Adventure Center Manager
Wilderness First Responder
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Jake graduated from Adams State University with a double major in Environmental Science and Physical Geography with a minor in Adventure Leadership and Programming. He has worked in the outdoor industry for the last 5 years in various positions. In the summer you can typically find Jake on a river fly fishing or floating. In the winter, Jake enjoys backcountry skiing, xc skiing, and snowmobiling.
Guide
Wilderness First Responder, AIARE 1
Hometown: Placerville, CA
A California native with an engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University, Shannon is constantly trying to get her hands on a new adventure. She is outside from before the sun is up until after the sun goes down, rarely seen without her Jammy Pack (music playing fanny pack). She loves to travel! Shannon has been to over ten countries and visited every continent except Antarctica. This past spring she embarked on a six week trip backpacking through Ecuador where she hiked Cotopaxi- one of the world’s largest volcanoes at almost 20,000 ft! Fun Fact: Shannon loves Thai food!
Safety Manager/Guide
CMC EMT Program
Hometown: Elgin, TX
Nate is officially our Safety Manager, but that is just the start of what he does at the ranch! When not fixing things or overseeing our fleet of 14 hot tubs, or guiding, or wrangling, he finds time to pursue his hobbies that include hiking, playing softball, dancing, and horseback riding. Nate really enjoys playing on Vista Verde’s intramural softball team during the summer and volleyball during the winter. For his first job, Nate was involved in restoring a 1939 Cadillac LaSalle. He is a volunteer with North Routt Fire Department as an EMT and Firefighter type 2. Finally, Nate married our own lovely Melissa in October 2016 in VVR’s Great Room!
Guide
Wilderness First Aid, CPR
Hometown: Galesburg, MI
Sara’s love for hiking and adventures brought her to Colorado where she returns to VVR for her second season. Her wanderlust has inspired several trips, including her adventure to Iceland and a recent cross-country road trip. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, Sara spent several years working at a home for disenfranchised girls in Wisconsin. When she’s not serving or adventuring, you can find her curled up with a good book.
Guide
CPR & First Aid Certified
Hometown: Saint Cloud, MN
Harry is back for his fifth season at Vista Verde, where he has served in many roles over the years. As always, he is looking forward to spending a summer sharing his passion for fishing with guests, and taking folks out on the water. When not on the river, you can find Harry hiking, cooking, reading, or enjoying live music.
Guide
First Aid, CPR, AED, AIARE 1
Hometown: East Leroy, MI
Greg is joining us for his fifth season at VVR! He is taking a gap from school, and is excited to spend that time off by guiding in the great outdoors. Greg loves to hike, mountain bike, fly fish, climb, and snowboard. When he is giving his muscles a rest, Greg loves to play the guitar. He also really enjoys travelling. Last fall Greg spent time in Peru with some fellow staff backpacking through the country. Fun fact: Greg has won multiple spicy food eating contests.