DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL OPERATIONS

FRANKIE BEARD

(she/her) | AKA Honeysuckle
Frankie@wildbear.org
Originally from the very flat state of Florida, I found my love for the outdoors, especially mountains, when I moved to upstate New York to pursue a degree in environmental studies at Skidmore College. I worked at several summer camps, including a conservation camp in the Adirondack Mountains, taking kids on outdoor pursuits in the largest park in the contiguous US. I especially love exploring the outdoors with folks who haven’t had the opportunity before, turning apprehension and fear into intrigue and wonder. I moved to Colorado in 2023 after 7 years in New York and Vermont to work at Wild Bear and explore a new landscape and taller mountains. Outside of work I also enjoy baking for my friends and neighbors, listening to audiobooks and podcasts with my cat Phoenix, and finding quiet spots to swim and hike.

EDUCATION COORDINATOR

BRITT HUBER

(she/her) | AKA Pinedrop
education@wildbear.org
I moved to Colorado in 2008 after growing up in Louisville, Kentucky where I loved exploring limestone ledges, staircased creeks, and deciduous forests. When I arrived, I found a zeal for learning about new landscapes, birding, rock climbing, and identifying plants. I attended Metropolitan State University of Denver, acquiring a bachelor's in Biology and a minor in Elementary Education and spent my summers adventuring with kids to the Denver Art Museum, Botanical Gardens, and the Zoo as an art camp instructor. I joined the Wild Bear team in March of 2022, and am so lucky to share moments in nature with our wonderful community. When not exploring forests with kiddos, I might be found practicing yoga, hiking with my dog, or admiring moss and lichen next to a stream.

DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

MATTHEW CELESTA

(he/him) | AKA Bristlecone
Matthew@wildbear.org
As a Colorado native, I grew up in East Denver with a horticulturalist as a mother. My summers growing up were spent outdoors at various camps or a family cabin outside of Leadville. After graduating from UC, Santa Cruz with a degree in sustainable agriculture, I spent three years working for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) as a marketing representative. I have since worked at several other non-profits including Community Food Share and Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center based out of Boulder County. While I am not helping raise money for Wild Bear, I enjoy skiing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with my wife, two dogs and three cats!

ACCOUNTING MANAGER

AMY DeBENEDICTIS

CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER

LIZ MCGUFFEE

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SUMMER CAMPS / DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

JORDAN CAMP

(she/her) | AKA Pintail
Originally from Centennial, CO, my love for the outdoors began with exploring the ample green space and creek in my neighborhood. From a young age, my parents instilled in me an appreciation for nature through their commitment to keeping my brother and me outside through activities like camping, skiing, fishing, gardening, and other recreational pursuits throughout the Rocky Mountains and beyond. I completed two bachelor's at CU Boulder in Leadership & Community Engagement and Ethnic Studies, with minors in Education and Geography. As an undergraduate, I researched the intersections of outdoor recreation and racial & ethnic identity, developing my belief that everyone deserves a fulfilling relationship with the outdoors, regardless of identity, age, ability, and other barriers. My passions for outdoor accessibility, environmental justice, sustainability, and conservation overlap with my commitment to community-based work, which brought me to Wild Bear in 2022, where I have held numerous positions within the organization since. Outside of work, I can be found enjoying a cup of coffee, walking my cat, developing my birding skills, climbing, and dancing.

OUR STAFF