger and more integrated community, and creates a wonderful model for investing directly in our backyards and people. Look for our kids in their new Stio jackets next winter at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King Mountain!

Star Madison Rose and participant Aridai high five over their love for skiing!

Skiing with the Stars and CoombsFest Wrap-up

We are still smiling from a weekend of skiing, dancing, and community gathered to celebrate Coombs Outdoors at Skiing with the Stars and CoombsFest. We want to give a special thanks to our Stars, MSS Instructors, Volunteers, parents, participants, and friends for joining us to celebrate; we would not be here today without you. We are grateful for our hosts and Legend sponsors, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Four Seasons Jackson Hole, Snow King Mountain Resort, First Republic, and Stio for providing incredible support for our celebrations. 

In its fifth year, the 2022 Skiing with the Stars was the biggest yet with 18 teams skiing with 20 stars and 18 MSS Instructors. We had more than 150 guests attend the Après Ski Party which featured a presentation by Coombs participants and a panel of athletes including Breezy Johnson, Caroline Gleich, Benji Alexander and Vasu Sojitra. A highlight of the day was the 20 Coombs participants that joined the Stars for a morning of skiing with Olympians, film stars, mountaineers, and industry advocates. 

CoombsFest at Snow King also brought the largest crowd in the event’s history with hundreds of participants, parents, volunteers, supporters, and friends enjoying a day of skiing and celebrating another successful winter. The sun was shining and the Teton views were stunning as we gathered as a community at the top of the new Summit Gondola with music from KHOL, food from Hatch, drinks from Melvin Brewing, and a huge raffle with prizes from may local businesses.  

Check out some amazing photos from Skiing with the Stars by following the link below. Here you will see our Stars skiing with our Participants, a fun poster signing, Stars, Instructors and Donors skiing together, and our amazing panel during our Après party.

That’s a Wrap on Winter Programs

Just like that, our winter programs have come to an end. Last week we wrapped up our Nordic Ositos programming, Learn to Ski programs and Coombs Club at Snow King, and Powder Pals at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. With almost 350 participants in Winter 2021/2022 programs, it has been a busy and exciting season.

In addition to getting more kids out on the snow, Coombs hosted weekly evening workshops for middle school participants including a tune and wax night, sports nutrition workshop, and a seminar on filming and editing ski content that wrapped up with a film watch party. Our first winter cohort of our Empower internship program provided 13 high school students with competitively paid positions at local businesses including Black Tie Rentals, Hole Food Rescue, Teton Literacy Center, Coombs Outdoors, and Snow King where 9 interns received their Jr. PSIA certifications and were employed as Jr. Instructors teaching younger Coombs participants how to ski. The Empower program also hosted monthly workshops for participants that focused on professional and personal development.

We celebrated the end of our season with our participants and volunteers competing in an exciting scavenger hunt and costume party at the mountains last weekend, and a pizza party for our Ositos and their families! Special thanks to our volunteers and participants who showed up to ski every week with a smile on their face.

Coombs hits the water

After working closely with Coombs parents and understanding their needs, we learned that access to swimming lessons has been a big need for our community. In response to this we have partnered with Astoria Hot Springs to organize two cohorts of swimming lessons which will bring 20 kids 7 days of swimming lessons over 4 weeks! Our first cohort wrapped up this week and all 8 participants graduated with the ability to float, be comfortable in the water without a life jacket, and swim to safety.

This is a significant achievement not only in the individual lives of our participants, but also in the breaking down of barriers that have kept people of color from having access to swimming historically. Many of Jackson’s summer activities take place on or near the water and knowing how to swim is a critical component of being able to participate in outdoor recreation during the warmer months. Here’s to creating safe, positive, and long lasting experiences in the outdoors.

Coombs is looking for both full-time Summer Instructors and a full-time Activate Program Coordinator to join our team. Read more about these positions below, and apply today!

Summer Camp Instructor Activate Program Coordinator

Partner Highlight!

We'd like to thank Astoria Park Conservancy for partnering with us to make our swim lessons possible! Through their Access Fund programming, Astoria Park Conservancy focuses on connecting individuals with their natural environment and community by reducing financial barriers. Our partnership continues to help Coombs participants connect more deeply with themselves, nature, and their peers. Thanks for all you do!

If 2021 showed us anything, it’s the power that outdoor recreation can have on a child’s life. 

