RML Newsletter

News from the Recreation Management and Leadership Faculty

Melissa D’Eloia

Greetings alumni, family and friends of the Phase. The RML faculty, staff and students send you warm greetings. The journey over the course of the past couple years sure has been rocky, but I am happy to report that we have come a long way since last year. After much turmoil, we were finally able to bring back so many of the experiences that make the Phase special, including retreats, field trips, Camp TEAM and whitewater rafting. The 2021-2022 academic year was a whirlwind filled with many blessings and challenges that offered a lifetime of memories.

One of the most significant blessings was our return to the Carver 207 classroom. Fall 2021, we welcomed our Phase IV students, who up to this point had only experienced the Phase virtually through Zoom and the many online learning platforms we used to deliver our program. Walking into a physical classroom space after 19 months of teaching online was exciting, and if I’m being truly honest, a bit overwhelming as well. Emotions ran high as we navigated the many protocols put forth by Western to support our return to on-campus operations. Each day brought new challenges, yet through it all we persevered. As time progressed, things seemed to get a bit easier. We were able to offer more in-person classes and integrate more community-based learning opportunities, and by spring we were in full-swing.

Spring quarter was jam-packed, starting with a full-day retreat at Bloedel Donovan Park and ending with a picture-perfect day on the Skagit River. In between these two amazing experiences were two additional program-wide events. The first event was a two-day field trip to the Washington Recreation and Park Association Annual Conference. Randy spearheaded the event, collaborating with WRPA to create a fun, educational and inspirational experience for students to learn more about the nature, scope and practices within the recreation profession. The second event, I am thrilled to announce, was Camp TEAM. After a two-year forced hiatus, we were finally able to offer Camp TEAM in person as a day program. Over the course of two days, community members with developmental disabilities and students engaged in camp activities which included adapted sports, games, arts and crafts and all-time-favorite, karaoke.

In the pages of this newsletter, the Recreation Management and Leadership faculty—Keith, Randy, Jasmine, Kristen and Lindsay—will share what’s been going on with them. In addition, we have included key highlights from this academic year showcasing the work of our amazing students, Camp TEAM and the many accomplishments of our outstanding alumni.

As for me, I continue to enjoy life with my family (Greg, Orion and our dog Loki). Greg continues his work as a mental health counselor, only now it is through his newly established private practice, Free Range Mental Health. Orion, who is now 10, completed another year of homeschool and was excited to return to public school in September where he started fourth grade. When we are not at work or school, we are busy traveling, spending time with friends and family, and recreating in the mountains.

Please stay connected either via email or through our new RML Facebook and Instagram pages. I want to give a special shout-out to Kristen for helping us finally gain some social media presence.

You can follow us here on social media: 

Facebook: WWU Recreation Management and Leadership 

Instagram: Rec Management & Leadership 

 

Best wishes to you all, 

Melissa (RML program coordinator through summer 2022, associate professor)

Man, woman and boy standing on beach with ocean and mountains in the background
Melissa D’Eloia and family on the beach in Homer, Alaska
Woman and boy on paddle board and man on paddle board on a lake with a mountain and forest in the background
Melissa D’Eloia and family at Baker Lake

Randy Burtz

Randy is on leave fall quarter 2022 and will return winter of 2023. Former Phaser Mike Sidwell (2007) will be teaching his RECR 475 Community Development and Leisure Services course fall quarter.

Large group of people wearing life jackets and helmets, smiling standing arm in arm in front of a green river
Randy Burtz (far right) and Phase I spring 2022 students, Skagit River rafting trip (photo courtesy of Maya Patil)
three rafts on a green river full of smiling people
Rafting the beautiful Skagit River with Orion Expeditions, Phase I spring 2022 (photo courtesy of Julie Hillman)

Kristen Chmielewski

It’s impossible to describe how wonderful it was to be back in Carver 207 this last year, able to see Phasers’ faces and hear them laughing. While our return to in-person classes for 2021-22 was not without challenges, even just hearing pens scratching on paper during in-class writing prompts was enough to make me tear up during fall quarter. Going forward, I will never again take for granted the ability to be together in one space as we grow and learn. And I know, more strongly than ever, how meaningful it is to be able to spend the first few minutes of class outside, playing silly community-building games with students who believe in the necessity of what we’re doing just as strongly as the RML faculty does.

