Vision: We envision a diverse and equitable world where all youth are empowered to live with purpose while discovering and caring for self, community, and the natural world.
Photo by Erin Greenwood
Mission: Grand Canyon Youth offers educational outdoor expeditions that connect young people to the transformative power of the rivers and canyons of the Southwest.
Values:
Emma Wharton
Executive Director
Chantal Mosman
Assistant Director
Mary Ellen Arndorfer
Finance Director
Jean-Philippe Clark
Logistics Director
Clare Magneson
Development Director
Omar Martinez
Field Staff Manager
Alex Metter
Design Manager
Mario Rene Portillo
Wellness Manager
Cassandra Roberts
Expedition 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
Tony Cola
Tyler Williams
Laura Chamberlin
Bryan Bates
Will Lytle
Justin Gallen
Cricket Rust
Emily Manone
Jak Kearsley
Corinne LaViolette
Madeline Friend
Max Andariese
Sarah Smith
Caitlin Jaramillo
Chris Rocheleau
Lisa Clark
Kate Stanley
Governing Board
Bonnie Baker, Chair
Angela Keith, Vice Chair
Zach Fountain, Vice Chair
Eric Scott, Treasurer
Dania Wilson, Secretary
Ian Austin
Scott Cundy
Carol Haden
Linda Jalbert
Kate Morley
Cynthia Nemeth-Briehn
Scott Pettitt
Helen Ranney
Susan Spinelli
Marieke Taney
JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Council
The purpose of the JEDI Council is to advise the GCY board and staff on policy and practice surrounding topics related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Sheree Denetsosie
Chelsea Griffin
Madeline Friend
Charlie Humphrey
Oscar Landa-Samano
Omar Martinez
Alexa Spielhagen
Marieke Taney (Board Representative)
Health Advisory Task Force
The purpose of the Health Advisory Task Force is to advise the GCY board and staff on policy and practice surrounding medical, dietary and mental health related topics.
Kevin Conn, MD
Angela Keith, PhD (Board Representative)
Sheila Mackell, MD
Alan Motter, NP
Tom Myers, MD
Volunteers are essential to the work we do
We have a lot of opportunities in our office/warehouse for volunteers to come in and help behind the scenes with getting trips out on the water. Volunteers 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
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us.
We are always looking to grow our amazing Field Staff pool!
Field Staff at Grand Canyon Youth consists of river guides, hiking guides, expedition leaders, and drivers. Our main program season is March-July, but we run programs almost year-round. We do our hiring in the December – February window, but it is never too early or late to send your information in. While we aim to have all spots filled before our first trip of the season there are regular adjustments made to the schedule to meet programmatic needs throughout the season.
- We do the majority of our river programs on the San Juan River and the Colorado River on the Diamond Down and Lees Ferry sections. We do two Grand Canyon trips each year. Our expedition leader positions are mostly in Canyon de Chelly and paired with a San Juan River program.
- Grand Canyon Youth guides and expedition leaders are outdoor educators. Our primary focus is creating community and opportunities for youth to challenge themselves while exploring the rivers and canyons of the Southwest. We have fun and play in the dirt while also teaching about the places we are travelling through. Additionally, because we are a youth organization we run completely dry trips.
- Responsibilities include but are not limited to: educating participants about the place you are traveling as well as outdoor safety and etiquette; leading hikes; engaging with youth and participating in interpretation; providing needed first-aid and managing/assessing risk; setting-up camp, cooking meals, cleaning dishes, maintaining toilet systems; providing care and repair to boats and equipment; using good judgment and maintaining heart and humor.
- Minimum Requirements: Be 18 years of age or older; Wilderness First Responder, CPR, and Epi Certifications; Food Handler’s Certificate; experience on the sections we boat through; pass a pre-employment background and driving record check and drug test.
- We do a limited number of hiking trips during the season, but we always do two Grand Canyon exchange hikes on Bright Angel Trail.
- Hiking guides are expected to: fulfill lead and sweep hiker responsibilities that include educating participants about hiking safety & etiquette; provide needed first-aid and managing/assessing risks; encourage participants in order for all to have an enjoyable and safe hike.
- Minimum Requirements: be 21 years of age or older; Wilderness First Responder, CPR, and Epi Certifications; experience hiking on Bright Angel Trail; have a working mobile phone, valid driver’s license, and 5 years driving experience; pass a pre-employment background and driving record check and drug test.
- We do most of the transportation for our expeditions. This means driving a van with 10-19 year olds for 2-6 hours across the highways of Arizona and Utah.
- Driver responsibilities include: transporting participants to and from their Grand Canyon Youth expedition; and attending to all pre and post drive tasks which include pre-drive safety checks and loading of vehicles, post drive clean-up and fueling vehicles, and gear return and cleaning as need.
- Minimum Requirements: be 21 years of age or older; have a working mobile phone, valid driver’s license, and 5 years driving experience; pass a pre-employment background and driving record check and drug test.
Please contact us if you are interested and we will send you the official job description(s).
Annual Report
- Vision, Mission, Values
-
Vision: We envision a diverse and equitable world where all youth are empowered to live with purpose while discovering and caring for self, community, and the natural world.