For many kids, Coombs Summer Camp was the only opportunity they had to get outside, see their friends, try new activities, and escape the stress of daily life. Whether it was taking inflatable kayaks down the Snake River, learning to make a meal from the community garden with Slow Foods of the Tetons, camping and backpacking in Grand Teton National Park and Bridger Teton National Forest, hikes with a Wilderness Ranger, paddle boarding at R Park, or learning to rock climb with Exum Mountain Guides, we saw firsthand how impactful time outdoors can be in a time of crisis.

2021 was a record-breaking year at Coombs Outdoors. Our restructured programs, additional staff, and incredible partnerships allowed us to serve more kids than ever before. Our EMPOWER internship program encouraged more participants to invest in their futures and create lasting relationships in the community. We have also continued to grow our spring and fall activities to truly provide a full year of thoughtful and supportive outdoor programs for kids who need it most.

Looking Ahead to 2022

Coombs Outdoors continues to make significant growth. We are heading into 2022 in a position to provide year-round outdoor programming to more kids than ever before. 

Winter
With 340 kids enrolled in winter programs at Snow King and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Winter 2022 is off to a great start. There truly is something for everyone during the winter at Coombs. Between our Learn to Ski programs at Snow King, Powder Pals at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Coombs Club at Snow King which both provide mentoring and ski days to middle and high schoolers, our Nordic ski Ositos program for elementary students in partnership with JH Ski Club, Nordic programs in Teton Valley through a new partnership with Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation, snowboarding lessons in partnership with Carving the Future, and 47 parents skiing in our Padres program, Coombs is providing access to outdoor winter recreation in as many ways as possible.  

Summer
This summer, we’re looking forward to expanding our summer programs to provide multiple weeks of camp for kids K-12, with opportunities for middle and high school students to dive deeper into activities like climbing, mountain biking, and backpacking. 

Fall
Fall workshops will take place in our new programming office, which holds a safe and welcoming space for indoor after school programs. We look forward to hosting community partners and creating collaborative workshops to offer our participants a diverse number of options to build community, grow their interests, and have formative experiences together, 

High School Internships
We’re excited to dive deeper into the EMPOWER component of our program model, working with our older kids to harness the confidence they have built through Coombs Activate and Engage programming. Coombs will continue to offer an internship program which will rely on partnerships with local businesses and organizations to provide our high school participants with career opportunities in the outdoor recreation industry. In addition to expanded professional experience, we will also provide participants with access to professional skill development workshops and college preparation activities and resources, including a college visit. 

It is a privilege to serve our community, and we take this very seriously. For this reason we have prioritized the assessment and evaluation of our overall impact on the community and the creation of actionable steps to improve.

One of the best ways we can improve is to do so collaboratively; we believe it is important to loop our community members, supporters, staff, and leaders into our decision making processes. We do this by being transparent with our past, present, and future actions and actively soliciting feedback on our programs and services. Our new 3-5 year strategic plan is a result of thoughtful input from our board, staff, parents, and families. We are excited to now share this strategic plan with you!

An important part of growing in a sustainable way is to continue checking in with our intention and our mission: to empower local youth to grow and thrive by reducing barriers to outdoor recreation through programs, mentorship, and community building. This new plan includes our updated vision and mission as well as defined program outcomes and a set of values that will guide our day-to-day operations and provide a foundation for our organizational culture.

We have prioritized our new strategic goals as securing resources, building internal capacity, strengthening partnerships, creating evaluation and impact metrics, and investing in our people.

As we work towards the goals and objectives laid out in our new 3-5 year plan, Coombs Outdoors will become a more stable, efficient, and successful organization. We will be able to serve more youth through innovative, inclusive programs that bring us closer to our vision of a community in which youth feel supported, connected, and inspired.

Print copies of Coombs Outdoors' Strategic Plan are available. Please reach out to jenny@coombsoutdoors.org if you would like to receive this document in the mail!

EVENT DETAILS

Support Coombs Outdoors and join us for a day of skiing with X Gamers, US Ski Team members, World Tour competitors, Olympic Champions, winter film stars, and local legends at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for our Annual Skiing with the Stars event. 

