Meet Your Guides
Erin Schneider
Erin is a skilled and highly organized science and environmental educator, with extensive experience in designing relevant, interdisciplinary curriculum that provides students with the skills necessary to address and design solutions for the complex problems facing society. Erin is passionate about outdoor and experiential learning, the importance of systems thinking, and providing an environment for students to learn through inquiry and their own curiosity. Erin currently works at Goldenview Middle School for the Anchorage School District and was selected through a competitive process by NASA and Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) to be an Airborne Astronomy Ambassador.
She has extensive experience hiking, backpacking and canoeing in the wilderness with children and teens. She is an experienced guide and naturalist, has navigated through the Canadian wilderness using a topographic map and compass, and is an enthusiastic nature and adventure artist.
Education & Certs:
BS Professional Geology, Geology of Wisconsin
BS Science Education, University of Wisconsin
MS in Natural Resources, Environmental Education and Interpretation, University of Wisconsin
Emily Lester
Emily grew up in the shadow of the Cascades in the Pacific Northwest. She began climbing mountains in college and soon found herself mesmerized by glaciers and rivers and became completely addicted to the adventure. Over the past 20 years she has worked in the outdoor industry as a park ranger, ski instructor, mountaineering instructor, first responder, search and rescue technician and backcountry guide. Her passion for adventure in wild lands and creating unique trips through inspired landscapes keeps her on the move. She spent 11 years working in national parks across the American west including: Devils Postpile, Yosemite, Katmai, Denali and North Cascades. Her focus with the national parks was in wilderness management and preventative search and rescue. Educating the public on how to stay safe in adverse terrain and weather conditions has been an objective of hers throughout her career. After her time with the NPS, Emily obtained her Master’s degree in Education, teaching language arts in schools in Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Alaska. She is always ready for a good adventure!
Education & Certs:
Wilderness First Responder & CPR First Aid
Swift Water River Rescue
Avalanche Level 1
Basic Search and Rescue SRT3
Crisis Prevention Intervention
Bachelors of Arts- English Literature
Master’s of Arts- Education
