Meet Our Team
Meet our Youth Programs Team!
Matt Biscan, youth program Rock Climbing Specialist
What is your name and where are you from?
Matt Biscan. Born in St. Louis, grew up in Illinois, in Colorado since 1985
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
Hiking in Grand Teton National Park when I was eight. I remember very clearly thinking the cliffs and summits looked much more fun than the trails!
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
Lake City in Hinsdale County. Fantastic ice climbing, 14ers, and the most remote county in the lower 48 states!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Ice climbing, rock climbing, alpine climbing, and hiking.
What was your first summer job?
Planting corn by hand in the experimental fields of Dekalb Agriculture, at age 13.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would want to be The Reading Ranger, because I want to bring the joy of reading to everyone!
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Instructor? Why you do what you do?
Students and campers teach me new things with every class and camp. I love the outdoors and climbing and I love helping students and campers come to love those things too!
What is your favorite thing/activity to teach and why?
How to climb safely and have fun doing so!
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us. Why is that animal cool?
Got to say, not a fan of much creepy crawly! But I respect the Prairie Rattlesnake, for its resilience in the face of a harsh environment and the fear of humans. They don’t attack us but warn us to stay away and only strike if we get too close. They remind us to respect nature and to remember our need to live with all the creatures mother nature lets us share the world with!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I have read the complete works of Shakespeare cover to cover three times.
Laura Keeney, Youth Program Manager
What is your name and where are you from?
Laura Keeney, Lynchburg Virginia
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
Tubing down the Ichetucknee River in Florida!
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
Anywhere out in the wilderness!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Cycling, rock climbing, camping, hiking, trail running
What was your first summer job?
I worked at Fazoli's fast food restaurant.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
The ability to be able to understand and communicate with anyone no matter what language or ability. Even animals too!
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Coordinator? Why you do what you do?
I love being outside and working with kids. Put those together and you have the perfect job!
What is your favorite thing/activity to teach and why?
I love teaching kids to be confident in their abilities because I think that showing kids everything they CAN do on their own gives them what they need to push themselves even further to keep trying and working towards other goals.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us..why is that animal cool?
(not sure if this is a creepy crawly but...) Octopuses are SO cool because they can camouflage to match anything and each of their 8 legs has its own independent nerve network acting as its own brain. It's as if an octopus has 9 brains!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I love completing 1000 piece puzzles. The fastest I have ever done one start to finish was just under 6 hours.
Alec Backhus, Youth Program Coordinator
What is your name and where are you from?
My name is Alec, I'm from Southern California.
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
I lived above a creek in Portland Oregon for a few years, everyday after school I'd trek down the ravine and make trials and build log huts along the creek.
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
My favorite place in Colorado is being a few pitches off the ground on just about any route in Eldorado canyon.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Anyone who has spoken to me for more than a few minutes will tell you I LOVE getting outside for some rock climbing.
What was your first summer job?
My first summer job was as an instructor at boy scout day camp, but one of my favorite past summer jobs was as a skateboard instructor at Camp Woodward Action Sports Camp.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
The power to make any food I want appear at any time, or super strength exclusively in my fingers.
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Instructor? Why you do what you do?
I have a passion for teaching, encouraging participants to think critically and be inquisitive while helping them develop new skills is a gift. I find teaching to be incredibly fun and fulfilling.
What is your favorite thing activity to teach and why?
I love teaching climbing, I would talk about climbing all day for free to anyone willing to listen. Being able to share my stoke with participants eager to learn about climbing is a real treat!
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us... why is that animal cool?
Blue belly lizards, they are incredibly good climbers! Plus, they have a sweet looking blue belly!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I took unicycle lessons every morning before school in first grade and mastered the 7ft tall unicycle.
Reed Finseth, Lead Youth Program Rock Climbing Specialist 
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
I love this small little crag near Tarryall reservoir. The climbing is excellent and the views are incredible. Plus, you are almost guaranteed to be alone :).
What is your favorite outdoor activities?
I love to climb, hike, and fly fish.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why
If I had a superpower it would be teleportation, that way I never have to drive through I-25 traffic ever again.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us... why is that animal cool?
I like jumping spiders, they are definitely one of the cutest creepy crawlies out there, and they have the ability to jump up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) in a single jump!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I used to be a pole vaulter.
Madison "Maddy" Smith , Youth Programs Instructor
What is your name and where are you from?
I’m Maddy and I was born here in Colorado.
What is your favorite place in Colorado?
Grand lake holds a special place in my heart. My family moved there 5 years ago, and I’ve been lucky enough to spend a few summers with them! The hiking and camping is incredible up there.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
There’s lots I enjoy, but my top three are probably backpacking, climbing, and napping (outside).