2022 Stars Include New and Returning Faces:

• Matt Annetts: Snowboard Freeride World Tour Competitor, star in NDG Cinema productions Don't Crack Under Pressure, Addicted to Life, Pushing the Limits, and Imagine

• Amie Engerbretson: Professional Skier, Warren Miller Athlete, Producer of the "Long Underwear" podcast

• Kent Kreitler: Dubbed "One of the Most Influential Skiers of the past 35 Years" by Powder Magazine, X Games medalist, World Tour of Freeskiing title holder

• Lynsey Dyer: Founder of SheJumps, named "Female Skier of the Year" multiple times by Powder Magazine, featured in films by Warren Miller, TGR, and Sherpa's Cinema, directed and produced Pretty Faces - the first all female ski film

• Crystal Wright: U.S. Ski Team Racer, two time Freeride World Tour champion, and big mountain guru, Jackson Hole Babe Force Co-Founder

• Corey Jackson: Faction Skis Athlete, as seen in "The Collective", Attended the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games as a coach for Ireland

• Jeremy Nobis: Professional alpine skier who competed in the 1994 Winter Olympics. One of the pioneers of the aggressive big mountain skiing. Appearing in multiple ski films for Warren Miller Entertainment, Teton Gravity Research, and Matchstick Productions.

• Benny Wilson: One of founders of The Jackson Hole Airforce (JHAF) and a huge influence on extreme skiing in North America and beyond.

• Dave “The Wave” Muccino: One of founders of The Jackson Hole Airforce (JHAF) and a pioneer in what skiing is today.

• Vasu Sojitra: Professional skier, first adaptive athlete for The North Face, a founding member for The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E Initiative, the co-founder of Inclusive Outdoors Project. Vasu has starred in Warren Miller films, the Approach Film, and more.

• Caroline Gleich: Professional ski mountaineer, endurance athlete and activist for the environment and equality. She’s been on the cover of every major ski magazine, in award winning films and has summitted some of the highest peaks in the world including Everest/Chomolungma and Cho Oyu, the sixth highest peak in the world.

• Sam Schwartz: Professional skier based out of Jackson. His specialties are humongous airs and massive backflips. Competed in the Subaru Freeride Series and the Freeride World Qualifiers

• Adam McCool: A professional skier involved in record breaking downhill skiing and a founding member of the Jackson Hole Air Force. The only person to compete in all 37 runnings of the Town Downhill.

• Micah Black - Professional skier, Teton Gravity Research Hall of Famer and Film star, featured regularly on the pages of Powder Magazine, famous for big mountain skiing segments like the 2001 Breakneck session for TGR’s Mind the Addiction.

• Sophia Schwartz - Professional mogul skier turned big mountain skier and ski mountaineer. Sophia spent three years on the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, and has continued her ski career by starring in multiple films, skiing Denali, and becoming a mentor to others.

• Kim Havell - International expedition skier and guide who has skied impressive feats, including the first female descent of the notorious Otter Body on the Grand Teton, and, in 2014, she went on to be the first woman to ski-guide the Grand Teton.

• Benjamin Alexander - a British former DJ and the first Alpine skier for Jamaica at an Olympic Winter Games.

Details for the Aprés Ski Party forthcoming.

A Message from our Executive Director

Greetings Friends, 

Exactly one year ago I started my new role as Executive Director here at Coombs Outdoors. I thought that I knew what the organization was all about- getting kids outside. I’ve learned an indescribable amount in my first year here, but the most important lesson has been that while getting kids outside is the foundation of our work, the impact and scope of our programs goes so much deeper. The relationships and community that the Coombs staff works hard to build and maintain with our families and participants has created an opportunity for us to learn and grow together. We are deeply in tune with the challenges and barriers that many of our families face and are creating year-round programming that directly responds to the needs of our community. We have expanded our programs to support high schoolers at a time in their lives when they need it most, to provide after-school recreation and engagement opportunities for youth, keeping them active and away from screens, and to serve more children with more programs throughout the summer when parents are busy with work and childcare is both challenging to find and financially out of reach for many local families.  

I learned quickly that Coombs is a community. A community made up of the families and children for whom we work, of a passionate staff and dedicated board who work intentionally and tirelessly to make an impact, of committed partners, sponsors and volunteers who provide services, gear, and time that is critical to creating functional and successful programs, and of enthusiastic donors and supporters who make all we do possible through their generous contributions. Together, through this community, we have provided transformative programs for more than 350 local youth in 2021. 

Our vision here at Coombs is a community in which youth feel supported, connected, and inspired. We are so grateful that you have been a part of this community as we grew and flourished in 2021 and we hope that you’re as excited as we are for what’s to come in 2022. Thank you for all you do for Coombs Outdoors.

