Program Staff
Youth Leadership Manager
she/her
Kate grew up on the Kitsap Peninsula before heading east to earn degrees in Environmental Studies and English at Oberlin College in Ohio. After graduation, Kate accepted a two-year Shansi Fellowship and moved to Madurai, India. There she worked with college students in an International Studies center, worked on her conversational Tamil and hiked in the Nilgiris. One pandemic evacuation and several seasonal jobs later, Kate made the move back to Washington in 2021 and enjoyed getting to know the Skagit Valley in all its seasons as Learning Center Manager. In 2023, Kate transitioned to a role in one of her favorite Institute programs: Youth Leadership Adventures! In her free time you can usually find her biking around upriver, knitting up a sweater or swimming in the Skagit.
Youth Leadership Coordinator for Staffing & Recruitment
she/her
Colleen grew up in New Hampshire, where the forests and White Mountains shaped her love for wild places and outdoor exploration. Inspired by family and early outdoor education experiences, she moved west to pursue a career in outdoor education and guiding, working across landscapes from Alaska to Utah. She now serves as Staffing and Logistics Coordinator at the North Cascades Institute, bringing experience in trip coordination, mentoring youth and adults, and building supportive outdoor communities. After years spent backpacking, climbing, and living on the road, she is excited to call the North Cascades home. In her free time, she enjoys climbing and sharing meals with friends.