Gamalier A. Gonzales, began his career as a Personal Care Assistant assisting patients of all ages. Growing up with a younger brother with disabilities, he realized his calling to help those in need. After five years, Gami went back to school. After receiving his Associates of Occupational Studies of Medical Assisting, he worked for Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services for 2 years as a Mental Health Technician. He continued to work with the severely mentally ill in various institutions including high security facilities. Gami is currently enrolled in school perusing a BS in Nursing with a minor in Psychology and is currently working in a Wellness office caring for Medicare patients. Gami’s unltimate goal is heal those in need; be that need physical or mental.

A nearly life-long student of traditional healing arts, Rob first began healing work as a Reiki practitioner at age 15. During his senior year of high school, he began his work with children as a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Further pursuing his passion for healing, Rob enrolled at the University of New Hampshire, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Psychology and Interpersonal Communications. In his adult years, he has volunteered in numerous settings, including assisting learning-challenged youth at The University of New Hampshire’s Center for Academic Resources, leading meditation workshops for the YMCA, and helping people of all ages one-on-one as a mentor. In the for-profit sector, Rob has many years of experience in operations management, overseeing teams as large as 45 in multi-million dollar enterprises.

Nathaniel Barusch MD is a senior psychiatry resident at UC Davis. Nathan has always been passionate about the therapeutic effects of wilderness. Prior to his career in medicine he worked as a wilderness therapist, taking groups of adolescents on extended trips through the wild country of central Utah. He was also a ski patroller at Park City Mountain Resort. He earned a Masters in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where he wrote his thesis on the impacts of technology use on adolescents with anxiety disorders. He enjoys working with adults and adolescents with a variety of mood disorders and is especially influenced by mindfulness based therapies.

Sam has been mentoring youth for the past 6 years. He holds a diverse background in nature-based psychology, spiritual and indigenous traditions, and various healing modalities. A native Texan, Sam relocated to San Francisco in 2013 to receive his M.A. in East West Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). He has trained in both nature-based youth mentoring programs with Stepping Stones and the body-centered psychotherapy approach called Hakomi. With his youth, he shares his love of nature, music, movement, and peak experiences for healing and deeper sense of belonging.

My name is Andorra Fierro and I grew up in San Diego, often found outside, playing softball, playing with my dogs, playing in the sand and water at the beach. I love the ocean and have always found peaceful moments when I am outside and near water, liquid and frozen alike. The mountains and Lake Tahoe have been a tremendous blessing for my family and myself since moving here in 2002. My husband, our two dogs and cat are happily nestled in the woods of Tahoma, spending as much time outside as possible hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, disc golfing, paddle boarding, swimming, snowboarding and split boarding. The resources to create a healthy and balanced lifestyle here are boundless. Everyone should have the opportunities afforded to us and know where to find those resources. I got my Masters in Education and a Kindergarten through 8th grade teaching credential because I see the rewards and joy kids garner from new experiences, new skills, and greater knowledge of how they experience the world. Confidence, humor, connectedness with family, friends and their environment, curiosity, overcoming fears and uncertainties to persevere, are all eureka moments that kids deserve to have daily. My goal as a mentor is to foster authentic relationships with kids and help guide them towards these eureka moments.

Jared has been engaged with children for over 17 years in variety of professional settings that include: an acute psychiatric inpatient & residential lock-down hospital for adolescents, an outpatient wraparound program for the State of PA, the Fitzsimon Middle School in north Philadelphia, an orphanage in Kathmandu Nepal, the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Children’s’ Center, a preschool in Doylestown PA, some remote villages & nomadic tribes of northern Mali, West Africa. In addition to serving as an outdoor education guide and rehabilitation mental health specialist, Jared enjoys relating to children & youth as a professional AASI Snowboarding coach, mentor and instructor as well as engaging children as a rock climbing instructor, coach and USA Climbing judge

John Littleton is a native of Chicago Illinois but has called the Sierra Nevada his home for too many years to mention. He discovered his love of the mountains at an early age while taking family trips out west. He credits these experiences as being the sparks that opened his eyes to the wonders of the outdoors. As a professional outdoor educator John thrives on providing that same opportunity and exposure to his students. When John is not guiding for Gateway, you may find him ski touring or rock climbing in what he calls his “backyard”.

In 2000, I started teaching with Naturalist at Large 5th -12th graders. Natural History and science were taught as well as fun group games and ropes courses/team building programs. I taught throughout California including: Joshua Tree, Catalina Island, Point Reyes, Malibu State Park and Sequia National Park. In 2001, I settled in Lake Tahoe where my outdoor adventures brought me to Squaw Valley as a board patroller and in summers I started guiding local trips with Tahoe Trips and Trails, working with Elderhostel and Corporate groups. I have worked with Gateway Mountain Center since 2007. During the school year I am now a Teacher’s Aid in the 4th grade. I enjoy mtn. biking, skiing, snowboarding, and hiking.