I continue to be so grateful to be part of our one-of-a-kind cohort program with our engaged students and such brilliant, kind and supportive colleagues. This year we finally got to run an amended version of Camp TEAM, and I could not be prouder of what our Phase I students created. My introduction to therapeutic recreation was through summer day camps for children with developmental disabilities, and the seven summers I worked at those camps were some of the very happiest and most formative times of my life. If anyone would have told 19-year-old camp counselor me that she’d one day be teaching and mentoring students as they planned and ran a camp for adults with disabilities, she would have been deliriously happy with how her life turned out.

On the personal life front, when WWU had to return to online learning for a few weeks in the winter quarter, I decided to make life even more challenging by adding a puppy to the mix. My hound Scout had to share her Zoom celebrity status with Harper, a dog who appears to be part gremlin, part house-elf and complete lap dog. Scout and I only regretted my decision when Harper was teething.

This summer was filled with traveling to see friends and family—many for the first time since the pandemic—as well as hosting a number of visitors to Bellingham, who claim to be coming to see me but seem to be much more interested in the dogs. My traveling has only reinforced my belief that it’s awfully hard to find anywhere more beautiful than Bellingham in the summer.

Brown dog sitting on floor, white pieces of toy on the floor surrounding the dog, black dog laying on the couch to the right of brown dog
I swear, that toy imploded by itself: Harper & Scout
Smiling woman standing in front of sunset with brown dog in her arms
Kristen and puppy-with-a-worried-look Harper
Brown dog and black dog laying on couch with foreheads touching
We miss mom now that she’s teaching back on campus, but at least we have each other: Harper and Scout

Jasmine Goodnow

It has been another eventful year here in the RML program.  It was so lovely to be back in the classroom and feeling the energy in Phase I (spring quarter 2022). It was an exciting quarter with a WRPA trip, Camp TEAM, in-person retreats and white-water rafting! I am feeling great! I am also so very proud of Phase II sustainable tourism students who continued to design amazing sustainable tourism itineraries to destinations and for travelers all over the world (RECR 379). Community recreation students teamed up with Recreation Northwest to design powerful program plans for first-year WWU students. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could put those into practice! And I can’t forget our Phase IV students, who persevered through online Zoom education, gained valuable skills and formed community in a virtual world. I love hearing updates of their post-graduation career positions, graduate school acceptances and travels. Congratulations, Phase V!

Just like my students, my time both in and out of the classroom has been productive. I’ve had several academic papers and conference presentations published. The RML faculty teamed up and wrote “Building Community Virtually on the Fly” which was published in SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education. A book chapter, “Adventure in the time of COVID-19: Embracing micro adventures and localism in a post-pandemic world," co-authored with Dr. Susan Houge Mackenzie, was published in B. Lashua, C.W. Johnson, & D.C. Parry (Eds) Leisure in the Time of Coronavirus.

I also teamed up with two WWU faculty members, Steve Bennett in Public Health and Liz Mogford in Sociology, to write “Centering Public Health and Community Consent in Tourism Post COVID-19.” It is currently in-press and will be published shortly in the Journal of Recreation, Parks and Tourism in Public Health. My colleagues and I also presented “Reframing public health in tourism post-Covid-19: A call-to-action centering equity” at the Leisure Studies Annual Conference 2021: Leisure Identities, Health and Wellbeing, July 2021. Finally, in November, I was a moderator and speaker for the Adventure Tourism Research Association’s Month of Adventures: Reimagining a Tourism Future webinar titled “Micro-adventures: Exploring Your Own Backyard.”

As I am always seeking to grow and develop as a teacher and scholar, I engaged in several meaningful trainings and workshops to better prepare and equip me to teach RECR 261 Inclusive Recreation Services (a somewhat new Phase I course) and to revamp RECR 479 Sustainable Tourism (now called Reconstructing Tourism).

The two most powerful professional development trainings were through Cultures Connecting. “Train the Trainer” is a course about teaching racism and facilitating courageous conversations, and “What’s Up with White Women” is a training about the intersection between being white and female and how that might support racism. These trainings related directly to the new sustainable tourism capstone course, with sustainable tourism defined as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities" https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development.

Sustainable tourism rose in popularity in the 1990s and was considered a panacea to many ills of traditional tourism. Recently, Haywood (2020) notes that “urgent demands of the present necessitate an interrogation–a re-exploration and a re-envisioning of the future of tourism–of what has to change (and remain constant)” (p. 599). This design, Haywood emphasizes, needs to allow the revitalization of destination communities to take center stage. RECR 479, Reconstructing Tourism: Issues in Travel Ethics, will focus on addressing institutionalized racism and colonial grammars within the tourism dynamic. The host community and their experiences will be centered, and we will reframe the power imbalance between local populations and tourists. Additional topics will include the power and positionality of travel designers/guides and travelers and the unintended negative impacts on the host community. I am excited about the 2022-23 academic year!

