Jess Graham  Women’s Clinics Coordinator + Dirt Divas Co-Founder

Jess is a mountain biker, snowboarder, painter and educator. She completed the secondary teacher training program at St. Michael's college and is an AASI certified Level III snowboard instructor at Stowe. Jess has administered and taught in local arts and outdoor education programs for the past nine years. She is certified in Wilderness First Aid/CPR. She lives in Wolcott where (depending on the season) she enjoys watching the birds, knitting, painting, developing her own art business, shoveling, gardening, chasing after her cats Astro and Lobo, and making the best burritos ever.

Nadine W. Budbill  Founder

Nadine has thirteen years of experience working with youth and specializes in outdoor adventure and empowerment programs for adolescent girls. She has been developing and running Dirt Divas programs since 2001 when she co-founded the program with Jess Graham. Nadine has a B.A. in race and gender studies, a M.A. in Education, with a concentration in Experiential Education and Girls’ Studies, and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management. In addition to making presentations at national conferences on the subject of girls’ development and girls’ adventure programming, she has co-authored a chapter entitled, “Girls’ Outdoor Adventure Programs: History, Theory, and Practice,” published in the 4th edition of The Theory of Experiential Education. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Nadine loves to do yoga, ride her bike, ski, swim in VT’s lakes and rivers, go on exciting adventures, and sing to her cats, Squeaks and Sylvia and her dog, Simon.

staff

Copyright 2008 - Girls Move Mountains

Jennie Date  Instructor

Jennie has years of experience working with young women, and was formerly the Girls Program Coordinator at Vermont Works for Women and the Rosie’s Girls Program.  She has a background in botany, trail building, herbalism, carpentry, and running experiential youth programs.  She is currently in the midst of completing her yoga teacher certification and maintains a solid commitment to playing in the outdoors as much as possible. She is certified in Wilderness First Aid/CPR and is an experienced bike mechanic.

Girls Move Mountains’ staff is comprised of passionate, unique,

and adventurous women who believe strongly in sharing their love

of the outdoors with others and doing good work in the world.

Jenn Childress  Instructor

Jenn has been an educator in the public school system for 8 years and is currently a middle school reading specialist at Sheldon Elementary School. She coaches Odyssey of the Mind and softball and has been involved in various outdoor education programs for children. Jenn has a Master’s Degree in Education and is certified in Wilderness First Aid/CPR. She loves to ride her bike, rock climb, snowboard, play guitar, travel, read, and eat delicious food!

Kristyn Dumont  Instructor

Kristyn has worked in the outdoor industry for six years, having run a variety of outdoor education programs, including running and biking programs for young women. She is getting her Master’s Degree in Education but when Kris’ nose isn’t in a schoolbook, she can be found riding her bike or working on the trails!

Kayla Carter  Jr. Instructor

Kayla has been involved with Girls Move Mountains for 6 years, first as a Dirt Diva and then as a Jr. Instructor. Kayla goes to St. Johnsbury Academy where she is involved in the Future Business Leaders of America and dance. She brings laughter, understanding, and leadership to her work with girls. In her spare time, Kayla enjoys show her opponents how it’s done on the golf course.

Alli Compangna  Jr. Instructor

Alli is a former Dirt Diva and a current student at Johnson State College as a Health Science major. She loves to be outdoors, exercise, draw, and paint. Alli is very interested in gardening and environmental issues and is an upbeat and energetic person who loves to smile!

Meagan Robideaux  Instructor

Meagan has been fortunate enough to have worked with youth groups throughout Vermont and the United States.  Aside from leading trips both on mountain bikes and on foot she has worked in classrooms, youth centers, shelters and on the trail.  Meagan lives in northern VT where she bikes, hikes, skis, gardens and cares for her 3 beautiful children. She is enthusiastic about our youth and their connection to our natural world.