See you on the slopes!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director 

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To sum up our year

Coombs Outdoors has grown significantly over the past few years all with the goal of leveraging outdoor programming to help our local youth build a sense of community and belonging, develop confidence and a sense of self-worth, and increase mental health and emotional intelligence. Some of our proudest moments and biggest highlights of the past year include:

• Serving more than 350 local youth in year-round programs

• Providing 50+ kids with a safe, screen-free space for after school study halls and mentoring during virtual learning

• Launching the EMPOWER Internship program, providing 14 high schoolers with job prep and professional training and placed in summer internships at local businesses and nonprofits

• Expanding the EMPOWER program into winter with 15 additional internship placements and ongoing professional and personal development workshops.

• Programming and coordinating three weeks of summer camp each for 160+ middle and elementary schoolers

• Teaching 200+ kids to ski and snowboard at Snow King

• Mentoring 70 middle and high schoolers in the PowderPal ski program at JHMR and 30 through the launch of the new Coombs Club program at Snow King

• Hiring 3 former Coombs participants as Camp Instructors for our ACTIVATE summer camps

• Recruiting 1 new Executive Director and securing a year-round program staff of 6

• Raising $1 Million in Annual Revenue for the first time in the organization’s history

• Sharing countless laughs, encouragement, proud moments, and adventures

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Looking Ahead to Winter 2022

Winter 2022 will be our biggest winter yet with the largest number of Coombs kids ever enrolled in programs. Winter can be long and cold, but we will be helping local youth find joy and adventure in the coming months. Look for us at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King!

Our Activate Program is hosting:

• 170 kids in ski school K-5 Snow King Mountain Ski School

• 30 kids in our nordic Ositos program with the Ski Club

• 12 kids in Rockchuck Racers with the Ski Club

• 7 kids in nordic programs with Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation

• 30 adults in our Padres learn to ski program

Our Engage Program is hosting:

• 86 kids in Powder Pals

• 34 kids in Coombs Club

• 10+ kids in an after-school climbing club and weekend climbing outings

• 20 kids in learn-to snowboard programs in partnership with Carving the Future

Our Empower Program is hosting 15 winter interns:

• 2 ski technicians at Black Tie Gear Rentals

• 9 ski/snowboard shadow instructors at Snow King

• 2 assistant nordic coaches with Ski Club

• 1 Community Coordinator for the no-cost grocery program at Hole Food Rescue

• 1 assistant after school instructor at Teton Literacy Center

• Monthly workshops for professional skill development, leadership training, and team building

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Falling for new staff, programs, and climbing club!

We won't lie - we've been enjoying off season. Summer camps and winter ski programs are our busiest times of year, running activities for hundreds of kids of all ages. We needed a breather in between, but now we're ready for things to pick back up. We're biking through yellow aspens, craving more baked goods, remembering how to wear socks, and launching our fall programs for 24 3rd-5th graders. These programs, starting this week, are a way for us to offer positive after-school experiences, provide childcare for our families, and stay connected with our kids during off-season. Stay tuned to hear about their adventures each week!

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Sahir steps up to run ACTIVATE Programs

Sahir was a Coombs counselor this summer, and we're thrilled to welcome him onto our team full-time to run our elementary programs. Sahir grew up in Jackson, but didn’t discover his love for the outdoors until after high school. He went to school at the University of Montana and spent every weekend climbing or backpacking. When he moved back to Jackson, he discovered all the trailheads and mountains he never knew he was missing. His younger sister, Bethany, has been a Coombs participant for the last eight years, an opportunity Sahir wished he’d had when he was growing up.

“Jackson is such a great place to spend time outside and I missed that when I was a kid, so it’s really rewarding to share it with the kids now,” he says of working for Coombs.

Prior to joining the Coombs team as a summer instructor, Sahir had been a consistent volunteer and mentor. “So many people have lived in this community for years and never had the chance to spend time outside. My hope is to give them the skills to teach others and have confidence to go out on their own.” As well as leading middle school backpacking trips this summer, Sahir started the first Coombs climbing club and Town Pump team.

Learn more about Sahir and our other staff members on our website.

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Sahir shows kids the ropes

We strive to introduce kids to a variety of outdoor activities, and then help them continue to pursue the ones they're interested in. "Climbing in our community has numerous barriers that are both educational and financial. My goal is to help dismantle those hurdles and get more kids climbing that typically would not be able to. My favorite memory was when we took 15 kids and some parents to the Idaho falls gym! There were smiles and chalked hands everywhere. I dream that through the climbing club, we can inspire one or two kids to become Exum guides and make a life leading people up the mountains that silhouetted their youth."