Group a people standing arm in arm smiling in front of a raft
Jasmine Goodnow (front right) with Phase IV fall 2022 students, Skagit River rafting trip (photo courtesy of Emily Brebner)

Lindsay Poynter

This year we continued our journey toward normalcy in teaching and were able to spend most of our time face to face. I was so grateful for the increased laughter and ability to know our students again more fully.

The highlight of the 2021-22 year was supporting Fairhaven graduate Ben Crandall in his senior project to create an Outdoor Wellness Peer Mentoring Program. We were able to launch the program spring quarter 2022, with support from the RML Program, the Outdoor Center and the Counseling and Wellness Center. Students were trained as mentors and worked with other WWU students who were either self-referred or referred through the Counseling and Wellness Center to engage in this one-on-one peer relationship which focused on students connecting and getting outdoors together at least once a week. The program was impactful to both the mentors and mentees, and I’m so excited to be running this again during the 2022-23 school year. You can read more about the program here:

https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/news/new-this-spring-wwu-outdoor-wellness-program

https://cwc.wwu.edu/outdoor-wellness-program 

I was also extremely honored to be awarded the Ronald Kleinknecht Excellence in Teaching Award which is presented annually to one instructor or visiting faculty member from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences who has made outstanding contributions to teaching at WWU.

I hope all of you are well and remembering to make time to play and laugh. 

All the best, Lindsay

Camp TEAM – In person again!

After a two-year COVID hiatus, our Recreation Management and Leadership Phase I finally had the opportunity to run Camp TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More). Our students in the Inclusive Recreation Leadership course (RECR 261) spent spring quarter planning a day camp for adults with disabilities in Whatcom County, and they did a wonderful job facilitating the experience on May 19-20, 2022, at Bloedel Donovan Park from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. We partnered with the City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department and Outdoors for All to provide adaptive kayaking and cycling in addition to a whole host of student-led games, art projects and fun. This year’s theme was the Wild, Wild Pacific Northwest, and the two days of camp were filled with adaptive sports, tie-dying, carnival games, yoga, a “trashion” show (complete with models on the runway), panning for gold, s’mores, amazing karaoke covers of classic songs, a scavenger hunt with a Bigfoot sighting, obstacle courses, artistry, jam-sessions around a campfire and dancing. In addition to being a tremendous amount of fun for campers, students and faculty alike, Camp TEAM was a truly meaningful experience for our students, a chance for them to practice what we had been discussing about the importance of recreation access all quarter. Their reflections on the experience revealed what they learned from the experience, how closely it bonded them and who they were when they were their authentic selves, as both recreation leaders and participants.

The following statements are just a few excerpts from the Camp TEAM reflections of this truly thoughtful, infectiously fun cohort:

  • My concerns about doing and saying everything correctly began to dissipate as I realized that being compassionate, open-minded and enthusiastic were the most important factors.
  • I learned that I chose the right field. Recreating with so many amazing people, getting to create beautiful bonds and doing this kind of recreation was one of the most fun things I've ever done.
  • I learned that inclusive recreation is super fun and rewarding, especially when it came to the adaptive bikes and kayaks. It was so amazing to see how stoked the campers were while paddling and riding. The giggles and squeals of joy that came from both phasers and campers were infectious. It was so powerful to see that we were able to offer accessible and inclusive recreation opportunities for people and to see how impactful those opportunities are.
  • What I have since discovered is that I did not need to micromanage activities in order for campers to feel safe and included. All I really had to do was use my intuition, kindness and inclusion to help campers have fun and be successful. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are no different than my peers and myself. We all like to talk about our interests, do karaoke, dress up like we’re in the Wild West and dance like no one is watching.
Students gathered in front of tree, smiling and posing
Camp TEAM campers, RML majors and…is that Bigfoot? Bloedel Donovan Park, May 2022
Group of students wearing life jackets, sitting in three kayaks at the lakes edge
Camp TEAM campers and RML majors heading out to kayak on Lake Whatcom, May 2022
Students sitting at two tables, painting art projects
Arts and crafts at Camp TEAM! May 2022

RML Students’ Reflections on Their Internships

Megan Keating Internship

Spring 2021, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, Coupeville, Washington

“Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve is a partnership organization focused on preserving and protecting the original historic landscape of Central Whidbey Island. The Reserve’s unique collaboration with local, state and national entities allows open communication between all parties regarding the well-being of the land. Together, the Reserve and its partners are responsible for the preservation of historic properties, accurate education regarding the early inhabitants and migrants of Whidbey and recreational use of public lands.”