JP is a member Washoe County Search and Rescue HASTY Team. He teaches Lifeguard, 1st aid/CPR Instructor for the American Red Cross and is also a Certified Swim Instructor and has taught swim lessons for over a decade. He has Coached swimming, Downhill mountain biking, Alpine skiing, High school Cross country running, and Nordic skiing. He has been Beach Patrol,Downhill Bike Patrol, Ski Patrol, a rescue diver and a conservation diver. JP is an elite endurance athlete at the international level, spanning a wide array of disciplines; most notably mountain running, off road triathlon and multi-sport.

Lemon moved from Florida to California in 2013 to follow her passion for being in wild and beautiful places. She holds a masters degree in counseling from Webster University and a 200 hour yoga teacher certification. After years of counseling and working with families in Florida, Lemon embarked on a six month journey hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2011. When she came home she felt called to change her path and began teaching yoga and seeking more experiences in the outdoors. Lemon is an avid rock climber as well, and she enjoys blending the challenges and mindfulness that yoga and climbing create into her life, as well as into her guiding.

Jared grew up in small town Indiana but knew in his heart the West was where he belonged. After earning a Bachelors Degree in Wildlife Science from Purdue University, he ventured far from home, trying to figure out where he would eventually settle down. Through good fortune, Jared found himself in beautiful Lake Tahoe, with no plans on leaving anytime soon. Jared’s passions lie in nature and the outdoors, and sharing it with others (especially our youth). From leading nature hikes and catching snakes, to rock climbing and skiing, Jared has a well-balanced skillset and a desire to pass on his knowledge and skills to the next generation.

Cali Bowman is a happy energetic forest enthusiast who spends her time exploring various ways to enjoy her environment. After graduating from UCSB with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Literature, she traveled extensively throughout the world before settling in the beautiful Tahoe Basin. In her free time Cali enjoys hiking the Sierra Nevada which she calls her home while looking for new potential spots to rock climb and bike in the summer and possible mountains to ski for winter adventures. During winter months she works as an EMT Ski Patroller at Sierra-at-Tahoe. During summer she guides groups of enthusiastic youths with Gateway Mountain Center and teaches yoga outdoors.

Julie grew up on the east coast, and after her first trip to the Sierras knew she had found her new mountain home. Her passion has been guiding students in the outdoors for almost a decade. She worked as wilderness therapy expert in the desert southwest, and an environmental and adventure guide in the Sierras for several years. She is pursuing her masters in Sustainability alongside her studies in plant biology. Julie climbs, runs and snowboards all over the Sierra. Her love for ecology and outdoor play fuels her spirit. It is her joy to share this connection with nature with all the students in Gateway.

Parker Selby is a veteran of the Ohio Air National Guard and a childhood of camp and experiential education. He has spent the last 4 years working in the outdoors educating and partaking in conservation projects across the US from Arizona, to North Carolina, Minnesota, and finally to the Lake Tahoe Region. In addition to guiding with Gateway he works for the TRCD, working on conservation projects throughout Lake Tahoe. But Parker’s best attribute is the enthusiasm with which he belts out all your favorite camp songs from the 80’s, 90’s, and Today.projects throughout Lake Tahoe. But Parker’s best attribute is the enthusiasm with which he belts out all your favorite camp songs from the 80’s, 90’s, and Today.

Jared has been engaged with children for over 17 years in variety of professional settings that include: an acute psychiatric inpatient & residential lock-down hospital for adolescents, an outpatient wraparound program for the State of PA, the Fitzsimon Middle School in north Philadelphia, an orphanage in Kathmandu Nepal, the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Children’s’ Center, a preschool in Doylestown PA, some remote villages & nomadic tribes of northern Mali, West Africa. In addition to serving as an outdoor education guide and rehabilitation mental health specialist, Jared enjoys relating to children & youth as a professional AASI Snowboarding coach, mentor and instructor as well as engaging children as a rock climbing instructor, coach and USA Climbing judge

Sam has been mentoring youth for the past 6 years. He holds a diverse background in nature-based psychology, spiritual and indigenous traditions, and various healing modalities. A native Texan, Sam relocated to San Francisco in 2013 to receive his M.A. in East West Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). He has trained in both nature-based youth mentoring programs with Stepping Stones and the body-centered psychotherapy approach called Hakomi. With his youth, he shares his love of nature, music, movement, and peak experiences for healing and deeper sense of belonging.