Aspen was born and raised in Southern Michigan, immersed in the natural world from day one. Her family valued and prioritized time outdoors, instilling a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature through foraging, hunting, fishing and camping. It was never a question that she would pursue a career in the outdoor industry, it was only a question of how she would do that!
Aspen graduated from Lake Superior State University with a degree in Parks and Recreation and a focus on Outdoor Leadership. During college, she spent summers and falls working for Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources, learning how to manage natural resources for public use. After college, she moved to Minnesota and spent two seasons with Three Rivers Park District leading summer camps, teaching paddle sports, archery, fishing and more. Aspen also has experience with formal education through her time as a building substitute at an inner city school in Minnesota, allowing her to merge both formal and non-formal education outdoors for the best of both worlds! She aims to continually engage, empower and connect people to the incredible wonders of the natural world through her position.
Aspen and her husband own and operate a hobby farm with many feathered, fleecy and furry friends. Her spare time is spent on the farm with their alpacas, cattle, goats and other funny farm charges, continually learning and looking for new ways engage their local community.