As an intern at the Reserve, I was primarily responsible for implementing and managing education/outreach projects; however, I ended the summer with knowledge within many more departments. Numerous staff members were committed to teaching me all about the necessary moving parts required to keep the organization up and running. This included learning about how partnerships are formed and how they function, how to write and process grant applications and how/when different managerial styles are used in the main office. Additionally, I attended community events to promote the Reserve, led weekend tours through the historic Jacob and Sarah Ebey House, created and delivered a children’s interpretive educational program and assisted in the management of volunteers in parks.

My experience at Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve was like no other, which is why I highly praise their work whenever I have the opportunity. Although I only spent the summer at my internship, I genuinely believe I returned for fall quarter a more prepared student, leader and growing individual. By walking through the grant writing process early with staff members, I was able to understand the real-world applications of grant writing months before we introduced the concept in school. This gave me a head start and an opportunity to ask additional questions before jumping into lessons highlighted in Phase IV. I also found that my communication skills and my confidence in delivering speeches greatly increased. My supervisor requested that I create and perform a children’s interpretive talk about the history of the park. This assignment felt out of my comfort zone, and I was nervous to instruct an entire fourth grade class. But after successfully giving my talk, I felt a great deal of confidence in myself and my ability to talk to others. Combining what I learned in school about programming and scripts with my new successes in public speaking has greatly increased my performance and confidence for the future.

Lastly, I was extremely satisfied with the connections I made with staff, visitors and volunteers. Staff are there to help you thrive, teach you about their jobs and encourage you to step out of your comfort zones. Visitors are generally very happy to see you participating in parks and are gracious for the work you do to keep it running for their enjoyment. I found that volunteers have lots of stories, are extremely informed and educated and are contributing because they simply love the area. Being able to work alongside all these people gave me a greater appreciation for working at the Reserve and being in the recreation management and leadership profession in general. I was extremely happy to see that another WWU student interned with them summer of 2022, and I hope to see the partnership continue far into the future!

Group of adults and children walking down a gravel path
Megan Keating and visitors at Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, Spring 2021
Man and woman standing at table, holding up arts and crafts project
Megan Keating at Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, spring 2021

Alli Walker Internship

Summer 2021, Camp Lutherhaven, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

The agency I did my internship at was Lutherhaven Ministries, a non-profit private organization based out of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I worked at Camp Lutherhaven during the summer of 2021, which consisted of the classic summer camp programming: singing songs, late night campfires and s’mores, swimming, kayaking, geocaching, hiking, playing games, paddleboarding, playing mini golf and basically any sport you can think of, participating in challenge course activities and ropes courses, playing gaga ball, making friendship bracelets and other crafts, riding horses and SO much more!

My role for last summer was part of the leadership team, as the Villages Program coordinator! The leadership team oversees counselors, programming and general operations of summer camp. As the Villages Program coordinator, I was in charge of the Villages Program, which is when 4th-6th graders get to live in the woods for a week in a treehouse or canvas tent, cook their own meals and create their own little village community. I spent most of my time planning and running programmatic events, prepping supplies for both villages, facilitating ropes courses, giving staff feedback and having some really hard conversations with kiddos.

Some of my highlights include tackling my direct supervisor in order to win an intense game of capture the noodle (while blindfolded), having a staff banana eating party, learning and teaching the most intense summer theme song EVER, dance parties every week, running the camp’s up-and-coming Tik Tok page, being a guest at a squirrel wedding and working alongside some of my best friends and even a couple of my past campers!

Overall, I’m so grateful for this experience and how I was able to grow as a leader, an outdoor recreation and camp professional and just as a human being!!! Through the ups and downs of summer camp, it will always be an experience I will never forget that has shaped who I am today!

group of campers standing in forest singing with hands up
Alli Walker and some of the staff leading a song with campers, Summer 2021
two stuffed animal squirrels kissing on a milk crate on the beach
Squirrel wedding at Camp Lutherhaven, Summer 2021

Recreation Management and Leadership Scholarship & Award Recipients

Scholarships and awards given by Health and Human Development and the Recreation Management and Leadership Program (listed by the fall quarter that students completed/will complete the RML program).

