Valerie joined the Estuary Partnership in 2022 as our Education & Community Program Manager. She brings extensive background in group facilitation, outdoor education, river and land-based expedition programming, risk management, classroom teaching, fundraising, coaching and team development.
Prior to joining the Estuary Partnership, Valerie spent a decade as a classroom teacher and created and led a cross-curriculum expedition outdoor and service-learning program for the Portland Waldorf School. From 2017-2022, Valerie was the Program Director and Executive Director for a non-profit Life Expanding Adventure Programs (LEAP), where she led, visioned, and facilitated river-based programs on the Salmon River in Idaho for many communities with limited access to outdoor experiences, specifically individuals who have experienced trauma. Valerie has led over 250 weeks of outdoor programming for youth and adults; and has enjoyed many personal outdoor endeavors, including rowing thousands of river miles and navigating big whitewater all over the US, cycling 850 miles of the Pacific Coast, and running an ultramarathon in the Utah desert. She is currently learning how to paint landscapes and enthusiastic to explore and help protect the Lower Columbia watershed. Valerie continues to be humbled and honored to teach and lead in the natural world with amazing and resilient people.