Two young paddlers celebrate successful runs at the Camp Cup Challenge 2008, Nantahala River, North Carolina ALZAR SCHOOL When we need a classroom, the world awaits.
 
Harry Bergmann Harry grew up with the outdoors, hiking and backpacking with his father. He learned many technical skills at Camp Mondamin, rising to become a Counselor in Training at the age of 17. He has been a kayak instructor at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was a student on the BSU W.I.L.D. Idaho 2008 course. Currently, he is studying at George Washington University in Washington D.C. and leading programs for their Outdoor Program. He and another former student, spearheaded the creation of the Alumni Fund, one the Alzar School’s scholarship programs. Heather and Ryan Bierle Heather and Ryan Bierle are advocates for the Alzar School, and are based in Austin, Texas. Heather Bierle is a pharmacist and avid sports enthusiast. Ryan Bierle is a paramedic and student. Both Ryan and Heather enjoy spending time in the outdoors, including skiing and tubing, and recently took up whitewater kayaking for their first time. Living so close to the border, they frequently make trips into Mexico. Both Heather and Ryan review the Alzar School’s medical protocols, offering their valuable expertise. Dr. Sam Chewning Sam Chewning loves everything to do with the outdoors. “Dr. Sam” is well-known for being a patient, thorough teacher. His passions include kayaking, caving, sailing, flying, and riding motorcycles. He is a cave rescue and Wilderness First Responder instructor for the Alzar School, and also teaches for Pfeiffer University. Currently, he is retired a spine surgeon, living in Cornelius, NC, but he also provides emergency medical care following natural disasters with DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team). Dr. Chewning reviews and consults with the Alzar School on our medical and safety protocols, and helps with program development. Ryan Cozens Ryan Cozens grew up in North Carolina, but considers Latin America her second home. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a double major in Latin American Studies and Spanish. Ryan has spent the past few years getting involved with international education projects, from volunteering as a teacher in southern Peru to interning as an EducationUSA Adviser with the Institute of International Education in Mexico City. Recently, she worked with at risk youth on the island of Maui to facilitate leadership development, service-learning and acculturation projects. Living in such amazing places has allowed for lots of great adventures! Ryan is moving to Aspen, CO for the winter season and planning to get her Master's in International Education in the fall of 2009. Ryan Crockett Ryan has been playing in the outdoors for years. He was a member of a pioneering youth kayaking club in Idaho, which lead him to work as a professional safety kayaker, raft guide, and kayak instructor on the Payette River for over 13 years. When someone wants to run a difficult stretch of whitewater for the first time, they want Crockett leading them down. He is fantastic at realistically describing the risks and hazards of whitewater. He is also a dedicated skier and ski coach, working with youth Freestyle Teams at Bogus Basin Ski Resort. Ryan has a passion for photography, spending two seasons working in Costa Rica as a photographer for adventure tours. He is currently tuning skis and volunteering at the Eagle Fire Department in Idaho, with the aim of becoming a professional firefighter. Ryan reviews the Alzar School’s river risk management protocols. Brian & Monse Cuttlers Brian and Monse Cuttlers reside in Turrialba, Costa Rica, the mecca for whitewater in that country. Brian is one of the owners of Costa Rica Rios, a hugely successful adventure-tour operator. Originally from Idaho, and a graduate of Albertson College, Brian is a shrewd businessman who is adept at international negotiations. He has worked to make Costa Rica Rios a successful company that is also socially and environmentally sustainable. Monse is a practicing dentist and is native to Costa Rica. She is highly involved in Turrialba’s community, and is one of the bright faces visitors see. This couple is highly motivated and energetic. Katherine Edmonds Katherine is a longtime instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), course-leading 19-day expeditions on the Green River in Utah. She has also taught snowboarding in Driggs, Idaho and kayaking in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Currently, Kat is studying Environmental Ethics at the University of Georgia. Kat is a Wilderness First Responder, ACA Kayak Instructor, and Swiftwater Rescue Technician. She reviews the Alzar School’s leadership and outdoor curriculum, and advises us on environmental stewardship. Kent Ford Kent Ford's highly acclaimed books, videos and instruction have made him one of the most recognized paddlers in whitewater sport worldwide. He is the owner of Performance Video, which offers