Phase IV Fall 2021

Academic Achievement Award: Calvin Baldasari and Elizabeth Martens

Double Eagle III Scholarship: Elizabeth Martens and Jaiya Peaks

Jake Merrill Fund for Outdoor Leadership, Safety and TrainingBen Crandall (High Angle Rescue) – Ben was a Fairhaven student and an honorary RML major

Jake Merrill Outdoor Leadership ScholarshipAllison (Alli) Walker 

Outstanding Graduate from the CHSS Social Sciences Division (university-level award): Jaiya Peaks (see article below from Western Today)

Outstanding Senior Award: Tillie Gamache 

Recreation Management and Leadership Legacy Scholarship: Alecia Flanagan, Elizabeth Martens and Allison (Alli) Walker

Recreation Management and Leadership Phase IV Class Speaker: Kal Clement

Servant Leader Award: Gwen Gabert and Jaiya Peaks 

Willis Ball Memorial Scholarship: Jaiya Peaks and Tyreke Wilbanks

Phase IV Fall 2022

Department Tuition & Fee Waiver: Karissa Wedman

Double Eagle III Scholarship: Drew Baty

Jake Merrill Fund for Outdoor Leadership, Safety and Training: Drew Baty (Avalanche Training) and Allison Lepp (Wilderness First Responder)

Jake Merrill Outdoor Leadership Scholarship: Allison Lepp

Manfred and Diane C. Parker Endowment Scholarship: Emily Brebner

Recreation Management and Legacy Scholarship: Alex White

2022 Outstanding Graduate from the CHSS Social Sciences Division

Jaiya standing in front of painted wall, smiling at camera
Jaiya Peaks, Outstanding Graduate from the CHSS Social Sciences Division (Recreation Management and Leadership)

Jaiya Peaks, Recreation Management & Leadership

Faculty members from dozens of academic departments and programs select one graduate to honor as the Outstanding Graduate of the year. Selection is a high honor based on grades, research and writing, service to the campus and community, and promise for the future.

“Peaks was an exemplary student whose contributions made a lasting impact at Western. She helped build community during the pandemic by creating and hosting virtual events for Recreation Management and Leadership students. She also worked as a teaching assistant in anatomy and physiology and as a lead mentor for Compass 2 Campus. Peaks graduated in December and works as a recreation leader at Max Higbee Center in Bellingham. “I'm most proud of how much I grew while here,” she says. “Through all the trials and tribulations these few years had, I made it out stronger than ever and I couldn't be happier.” Already a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Peaks plans to work toward a certificate in disability studies, get a master’s degree in occupational therapy and continue her work in disability advocacy. She will also continue to work on her graphic novel and hopes to travel around the world to engage her interest in international linguistics.”

Photo and information from Western Today

Community Partner Award 2021

Kait standing in front of a hedge, smiling at camera
Kait Whiteside, Executive Director, Max Higbee Center

Max Higbee Center and Kait Whiteside, Executive Director

When the Max Higbee Center (MHC) was proposed as the most deserving recipient for 2021’s RML Community Partner Award, some faculty members were shocked that the center had not already been recognized as it has been so integral to our RML classes, programming and mission for years. The MHC, which was founded by educators and families of individuals with developmental disabilities who wanted quality recreation opportunities in Whatcom County, has been fostering a fun and welcoming community dedicated to creating friendships and offering opportunities for all members to reach their greatest potential for decades.

In addition to being an incredible force for inclusion and access in our community, the Max Higbee Center has worked closely with our therapeutic recreation students to provide them with opportunities to plan and implement programs that meet the assessed needs of its members. These hands-on learning experiences have always been a highlight of the quarter, but they truly took on a new meaning during the pandemic, when all learning was done over Zoom and most hands-on learning was an impossibility. Our students met MHC members and staff over Zoom and thoughtfully planned and ran a whole host of fun, meaningful virtual activities, which included yoga, a museum tour, a Just Dance party and expressive art. When reflecting upon working with the MHC members, students identified the experience as the one that made them feel most confident in their own abilities and their passion for the field going into their internship. One group of students wrote:

“We are really grateful for the unique opportunity of meeting such wonderful people and the virtual-hands-on experience of working with them in the field! It was hands-down the highlight of our quarter and perhaps even our entire college experience! We also really appreciate the graceful facilitation of the Max Higbee staff and hope to have another opportunity to work with them in the future.”

