Alpenguides - Our Camp Staff
The #1 reason to choose Alpengirl as your summer adventure camp; The Alpenguides!
Alpenguide duties go far beyond typical camp counselor jobs by providing wilderness medical care, evaluating and managing risks, leading adventure activities and by planning and preparing delicious meals with campers.
Your Alpengirl teen camp guides are seasoned outdoor women who have an excellent rapport with teenage girls, are experienced leaders in adventure travel, and are intuitive educators. These skills are combined with professional certifications such as Wilderness First Responder, Lifeguard, and Yoga. Alpenguides are positive and fun role models with superhuman powers!
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The FAUM Known Superhuman Powers: What rare animal species breathes underwater, resists fire, stands upright and is at home in the fumaroles of Yellowstone National Park? The FAUM! She's a Fireproof, Aquatic, Upright, Mole! Following in the wake of her namesake, The FAUM possesses the power of adaptation. Rain or shine, you'll always see a smile on her face and the water bottle she carries is always "half-full" not "half-empty." The FAUM does have one known issue that drains her powers: she cannot stand the sound that Velcro makes! Abilities: The FAUM is most celebrated for her ability to illustrate elusive, exotic animal species, more specifically, the FAUM. Using her power of adaptation, The FAUM can figure out a solution, no matter the situation. Too much down time? The FAUM carries a plethora of games in her fuzzy little paws. History: Having found her passion for the outdoors when she, herself, was a camper at Alpengirl at 14, with Zeal as her guide, FAUM could not wait until she was old enough to share her gusto with other girls. She grew up camping with her family but it wasn't until that summer at camp in Montana, that her future was decided. Now, having guided for Alpengirl for 4 years, the FAUM couldn't be more elated. While working her way up to become an Alpenguide, attending the Alaska session, the Alpenguide in Training session, and then interning, she pursued every outdoor opportunity that came her way. She cannot get enough of backpacking in the canyons of the southwest, but her heart lies in Montana. The FAUM graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2009 with her degree in Parks and Recreation Management, specifically Outdoor Education, and a minor in Photography. The FAUM is Wilderness First Responder, Life Guard, NAU Outdoor Leadership and CPR certified. Current Base & Operations: Boulder, CO. The FAUM has found a new interest in working with children under age 5 and she currently teaches at Gymboree Play and Music. Her goal is to not drive anywhere (easy to do because FAUM's live underwater) and she lives within a ten-minute walk of her work, four grocery stores, Borders, a park, and a creek. Upon her recent college graduation in August 2009, she traveled the west United States for over two months, visiting all of the National Parks in the west. She is currently trying to convince Zeal to start a camp session in the southwest. |
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Sparkadelic Known Superhuman Powers: Inspired by campfires, funk and soul rhythms, and Alpengirls, Sparkadelic can spontaneously ignite into what experts call her "dance of fire." This superhuman powered free-style expression through movement resembles flickering flames mixed with smoke spirals, grounded by glowing embers. Abilities: This power of dance allows her to start a fire when needed most, she has been observed starting cozy group campfires in soaking wet forests with wet wood and no paper! Her cerebral ability to preserve song lyrics allows her to sing along to almost any song she hears. Her favorite song lyric is, "free your mind and your spark will follow!" History: Sparkadelic was camping, sea kayaking, canoeing, sailing and collecting blueberries as a mere spark in rural Massachusetts. She has always appreciated the simple pleasures that nature has to offer and has shared this with young people by working in Wrentham, MA as a summer camp counselor throughout her high school years and eventually moved to Montana and worked for the MT Conservation Corps assisting youth in building and repairing trails and mapping sections of the Continental Divide Trail. She has financed her own college tuition by enjoying work as a childcare provider for local families, a horse wrangler, and as a Community Food Co-op employee. She endeavors to make a difference in the lives of others by continuing to work in supportive environments that encourage kids to excel! Sparkadelic earned her teaching degree from Montana State University; College of Education, Health & Human Development. Current Base & Operations: Bozeman, MT. Sparkadelic works as a teacher at Monforton Elementary School. She's commonly spotted with her trusty companion Mr. Chester, loyal dog friend and scented wonder! In winters, she can be found slope-side practicing her telemark ski turns or boarding in the backcountry. In warmer weather you'll find her breathing in fresh mountain air while horseback riding, camping, hiking and soaking up the sun on the river having a good time-rafting and swimming. Sparkadelic is trained in mediation and is certified in Wilderness First Responder and CPR, she is also a dedicated yogini. |
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Nalu Known Superhuman Powers: Nalu (meaning ocean wave in Hawaiian) has a superhuman power to flow. Flow like water, an ever-changing natural force that moves with varying temperatures and tides, she is able to adapt her little dew drops to move with the currents around her - as well as alter them. Nalu wishes she had superhuman powers to end human suffering and to have a cosmic, positive effect in the universe. Abilities: Always wanting to be an athlete and excel at some physical sport, Nalu was instead blessed with genes that have driven her to try everything and to enjoy playing in the process. This "playability" has been a gift and has become her profession at Alpengirl! She has the ability to turn just about anything into a game and loves the challenge of trying new things, even when it scares her a bit. She has a natural, gentle way of encouraging others to pursue new discoveries and to celebrate themselves in the process of learning. History: Having spent the first 5 years of her life on a farm, Nalu's love of the natural