Who we are
Trillium Expeditions is the product of three women who have spent our careers in outdoor education. Throughout our careers it has become increasingly apparent that the youth of our community could benefit from more opportunities to have extended experiences in nature. Simultaneously, the need for summer childcare opportunities in the communities of northern Colorado has steadily increased. Our collective experience of 40 years has opened our eyes to the importance of positive outlets for social-emotional development, and the healing effects that nature has on individual self and broader community.
We have met at a crossroads, with a shared vision of creating a meaningful impact on our community. Our organization hinges on three pillars representing our mission; to provide an exceptional outdoor education program that broadens community, deepens understanding of place, and creates authentic connections to oneself. Ultimately, Trillium Expeditions will help fulfill our own sense of purpose and connections to our community.
Our outdoor expedition program for youth offers a unique and valuable hard skills outdoor educational experience in Northwestern Colorado. Our expeditions are designed to provide participants with hands-on learning opportunities, teaching them navigation, emergency first aid, and Leave No Trace principles. By focusing on practical skills, we ensure that our participants are well-prepared for future outdoor adventures.
We prioritize social-emotional empowerment through mindfully curated outdoor experiences. Our expeditions are designed not only to teach outdoor skills but also to promote personal growth, self-confidence, and resilience. We believe that the natural world offers a unique setting for individuals to develop important life skills and build lasting connections.
Meet Our Team
Anne
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While in Colorado, she obtained a Bachelors of Science in Sustainability Studies with a minor in Outdoor Education. Shortly after, she started her career in the outdoors as the Program Manager in the Outdoor Education program for Colorado Mountain College. She was drawn to education and began leading courses like canyoneering, snow camping, desert orientation, backpacking, top rope climbing, and river rafting for the college. This job fed her passion for taking people into the outdoors and developing their relationship with the natural world. She loves immersing herself in the outdoors, and continues to share that passion with her students. In recent years, she continued her education with a Masters of Science in Environmental Policy and Management and spent 4 years in California running the outdoor education program at a PreK-12th grade outdoor expedition school.
When not busy at work, Anne can be found outside, rafting, mountain biking, backpacking, backcountry skiing, hiking, canyoneering, and many other adventures. She also has a passion for sustainable agriculture, watershed science and conservation, reading, baking, and creating art. She prides herself on being a “comprehensivist”, rather than a specialist.
Jules
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She earned a Bachelors of Science in Sustainability Studies with a minor in Outdoor Education and has been working with Colorado Mountain College for over 13 years as an instructor in the Outdoor Education program. In addition, she has worked as a raft guide, served as a program manager for a local summer camp and her dedication to river conservation led her to collaborate with Friends of the Yampa, a local river nonprofit, where she has contributed her time and expertise to help further the nonprofit's mission, serving on the board of directors for 8 years.
She believes her time spent on this planet is a journey to deepen her understanding of the natural world and its interconnectedness and she is driven by the desire to share this experience with others. She is passionate about creating opportunities for people to connect with place, each other and ultimately, themselves.”
Haley
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At St. Olaf College, she studied Women's and Gender Studies and Race and Ethnic Studies, which provided her a lens to analyze and comprehend the complexities of the world from multiple perspectives. During her summers in college, she led multi-day backpacking excursions in the Rocky Mountains for young women with Sanborn Western Camps. After graduation, she hopped on a plane to South East Asia where she backpacked for several months before settling into Melbourne, Australia for a year. Her travels then continued to Germany, France, and Spain where she became a certified Hatha Yoga Teacher. Haley eventually relocated to Costa Rica where she taught yoga and mindfulness classes in Gandoca Manzanillo National Forest at a permaculture farm and retreat center.
For the past several years, Haley has been balancing time between Northern California and Colorado where she guides and teaches at expeditionary learning schools. She believes strongly in the healing power of the natural world and the right to pursue outdoor recreation in an empowering and mindful environment.