Max Higbee Center Executive Director Kait Whiteside was recognized by Charlie Sylvester and Jill Heckathorn for her outstanding leadership and her vision for the center at our virtual graduation celebration in December 2021. Kait’s dedication to the MHC, its staff and its members is evident immediately upon meeting her. Under her leadership, the center has grown, moved into a beautiful new facility (with multiple restrooms) and fostered connection and inclusion during pandemic years marred by isolation and uncertainty. She, along with Program Director Alyssa Jones and the rest of the wonderful MHC staff and members, have made a tremendous impact on our students, and we are so very grateful for our partnership.

Outstanding Alumna for 2020

Adrienne standing in the middle of a gym speaking into a microphone, people all sitting around her watching her
Adrienne facilitating a training that included all 2,000 summer staff for Chicago Parks and Recreation
Adrienne standing with head tilted and microphone in hand in front of group of seated people
Adrienne facilitating a training for organizations from Boyle Heights and Watts in Los Angeles as part of a NIKE project

Adrienne Moore (2005)

In Adrienne Moore’s current work, where she consults and trains youth-serving organizations on healing-centered and trauma-informed practices, she still draws on learnings from her time in the Recreation Management and Leadership program. She constantly uses listening, communication and “people skills” to build relationships and understand the context of communities and programs to best understand how to meet them where they’re at. Facilitating large and small groups requires so much of that, and being able to practice that during her time in the Phase was so important.

Adrienne’s RML internship at the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center taught her the importance of focusing more on what people can do rather than their limitations and to cultivate an asset-first approach, something that is core to how she approaches problem-solving today. This is true for communities as well, and much of what she does today is to try and build capacity for the solutions, abilities and knowledge that already exists. This is particularly true in communities where historical and current disinvestment makes it challenging for young people to grow up healthy, safe and supported.

Lastly, the RML program taught Adrienne how to think beyond her own narrow point of view and ask questions. Working in trauma-informed youth development, particularly in the sport system, she does this every day. The sports system has so much potential for helping young people heal, learn and thrive, but it also can be a place where harmful systems perpetuate. She is happy to be part of the effort to change that to ensure all young people have access to high quality, healing-centered programming—and wouldn’t be here without the RML program!

Adrienne is currently a lead consultant and trainer at The Center for Healing and Justice through Sport.

Alumni Spotlight

Danielle standing with her hands on hips and a large hat on smiling at the camera
Danielle Anderson, the “Mad Hatter” of REI’s Sumner location

Danielle (Kean) Anderson (1999)

Danielle (Kean) Anderson graduated from WWU’s Recreation Program with a focus on community recreation and events. Upon graduation, Danielle returned to her internship team at the City of Lynnwood’s Recreation and Cultural Arts Department with the added bonus of being offered a part-time, benefitted job which originated from the internship she had created! She also followed her water passion and served as a Waterways Cruises & Events cruise manager executing large events on Lake Union.

Despite a 15-year hiatus from the recreation industry, she convinced the outdoor retailer REI that they needed her. That was 10 years and many roles ago. Today Danielle is in her dream job as outreach specialist tasked with increasing employee engagement and community impact while having fun in an environment where some, but not all, are “outdoorsy.”

Danielle is known as the “Mad Hatter” of REI’s Sumner location. Her hat inspiration originated from seeing a former Multiple Sclerosis Society president sport a wizard’s hat at every Washington fundraiser bike ride. Realizing that it was not only a conversation piece, but that it made her super approachable, Danielle incorporated hats into her REI role. No one knows how many hats Danielle owns, but this unique approach to engage employees paid off as they selected her as one of four onsite employees to win the coveted Anderson* Award in 2020, honoring those who not only embrace all that REI stands for, but also leave a lasting impact on others.

Danielle has certainly made a positive impact. In 2021, she fundraised $30,000 for 21 non-profits, arranged $90,000 of in-kind donations for the community and contributed to the building’s green initiatives in many ways, including running an Unusual Recyclables education and collection event to increase awareness of atypical recycling opportunities.

Danielle regularly appreciates her varied life experiences which contribute to her success, but especially the communications training and resourcefulness from the WWU phase program.

*Danielle Anderson is not related to REI's founders, Lloyd and Mary Anderson. It is just a lucky coincidence she married an Anderson!

Justin smiling at the camera wearing a black hoodie

Justin Wyse (2013)

Born and raised in Washington state, Justin Wyse was a 2013 graduate of Western's Recreation Program with a specialization in therapeutic recreation. He founded Western's climbing team program in 2010 and has since been actively involved with USA Climbing, coaching and the greater climbing industry post-graduation.

