Rachel graduated from UW Milwaukee with a degree in Community Education and a focus on therapeutic work. During college, she was also a full time athlete on the diving team. For the past five years, Rachel has worked with many children with disabilities as a line therapist for kids with autism and also as a volunteer for special education classrooms and horse therapy programs. Rachel took courses with her dog to achieve therapy dog certification. They visited nursing homes to help raise the spirits of those who need it most. Rachel is excited to be continuing her journey here at NVW; and in her free time, she enjoys fishing, horseback riding, skiing, hiking and going to the movies.

Max grew up in Pittsburgh, PA where he found a love for the outdoors hiking the local State Parks. After completing his Bachelor in outdoor recreation education, Max went on to guide in North Carolina and New Zealand as well as volunteered for disaster relief in the Virgin Islands. After working with foster children and adjudicated youth in New Zealand, Max found a passion for working with individuals in crisis. This led him to New Vision where he loves combining psychology and the wilderness to help those who need it the most. During his free time you can find Max on the local trails and crags in Central Oregon, spending time in his garden, or reading a good book.

As the Experiential Education Director at Deschutes Wilderness Therapy, Bianca oversees the parts of our program that provide our students with experiences that foster a connection to themselves and others. Bianca manages our canine program, mastery, academics, graduations, family therapy days, adventure therapy, and other individualized opportunities for our students to receive the most out of our program.

Bianca grew up in Ohio and earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration at Ohio University. After college, she worked for an auditing firm and later pursued a career with a mission-driven company. After backpacking Indonesia, New Zealand, and obtaining her 200hr Yoga Teacher certificate Bianca began her career with Deschutes in 2020 as an Administrative Assistant. Inspired by the incredible journeys of our students and families, Bianca stepped into the wilderness Field Guide role. Her experience as a field guide led Bianca to the position of young adult Field Director, where she created programming more fitting for the young adult demographic. Today, Bianca shares a passion with Deschutes Wilderness Therapy to facilitate meaningful experiences that allow our students to flourish and grow during their time in wilderness.

During her free time, Bianca enjoys a good burrito in town, swimming in the Deschutes River, skiing Mt. Bachelor, or hiking the local trails.

Liz grew up camping, biking and hiking in Wisconsin. After a few family trips out west involving camping and hiking, Liz fell in love with the outdoors and knew that she wanted to end up in the mountains. After finishing her Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Policy with minors in Public Administration and Political Science from UW-Green Bay, Liz spent a summer in on Washington Island as an Environmental Education intern at a butterfly house. Liz became an AmeriCorps VISTA the following winter and moved out to Billings, Montana to start a community garden in a food desert. She spent weekends exploring the Beartooth Mountains and fell in love with Montana. At the end of her VISTA term, she moved to Northwest Montana to work as a Field Crew Leader with Montana Conservation Corps right outside of Glacier National Park. She co-led a crew of five adult crew members in building and maintaining trails and structures throughout the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, and the Kootenai National Forest for ten months. The following summer, Liz led a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew through the conservation corps up in Eureka, Montana with local teens. Liz learned to love working with youth through her time as a YCC leader. Liz joined the Peace Corps as a Youth Development Volunteer in Morocco where she taught yoga, English and Life Skills to Moroccan Youth. When Liz moved back from Morocco, she knew she wanted to get into Wilderness Therapy and started searching for Wilderness Therapy Guide jobs and found New Vision.

As the Medical Coordinator and Safety Officer at Deschutes Wilderness Therapy, Aimée oversees the medical and risk management systems.
Coming from Winchester, England, Aimée graduated with a Bachelor of Science from The University of Lincoln in the UK. She was president of the Women’s Football (Soccer) Team and a competition cheerleader!

Originally coming to the USA to work at a summer camp, Aimée’s love of the outdoors developed while leading adventure trips in the Adirondack Mountains in NY. Aimée has a plethora of wilderness experience that includes hiking long sections of the PCT, thru-hiking the Colorado Trail, and rafting the Grand Canyon.

