Meet Our Volunteer Leaders
Meet our wonderful team of volunteer leaders in San Diego, California and Bozeman, Montana! Learn more about our San Diego and Montana chapters here.
Gina Mcbride Sturgeon
San Diego, CA
Growing up in San Diego has exposed me to endless opportunities to be out in the wilderness and experience nature. I am a high energy girl with the need for adventure! At a very young age I was surfing, camping, hiking and enjoying water sports with my family. Camping was a joy, because I got to spend quality time with family and friends, and explore all that nature had to offer. I became addicted to the fresh air and beauty of nature, the feeling of being grounded, and learning that my mind and body are capable and willing to the distance. As a young adult I had the thrill of hiking Machu Picchu! What a spiritual experience that was. From that trip forward I couldn’t wait for my next hike or surf expedition. My life now is busy with two boys and a husband that lets me be me! I feel that balance is the key to life and when I am taking moments out of my busy days, doing the things I love, with people I love, then everything seems to make sense. I am now sharing this passion with my boys and want them to experience the feeling of what it’s like to be one with nature. I am truly honored to be a part of Foster the Earth and look forward to many memorable experiences to come.
krista gates
San Diego, CA
Born on the east coast with fisherman blood, the ocean has always been a big part of my life. With a marine geology degree in tow, I moved to the west coast in 2008. Over time, I found myself working in marketing production for the sports industry, spending less time in the water and more time in the woods. Although the ocean will always be my first love, the mountains are where I see my reflection best. The more time I spend in the wilderness, the more I learn about myself. I enjoy any chance I get to hike—from local San Diego trails and desert trips, to PNW rainforests, to crossing rim to rim to rim of the Grand Canyon, to trekking portions of the PCT and summiting Mt. Whitney and Half Dome. These trips, no matter how large or small, have been fundamental in forming close bonds with people and making me a happier, stronger, more aware person. I look forward to sharing adventures with FTE and watching others form their own connection to the wilderness.
JAMIE zumbro
San Diego, CA
Jamie Zumbro was born in Mammoth Lakes, California. Needless to say the Sierras were in her backyard. As a child Jamie did some hiking but her main passion was riding horses. In 2013 Jamie summited Mount Whitney which really opened her eyes, mind, soul, and her love for the backcountry. Since summiting Mount Whitney she has also summited Mount Langley and Mount Tyndal, two other peaks that stand tall in the Sierra. In 2017 Jamie backpacked through Joshua Tree, then in 2018 she backpacked across Catalina, and she is currently section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. She currently lives in Encinitas with her husband and two kids Logan and Zoë. As a family they love hiking, backpacking, fishing, going to the desert, and being around friends and family. Jamie currently rides and breaks young horses in Rancho Santa Fe, and in her spare time she loves to be out in the wilderness where she feels the most free.
OLIVIA KERN
Bozeman, MT
Olivia was raised in the Bitterroot Valley in Western Montana. Her proximity to nature and her adventurous parents instilled a passion for all the opportunities the mountains have to offer. Her love for mountain tops lead her everywhere from ski mountaineering 200 miles north of the arctic circle in Norway to ski touring the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia. Her love of skiing in the winter and mountain biking and hiking in the summer brought Olivia to Bozeman, Montana. She’s currently finishing up her degree in public health and spending her free time playing in the mountains. Olivia feels honored to be part of the Bozeman chapter of Foster the Earth. Her most impactful and empowering life experiences have derived from her time in nature and she wants everyone to have the opportunity to feel the same magic she feels among the streams, trees, and mountains. Olivia cares deeply about the youth in her community and she can’t wait to share her knowledge with others so that more people can spend a lifetime soaking up the power of nature with confidence, responsibility, and passion.
AMY SHIKE
BOZEMAN, MT
I grew up in Northern Illinois, but have found home in so many places across the country over time. I discovered my passion for traveling in the outdoors in college, while on a kayaking trip in the Everglades, and I’ve been pursuing that passion ever since. I spent four summers as an instructor at Voyageur Outward Bound School in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, and several seasons as an outdoor educator in Southern California. This time taught me the power of the outdoors as a vehicle for self-discovery and connection with others. In the time in-between working seasonally, I had the opportunity to travel across the states and internationally, pursuing my own growth. I’ve lived in Helena, Montana since the fall of 2018, and love exploring all of the nearby opportunities for hiking, climbing, and paddling. I’m excited to be involved with Foster the Earth, continuing to help others see that they are stronger than they ever thought they were!
KATHERINE COBLE
BOZEMAN, MT
Born and raised in Georgia, Katherine grew up learning to love the outdoors backpacking through the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. In 2017, she took my love for the outdoors and moved West to pursue a career as an outdoor educator in Southern California. There she discovered how much she loved instructing and opening youth up to the possibilities of the outdoors. Expanding her passions to backpacking with people of all ages in Yellowstone National Park, led her to Bozeman in 2018. Katherine’s most grounding experiences have come from her time in nature and it brings her great joy to continue to share that with Foster The Earth.
KAITLIN RAVEN
BOZEMAN, MT
Kaitlin is a passionate outdoor worker that has spent the last 4 seasons traveling back and forth across the country to chase the next seasonal opportunity. Though originally from Chicago, she has lived in Florida, Arizona, New Hampshire, and California before landing at her current home in Bozeman, MT. She has a passion for building sustainable trails and has spent the last four years gaining a diverse skill set. She’s worked in invasive vegetation management, habitat restoration, conservation stewardship, volunteer outreach and management, fundraising, Environmental education, ski instructing, wilderness first responder, and as a trail crew leader. Her favorite title is “Trail Dog”; a title reserved for those who have the tenacity to work numerous seasons and have extensive knowledge of trail work. Fun Fact! : She has dug trails on the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail! When not yielding a chainsaw or pulaski, you can find her skiing, climbing, biking, backpacking, or drinking an IPA with her friends. Long term, Kaitlin would like to see more people from underserved communities and underrepresented populations in the outdoor job industry.
JESSIE REED
BOZEMAN, MT
Raised in Durango, Colorado, Jessie grew up taking every opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Her family spent their winters skiing at as many mountains as they could get their hands on. Her childhood was packed with camping, climbing, hiking and playing along the river; which helped foster Jessie’s love for nature. During her teenage years her family moved to Seattle, Washington. Living in a city helped her grow her appreciation for being out in the wild. Jessie has a deep passion for caring for people and making the world a more accessible place for everyone. To combine her love for the outdoors and helping others, she decided to study community health and nursing. This brought her to Bozeman. Here she attends Montana State University and soaks up every minute in the mountains. Being in nature helps Jessie feel most at peace and herself. She could not be more excited to be part of Foster the Earth! She is eager to share the beauty, peace and power of Mother Earth with this program!