We hire enthusiastic science educators who love working with children in the outdoors! Each staff person must pass a background check as well as have First Aid and CPR certifications. Our youth program team is trained not only in safely managing groups in the outdoors, but in how to engage children in both fun and meaningful field science learning experiences.  Staff are typically hired after already having experience as teachers and guides for youth in a variety of camps, schools or non-profit organizations.

Katie Lawn (Youth Programs Coordinator)

Hometown: Lake Villa, Illinois

Degree(s) or Area(s) of Expertise: B.S. in Recreation Management with an emphasis in Outdoor Education

If you could have a superhero power or superhero tool, what would it be? I would like to be able to have gills to breathe underwater.

Favorite Animal: Bison and salamanders

Favorite Insect: Caddisflies, especially those that build their own cases!

Favorite Plant: Sassafras trees

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food

Commonly Seen: Skiing, hanging out on water, adventuring with my pup, relaxing in hot springs and making friends wait for me on hikes while taking pictures of wildflowers and other treasures.

Jacob Gasser (Lead Youth Programs Instructor)

Hometown: Castle Rock, CO

Degrees: B.A. in Environment and Sustainability, B.A. in Recreation and Outdoor Education with an emphasis in Outdoor Environmental Education, Minor in Business Administration

Superpower: time travel

Favorite Animal: Mountain chicken (its a type of frog!)

Favorite Insect: Ants (they’re always up to something)

Favorite Plant: Blue spruce

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Mint chocolate chip

Commonly Seen: Floating the river, rock climbing, powder-hunting at CB, and playing guitar.

Marley Santos (Nature and Science Camp Instructor)

Hometown:  Boulder, CO

Degree(s) or Area(s) of Expertise: I spent last summer as a Nature camp instructor for RMBL and have two years at a preschool, with a year and a half of that experience spent in Crested Butte. I’m currently attending Western Colorado University to pursue a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on Global Citizenship. 

If you could have a superhero power or superhero tool, what would it be?: Teleportation! Would love to travel to any place at any time.

Favorite Animal: Mule Deer. Every kiddo last summer was so excited to see deer that it re-sparked my love for them.

Favorite Insect: Bumblebees

Favorite Plant: Cherry tomato plant

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  Cookie dough

Commonly Seen: On the trails, throwing a frisbee, listening to live music. 

Katy Marshall (Nature and Science Camp Instructor)

Hometown: Golden, Colorado

Degree(s) or Area(s) of Expertise: Degree in chemistry and minor in mathematics

If you could have a superhero power or superhero tool, what would it be? Be able to speak to animals and other sentient life forms. I would totally ask my dog what he named me.

Favorite Animal: Mimic Octopus (they have NINE brains and three hearts!)

Favorite Insect: Rosy Maple Moth (or Bumblebees)

Favorite Plant: Moss (since I was a kid)

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Pistachio (however a good vanilla bean is a close runner-up)

Commonly Seen: Ripping runs at Crusty-Butt, hiking, thrifting, playing my guitar on the porch, hanging with friends, watching spongebob

Diego Escalante (Nature and Science Camp Instructor)

Hometown: Los Olivos, California

Degree(s) or Area(s) of Expertise: Working towards an undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology with a minor in Education.

If you could have a superhero power or superhero tool, what would it be? Photosynthetic skin so that I could recharge and gain energy while being outdoors!

Favorite Animal: Eel (so mysterious and highly underrated)

Favorite Insect: Dragonfly

Favorite Plant: Common Cow Parsnip or Lupine

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Rocky Road

Commonly Seen: Running around on trails and dirt roads or chilling with a good movie!

Robin Koval (Project Eco-STEM Lead Instructor)

Hometown: Crested Butte

Degree(s) or Area(s) of Expertise: Bachelors in Biology and Chemistry Minor from Bowdoin College. Masters in Exercise Physiology from The Ohio State University

If you could have a superhero power or superhero tool, what would it be? To fly like an American Kestrel

Favorite Animal: Polar Bear

Favorite Insect: Swallowtail Butterfly

Favorite Plant: Pasque Flower

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Mocha Chip

Commonly Seen: Robin is commonly seen riding her mountain bike on various trails, hiking, or fly-fishing in the valley with friends and family.

Lizza Vachon (High School Introduction to Field Biology Lead Instructor)

Hometown: Gunnison, CO

Elizabeth (Lizza) Vachon moved to Gunnison, CO in 2019 with her partner, Ian Breckheimer, a staff scientist at RMBL. She has a masters from Harvard focused on cognitive, psychological, and neuroscience research, and is licensed in Colorado to teach secondary math, science, and English.  She started teaching the High School Ecology Course in 2022 where she facilitates conversations and experiences with RMBL scientists to support students in deepening their understanding of the process of conducting biological research.  Lizza spends a majority of free time introducing her hiking and crafting hobbies to her daughter, Evelyn, age 2.5.