Since graduation, Justin has worked in climbing facilities in Baltimore, San Diego, Reno and now in his home of Salt Lake City. He has coached athletes at all USA climbing national championships from 2014 through today and has had the privilege of coaching athletes at climbing youth world championships in Guangzhou, China, in 2016 and Arco, Italy, in 2019 for bouldering, lead and speed. Most recently, he was selected to coach at the USA Climbing Youth Festival prior to Nationals in Arlington Heights, Chicago, in July of this year.

While primarily being a head coach within the climbing gym industry, he has also managed adult, youth and adaptive programming at most of the facilities he has worked for. Justin currently serves on the USA Climbing coaching and collegiate committees and works as the director of programming at The Front Climbing Club in SLC where he manages a wide variety of programs: jiu jitsu, yoga, adult climbing programs, group fitness, adaptive programs and youth climbing programs across all three of their locations in the Salt Lake area.

Justin spends his free time working on his saltwater fish tank, climbing in Joes and Little Cottonwood (when not injured) and still is and forever will be a climbing gym rat.

Megan siting on camp bed smiling
Megan Carter
Megan and Anna standing arm and arm  with marathon numbers pinned on shirts, street and mountans behind them
Megan Carter and partner Anna at the Telluride Half

Megan Carter (2015)

Megan Carter was born and raised in Black Diamond, WA, spending her summers at Girl Scout camp on Hood Canal. Her love for the outdoors and summer camp inspired her to pursue a degree at Western, and she graduated from the Recreation Program in December 2015 with a focus on outdoor recreation and environmental education.

After graduating, Megan accepted an internship via the Student Conservation Association with Olympic National Park as an outreach and education intern. The following summer, she stayed on as an interpretive ranger and worked at Hurricane Ridge and in the Hoh Rainforest. That winter, she “remodeled” the back of her 1994 Toyota pickup so she could live out of her truck while running the Nordic Center at Snoqualmie Pass. Weary of PNW winters, she moved to Eagle County, Colorado, in May 2017 to continue to pursue a career in outdoor education and see what the fuss around skiing in Colorado was all about.

After five years living in and working in a multitude of different roles across Eagle County (summer educator, raft guide, lifeguard, bartender, climbing coach, trail running series director), Megan is now the Outdoor Recreation Supervisor for Mountain Recreation, the metro recreation district for Western Eagle County. She oversees a vast spread of outdoor recreation-focused summer camps and programs, and during the remainder of the year she plans programs and events that increase access and equity in the outdoors for residents of Eagle County. In February of 2022, Megan was selected as one of the NRPA’s 30 Under 30 award recipients for her efforts in creating an Outdoor Gear Library.

Megan lives in Eagle, CO, with her partner and fellow WWU alum, Anna. She’s a big fan of good beer, ice cream and earning Junior Ranger badges. She and Anna enjoy exploring and playing outside all across Colorado, however and whenever they can, especially on skis, SUPs and bikes.

Patrick standing on rock with his hands in his pocket and smiling at the camera, mountains and trees behind him
Patrick Ulinski in the Mt. Baker Wilderness

Patrick Ulinski (2016)

After graduating from the Recreation Program in 2016 and marrying his lovely wife, Anastasia, Patrick Ulinski began a five-year employment with Cascades Job Corps as their recreation supervisor. In this role, Patrick developed a dynamic recreation program to serve the 300-resident student population at Cascades Job Corps Center. This job solidified his love for helping people and serving them with quality recreation experiences. Patrick especially enjoys looking out for the “underdog” and making sure they are seen and given great recreation opportunities even if their interests don’t fit the traditional mold!

After many great memories made as well as being considered one of the best recreation departments in all of Job Corps for student participation and satisfaction, Patrick chose to move back into Parks & Recreation, this time much closer to home! In February 2022, he received an offer to work for the City of Bellingham Parks & Recreation as their athletics coordinator.

He has kept busy in his new position, learning all there is to learn, running adult sports leagues, coordinating camps, scheduling fields, and most importantly, investing in the community where he lives and making meaningful connections while doing it.

Patrick continues to reside in Bellingham with Anastasia and is always in pursuit of finding time for all his varied musical, physical activity and academic interests! He is tremendously grateful to be in Bellingham and feels fortunate to run into fellow phasers and professors around town.

Lastly, to all the current phasers, Patrick would like you to reach out to him anytime if you’re interested in Parks & Recreation. Also, if you would like to work for him as a referee!

