Since 2005, Walking Mountains has offered The Foley Graduate Fellowship program designed to help burgeoning educators develop their skills in natural science education and leadership. Today, the program has evolved into a 2-year and 3-month fellowship that enables Fellows to complete a Master’s of Arts in Science Education through the University of Northern Colorado. Throughout the Fellowship, participants hone their teaching skills with students in the field while living in the Pete & Pat Frechette Educator Community, generously supported by the Frechette Family Foundation and others. In the nearly two decades since its founding, over 60 individuals have passed through the program, with many going on to successful careers in environmental leadership, education, and sustainability. Highlighted below are the accomplishments of just a few of our notable alumni.
Sean Hill (2007-2008),CEO of Sierra Nevada Journeys (SNJ) |
Sean applied to the graduate program after having worked for Teach for America in Houston.
“Because my classroom did not have windows, I started to build lessons for my students that utilized the outdoors… I observed that students really connected with these experiences. I wondered if I could make a career by helping to connect young people to nature.”
At Walking Mountains, he recalls fond memories of building his teaching skills around the Eagle River Watershed. “I also benefited greatly from my experience with wonderful friends and mentors at Walking Mountains, specifically Kim Langmaid, Markian Feduschak and Doug Dusenberry. Wonderful memories, including teaching a 5 year old how to go to the bathroom outdoors (he was so excited). That memory sticks with me to this day.”
Today, Sean continues to connect youth to the outdoors as CEO of Sierra Nevada Journeys, a California-and-Nevada-based non-profit which delivers innovative, science-based education programs for first-through-sixth-grade students.
“Walking Mountains was a crucial step in my journey to where I am today…It was this experience that led me to apply to SNJ in 2009, where I have been ever since.”
Sean Hill leading a school field program, Circa 2008.
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Jessica Foulis (2012-2013),Executive Director of Eagle Valley Land Trust (EVLT) |
Long before she began leading the dedicated team at EVLT that seeks to permanently protect land in the Eagle Valley, Jessica started at Walking Mountains as a volunteer, and later as a seasonal naturalist.
“I learned so much from this experience - from how to be an effective communicator and design engaging programming to deep knowledge about the flora and fauna with which we share our home.” After this role, she decided to take her skills to the next level as a graduate fellow.
“The education I received from [the graduate program] provided me with knowledge around nonprofit administration, event management and behavior science applied to natural resource management and conservation. I had a lot of fun working for Walking Mountains - I really loved spending time with likeminded people and inspiring wonder in our natural world.”
Having remained in Eagle County, Jessica still enjoys visiting her favorite teaching location, Sylvan Lake, and has even had the opportunity to lead a guest naturalist hike at the Walking Mountains-operated Nature Discovery Center in Vail. “I had a great time reliving the glory days.”
Pete Wadden (2011-2012),Watershed Health Specialist for the Town of Vail |
“It was a huge opportunity for me that opened the door to a whole new chapter in my life. It was the impetus for me to move out West (a life-long goal) in 2011. I've been in Eagle County ever since.”
Pete’s fellowship experience led to a full time position as Walking Mountains’ Landscape Stewardship Coordinator, in which he worked closely with White River National Forest.
“The work I did with the USFS Fisheries Biologist prepared me for the job I have now with the Town of Vail. In all, I spent five years at Walking Mountains and am now in my 9th year with TOV.”
Overseeing something as important as the health of Vail’s watershed requires effective communication and a deep understanding of complex science concepts, abilities that Pete developed during his time at Walking Mountains.
“I still use the skills I learned through the Graduate Fellowship every day… in my work trying to change landscaping practices and educate the Vail community about threats to aquatic ecosystems.”
Kate and Leah met during the fellowship and became fast friends.
According to Kate, “During the orientation activities we were asked to lead a lesson on some aspect of environmental education that we felt passionate about…Leah’s was an activity in which we lined up by birthday order and poured water from January to December. Along the way water spilled out, and by the end there was no water for the December birthdays. She then used this as an analogy for the first-in-line-first-in-right method of water rights in the Colorado River.”
Inspired by their environmental education experiences during the fellowship, the two wanted to do something that would help change the narrative of water usage along the Colorado River. They came up with “The Water Cycle,” a 2,000-mile bike ride following the Colorado from source to sea, providing watershed education to over 2,678 students in the process.
“Together we planned a curriculum that could be delivered to Kindergarten to 12th grade (and be transported by bicycle!). Our lessons included a ‘living map’ of the river where students acted out different parts of watershed usage, the classic tinfoil watershed, designing a settlement along a river… and writing postcards about what we love about our segment of the river.” These postcards from students would be delivered to other students further down the river, to show how interconnected these communities are.
Kate and Leah still keep in touch, and treasure the time they spent together in Eagle County.
“I consider Leah to be one of the most influential women in my adult life (and favorite!) and I would not have found such a great friend if it were not for the fellowship. I value the two years we spent together immensely.”
Leah (far right) and Kate (second-from-left) at their 2020 graduation ceremony.
The Foley Graduate Fellowship continues to provide invaluable experiences and career development for the students who are involved in the program, and Walking Mountains alumni can be found in a variety of environmental roles across Eagle County and beyond. An alumni network to connect these individuals through shared memories, experiences, and passion for nature and sustainability is in the works. Stay tuned for more updates!
Learn more about the Foley Graduate Fellowship here.
David Geddes is a current Foley Graduate Student. His favorite part of the fellowship is learning from both his colleagues and the Eagle County students he has the privilege of guiding in the outdoors…. He hopes that after the fellowship, he will continue to grow as an educator and a steward of the environment.