world was how she came to know this life. Spending her summers on the eastern shore of Maryland and growing up at camps in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, being outdoors and adventuring are second nature to Nalu's understanding of home and well being. Additionally, she inherited a love of travel and exploring the world - whether internally or externally - every waking moment ripe for adventure, learning and magic. Upon completion of a degree in Psychology, as well as extensive studies in the visual arts, from Gettysburg College (1998), Nalu headed westward. After months of backpacking around the country, working as a challenge course facilitator at an outdoor learning center near Mt. Rainier, and leading teens in outdoor adventures in Maine and Washington, Nalu made her home in Missoula, Montana. Since then, she has immersed herself in the arts and outdoors: completing a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing (2002), teaching visual arts both in academic and alternative settings for adults and youth, running art spaces and curating exhibitions, doing challenge/ropes course and facilitation work for various programs, and practicing yoga. Always balancing and marrying her love of the arts, outdoors, and people, Nalu embraces all things Alpengirl! Nalu is Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified. Current Base & Operations: Missoula, Montana. Nalu is at home practicing balance; she can balance just about anything (well, non-liquid) on her head. At this moment, aside from working in her art studio and doing yoga, she's most likely focusing on her fascination of circus arts and seeking her place in the circus art community, ...or planning her next bicycle touring trip in some warm and wild place. Follow Nalu's art happenings at: www.kerrirosenstein.blogspot.com |
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Citram Known Superhuman Powers: Citram is in her element when she is in nature, exuding joy and enthusiasm from her very pores as she hikes along. She is rarely seen without a smile on her face, and this radius of happiness touches everyone around her. Abilities: Citram gets her name from the mass quantities of oranges that she consumes on a daily basis; her love of fruit knows no bounds. Citram enjoys sharing her knowledge about trees and plants with others, spreading her passion for the outdoors. Motivated by her amazing experiences as a camper with Alpengirl, she hopes to inspire others to truly feel at home in nature, just as her Alpenguides have inspired her. History: Citram developed a love of the outdoors at a very young age, camping and hiking with her family. Although at first her father had to bribe her with M&Ms in order to make her step foot on the trail, she now pursues outdoor adventure whenever she has the chance! She started rock climbing at the age of 12, and now works at a rock climbing gym belaying and instructing others. Citram truly fell in love with the outdoors when she joined Alpengirl as a camper in the eighth grade; she was so positively affected by her Washington Olympics trip that she returned to Alpengirl the next summer in the Alaska session and then the following summer as an Alpenguide in Training. She spent the next few summers backpacking through Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Switzerland and France, and is thrilled to come back to Alpengirl to share her adoration of nature with other girls. Citram is Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified. Current Base & Operations: New Haven, Connecticut. When she is not living in a tent, Citram studies at Yale University, pursuing a double major in biochemistry and environmental studies. When free from schoolwork, she can be found rock climbing, hiking, reading, exploring old buildings, or eating ice cream. In the future she hopes to pursue her love of fruit through food science and journalism. |
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Zippy Known Superhuman Powers: Zippy has the superhuman power to be two nearly opposite things at once... she can move fast and stay calm, she's enthusiastic and at the same time she's patient, she can crack a great joke while being encouraging, she is spontaneous and at the same time reliable. You'll know when Zippy is coming to save the day, just listen for her "whooshing" sound that precedes every Zippy appearance! Abilities: Known for her highly motivational personality, Zippy whizzes past bystanders and enlists go-getters to join her in pursuit of health and fitness through outdoor adventure! Happiness tags along with Zippy's activities rain or sun, morning or night, winter or summer. If you fail to hear Zippy's "whoosh" when she's passing nearby, you are sure to hear her singing, she's able and willing to sing a song for any occasion! History: At age 11, Zippy could be heard running (not seen running, she was way too fast) through the woods of Southeastern Connecticut. As a young adult runner and outdoor enthusiast, she dreamt of pairing her passions of fitness and outdoors when it came time to decide on a direction for schooling. She ran collegiate cross-country and track while attending a small university in New Hampshire where she earned her bachelors degree in Health Promotion & Fitness with an independent study in Outdoor Education. She was elected track Team Captain and focused her education on outdoor oriented wellness. Zippy worked as a High Ropes Challenge Course Director for youth in Connecticut before moving to Flagstaff, AZ where she received training in and was employed as a Challenge Course Team Building Facilitator, Youth Recreation Specialist, and Montessori School Teacher. Zippy holds current certifications in Challenge Course Facilitation, CPR, Wilderness First Responder (wilderness medicine), and Leave No Trace (LNT) Trainer. Current Base & Operations: When Zippy is not running around the woods with teen girls at Alpengirl, she works full-time as a Montessori Teacher in Flagstaff, Arizona. She incorporates an Outdoor Education Curriculum in her teaching and leads the kids drama club after school. When not working, you'll most likely find Zippy singing, running, hiking, backpacking, doing hours of yoga, camping, cooking Greek food or seeking a new hobby to take up. She'll be on a backpacking trip in Utah and Colorado before camp with Alpengirl and she's recently taken up birding and reading young adult novels! |
Alpengirl, Inc is an equal opportunity employer |