instructional resources to paddlers and mountain bikers. Kent's unique background includes twenty years of international whitewater racing and coaching, combined with similar experience teaching recreational boating to all levels of paddlers. His fourteen videos and books on paddlesports have influenced the education of half a million paddlers. He is an ACA Instructor Trainer Educator, and was recently inducted into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame. Kent has been working on a documentary on the history of whitewater paddling in the United States and an informative video for kids and parents. For the Alzar School, he reviews our paddling curriculum to ensure we are offering the highest quality instruction and managing the inherent risks of paddling. Rich Gardunia Rich Gardunia lives the outdoors. Literally. He climbs, bikes, and rafts for a living. He has managed to turn his love for outdoor adventures into a career of educating and teaching others. By sharing this enthusiasm, Rich helps others explore their own outdoor interests and develop their own love for their sport of choice. Rich has taught rock climbing at the College of Idaho and at Boise State University for the past five years. He also heads up the volunteer ranger program for Ridge to Rivers as the Ranger for the entire trail system. In addition to all this, Rich spends his summers as a river guide for a program that puts together trips for people with disabilities. As if that were not enough to keep him busy, Rich also dedicates a good chunk of his time to his outdoor clothing/sewing company, Esh Clothing. Not only does Rich manage to get paid for things he loves to do, he also goes on adventure expeditions of his own accord. Most notably is his bike trip from Alaska to Florida to raise money for cystic fibrosis foundation. Rich advises the Alzar School by reviewing our climbing curriculum. Geoff Harrison Geoff has been working in the field of recreation for over 20 years and has been fostering student development with Boise State students as Director of its Outdoor Program since 1998. Geoff is an active member of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education and has served both as a board member and interim national director. He earned an undergraduate degree in Recreation Administration from Humboldt State University and Master's of Sport and Recreation Management from the University of Idaho. Currently, he is editing an authoritative text on outdoor education programming. Katie Hawkins Katie Hawkins is originally from Tennessee, but has lived all over the world in the past several years, exploring new places, learning about different cultures, and playing in the outdoors. After graduating from Middlebury College in Vermont, earning a joint degree in Geology and Environmental Studies and a certification in teaching English as a Foreign Language, Katie moved to Japan to teach at a college preparatory boarding school for a year. Now living in Colorado, she teaches 2nd & 3rd graders at an Outward Bound Expeditionary Learning School and leads youth outdoor programs for the Colorado Mountain Club. She has also worked as an instructor for kayaking, climbing, and hiking trips in North Carolina, Vermont, Wyoming, and Montana for the past seven years. Katie worked on an ambulance squad in Vermont, and is W-EMT, CPR, and lifeguard certified. Jenaleigh Kiebert Jenaleigh has been involved with outdoor education and non-profit organizations in many different ways. She worked at the Boise State University Outdoor Program, serving as assistant manager of their rental program for three years. Upon graduating, she became the point-person for the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education as it prepared for its annual conference in Boise, Idaho, handling pre-event logistics. Currently, she works with the Boise Art Museum Jake McGrath Jake learned to paddle on the mighty rivers of Wisconsin, commuting frequently to race whitewater slalom at the artificial course in South Bend, Indiana. He continued to race all over the United States. A graduate of Wheaton College, with a degree in Adventure Education, Jake moved West, guiding rafts on the Kern River in Southern California. He became heavily involved with rock climbing and backpacking. For four years, Jake was a dedicated trip leader, and later the Logistics Coordinator, for the Dunn School’s Outdoor Education Program. Jake is an ACA Kayak Instructor and Wilderness First Responder and is currently managing a raft company on the American and Yuba River drainages in Central California. For the Alzar School, Jake reviews protocol and integration of outdoor and academic curriculum. Nate Ostis Nate Ostis is a Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue Instructor and an Instructor Trainer for the American Canoe Association in the disciplines of Rescue and Whitewater Kayak. Nate’s career in education began as a lecturer for the Outdoor Recreation Department and as Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach