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Helene Van Manen, Marketing/Women’s Division Coordinator Helene Van Manen is a Master Certified Coach and a member of the International Coaching Federation. Currently on the faculty of Coach U. Helene specializes in training coaches to lead retreats and is the founder of an international certification program for retreat coaches. Co-founder of MPEC’s Healthy Women Healthy Earth division, Helene brings to MPEC programs and retreats for women that integrate personal health and connection to Nature. Helene is a professional speaker, educator, entrepreneur, wife, parent, poet, performing artist and "the best darn Grandmother you've ever seen" (per Scarlett). Contact: retreats@hikeandlearn.org |
MPEC Staff |
Copywrite 2009 Mountain Park Environmental Center |
Meet the wonderful staff of Mountain Park Environmental Center! |
Business Hours: M-F 8am-4pm Park Hours: Daily, Sunrise to Sunset |
Dave Van Manen, Director Dave Van Manen has been working in the field of education, with both children and adults, for over thirty years. Dave is founder and director of the Mountain Park Environmental Center. Dave's background includes being a nationally known children's musician, performer, and recording artist, with a specialty in environmental music and storytelling. He has fifteen years experience as a clinical music therapist, and is a workshop and in-service facilitator. Dave has been a resident of the town of Beulah for 30+ years, where he and his wife Helene raised their two children. He is the author of Plants of Pueblo Mountain Park, a field guide to the flora of mid-elevation sites of Colorado's southeastern mountains. Dave is an avid hiker and can often be found hiking the trails of Pueblo Mountain Park and surrounding areas. Contact: mpec@hikeandlearn.org |
Greg Smith, Program Director Greg comes to MPEC after 8 years in a middle school classroom. His experiences include working summer camps in New Mexico and Pennsylvania, teaching middle school math, history and technology, and supervising adjudicated youth in the Youthful Offender System near Denver. Greg has been married for 9 years to his wonderful wife Cindi and resides in Pueblo West. Both Greg and Cindi have dedicated their lives to working with children and both share an enthusiasm toward teaching. Contact: rangergreg@hikeandlearn.org |
Matt Rayne - Park Live-In Caretaker Matt fell in love with Colorado the moment he got out of the car in August of 1977. His parents moved from Southeast Texas abruptly after a 2 week vacation in Manitou Springs. Matt has lived in Colorado since that day except for the 4 years he spent as an active duty solider at Ft. Stewart, GA. Matt and Dora (Guest Relations) have been married 14 years and are excited to work at MPEC now that all the kids are grown. Matt brings a love of Colorado nature and teaching to his job as Caretaker at the Mountain Park Environmental Center. Matt will receive his Bachelor's degree in teaching in March of 2013. Contact: mattyphoenix@gmail.com |
John Oribello, Lead Maintenance John is a native of Colorado and received his degree in biology from CSU-Pueblo. John is involved in all aspects of taking care of Pueblo Mountain Park. He says his connection to the natural world started at the age of 3, when he remembers planting his first garden with the wish to “ grow a watermelon.” John has since grown into a gardener with a bountiful garden each summer full of peppers, tomatoes and zucchinis. His watermelon growing expertise has yet to be cultivated. Contact:JOribello@hikeandlearn.org |
Kim Toman, Operations Director Falling in love with the Colorado outdoors was easy for Kim when she first visited Colorado in 1987. Having spent the majority of the early-90's in Colorado helping utility power plants install emission monitoring equipment, it was no surprise that she met her husband in Colorado, and shortly after, made her permanent move to Colorado in 1994. Beulah has been the Toman's family home since the move. Kim is the wife of Bernie, an outdoors enthusiast, and mother of 4 children, Chris, Angie, Val and Mandy. Working at MPEC has tuned her senses and love for Nature by listening to interesting facts about plants, animals and ecosystems. Contact: adminmpec@hikeandlearn.org |
Shane Ewing, Assistant Maintenance Shane Ewing is a graduate of CSU-Pueblo in Outdoor Leadership and Recreation. An Eagle Scout, Shane spent his summers during high school working at camps throughout the US. Shane shares his passion for the outdoors with his partner Kalan Kirsch, who is a Pueblo City Schools 3rd grade teacher at Morton Elementary School. Contact: shane@hikeandlearn.org |
John Duston, Assistant Program Director John’s extensive background in outdoor-based education includes teaching various courses for CSU-Pueblo, certifications with the Wilderness Education Association, American Mountain Guide Association, and Wilderness First Responder through the Wilderness Medicine Institute. Along with a love of outdoor activities such as kayaking, climbing and backpacking, John brings his love of music to MPEC. A graduate of CSU-Pueblo’s Outdoor Leadership Department, John was a part-time Earth Studies instructor at MPEC for nearly two years before he came on in the spring of 2011 as MPEC’s first Assistant Program Director. Says John, “My connection with the natural world has deep meaning and I really enjoy sharing and helping others to have the same respect for nature.” Contact: programassist@hikeandlearn.org |
Dora Rayne - Guest Relations Dora comes to the Mountain Park after 18 years on the Western Slope. She moved to Colorado right out of high school and made it her home. She met her husband Matt (Live In Park Caretaker ) and his three beautiful kids in the winter of 1997 and they have been happily married for 14 years. After 15 years in the banking world, Matt and Dora decided to make a change and get closer to the parts of Colorado that make it a great place to live and their two grandkids. Dora brings with her a deep commitment to customer service. Contact: guestrelations@hikeandlearn.org |