Alicia sitting on a rock smiling and holding a drill
Alicia at the WA Climbers Coalition & Climbers of Color Re-bolting Clinic in May ‘22
(Photo courtesy of Lorenzo Carlos)

Alicia Burki (2017)

Alicia Burki has been working for Washington State Parks for five years. She spent the last two years in construction and maintenance in the Kitsap Area - Suquamish Lands. During her time as a maintenance mechanic, she put her recreation degree to use by developing two training programs: Equipment Operation and Basic Boater Education. She also serves as an area recruitment advisor for HR and as a field advisor for the agency’s Brand and Creative Marketing Office.

In her leisure time, Alicia finds joy in serving the climbing community as a volunteer host for Climbers of Color at her local gym, “panning for gold,” “asking the right questions” and converting inquiries into action. Alicia just celebrated five years of marriage to her incredible husband, Beauregard Burki. They currently reside in Port Orchard with their three dogs.

Alicia was one of five women highlighted as pioneers in the outdoors in a HerCampus story.

Every Day is Earth Day: Highlighting 5 Women Pioneers in the Outdoors

By Taylor Schmidt

“...As a park aide, I spent the better part of two summers in outdoor spaces, facilitating and observing the general public’s experiences with nature. This week, I sought out inspiration from women who are making the outdoors a better place for all, and I’ve been overwhelmed by the amazing stories I have come across.

For this piece’s main focus, I looked to none other than my own coworker in parks, Alicia Burki, a maintenance mechanic for Washington State Park’s Kitsap area. Her insights on outdoor recreation paired with her experiences are particularly moving, and I am grateful for her knowledge and leadership...” Finish reading the article at HerCampus.

Danielle and three boys sitting on a log, smiling up at the camera
Danielle Chevalier and her three youngest children

Danielle Chevalier (2018)

Danielle Chevalier graduated in 2018 while co-running Highwater Farm and raising a family. The amazing team of the WWU Recreation Program prepared her with the skills and confidence to be a great employee and to start her own business in adventure wellness: Fields of Recovery—recovery of land-based practices, of feeling good in the body and of community mental health. It incorporates all the magic of tourism, community recreation, therapeutic recreation and outdoor recreation. Danielle guides participants of all backgrounds using the outdoor behavioral healthcare model: active self, nature, group and reflection.

Danielle facilitates yearlong journeys in adventure wellness through a program called Rhythm, Energy & The Movement Remedy—a fun, deep integration of lifestyle habits and nature for optimum health and performance. She also teaches yoga and strength and conditioning at Kalahi Martial Arts Academy in Burlington.

Danielle interned at Shunda Treatment Center in Canada's Rockies (Alberta). While in the Phase, she was the recipient of the Jake Merrill Leadership Scholarship and was able to certify as a remote medical technician. After graduation, she worked as a recreation counselor and medic for Pioneer Human Services. Danielle is really enjoying training Capoeira with Sam, her youngest of five children, and is looking forward to attending this year's Association of Experiential Education 50th anniversary in November in Asheville, NC.

Smiling woman with red braids standing in front of a rock and forest
Jaiya Peaks

Jaiya Peaks (2021)

After graduating from Phase IV in December 2021, Jaiya Peaks has been learning about and supporting the Bellingham community at Max Higbee Center, where she has met several other phasers! Working for the developmentally disabled population has been a great learning experience for her, and she plans to use that knowledge to support her next adventure as she works towards graduate school abroad. Jaiya is currently working on her aquatic therapy certification and disability studies graduate certificate and is hoping to gain experience in adaptive sports and hospital settings during her gap years. She hopes to find work as a recreational therapist so she can supervise the upcoming generations of therapeutic recreation phasers one day.

Ways to Give to Recreation Management and Leadership

As always, we appreciate your support of Recreation Management and Leadership, which allows us to offer more opportunities to our students. Our RML Foundation Fund covers conference attendance, special events, guest speakers, research, equipment, materials, etc. Our Legacy Scholarship Fund supports students while on their internship, helping cover tuition, lodging, travel to the internship site and general living expenses.

Online: Recreation Management and Leadership Foundation Fund

Recreation Management and Leadership Legacy Scholarship

Health and Human Development Foundation Fund

Via phone: 360-650-3027

With a check made payable to the WWU Foundation: Please indicate which fund you are donating to on the memo line of your check. Mail to: WWU Foundation, 516 High St., Mailstop 9034, Bellingham, WA 98225-9034

Thank you for your generosity. We appreciate your support!

Questions? Need help? Visit How to Give.

Contact us: HHD website

 

HHD Main Office

Carver 102

360-650-3105

HHD.Department@wwu.edu

Group of smiling graduates standing in red square
They did it!! Congratulations to Phase IV 2021!