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Climber spotlight: Zoe's going places

If we had to bet, we'd say Zoe (11) is going to be a mountain guide one day. Living in Mexico, Zoe always wanted to climb at Monterey, Nuevo Leon, but it wasn't affordable or accessible to her family. They moved to Jackson about a year ago, and joined Coombs programs including our new climbing club this summer. She didn't miss a single day, even showing up when we didn't. On her first day of school, she proudly wore the climbing shirt she won at the Town Pump this summer. She quickly joined the middle school climbing club this fall, and at a recent practice, was determined to work on her routes while everyone else gave up and started playing tag. Zoe found a supportive community through climbing and Coombs. She wants to get on real rocks outside, and we can't wait to share that experience with her soon.

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EMPOWER interns rock

Whether you ask us, our participants, or our partners, our first EMPOWER internship program was a success. Our 14 high school participants had good experiences, and it showed through stories we heard and through survey responses. After finishing their internships, more participants said they feel part of the Jackson community, have strong problem solving skills, and feel prepared to pursue both career and recreation opportunities after high school. At least 4 participants are continuing to work with their employers this fall, and plans for a winter edition of internships is underway. Summer partner organizations included:

• Coombs Outdoors

• Wheel Wranglers

• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

• Stio

• The Jackson Hole Land Trust

• DIY Docs

• Rendezvous River Sports

• Hole Food Rescue

• Snow King Mountain Resort

Check out the recent story from the Jackson Hole News & Guide, "First ever Coombs interns find empowerment, connection through summer positions."

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And it continues this fall!

We are excited to welcome Nayeli Hernandez Lopez and Mariela Castro Luna to our fall instructor team through a fall extension of our EMPOWER internship program. Both have been longtime Coombs participants, and are excited to take on leadership roles with current elementary school kids. Nayeli was also an intern this summer, helping us run our elementary ACTIVATE camps. According to Nayeli, “being outside with the kids everyday never feels like work. I love seeing them get excited about new things and sharing their accomplishments, and it’s really cool to see them look up to us.” We look forward to watching them build their after-school community this fall!

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Partner of the Month: Black Diamond

Our climbing club really got off the ground this summer, and we couldn't have made that happen alone. Black Diamond has been an essential new partner in providing the gear our participants need. Shoes, ropes, chalk bags, belay devices, and more have given Coombs kids the opportunity to hang with their peers, step up their climbing game, and unlock access to a new outdoor sport. Thank you!

We are a small but mighty team running year-round outdoor programs. But we're more than that. We are...

...creativity and problem-solving.
...silly friends and supportive mentors.
...confidence and self-esteem boosters.
...critical time away from screens and stress.
...community representation and inclusivity in the outdoors.
...making sure all local families and kids belong in our outdoor culture.

We're proud of our work, but we can't do it alone - we need our community. Support us, our work, and our families.

Give by tomorrow through Old Bill's!

Ready, Set, Grow!

With summer in our rearview mirror, I’ve been reflecting about the time I've spent outside and feeling fortunate to have these opportunities, especially during COVID. Jumping on my bike, going for a hike, or getting on the water are all ways that I decompress, relieve stress, and find motivation, and it isn’t lost on me that not everyone in Jackson has access to these benefits. Everyone in our community, specifically our local youth, should be able to feel the inherent joy and rewards that outdoor recreation provides to people like you and me.

Coombs Outdoors has grown significantly over the past few years all with the goal of leveraging outdoor programming to help our local youth build a sense of community and belonging, develop confidence and a sense of self-worth, and increase mental health and emotional intelligence. Some of our proudest moments and biggest highlights of the past year include:

• Serving more than 300 local youth in year-round programs

• Providing 50+ kids with a safe, screen-free space for after school study halls and mentoring during virtual learning

• Launching the EMPOWER Internship program, providing 14 high schoolers with job prep and professional training and placed in summer internships at local businesses and nonprofits

• Programming and coordinating three weeks of summer camp each for 160+ middle and elementary schoolers

• Teaching 200+ kids to ski and snowboard at Snow King

• Mentoring 70 middle and high schoolers in the PowderPal ski program at JHMR

• Hiring 3 former Coombs participants as Camp Instructors for our ACTIVATE summer camps

• Recruiting 1 new Executive Director and securing a year-round program staff of 6

• Raising $1 Million in Annual Revenue for the first time in the organization’s history

• Sharing countless laughs, encouragement, proud moments, and adventures

During the pandemic, Coombs ramped up programs and services to a portion of our community that needed it most. We saw the benefits to our kids and their families, which are backed up by this 2021 study from the International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health titled "Outdoor Activity Participation Improves Adolescents Mental Health and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Thanks to generous donors like you, we have been able to increase our impact and fill an important gap in services. I am so proud of what this organization has accomplished and we are excited to keep growing and expanding. 

