EMILY PALMER Outreach Specialist, NATIONAL
Emily is an outdoor enthusiast who grew up on the East Coast with a passion for adventure. Her years at sleep-away camp, on a lake in eastern Canada, gave her a love of camping, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and time outdoors. This instilled a deep appreciation for the wilderness as a positive influence on mental health. Emily went on to work as a counselor and got her lifeguard certification. After entering long-term recovery at 21, she worked in the New York corporate world at one of the largest executive search firms in the nation, placing C-level executives for the retail, fashion, beauty, and consumer-facing industries for eight years. Emily recently decided to follow her dreams of helping others find their healing path. She is an active participant in the recovery community, an AR certified recovery coach, and knows that the outdoors is a vital connector to wellness. In 2024, she went backpacking and hiking through Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and California, which led her to move to Orange County. Emily is a trail runner, currently training for ultramarathons, and is always up for activities that get her outside. Emily’s work focuses on guiding others to experience nature’s medicine.
MAX ELDER Senior Guide, NATIONAL
Max is passionate about the outdoors and has been since he was a kid. Skating, surfing, snowboarding, hiking, and paddle boarding at a young age catapulted him to outdoor guide. He’s worked in the mental health and treatment space for the past six years, with a strong focus on positive psychology and empathy in his approach. Max embraces nature as a powerful tool for mental health and he loves to help others find their sense of adventure. As a member of the AR Crew, he applies his curiosity, compassion, and positivity to teach others how to find and pursue their outdoor bliss. In addition to AR Guide credentials, Max’s certifications include Level 2 Ropes Course training, Lifeguard training, CPR, DCF Med Certification, and PMT. Some favorite activities include bushcraft, rock climbing, whitewater sports, camping, and new adventures each day.
PAULA SAAF Lead Guide, EAST
Paula’s love for adventure started when she was around two and her father put her on a horse and told her to round up the cows on their ranch. She continued to ride and work on her family property until her parents moved to “town”, where she took up road biking so she could get back to her horses. The outdoors plays a vital role in her mental and physical well-being. Guiding others through their outdoor journeys is not just a profession for Paula, it's a deep-seated passion. Paula finds joy in pushing her limits through high-adrenaline sports and her infectious energy, love of sport, and positive outlook serve as catalysts, motivating others to explore and embrace their personal boundaries. In addition to AR Lead Guide credentials, Paula teaches flatwater and whitewater kayaking, SUP, and snowboarding. She is a PSUPA certified SUP Instructor trainer. She has AIARE 2 Avalanche training, ACA Swift Water Rescue, and AASI Level 1 snowboard instructor certifications. She is a climate change activist with Climate Reality and is certified in sustainable health and nutrition from The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition. Some of Paula’s favorite activities include whitewater SUP, mountain and road biking, hiking, and foraging.
COLLIN SALMON Lead Guide, EAST
Collin is an advocate for outdoor conservation and education. While working as an AmeriCorps NCCC Member, he learned how to access and maintain natural spaces through stewardship. He removed invasive species, cleared trails, and planted native trees and these experiences sparked a strong desire to have a hands-on vocation in the outdoor community. After completing his service, Collin returned to Connecticut as a raft guide for a local river outfitter. Learning new skills on the river, Collin knew that being on the water would be a large part of his life. Collin's favorite activities include hiking, rafting, and immersions in nature. In addition, he’s expanding his professionalization in white water kayaking, surfing, rock climbing, rappelling, foraging, and wilderness spirituality. Collin discovered AR and recovery around the same time, and both are integral to his daily life. He upholds an attitude of gratitude with the AR Crew and loves to help others in recovery. His credentials include river guiding, NOLS Wilderness First Responder, recovery coaching and CCAR.
TIM REYNOLDS Lead Guide, NATIONAL
Tim is a professional recovery coach and adventurer with 15+ years of experience and is an AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor. He is also a master-level arborist and multiple-time New England tree climbing competition champion. Tim is an enthusiast of life and holds the goal of visiting every country once in his life (he has visited 35 so far). He is dedicated to the healing power of nature and is passionate about sharing skills such as rock climbing, whitewater rafting, river surfing, snowboarding, SUP, and fire building with others.
MAX HYMAN Guide, WEST
Discovering a new life for himself after a wilderness recovery program at the age of 21, Max has devoted the last 13 years to immersing himself in nature and learning what it truly means to be free. He finds purpose and joy in backpacking and backcountry camping, meditation in movement, navigation, bushcraft, horticulture/permaculture and travel. As an active participant in the recovery community, a CCAR certified recovery coach, a former sober house manager, an AR Guide and person in long-term recovery, Max recognizes the importance of multiple pathways to healing. He experiences profound integration in the outdoors and it is his dream come true to share his experience and hope with others seeking the same type of connection. Over the past three years, he has taken up rock-climbing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, river surfing and more. He plans to continue his outdoor education in any way he can; one adventure at a time.
