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Joe Waksmundski
Program Director
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Joe Waksmundski has been with the Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) since early 2002 and is currently the Program Director of Youth Corps. Previously, he was YouthCorps Program Manager. Before joining NYC, Joe worked for the Canyon Country Youth Corps in Utah and the San Jose Conservation Corps in California as well as teaching Environmental Science in Minnesota. Joe has B.S. in Environmental Science from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and when not working he enjoys skiing, rafting, and hiking.
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Adam Taylor
Program Coordinator
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Adam came to us from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, eating apples and joining in Civil War reenactments. After hiking the Appalachian Trail and finally finishing his Graphic Design degree, he wandered around the country with his snowboard and unrelenting desire to see as many national parks and monuments as he can (current total 84). He has been a hiking/backpacking guide in the Tetons, a lead-lifty on many ski-mountains, lived in Hood River, Tucson and Colorado. The “Captain” has led crews for NYC and also Southwest Conservation Corps, and lives for long-distance hiking. In his spare time, when not glued to the snow-cams of various ski resorts while drooling, he jams his guitar with anyone that he can, and gripes about why he has to spend twice as much for half the amount of lactose-free milk.
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Cole Southworth
Program Coordinator
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Cole began his epic NYC adventure in '04 as an Assistant Crewleader on Washington SCC, and now has found himself as the Program Coordinator for South Summer and Fall Conservation Corps. Cole hails from the great town of Eugene. Receiving a B.S. in Biology from the University of Oregon, with a brief medical internship in South Africa, Cole aspires to find his way to medical school. Currently, Cole is a wilderness EMT. His time away from NYC is often spent reading, hiking, camping and rearranging his spice rack.
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Jenna Ebel
Program Coordinator
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Jenna was born and raised in Naples, Florida, land of alligators and golf courses. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Miami but now finds herself much more at home in the mountains. She took a break during college to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail, which she finished hiking entirely in 2005. Following college, Jenna worked as a member of a residential conservation corps in western Massachusetts and discovered the joy of digging beautiful trail. After a season of leading groups of 6th graders at an outdoor science school in Southern California, she headed up to Oregon and to NYC in 2006. When not in the field, Jenna enjoys knitting, yoga, backpacking, and coloring pictures of Care Bears.
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Melissa Bennett
Program Coordinator
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Melissa began her grand crusade with NYC in 2006 as a crew leader. Before her adventures with NYC she spent two years in the Southeastern United States working with the National Civilian Community Corps, strengthening communities through disaster relief, building low-income housing, tutoring at-risk students, and trail building. Continuing with her adventures Melissa, completed a semester in Baja, Mexico with the National Outdoor Leadership School; concentrating in the aspects of expedition style leadership with sailing, kayaking and backpacking. She has lead trips for youth in the Adirondack Mountains of New York as well as traveled to Fiji, Australia and Eastern Europe experiencing the greatness of other cultures through recreation. When not out creating mayhem she enjoys biking, staying warm and dry, and playing with her pup ruggie. Melissa is ecstatic to continue her "legacy" here at NYC and looks forward to the many smiles ahead of her. |
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Jeff Olson
Program Coordinator
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Jeff first came to NYC as a youth when he was 16. He worked several sessions, including the Backcountry Leadership Program and went on to work for the Forest Service in Idaho on the Yankee Fork Ranger District. He studied art at Evergreen, and then spent a few years working in retail management. Jeff’s desire to get outside and to inspire change, led him back to NYC in 2007; he spent the summer working as a Crewleader on the South program, and in 2008 was the Woodsboss for TNT. He is excited for the new challenges that come with a program coordinator position. In his spare time, he enjoys snowboarding, hiking, climbing, and fly fishing. He is also an accomplished artist.
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