Career Conversations and Networking
Conference Participants will have the exciting opportunity to meet with numerous professionals within the outdoor education/recreation industry! To learn more about these individuals check out their information below.
Jonno Appel
Outdoor Adventure Coordinator - Camp Chi
Jonno has spent his career developing and facilitating experiences that help folks grow by stepping out of their comfort zones in safe and supported ways. He’s guided, planned, and managed logistics for over 75 multi-day group adventure tours in 8 different countries. Jonno also has years of experience in program development, designing and implementing nature-oriented volunteer programs in Costa Rica and the United States. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison (Go Badgers!), is a certified Wilderness First Responder, and is a certified AcroYoga instructor.
At Camp Chi Jonno supervises all outdoor adventure programming, including the ropes course, campouts, overnights. He oversees the Outpost Village (Camp Chi's 2-week outdoor adventure camp), and he manages the logistics and training for our 5-week Pacific Northwest road trip. You can email Jonno at jappel@jccchicago.org.
About Camp Chi: Camp Chi is a leader in American Summer Camps! It's one of the largest Jewish summer camps in the country and offers a wide range of programs for campers from 3rd through 11th grades. Situated on 600 acres of beautiful Wisconsin forest, Camp Chi is the perfect setting for kids to safely explore social interaction, personal growth, and have exciting new adventures. Some of the favorite activities around camp include water skiing, outdoor cooking, ropes course, woodshop, rock band, and so much more!
Sara Farrow
Wilderness Program Director - Camp Manito-wish YMCA
For the past 105 years, wilderness expeditions have been an integral part of the Camp Manito-wish experience. Small groups of participants and trip leaders embark on their trail adventures which go beyond the familiar confines of the front country into remote environments all across North America. While destinations and duration vary by experience level and program, these trips all carry common characteristics- they instill confidence, leadership, and interpersonal skills that last a lifetime.
My role as the Wilderness Program Director is to handle all logistical components for the variety of trips that we offer. I will plan commercial permits, daily campsite permits, and transportation, while also supporting camper registration and seasonal staff hiring in the offseason. During the Summer I will focus more on staff training, leader management, effective organization of several different teams around Camp, and be involved in emergency communication. It is a fun, exhausting, and engaging position which comes with many competing responsibilities, and it a calm, solution oriented approach which I enjoy.
Mo Kappes
Mo Kappes has been working in the outdoor industry for 30 years as a wilderness trip leader and challenge course practitioner. Her wilderness tripping experiences includes 7-50 day long trips backpacking, canoeing, and sea kayaking around the country with various participant populations including campers at Manito-wish YMCA and adjudicated youth.
For the past 13 years, Mo has been the Advisor for the Adventure Learning Programs (ALPs) at UW-Madison. ALPs is a student organization that provides teambuilding and low and high challenge course workshops for groups and includes an impactful leadership development program for the staff. In January 2023, Mo became the Assistant Director of Experiential Education at UW-Madison Recreation & Wellbeing and supervises the Coordinator of Climbing Education and the ALPs Advisor.
Eric Robertson
Director - Wisconsin Conservation Corps
Eric started with WCC in August 2021 as the Director of Conservation Corps Programs. Eric grew up in Madison, Wisconsin but had been out west living and working in California for the better part of a decade. More recently, he worked for the American Conservation Experience, another non-profit corps, as the Pacific West Director and was responsible for developing models and launching programs based in California, Oregon & Hawaii. Eric got his start in Conservation Corps as an AmeriCorps member then transitioned into a Crew Lead before pursuing AmeriCorps program support and non-profit administration.
The Wisconsin Conservation Corps Individual Placement Program is a partnership through AmeriCorps / Serve Wisconsin that provides opportunities for participants to gain conservation and educator skills while serving with a site mentor and exploring career options. Members promote community service and environmental awareness through direct training and service in the outdoors while participating in community engagement projects. Participants serve at a single placement site and receive a biweekly stipend and AmeriCorps benefits. Upon successful completion of their service hours, participants receive a Segal Education Award.
Members will spend time researching, maintaining, and cultivating interest in community gardens, complete technical fieldwork, and assist with volunteer mobilization and recruitment. Members are supported and mentored by Wisconsin Conservation Corps staff and Placement Site staff throughout their term of service.
Kevin Rossi
Crew Program Coordinator
Kevin Rossi was born and raised in the great state of Michigan. After receiving his bachelor's degree in Cinema Art and Science from Columbia College Chicago, Kevin spent several years as a manager at a movie theater before, looking for a change, he typed “Montana outdoor jobs” into Google. Four corps and five states (MT, ME, MA, CO, and NH) later, Kevin just can’t seem to leave the woods and now continues his career in conservation back in the Midwest.
David Wastart
Crew Program Coordinator
David began his journey in conservation studying at UW-Stevens Point, earning a degree in Land Use Planning. In 2018 he completed a Leadership term of service with Montana Conservation Corps. He then spent three consecutive field seasons (2019-2021) with WCC. More recently, David helped develop a Trails Supervisor role with the City of Peoria, AZ. His passion for all things nature is deeply rooted in growing up in rural Wisconsin. David has had the privilege to embark on many backpacking and canoe trips through a beloved club, High Adventure.
Henry Nehls-Lowe
Trout Unlimited - Southern WI Chapter
The Southern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SWTU) is a strong and respected advocate for cold water resources across southern Wisconsin. Founded in 1969, we conserve, protect and restore coldwater fisheries and their watersheds through a variety of impactful activities that strategically focus on local fisheries in a fiscally responsible manner.
SWTU's key activities include chapter-sponsored work days on stream and riparian habitats, improving public access to coldwater streams, and providing education and skill building through the Wisconsin Women's Fly Fishing Clinics, Project Green Team at Shabazz High School, Riversmith Fly Casting Clinics, Fly Tying Classes, and Veterans on the Fly. Find out more about Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited at www.SWTU.org.
Lisa Szela
Volunteer Support Coordinator - Ice Age Trail Alliance
The Ice Age Trail Alliance members and volunteers work to conserve, create, maintain, and promote the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. One of only 11 National Scenic Trails, the 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail is entirely in the state of Wisconsin that highlights the glacial landscape features.
Ever wondered about what it takes to build, maintain and promote a National Scenic Trail? Stop by and say hello to Lisa and Miranda from the Ice Age Trail Alliance to learn more about the history of the Trail, how to best navigate the Trail, gather hiker resources, and learn how to support this Wisconsin treasure.
Nick Wilkes
Devils Lake Climbing Guides
Nick Wilkes embraced outdoor adventure education in 1996, when he joined the Hoofer Outing Club at UW-Madison. Since then, he has taught and guided a number of outdoor pursuits professionally, including rock climbing, canyoneering, mountain biking, sailing and a variety of paddlesports disciplines. He has lived in Grand Teton National Park, New Hampshire, and Zion National Park, and has owned Devils Lake Climbing Guides since 2012. He has an B.A. in Psychology from UW-Madison and an M.S. in Biology Education from Antioch University.