Arissa is originally from Denver, CO, but has called many places home! Most recently, she worked as Positive Adventures and ARC Adventure in San Diego, where she took kids hiking, kayaking, climbing, and biking. Previously, she worked in an after-school program at the YMCA; as a counselor at Camp Micah in Maine; as a substitute teacher in Colorado; and as a raft guide in Colorado. She also spent a season in the Southwest Conservation Corps, working on the trail crew.
Fort Lewis College, bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and sociology
Wilderness first responder, PADI open water scuba, lifeguard, first aid and CPR instructor
My passions are reading, spending quality time with friends and family, baking bagels from scratch, going on runs, snowboarding, and all water sports!
Getting scuba certified and going skydiving for the first time!
My favorite outdoor memory is when I was on an eight-day river trip in Desolation Gray Canyon. It was a trip with seven of my closest friends and all of our parents! It was night six, and it poured rain as soon as we got to camp. Instead of everyone hiding out in their tent and waiting for the storm to clear, we set up our kitchen under four tarps and all 25 of us huddled inside. We ended up singing, and dancing, and cooking delicious food for two hours. Then to top it off, as the storm started to dissipate, we exited the tarp only to find the most beautiful sunset I have EVER seen! The sky was completely filled with beautiful orange, purple, pink, red, yellow, and blue hues. We then all stood in silence for about 10 minutes and just watched the sky together holding one another close. It was a very magical and “cup-filling” night that I will never forget.
Portugal! I have traveled to many places, but I have not spent much time in Europe. It was very different than the places I had traveled to before (South America, Middle East, and U.S.). However, I was pleasantly surprised with the amazing food, friendly people, gorgeous landscapes, and of course… the affordability! I would love to go back some day.
Getting to bond with new students, staff, and creating core memories.
Previous Adventure Treks trips include Alaska Expedition
Laura