Photo by Erin Greenwood
Mission: Grand Canyon Youth offers educational outdoor expeditions that connect young people to the transformative power of the rivers and canyons of the Southwest.
Values:
- Staff
-
Emma Wharton
Executive Director
Chantal Mosman
Assistant Director
Mary Ellen Arndorfer
Finance Director
Jean-Philippe Clark
Logistics Director
Clare Magneson
Development Director
Omar Martinez
Field Staff Manager
Alex Metter
Design Manager
Mario Rene Portillo
Wellness Manager
Cassandra Roberts
Expedition 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
Tony Cola
Tyler Williams
Laura Chamberlin
Bryan Bates
Will Lytle
Justin Gallen
Cricket Rust
Emily Manone
Jak Kearsley
Corinne LaViolette
Madeline Friend
Max Andariese
Sarah Smith
Caitlin Jaramillo
Chris Rocheleau
Lisa Clark
Kate Stanley
- Board of Directors
-
Governing Board
Bonnie Baker, Chair
Angela Keith, Vice Chair
Zach Fountain, Vice Chair
Eric Scott, Treasurer
Dania Wilson, Secretary
Ian Austin
Scott Cundy
Carol Haden
Linda Jalbert
Kate Morley
Cynthia Nemeth-Briehn
Scott Pettitt
Helen Ranney
Susan Spinelli
Marieke Taney
JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Council
The purpose of the JEDI Council is to advise the GCY board and staff on policy and practice surrounding topics related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.Sheree Denetsosie
Chelsea Griffin
Madeline Friend
Charlie Humphrey
Oscar Landa-Samano
Omar Martinez
Alexa Spielhagen
Marieke Taney (Board Representative)
Health Advisory Task Force
The purpose of the Health Advisory Task Force is to advise the GCY board and staff on policy and practice surrounding medical, dietary and mental health related topics.Kevin Conn, MD
Angela Keith, PhD (Board Representative)
Sheila Mackell, MD
Alan Motter, NP
Tom Myers, MD
- Volunteer
-
Volunteers are essential to the work we do
We have a lot of opportunities in our office/warehouse for volunteers to come in and help behind the scenes with getting trips out on the water. Volunteers 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
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us.
- Employment
-
We are always looking to grow our amazing Field Staff pool!
Field Staff at Grand Canyon Youth consists of river guides, hiking guides, expedition leaders, and drivers. Our main program season is March-July, but we run programs almost year-round. We do our hiring in the December – February window, but it is never too early or late to send your information in. While we aim to have all spots filled before our first trip of the season there are regular adjustments made to the schedule to meet programmatic needs throughout the season.
- We do the majority of our river programs on the San Juan River and the Colorado River on the Diamond Down and Lees Ferry sections. We do two Grand Canyon trips each year. Our expedition leader positions are mostly in Canyon de Chelly and paired with a San Juan River program.
- Grand Canyon Youth guides and expedition leaders are outdoor educators. Our primary focus is creating community and opportunities for youth to challenge themselves while exploring the rivers and canyons of the Southwest. We have fun and play in the dirt while also teaching about the places we are travelling through. Additionally, because we are a youth organization we run completely dry trips.
- Responsibilities include but are not limited to: educating participants about the place you are traveling as well as outdoor safety and etiquette; leading hikes; engaging with youth and participating in interpretation; providing needed first-aid and managing/assessing risk; setting-up camp, cooking meals, cleaning dishes, maintaining toilet systems; providing care and repair to boats and equipment; using good judgment and maintaining heart and humor.
- Minimum Requirements: Be 18 years of age or older; Wilderness First Responder, CPR, and Epi Certifications; Food Handler’s Certificate; experience on the sections we boat through; pass a pre-employment background and driving record check and drug test.
- We do a limited number of hiking trips during the season, but we always do two Grand Canyon exchange hikes on Bright Angel Trail.
- Hiking guides are expected to: fulfill lead and sweep hiker responsibilities that include educating participants about hiking safety & etiquette; provide needed first-aid and managing/assessing risks; encourage participants in order for all to have an enjoyable and safe hike.
- Minimum Requirements: be 21 years of age or older; Wilderness First Responder, CPR, and Epi Certifications; experience hiking on Bright Angel Trail; have a working mobile phone, valid driver’s license, and 5 years driving experience; pass a pre-employment background and driving record check and drug test.
- We do most of the transportation for our expeditions. This means driving a van with 10-19 year olds for 2-6 hours across the highways of Arizona and Utah.
- Driver responsibilities include: transporting participants to and from their Grand Canyon Youth expedition; and attending to all pre and post drive tasks which include pre-drive safety checks and loading of vehicles, post drive clean-up and fueling vehicles, and gear return and cleaning as need.
- Minimum Requirements: be 21 years of age or older; have a working mobile phone, valid driver’s license, and 5 years driving experience; pass a pre-employment background and driving record check and drug test.
Please contact us if you are interested and we will send you the official job description(s).
Photo by Jordan Robinson. - Financial
-
Annual Report
Photo by Amy Martin
