EUREKA! Outdoor Program at R-5

Born in Albuquerque, NM and raised in Grand Junction, Pete is a child of the west. His love of the outdoors and especially the waters that flow through the valleys of Colorado’s Western Slope started at an early age and has only grown over the years. As a professional fly fishing guide, his approach is “safety first, then fun, then fish” and his 25 years in the aquatic safety industry are a testament to those priorities. A conservationist and nature lover, he is fiercely committed to the protection of natural resources and the finned, feathered, and furry creatures that inhabit them. Pete is also a sous chef and loves to feed people as well as teach them to feed themselves. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Mesa State College (CMU).

Natalie supports the Environmental Institute at EUREKA! as an Instructor. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Outdoor Recreational Studies. Natalie primary focus is working with the Environmental Institute outdoor programs, but will be seen occasionally in STEAM camps and tutoring in District 51. Some of Natalie's favorites moments are spent outdoors hiking, biking, skiing, and climbing in the Grand Valley!

Kristen was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona but has called Grand Junction home since 2018. She studied Biology with a concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology. Kristen loves being a part of EUREKA’s Environmental Institute because it combines her love for the outdoors with her passion for science. She believes there is nothing more empowering than teaching students how to recreate responsibly, while simultaneously showing them they can accomplish things they never thought possible and instilling a sense of curiosity for the environment around them. As an avid cyclist who has been a coach for Grand Valley Youth Cycling for several years, Kristen especially loves bringing her experience to EUREKA’s mountain bike programming. In her free time she enjoys biking, running, climbing, and most other forms of recreating outdoors. When at home she prefers to read a good book and snuggle up with her cat Momo.

Trigg Skoe supports the Environmental Institution at EUREKA! as a part-time instructor. Trigg grew up in Montrose, Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor's degree in Geology Education. For the past 4 years he has been a science teacher in the Grand Valley and Montrose area. He is an experienced outdoor enthusiast that enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing, whitewater rafting/kayaking, and anything else outside. He can be found in the desert much of the year traveling in his campervan with his wife and two dogs. Trigg is a great supporter of stewardship and STEAM education in the outdoors.

Kelsey is overjoyed to be part of the Eureka! team, engaging in science education in the outdoors! She is a recent arrival to Grand Junction from Salt Lake City, where she was using her masters degree in bilingual education to teach dual immersion first grade. She has spent many years teaching all age groups in a variety of beautiful places including Oregon, Utah, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic. The Environmental Institute combines her passion for sparking children's natural curiosity with her love of the mountains and the desert.  She spends her free time skiing, biking, painting, and exploring with an ever-increasing community of wonderful people and dogs.

Erika is thrilled to be part of the stellar team at EUREKA! She believes strongly in the power of outdoor education, hands-on learning, and the natural sciences — and the Environmental Institute at EUREKA! is the intersection of all three! Erika approaches nature as an observer and with a sense of curiosity, she is excited to introduce students to this way of exploring. She is especially passionate about ecology, biodiversity, and symbiotic relationships in nature. 

In her free time you can find Erika exploring the quieter nooks & crannies of our state with her husband and dog; mountain biking, backcountry skiing, rock climbing, or backpacking. For Erika, the joy of outdoor pursuits lies in their ability to take you to new spaces. In recent years, Erika’s favorite way of exploring has been bikepacking; she has ridden some obscure routes as well as some more well-known routes such as the Kokopelli Trail, the Colorado Trail, and the White Rim. If you run into Erika on local trails, she’d love to stop and chat.

We are so lucky to have Katia and her dog Tux supporting the Outdoor Program at R-5! Katia is both a mental health counselor and a school counselor, she specializes in working with youth and adolescents. She creates empathetic, warm environments where students feels comfortable having real and reflective conversations - she does this on the trail, at the climbing gym, or anywhere we are adventuring for the day.

Monica is a painter living and working on the western slope of Colorado. She is sharing her love of art and adventures with R-5 students through the EUREKA! Outdoor Program, introducing students to water colors & acrylics, collaborative art & plein air painting. She is also a registered nurse, working at St. Mary’s Hospital. We are so lucky to be learning from Monica.