for Plymouth State University. He then taught high school English and Physics for an international whitewater kayaking academy. He is a Firefighter, WEMT-B, and serves on the rope rescue team for the McCall Fire Department. In addition to serving on the Advisory Committee for the Alzar School, Nate runs Wilderness Rescue International, is a senior field staff for the National Outdoor Leadership School and the Wilderness Medicine Institute, leading First Aid, Rock Climbing, Backpacking, and Whitewater courses. Nate has worked as a commercial raft guide for 15 years across the US and abroad and has 20+ years of kayaking experience. He has paddled in 7 countries with a first descent on a 160-mile section of a class V whitewater in China. Catherine Smith A longtime paddler and outdoorswoman, Catherine learned many of her technical skills at Camp Green Cove in North Carolina. She is currently the Community and Partnership Coordinator for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. There Catherine manages their non-corporate partnership program, as well as their new community program. She is also responsible for overseeing Leave No Trace’s online community development and their website. Catherine works with the Alzar School to continue our mission of being leaders in environmental stewardship. Keller Torrey Alison Ward Alison (Ali) Ward is a native Idahoan, growing up in the lush mountains of Sandpoint, Idaho, and has made Boise her home for the past 14 years. Aside from double majoring at BSU, Ali worked as a life guard, learned to kayak, backpack, and telemark ski, worked as a Nordic ski instructor, worked with research projects on Screech Owls as well as Inflammatory Breast Cancer, and learned to play the guitar and write songs. After graduating with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Visual Arts, she worked for a couple of years in the greenhouse industry and as a gardener-for-hire. After deciding to start a family with her husband Travis, Ali returned to BSU for a Masters in Curriculum and Education, fulfilling a longtime dream of becoming a high school science teacher. Ali is a currently a science teacher at Boise High School, a drummer and singer in a psychedelic-folk band called Hillfolk Noir , an avid gardener, mother of two, backpacker, and a visual artist. Ali has also recently headed up a project called Go Listen Boise, which has the fundamental goal of enhancing and connecting Boise’s local musicians and music scene. Britta Wiesner Britta has been a longtime counselor and instructor for Camp Green Cove in North Carolina. She has been a successful businesswoman, promoting various clothing companies across the Southeast, and an enthusiastic paddler who loves to hit up the Ocoee River. She is currently earning her Masters in Business Administration at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Britta offers business advice for the Alzar School and promotes our courses in the Southeastern United States. Scholarships.htmlhttp://www.costaricarios.comhttp://www.performancevideo.com/http://www.esh-clothes.com/http://www.wilderness-rescue.com/index.phphttp://test.lnt.org/index.phphttp://www.petometz.comhttp://www.golistenboise.orgshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2shapeimage_3_link_3shapeimage_3_link_4shapeimage_3_link_5shapeimage_3_link_6shapeimage_3_link_7
“This world… lies wide around.  Its attractions are the keys which unlock my thought and make me acquainted with myself.”
 
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Alzar School
P.O. Box 16604
Boise, ID 83715
info@AlzarSchool.com
Advisory Committee
Dr. Sam Chewning
In order to fuel our vision of creating a better school, the Alzar School invites interested people to join our advisory committee.  This committee reviews our curriculum, practices, and programs to ensure that we are offering the best educational experiences possible.  We are very proud of the folks who choose to help us in our mission of developing leaders.  Read more about the exceptional folks who advise the Alzar School in our practices (listed in alphabetical order).
HistoryHistory.htmlHistory.htmlshapeimage_6_link_0
Board of DirectorsBoard%20of%20Directors.htmlBoard%20of%20Directors.htmlshapeimage_7_link_0
AdministrationAdministration.htmlAdministration.htmlshapeimage_8_link_0
Advisory Committeeshapeimage_9_link_0
Teachers & InstructorsTeachers%20%26%20Instructors.htmlTeachers%20%26%20Instructors.htmlshapeimage_10_link_0
Past ProgramsPast%20Programs.htmlshapeimage_11_link_0
Mission StatementMission%20Statement.htmlMission%20Statement.htmlshapeimage_12_link_0
PhilosophyPhilosophy.htmlPhilosophy.htmlshapeimage_13_link_0
Sponsors & PartnersSponsors%20%26%20Partners.htmlSponsors%20%26%20Partners.htmlshapeimage_14_link_0
Catherine Smith
Nate Ostis
Katie Hawkins
Britta Wiesner
Katherine Edmonds
Kent Ford
Jake McGrath
Harry Bergmann
Brian and Monse Cuttlers
Ryan Cozens (with former students)
Rich Gardunia
Ryan Crockett
Heather and Ryan Bierle
Ali Ward (with daughter Grace)