Program Staff

Working with people of all ages and abilities in the outdoors has been a lifelong passion for Mark. Over the past 25 years, Mark has worked with both non-profit and for-profit organizations in leadership management, training, and risk management serving clients of all ages and abilities in a variety of outdoor and wilderness programs, and residential treatment.

For 11 years, Mark effectively facilitated programs for a residential treatment center in northern Minnesota where he was instrumental in its inception of a wilderness program, including the development of policies/procedures to meet industry and state licensing standards. While at this facility, he served in positions as Program Coordinator and Director.

Mark also helped the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross develop Wilderness First Responder training and facilitated high level rescue training for State Parks, and rural and urban fire departments.

When not at Soltreks you can usually find Mark out on some sort of adventure with his wife Katya and two young daughters Cedar and Lamar.

Kathleen coordinates the therapeutic component of the trek experience through direct service to students and parents and through clinical consultation with wilderness instructors.

Kathleen earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College, and Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and in Clinical Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus. Special areas of study included human development and group dynamics.

With 20 years experience in educational and therapeutic settings, Kathleen has worked with diverse populations as both a teacher and a counselor. Her experience includes counseling emotionally disturbed youth in a residential therapeutic setting, facilitating team-building and personal growth through outdoor adventure experiences for the University of Minnesota, working as a school counselor in elementary and secondary education, and teaching at secondary and post-secondary institutions. Kathleen grew up in Duluth, and truly loves the area- the north shore is her stomping grounds for work and play. She attributes her belief in the power of the wilderness experience to the “gifts” of outdoor adventure her parents gave her growing up. These days she in turn seeks adventure outside with her two sons.

Matt manages the overall logistical coordination and operation of treks. He provides administrative oversight in the areas of policy adherence and staff training. He also spends time in the field with staff and students sharing stories.

Matt grew up in New England outside of Boston (Go Sox!). Growing up he wandered, fished and loved the mountains and rivers of New Hampshire, Vermont and the Berkshires. His love of the ocean and lakes found him right at home in Minnesota with over 10,000 and then one of the biggest in the world besides.

Matt studied art and literature in college and draws on this background often in his work with youth and peers. He is passionate about working with people of all ages and walks of life. He has worked and grown in the experiential field for six years. He has led wilderness treks in several states in every type of weather imaginable and has worked with hundreds of youth as well as young adults.

He has strong values around mindfulness, faith, awareness and relationships. He enjoys canoeing with his wife and dog, x-country skiing, photography and practicing wilderness survival skills.

Jeff is a technically trained psychotherapist with his Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University in Seattle Washington. Jeff's academic and professional focus is on youth and their families.

Jeff has ten years of experience delivering varied therapeutic wilderness experiences to adolescents, young adults, family's and groups of diverse populations around the country. