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Since its inception, the program has met
extraordinary success and has grown steadily to become
the oldest, most experienced, and leading outdoor adventure
travel program for young adults.
Program Directors
Mike and Helen Cottingham have both had extensive experience working with young adults. Mike received his B.A. in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame in 1968 and his M. Ed. From Xavier University of Ohio in 1972. Helen received her B.A. from St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana in 1969. They both taught in Cincinnati area schools prior to becoming full-time directors of Wilderness Ventures. Today they are responsible for all planning and program development. The Cottinghams and their sons Christopher and Nicholas reside in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Administrative Assistants
Trent Hultman first participated with Wilderness Ventures as a student in 1989, and led and directed expeditions for five years. Raised in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, Trent attended The Mercersburg Academy, and graduated from Denison University with a degree in Economics. For the past ten years, Trent has been a full-time member of our administrative staff and is responsible for coordinating all expedition logistics and itineraries and giving winter slide presentations. Trent, his wife Suzie and son Keane reside in Jackson Hole. During his spare time, Trent enjoys kayaking, mountain biking, running, and skiing.
Ashley Stieg led trips for two summers before joining us in the office in 2006. Raised in Columbus, Ohio, Ashley attended The Columbus Academy and later graduated from Ohio University with a B.S. in Adventure Education. She currently serves as a regional coordinator as well as assistant marketing coordinator. In her free time she enjoys biking, backpacking and gardening.
Carl Pelletier led trips for four summers before joining us in the office in 2003. Graduating from Benedictine University with a B.A. in Finance and from Clemson University with a M.S. degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, he currently serves as the coordinator of our service programs and assists with slide show presentations. Carl enjoys backcountry skiing, rock climbing and trail running in his spare time.
Eric Page led trips for three summers before joining our office in 2006. From Lakewood, Colorado, Eric is a graduate from Western State College (Colorado) with a degree in Recreation Management. A former intern for the Wilderness Education Association, Eric enjoys photography and skiing.
Josh Mallonee served as our Sea Kayak specialist before joining our office in 2007. Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, Josh is a graduate from the University of Georgia with degrees in Biology and Psychology. He currently serves as regional coordinator of our International Adventures and assists with slide show presentations. Josh enjoys backcountry skiing, fly fishing, and backpacking with his dog.
Bridget Campbell first participated in our Cascade Olympic expedition in 2000. She went on to participate in the Grand Teton trip in 2001 and the Alaska College Leadership program in 2004. She lead trips for two summers before joining us in the office in 2007. Bridget is from Washington, DC and went to Stone Ridge. She graduated from Lake Forest College with a B.A. in American Studies, and enjoys traveling, backpacking, and kayaking.
Michelle Schibonski led her first Wilderness Ventures trip in the summer of 2002 and spent three more summers as a leader before becoming our Personnel Coordinator. Raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Michelle graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Psychology and Government. She spent many years working at summer camps throughout the country and enjoys snowboarding, hiking, canoeing, and knitting.
Pete Rognli has been involved in outdoor education for the past ten years. After two years in the field, he joins the Wilderness Ventures office team to coordinate trips for the Pacific Northwest region. As an outdoor recreation enthusiast and a freelance writer, Pete frequently contributes to Backpacker magazine. He also enjoys mountain biking and anything that gets him outside.
Leaders
Since our program’s founding thirty-five years ago, we have recognized the importance of providing the finest leadership possible for our expeditions. This unmatched experience in selecting and evaluating leaders, along with our excellent reputation enables us to place, in the field each summer, the best and most qualified staff possible. Our highly motivated, intelligent, and caring staff is the greatest strength of Wilderness Ventures. Staff members average 27 years of age with a minimum age of 21 and are selected from hundreds of applicants based upon their proven outdoor skills and leadership backgrounds. While most have completed their undergraduate degrees, many are graduate students, full-time outdoor educators, secondary teachers, or college professors. They are all excellent role models who exhibit positive life direction and who share a burning desire to teach safe skills and facilitate groups of young adults, while at the same time having fun.
Because we possess an unusually high rate of returning staff, averaging 65% a year, our trip groups depart with the highest degree of professional experience possible. Our extensive leadership expeditions for college students also enable many former participants to assume leadership positions each year, providing us with the luxury of an entire staff fully committed to our goals and philosophy. This past summer twenty-four former students were part of our staff.
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