Meet Ashleigh
I was fortunate at a young age that my family found a school that valued outdoor and experiential education and that is where my love for the outdoors began. Throughout my life, I have found joy, excitement, refuge, challenge, and growth in the outdoors.
I grew up in Michigan where I started my undergraduate degree at Central Michigan University. At the age of 21, I moved out west to experience a new and exciting outdoor environment. During this time, I completed my undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Utah State University, adopted two Siberian huskies, and have traveled the west hiking, climbing, and camping.
I joined the blueFire Team in 2018. I saw the job posting for Field Staff to which I promptly applied. The job as a Field staff fit all of my passions in life: exercise, outdoors, physical wellbeing, mental health, teaching, and working with youth.
During my time as a Field Guide, I fell in love with blueFire Wilderness Therapy, and the unique experience that it offers to its employees and clients, and I am grateful to continue to share that joy and learning with the Field Team as a Field Director.
I am so excited to continue supporting blueFire by working directly with the field staff. I am passionate about teaching and development. It is my intent to mentor and train the field staff to feel empowered in their role. It is my goal to act as an empathetic and supportive guide for staff in their journey with blueFire, so that our clients can continue their own journey of self-discovery. Watching staff learn new skills, practice patience, try new things, and challenge themselves renews my passion for this work. Watching clients learn from staff and their ability to model blueFire’s mission and vision also empowers me.