I hope that you will join me in celebrating our successes by considering a gift to support Coombs Outdoors through Old Bills Fun Run. 
 

- Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director, Coombs Outdoors

Step 3: EMPOWER!

“The purpose of the EMPOWER program is to provide context for participants to envision life beyond high school and Coombs Outdoors. We provide resources for professional development, access to higher education, consistent mentorship, and more independent outdoor recreation opportunities. After a successful summer season, I am looking forward to how the program will grow and change through the winter. It is exciting to see how this program has kept our high schoolers engaged with the Coombs community and I hope we can continue to build those relationships for years to come. I hope participants leave this program feeling more included in the outdoor industry and empowered to enter the next phase of their lives!”

- Caroline Drayton, EMPOWER Program Manager

Our 2021 EMPOWER Program had:

• 21 applicants

• 14 interns 

• 8 partner employers

• 6 intern workshops and trainings to develop leadership and professional skills

• 2 nights under the stars on a group camping trip

• 1 service-learning project 

• 58 high school students skiing and snowboarding in Coombs winter programs

Meet Nayeli, EMPOWER Intern Leading Coombs Campers

Nayeli (17) has been a Coombs participant for five years, skiing, hiking, camping, and exploring Jackson through year-round outdoor programs. This summer, however, looks a little different. As an EMPOWER intern, Nayeli has transitioned from participant to leader, working for Coombs Outdoors as an ACTIVATE camp counselor. 

“Last summer, I worked inside and this year I knew I wanted a job where I could spend more time outside and that would help me explore different areas for my future,” she says. As a Coombs intern, Nayeli gets to share the skills she’s developed over the years with the younger kids, hiking, biking, swimming, paddling, and climbing all summer long. 

“Being outside with the kids everyday never feels like work,” she says. “I love seeing them get excited about new things and sharing their accomplishments, and it’s really cool to see them look up to us.” Throughout the summer, Nayeli says she’s learned to be creative with problem solving, encouraging kids to keep hiking when they’re tired or helping them get past a scraped knee. 

As a participant and now a leader, Nayeli says she’s become more confident going outside on her own outside of programs, hiking to lakes with friends and skiing in the winter with her cousins. “Since Coombs, I’m more willing to take risks,” she says. “I’m more confident that it will be okay even when something doesn’t go the way I want. I learned while skiing that it’s okay to have a complete wipeout, because it’s so worth it to be out there.”

Step Two: ENGAGE!

“ENGAGE Camps are designed to build on the love of nature participants have fostered in Activate Camps by giving them more responsibilities and autonomy to go deeper (literally) into the Forest. During our Engage Camps participants spend time learning technical skills and LNT principles involved with backpacking and apply these skills to plan their own 2 or 3 night backpacking trip into the Bridger Teton National Forest. It has been amazing to see participants feel empowered by their new skill set and their enthusiasm to apply it towards their trip, but what's even more amazing is to see how spending multiple nights in nature and away from technology has helped participants connect with each other and themselves. My hope is that these camps are giving participants tools to not only continue to access their local wilderness but also to feel confident and reduce stress in their everyday lives.”

- Laura Gaylord, ENGAGE Program Manager

Our 2021 ENGAGE Programs had:

• 60 kids at summer camp and outdoor activity clinics

• 26 kids in new fall after-school study hall programs

• 5 kids on the Jackson Hole Youth MTB Team

• 10 kids in the JH Kayak Club

• 10 kids in Coombs Climbing Club

• 20 female participants in a Women of Winter ski day

• 82 kids in weekend ski programs at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

• 43 volunteer mentors skiing with participants

Meet ENGAGE Participant Shirley!

Shirley (13) has been adventuring in Coombs programs for the past three years. As an Engage participant, she spends summers rock climbing, rafting, hiking, and camping, and in the winter you can find her on the slopes of Jackson Hole each week in Powder Pals.

“Before Coombs, my family and friends didn’t spend a lot of time outside,” she says. “Now my brother and I are both in the program and we come home and tell our family about everything we did. Then we all go back out and try new things outside together.”