KATE MCGRADY Guide, EAST
Kate is passionate about the therapeutic effects of adventure in nature, and has 15+ years working in outdoor education. Before moving back to Connecticut in 2019, she worked as a counselor and director at several different organizations, such as Anderson Camps in Gypsum, Colorado, and Colorado Youth Program in Ward, both focused on outdoor education in the Rocky Mountains. In addition to being a certified whitewater rafting guide in Colorado and Utah, Kate also has experience caving, rock climbing, horseback riding, and rappelling. She spent a few years as a director of a Boys and Girls Club in Denver while serving as a middle-school math teacher. Kate graduated from the University of Connecticut with her bachelors in psychology, and is currently working towards her masters in clinical mental health counseling from Fairfield University. She applies her degree and love for adventure therapy with clients through Adventure Recovery.
KEAGHAN DUNN-RHODES Guide, WEST
As someone lucky enough to grow up in Colorado, Keaghan spent much of his childhood in the mountains skiing, backpacking, climbing, biking, and canoeing. Those early experiences lay the foundation of his life: one in which playing outside and seeking personal growth go hand in hand. Keaghan holds a B.A. in Cultural & Regional Studies, and wrote his senior thesis on the efficacy of different modalities of treatment on individuals suffering from substance abuse disorders. He is a licensed Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, and has 3+ years of direct patient care experience in the outdoor setting as a ski patroller. In addition, he spent two years working directly with adolescents in acute mental health crises at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Keaghan has worked as a wilderness therapy guide and has 150+ trail days under his belt. He is a huge proponent of the benefits of challenging oneself in the outdoors, and is an avid backcountry traveler in his off time.
JAMIE MEGRUE Guide, EAST
Jamie has a lifelong passion for adventure and grew up snowboarding, skating, mountain biking, hiking, camping, and canoeing. In high school, Jamie worked as an outdoor adventure counselor and mentor for the Hyde Boarding School. In college, he traveled to India and Bhutan to study Buddhism and explore the foothills of the Himalayas. While in his twenties, Jamie moved to Taos, New Mexico, where he became a whitewater raft guide and paddle board instructor on the Rio Grande, while also teaching mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding. In his 12 years at outfitter, Cottam’s ski and outdoor, Jamie attained his swiftwater certification, served as head rafting guide, and snowboarded 100 days a season. He also served on multi-day river expeditions in five different states. Jamie moved back to Connecticut to continue his journey in long-term recovery. As the manager of a sober house, he received his Recovery Coach Professional Certification from CCAR, along with his WFR certification, NY state guide license, and has become a frequent rock climber while working with the AR crew. Jamie thrives outside and believes that time outdoors is one of the most powerful tools for recovery.
JASON DENHAM Guide, WEST
Jason is an outdoors enthusiast with almost two decades of experience in wilderness settings. Jason spent 10+ years in inpatient services and wilderness programming, including holding a leadership role at SUWS of the Carolinas as a lead guide and trainer. In addition, he served at Stone Mt School, training and supervising 30 instructors. Following this, he worked at the United Methodist agency focusing on quality of life and managing developmental disabilities. Jason also has experiences in transitional living settings, guiding people in recovery to uplift mental health and wellness. He holds certifications in mental health first aid, suicide prevention, recovery coaching, Wilderness First Aid, Pilates level II, trauma-informed yoga, 200hr YTT, and has 100 hours in attachment therapy training. Currently, he’s studying the Hakomi Method, a mindful, somatic psychotherapy led by the Hakomi Institute in Boulder, Colorado. When not in the woods, Jason is a playing the piano, guitar, and writing songs.
KYLE FAHEY Guide, WEST
Kyle is a professional recovery coach and AR Guide with a passion for adventure and the healing powers of the outdoors. He fell in love with Colorado and the San Juan Mountains while earning a degree in marketing from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. He worked in sales and as a mortgage broker until his own recovery journey began. He has worked in treatment settings with an emphasis on adventure outdoors. When not working as a recovery coach and guide, Kyle can be found spending time with his wife and pups while backcountry split boarding, snowboarding, fly fishing, rafting, backpacking or mountain biking. He is a Wilderness First Responder with Swift Whitewater Rescue and AIARE 1 credentials.
MIMI, the Dog Emotional Support
Mimi is a special member of the AR team. As an amateur therapy dog, Mimi offers compassion and love to everyone she meets.