Mission
We provide youth (ages 10-19) an experiential education along the rivers and canyons of the Southwest in an effort to promote personal growth, environmental awareness, community involvement, and teamwork among people of diverse backgrounds.
Emma Wharton, Executive Director
Megan Dwyer, Flagstaff Program Director
Christopher Franklin, Bookkeeper
Sequoyah Gagnon, Work Study
Alison Holland, Operations Director
Charlie Humphrey, Volunteer & Office Manager
Chantal Mosman, Assistant Director
Jordan Robinson, National Program Director
Troy Spinelli, Parks & Recreation Intern
Tory Syracuse, Development & Communications Director
Our guides are hand-selected for their skills and interest in sharing the natural world with young people.
When not guiding Grand Canyon Youth trips, they work as teachers, students, artists, conservationists, and healthcare providers, among other things. Given their sense of humor and ability to facilitate, we are proud to have such talented and conscientious guides leading our trips. Here are some of our dedicated river guides:
Stephanie Jackson | Middle School Teacher
Stephanie puts her heart and soul into her work with Grand Canyon Youth. With a master’s degree in Climate Change and Solutions, she brings a wealth of knowledge and and understanding with which to engage participants. She enriches each trip with her love of art, cooking, photography and laughing.
Tony Cola | Middle School Teacher
Working as a teacher with kids with special needs for many years, Tony has seen first-hand, time and again, the join and empowerment that comes from connecting youth with nature. He is a natura leader and young people respond to his great energy and love of the rive
Sarah Baden | Freelance Writer
Sarah has been a full-time guide with Grand Canyon Youth for 10 years. She has a master’s degree in water policy and an insatiable curiosity for learning everything she can about the cultural and natural history of the place. As a youth guide, Sarah is in a league of her own. Patient, competent, funny, knowledgable – she is as constant as the Northern Star. Sara has an easy way with youth and readily connects with them over her obvious love of the canyons in which she works.
Kate Aitchison | Artist
Kate started with GCY as a 7th grade participant. She’s matured so much since then, rising to trip leader on our San Juan programs as well as guiding in Grand Canyon. Kate hasn’t lost her youthful spirit though, and guaranteed at some point during the trip, will lead a group in some activity of general goofiness!
Michael Baron | Retired Teacher and Current World Traveler
Mike was a middle school teacher for 30 years. Today, he remains a constant student, spending some of each winter abroad, traveling the world. Mike’s forte is encouraging young people to think more critically about education topics and sharing his wide field of knowledge with them on every trip.
Carol Fritzinger | Logistics Coordinator- USGS, and GCY Co-Founder
As one of the founding members of Grand Canyon Youth, Fritz revels in sharing her love of science with kids. Her enthusiasm is contagious and participants on her USGS partnership programs consistently come away jazzed about learning and inspired by her as a person.
Tyler Williams | Author
What a gift to have someone like Tyler working with our program. As an adventurer and author of numerous guide books, Tyler shares his love of getting out and exploring with the young people on our trips. His casual teaching style puts youth at ease and his broad experiences draw out their curiosity.
Sara Hooker | GCY Alumni, Coordinator and Guide
Sara did her first river trip with GCY in middle school. Little did she know then that she’d eventually become a trip coordinator, a guide and full-time Program Coordinator for us. Having graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Fine Arts, she has raised our Grand Inspiration program to a new level.
Governing Board
George Bain, President
Mateo Chester
Sarah Holcomb, Secretary & Treasurer
Ron Hubert, Vice President
Jenny Keim
Angela Keith
Judith LeFevre
Tom Myers
Robert Poirier
Scott Pettitt
Advisory Board
Patrick Conley
Helen Ranney
Dave Stilley
Jon Steit
Volunteers are essential to the work that we do
They help keep the warehouse working by checking tents, packing sleep kits, and tidying our gear borrowing room. Our volunteers also help out at local community events in Flagstaff and our Annual FUNdraiser, Rivers & Reels Silent Auction and Film Fest.
