Kate grew up in a small town in Georgia, far from the wild places she now calls home. In 2015, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Natural Resources as well as an Associates in Tourism. Joining AmeriCorps in 2017 and finding herself on a crosscut crew in Oregon was the first time she truly understood what learning through experience meant. Since then—from leading a conservation crew in Montana to instructing multi-day Outward Bound trips—Kate has seen how being out in the elements teaches more than any classroom ever could.

“It’s in those real, hands-on moments—reading a map on a windy ridge, figuring out how to lead a group through hard terrain, or just watching someone’s confidence grow—that the most meaningful learning happens. It builds self-reliance, awareness, and a deep connection to the world around you.”

For Kate, place-based learning didn’t just teach skills—it helped her become who she is. And now, she tries to create those same opportunities for others.

Outside of work, Kate spends her time boating with buddies, fly fishing with her doggo Desmond, and renting Forest Service cabins whenever reservations allow.