RCYSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Whitney is Northwest Colorado Health’s Youth Resiliency Program Manager. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a passion for learning and positive youth development. She earned her Masters in clinical psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage with an emphasis on rural mental health. Whitney has been serving youth and their families in the Routt/Moffat region since 2014. Born and raised in Colorado, she loves adventuring outside with her husband and dogs.

Reece works with Yampatika to provide programs that get kids outside and engaging with nature here in the Yampa Valley including Youth Camps, working with teachers in schools, and educating adults. He is originally from Denton, TX, and has been obsessed with nature since he first started cataloging the animals found on his family’s Ranch in the scraggly desert of Southwest Texas. From city parks to winding rivers and expansive lakes to wild, remote places, he loves getting to experience the thought-provoking beauty that nature provides everywhere. Even more, he loves getting to share that beauty and intentionally provokes the thoughts of others. Reece majored in Environmental Science in college with the main goal of always wanting to work outside. Luckily enough, he has been able to do that, leading and directing Camping and Outdoor Education programs in Colorado, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Colorado has always been one of his favorite places because of its amazing nature and unique people. In his free time, you’re likely to find him hiking, backpacking, skiing, biking, or chilling in a hammock with a good book. One of his favorite parts about working with kids at Camp is playing games, of which he always has a few up his sleeve.

Heidi is the Empowerment Program Director at Partners for Youth. She has experience working with families and youth of diverse backgrounds, and her passion lies in empowering youth to live fulfilling and engaging lives.  Heidi graduated from The University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and Political Science. Prior to moving to Steamboat, Heidi provided multi-generational, community-based programming for refugee and immigrant youth and their families in Denver.  Heidi is thrilled to become part of the Steamboat Springs community, and spends much of her free time enjoying the outdoors with her dog, Coco.

Sarah wears many hats. She works as a Crisis Clinician for Mind Springs Health, teaches Youth Mental Health First Aid, and volunteers in the local art community.  She earned her M.S. in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University, a Post-Masters in Counseling (MFT) from Grand Canyon University, and her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she first came to Steamboat Springs in 2010 and has been a proud victim of the Yampa Valley curse after seasons spent in southeast Alaska and California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. She has spent more than a decade and a half working in community education, mental health advocacy, youth recreation leadership, and outdoor adventure guiding. When she is not working, she enjoys making art, reading fantasy books, snowboarding, taking long road trips, and shopping for the perfect pair of boots.

Patty Oakland is the Civilian Criminal Investigator and Community Engagement Specialist for Steamboat Springs Police Department. She has a M.S. in Forensic Nursing, with a focus in advanced holistic nursing, and a M.S. in Criminal Justice. She holds a B.S. in Nursing and a B.S. in Critical Thought & Inquiry, with a minor in Coaching and Performance Enhancement. Oakland’s passion is in youth safety and crime prevention. She is a child of Routt County and has a love for the outdoors. Oakland believes that all people should have the opportunity to explore the world with child-like wonder.  

Madysen Linsacum, Health Educator, Routt County Public Health. Maddy earned her M.S. in Nutrition and Metabolism from the University of Texas Medical Branch and her B.S. in Food and Nutrition Science with a minor in Gerontology from Colorado State University. Maddy joined the Routt County Public Health team in early 2022 after working as a clinical Registered Dietitian for four years prior.

Lennae is an Early Childhood Coach, Consultant, and Professional Development trainer. She received a BA in early childhood education and elementary education from Pacific University, and a Masters in early childhood special education from University of Northern Colorado. Formerly a preschool director, she is now the early childhood coach for the Steamboat Childcare Center and currently owns her own business supporting childcare centers, preschools, and early childhood teachers and leaders. She is an ECE coach and an Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) coach for the National Wildlife Federation. Lennae was raised in Routt County and loves the outdoors, she lives with her husband and puppy and is expecting her first baby in January.

Tom is a licensed social worker at Steamboat Springs High School. Prior to this role, he was the Program Coordinator for the Fatherhood Program of Routt County where he served fathers and families for six years. He has earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Colorado State University as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Denver. Tom and his family have called Routt County home since 2016 and he feels lucky to be in this role where he can support the community in so many ways.

Lauren grew up in the hills of Pennsylvania where she developed a love for the outdoors and earned her B.A. in Secondary Earth Science Education from the University of Delaware. She spent much of her early twenties facilitating environmental education and outdoor leadership programming for young people in Delaware, New York, Alaska and Tennessee before calling Colorado home. In 2013, Lauren moved to Steamboat Springs to participate in an AmeriCorps term of service in the Steamboat Springs Middle School through Partners in Routt County. Steamboat drew her in and she worked for Rocky Mountain Youth Corps as a Service Learning Crew Leader and Yampa Valley Science School Resource Specialist before coming on as the Regional Youth Program Manager in 2015. Lauren is delighted to be a part of the RMYC team once again as the Education and Evaluation Manager. In her free time, she can be found trail running, climbing and exploring with her adventure buddies, Jimmy & Eisley.