If you are interested in volunteering, please click here to contact to our volunteer manager.
- Staff
-
Emma Wharton, Executive Director
Megan Dwyer, Flagstaff Program Director
Christopher Franklin, Bookkeeper
Sequoyah Gagnon, Work Study
Alison Holland, Operations Director
Charlie Humphrey, Volunteer & Office Manager
Chantal Mosman, Assistant Director
Jordan Robinson, National Program Director
Troy Spinelli, Parks & Recreation Intern
Tory Syracuse, Development & Communications Director
- Field Staff
-
Our guides are hand-selected for their skills and interest in sharing the natural world with young people.
When not guiding Grand Canyon Youth trips, they work as teachers, students, artists, conservationists, and healthcare providers, among other things. Given their sense of humor and ability to facilitate, we are proud to have such talented and conscientious guides leading our trips. Here are some of our dedicated river guides:
Stephanie Jackson | Middle School Teacher
Stephanie puts her heart and soul into her work with Grand Canyon Youth. With a master’s degree in Climate Change and Solutions, she brings a wealth of knowledge and and understanding with which to engage participants. She enriches each trip with her love of art, cooking, photography and laughing.
Tony Cola | Middle School Teacher
Working as a teacher with kids with special needs for many years, Tony has seen first-hand, time and again, the join and empowerment that comes from connecting youth with nature. He is a natura leader and young people respond to his great energy and love of the rive
Sarah Baden | Freelance Writer
Sarah has been a full-time guide with Grand Canyon Youth for 10 years. She has a master’s degree in water policy and an insatiable curiosity for learning everything she can about the cultural and natural history of the place. As a youth guide, Sarah is in a league of her own. Patient, competent, funny, knowledgable – she is as constant as the Northern Star. Sara has an easy way with youth and readily connects with them over her obvious love of the canyons in which she works.
Kate Aitchison | Artist
Kate started with GCY as a 7th grade participant. She’s matured so much since then, rising to trip leader on our San Juan programs as well as guiding in Grand Canyon. Kate hasn’t lost her youthful spirit though, and guaranteed at some point during the trip, will lead a group in some activity of general goofiness!
Michael Baron | Retired Teacher and Current World Traveler
Mike was a middle school teacher for 30 years. Today, he remains a constant student, spending some of each winter abroad, traveling the world. Mike’s forte is encouraging young people to think more critically about education topics and sharing his wide field of knowledge with them on every trip.
Carol Fritzinger | Logistics Coordinator- USGS, and GCY Co-Founder
As one of the founding members of Grand Canyon Youth, Fritz revels in sharing her love of science with kids. Her enthusiasm is contagious and participants on her USGS partnership programs consistently come away jazzed about learning and inspired by her as a person.
Tyler Williams | Author
What a gift to have someone like Tyler working with our program. As an adventurer and author of numerous guide books, Tyler shares his love of getting out and exploring with the young people on our trips. His casual teaching style puts youth at ease and his broad experiences draw out their curiosity.
Sara Hooker | GCY Alumni, Coordinator and Guide
Sara did her first river trip with GCY in middle school. Little did she know then that she’d eventually become a trip coordinator, a guide and full-time Program Coordinator for us. Having graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Fine Arts, she has raised our Grand Inspiration program to a new level.
- Board of Directors
-
Governing Board
George Bain, President
Mateo Chester
Sarah Holcomb, Secretary & Treasurer
Ron Hubert, Vice President
Jenny Keim
Angela Keith
Judith LeFevre
Tom Myers
Robert Poirier
Scott Pettitt
Advisory Board
Patrick Conley
Helen Ranney
Dave Stilley
Jon Steit
- Volunteer
-
Volunteers are essential to the work that we do
They help keep the warehouse working by checking tents, packing sleep kits, and tidying our gear borrowing room. Our volunteers also help out at local community events in Flagstaff and our Annual FUNdraiser, Rivers & Reels Silent Auction and Film Fest.
If you are interested in volunteering, please click here to contact to our volunteer manager.