Aimée came to Deschutes Wilderness Therapy as a Field Instructor before moving into the Medical Coordinator role. Aimée has been a Wilderness First Responder since 2013 and obtained her Wilderness EMT in 2021. Aimée is also a Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED instructor.

In her free time, Aimée enjoys gardening, music, cooking, and hiking with her dog Crypto, who can often be found at the Bend office.

Brittney grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and spent her childhood romping around longleaf pine-sawgrass forests. With a degree in Psychology, her early career was as a part of a clinical anxiety research team. Since her transition to the outdoor industry, she has seven years of guiding under her belt. She started her outdoor career as a wilderness therapy Field Guide, followed by two years as an Outdoor Educator in Australia, and finally, as a Backpacking Guide in the Sierra Nevada and across southern Utah. Spending time in the wilderness is her avid passion, whether it be backpacking, climbing, cross-country skiing, searching for off-trail alpine lakes, or simply settling into a pristine spot to nature journal. Britt joined the DWT logistics team in 2022 and is currently a graduate student studying clinical mental health counseling.

Krystin Nichols is the Logistics Specialist at New Vision Wilderness Deschutes in Bend, Oregon. Her primary focus is to create a safe healing environment for clients, provide flexible support for coworkers, and work within a team.

Krystin is a Bend native who started at New Vision Wilderness Deschutes as a Field Instructor in June of 2015. In June of 2017, she transitioned into her current role in logistics. Since then, she has created and maintained a high level of organization to fulfill all client needs.

Krystin is dedicated to the NVW mission of creating joy and healing generations. She offers exceptional patience and support to everyone she meets. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and crochet

Ryan grew up in Salem, OR, and came to the Bend area in 2015. Throughout his career, Ryan has held many management positions. Looking for a role aligned with his logistics experience and finding a sense of purpose, Ryan found his way to wilderness therapy logistics, where he combines his management skills, interest in fitness and nutrition, and a deep sense of purpose. Ryan loves working for a program that helps families in crisis. He thrives in a position where he can support field instructors, ensuring they are equipped and prepared for the field and the DWT team at large.

Ryan enjoys keeping fit with a home fitness regimen and hiking in the wilderness surrounding Bend in his free time. However, when he is not taking full advantage of all the natural beauty here in Central OR, he loves to be at home cooking and reading.

Ryan has been a part of the Deschutes Wilderness Therapy community since April 2020. Prior to arriving in Bend, Ryan spent five years in youth mentorship roles across the country including positions at summer camps, residential treatment centers, before and after school programs, and more. Ryan cites the work he does at Deschutes as the most meaningful, engaging piece of his life, and never questions if his time spent in the woods is worthwhile. Ryan takes great joy in helping students realize that they can transcend the darkness in their lives and become who they’d truly like to be, while always doing his best to add some humor and lightness to their therapeutic journey.

Cassie grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota. She has been playing in the snow, wandering in the woods, and swimming in lakes for most of her life. Having earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, Cassie taught elementary and middle school in the Minneapolis school district for several years. In addition, she led various afterschool clubs and summer youth programs involving everything from inner-city youth justice work to zipline guiding. She has also spent time working with youth in the criminal legal system.

Cassie believes deeply in the power of nature to bring wholeness and healing, and she is committed to removing distractions so that students can focus on their inner work. In her free time, she loves to watch baseball, hang out with friends, and hike/run/walk/paddle wherever she can get the best view of the mountains.

Jeremy is someone who has never been on a straight path. By 30, Jeremy will have worked around 30 jobs, including property management, law enforcement, cooking, teaching, and more! Jeremy’s background in psychology and a passion for helping others drew him to working with Deschutes Wilderness Therapy. He loves being a calm presence in the midst of the storm. Jeremy is passionate about sports, being outside, and a good read. In his spare time, he can be found on a hike, cooking for a party, or at the local badminton club.