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Instructor? Why you do what you do?
I love love love getting people outside and sharing new experiences with them. It’s so exciting watching as kids fall in love with the outdoors, and being a part of that process is so rewarding.
Hana Hamilton, Youth Programs director
What is your name and where are you from?
Hana Hamilton – Originally from Maui, Hawaii then Florida!
Share a childhood memory of doing something outside.
Being lucky enough to hike through bamboo forest in the Maui rainforest.
What is your favorite place in Colorado
So far, my favorite place in Colorado is Independence Pass. I love the camping spots, climbing options, and getting to jump into the beautiful cold water.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Climbing, hiking, backpacking, camping, and taking dips in cold fresh lakes!
What was your first summer job?
Working in a bakery making mini cupcakes.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
If I had a superpower I would like to be able to talk with animals! I sometimes know what my dog is thinking but it would be great to be able to read her mind.
What do you enjoy about your job as a Youth Program Manager? Why you do what you do?
I love that each day has been different and rewarding in multiple different ways. It is great to share my own passions while getting to see youth experience new things. When ever we are exposed to new tasks/adventures we grow a little and it is great to see this first hand in the youth coming through this program!
What is your favorite thing activity to teach and why?
I really enjoy stream ecology. The kids are so excited that they got to be hands on and playing outside in the water is always fun! rock climbing is a close second. I personally enjoy rock climbing so it is great to share this past time with others.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us... why is that animal cool?
It may not be crawly or creepy but I love the Opossum! The obsession started in middle school and they seem to get a bad rep a lot of the time so I like to stand up for them when I can! They aren’t aggressive, they kill ticks by the thousands, are surprisingly agile, and their babies are adorable!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I use to be a flying trapeze performer!
Tico Gangulee, Youth Programs INstructor
What is your favorite place in Colorado? (so far!) In the snowy months, Silverton. In the dry months, the Black Canyon.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?Climbing and skiing.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
Flying, because I can't understand why you'd want another power.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us! Why is that animal cool?
Slugs, because they'll drink beer until they die.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I ran my first marathon at 17 years old, first 100 miler at 19 years old, and rarely jog at all anymore.
Sarah Schuller, Youth Programs Interim Coordinator
What is your favorite place in Colorado? (so far!)
Crested Butte - specifically by the river with a Butte Bagel in my hand.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
I love to camp! So much! And also walk in the woods! And dip my toes in a nearby stream!
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
Refill Powers so I can refill anything I run out of e v e r.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us! Why is that animal cool?
Probably just your garden variety earthworm ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯ They are ROCKSTARS in the exciting world of soil aeration!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I played the spoons in an amateur bluegrass band for 2 months. Could’ve gone pro…it’s no big deal.
Sammy Davis, Youth Programs Instructor
What is your favorite place in Colorado? (so far!)
My favorite place in Colorado is Rocky Mountain National Park; climbing some big rock or ice!
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
Climbing, running, and dancing are some of my favorite outdoor activities.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
My superpower would be teleportation. I would never miss a weather window for a big mountain climb and could spend time with friends and family much easier!
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us! Why is that animal cool?
Spiders are my favorite creepy crawlers. Not only do they eat mosquitos, they can also ride the earths electromagnetic waves! Spiders transport themselves across lakes and even oceans by shooting and riding their webs along the electromagnetic waves. Not to mention they can swim and also form bonds with their owners as pets.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
My soccer team and I won the state championship twice at the ages of 16 and 18 in Massachusetts!
Zahara Bruun, Youth Programs INstructor
What is your favorite place in Colorado? (so far!)
My favorite place is somewhere in the middle of the second flatiron.
What are your favorite outdoor activities?
My favorite outdoor activity is climbing, as long as there’s little to no approach. I also like to paddle board and go on walks with my dog.
If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
It would definitely be telekinesis cause I’m pretty lazy, also multitasking would be so much easier.
What is your favorite creepy crawly animal? Sell it to us! Why is that animal cool?
Aye-aye, they are a pretty cool primate that are ugly-cute and have a super long, skinny middle finger that is used to drum on, and dig out grubs from a tree.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
A fun fact about me is that I have ongoing research that I’m conducting about the anthropology of women and gender identity in rock climbing.
Other Fabulous Team Members
Ellie Humphrey, Youth Programs Instructor
Jack Anderson, Youth Programs Instructor (sub)
Rachel Matveyuk, Youth Programs Instructor (sub)
Preston Hopkins, Youth Programs Instructor (sub)
Cindy Smith, Youth Programs Volunteer
Jeff Speak, Youth Programs Volunteer
Stacey Stevens, Youth Programs Volunteer
Meagan Gillcrist, Youth Programs Volunteer