Shirley loves to hike, and after a few years in Coombs programs she knows her way around the local trails. “I love being outside,” she says. “It’s an escape from reality. If I’m stressed, I know I can go out and go for a hike or walk.” This summer, Shirley is learning more about camping, with two different backpacking trips throughout the summer. “All these activities have taught me a lot about myself, what I’m passionate about, and how to try new things,” she says. “Learning to camp with Coombs has showed me I can go out and do it on my own.”

“Our year-round ACTIVATE programs are all about introducing elementary school kids to the outdoors and to the Coombs community. We want to help them feel comfortable in their local environment and trying new things, whether that's making new friends, visiting a new park, learning to ski, or trying out rock climbing. Over the year that I've been working with them, it's been truly amazing to watch these kids grow. They're already more confident, self-aware, and empathetic little individuals - complaining less on hikes, appreciating bugs instead of screaming at them, being better listeners, and offering to share and help each other.”

- Molly Watters, ACTIVATE Program Manager

Our 2021 ACTIVATE Programs had:

• 83 kids at summer camp

• 26 kids in new fall after-school programs

• 15 kids Nordic skiing after school

• 206 kids learning to ski & snowboard at Snow King

Meet ACTIVATE Camper Camila!

If anyone saw Camila (9) zipping up a rock wall in Grand Teton National Park, it would come as a surprise that when she first started camp last summer, she said she hated being outside; she didn’t like the heat, the bugs, the dirt, or talking to new people, and she flat out refused to try rock climbing. But she kept showing up, through the fall, winter, and the next summer, and each season her excitement rose. When Activate campers went rock climbing with Exum, she was apprehensive. But she decided to give it a shot, and ended up climbing more than any other kid, getting faster each time she scrambled up the wall and encouraging other kids to keep at it.

“You know how I said I hated the outdoors? I think I’m starting to like it,” she said after a group hike to Taggart Lake. “And hiking isn't so bad. When are we going camping? I really want to go camping!”

Thanks, Camila for becoming a leader and inspiration for other campers!

Meet Our New Summer Staff!

It's been an exciting summer for Coombs Outdoors. Not only are we offering programs for more than 160 kids through our K-12 Activate, Engage, Empower Curriculum, but our growing programs have allowed us to hire five new seasonal summer staff to help lead the next generation of outdoor adventurers. 

These amazing new Summer Camp Counselors bring years of experience as recreators, outdoor educators, and past participants in Coombs programs (yes, you read that right: this summer we're thrilled to have our first Coombs graduate returning to lead programs this summer). We have already learned so much from this dedicated group of leaders and are so excited for you to get to know them as we Activate, Engage, and Empower youth in Teton County this summer!

Also, a huge thank you to Hannah Martinelli, Pippa Blau, Molly Watters, Laura Gaylord, and Maggie Shipley, our phenomenal year-round staff who are leading Activate and Engage Camps. Summer wouldn't be the same without you!

Sahir Enriquez, Engage Summer Counselor

Sahir grew up in Jackson, but didn’t discover his love for the outdoors until after high school. He went to school at the University of Montana and spent every weekend climbing or backpacking. When he moved back to Jackson he discovered all the trailheads and mountains he never knew he was missing. His younger sister, Bethany, has been a Coombs participant for the last eight years, an opportunity Sahir wished he’d had when he was growing up. “Jackson is such a great place to spend time outside and I missed that when I was a kid, so it’s really rewarding to share it with the kids now,” he says of working for Coombs. Prior to joining the Coombs Outdoors team as a summer instructor, Sahir has been a consistent volunteer and mentor.
 

“So many people have lived in this community for years and never had the chance to spend time outside. My hope is to give them the skills to teach others and have confidence to go out on their own.”
 

As well as leading Engage backpacking trips, Sahir helped put together the first Coombs team for the Town Pump, and has been leading hikes in Spanish for the local Latinx community. 

Marcus Carreto, Activate Summer Counselor

Marcus was born and raised in Jackson, and learned to ski when Coombs started offering programs back in 2012. He started working at Snow King in 7th and 8th grade and volunteered to help with Coombs ski school on the weekends. “That’s when Coombs started to become really important to me,” he remembers.
 

“Spending time outside with Coombs expanded what I saw in myself. Instead of being at home I was skiing or rafting or backpacking.”

Marcus graduated from high school last year, and is excited to become a mentor for the younger kids, getting to take on a leadership role. “I love watching the kids grow and learn what they’re capable of. Learning to ski and try new things outside taught me that you can do anything if you try. Eventually you’ll get it even if you’re not an expert right away. I always felt like there was a barrier between me and the activities around here. Coombs helped me realize you don’t need a ton of money to go outside and hike.”

Mayra Ramirez, Engage Summer Counselor

Mayra moved to Jackson 14 years ago, and remembers learning to ski on her own before Coombs programs existed. “I joined the ski team but I felt really left out because I was the only Latina woman there. I always thought I wasn’t good enough or capable enough to try those sports because I didn’t grow up in a family where my parents could just buy me that cool new bike,” she says. Mayra loves spending time outside in Jackson and has always wanted to learn to backpack, climb, mountain bike, and fly fish. “But it was always hard to find someone to do it with so I never did,” she says.
 

“Coombs has opened up the possibility of doing so many new things, realizing that I’m good enough and that I can break down those barriers with the right people and the right environment. It’s opened up the life I’ve always wanted to live.” 
 

Mayra is excited to learn alongside the kids this summer, showing them you’re never too old to try something new. “There are all these activities we do in camp that I’ve never done before, and I want kids to see someone who’s older but still learning. I think kids can get discouraged when they try new things for the first time and I can show them that it doesn’t matter how old you are.”

Ellie Hodgson, Activate Summer Counselor

Ellie grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and spent her childhood going to summer camp in Colorado. Her time at camp inspired her to move to Boulder for college, where she spent time backpacking, learning to rock climb, and working in outdoor education. “Seeing the confidence spending time outside builds and the friendships you make is something you can’t get in just any setting,” she says.
 

“The outdoors have given me confidence and pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and take risks in a reasonable way. The concept of trying and learning new things is something I can apply to so many other things in life.” 
 

Ellie feels lucky to have discovered her love for the outdoors at a young age, and wants to help Coombs participants discover that too. “I think getting into the outdoors is hard if your family doesn’t do it or you don’t know people who are into it. There’s such a knowledge barrier and it’s hard to find people to teach you who you’re comfortable around. I’m excited to be working for Coombs to help kids look at the barriers and see that they can get over them.” 

Walter Topete, Engage Summer Counselor

Walter visited Jackson for the first time when he was 14, as part of Children’s Grand Adventure, a program that brings cancer survivors to Teton Science Schools to camp, hike, and explore the greater Yellowstone area. Born in Guadalajara and raised in Houston, he didn’t spend much time outside until after college, but his experience in Jackson as a kid inspired him to pursue a career and lifestyle outdoors. “Being outside offers opportunities for a way of life you would never have anticipated, but the outdoors are intimidating and expensive if your parents don’t introduce you to it. It was definitely intimidating for me. If it wasn’t for my experience here when I was 14 I may as well be bummed out in an office building,” he says.
 

“Humans got really good at being comfortable indoors. Being outside can invite discomfort and discomfort invites growth. I’m really honored to be here working with Coombs and I’m excited to show kids an avenue that’s different, to help them try new experiences that are unfamiliar but make them fun and comfortable.”

Partner of the Month: Rendezvous River Sports

A huge thank you to Rendezvous River Sports for donating paddle boards for Coombs summer programs, discounted ducky trips for three groups, and supporting the new Empower High School Internship program with two interns this summer. Rendezvous has been supportive of Coombs for many years, 

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Letter from the Executive Director

Summer is here in Jackson and Coombs Outdoors summer programs are in full swing. June brought three weeks of Activate camps serving 75 kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. Activate campers enjoyed paddle boarding at R Park, climbing with Exum guides, swimming in the Snake River, hiking and wildflower hunting at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and, my personal favorite, tie-dying. Middle School Engage campers spent June in Intro Clinics which were designed to dive deeper into the skills and mechanics of mountain biking, kayaking, and rock climbing. This summer, Coombs is excited to support middle schoolers who are interested in participating in local clubs like the JH Youth Mountain Bike league, the JH Kayaking Club, and the Town Pump. Fourteen high school students are successfully placed in internships through the Coombs Empower program. Throughout June, prior to starting their jobs, these teens went through workshops that focused on professional development skills, financial literacy, and self-advocacy. They celebrated the end of their training week with a two-night camping trip.

These programs focus on providing local youth a sense of belonging and inclusion in the Jackson community and culture, building independence and confidence, and supporting mental health. We couldn’t do this without a talented and connected staff. The team this summer includes not only return staff and volunteers, but also Coombs participants who were introduced to outdoor recreation opportunities through Coombs Outdoors and are excited and committed to providing the same experiences to the next generation. I have already learned so much from our summer team and am honored to see firsthand the significant impact that they are having on Coombs kids. 

Happy Summer!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director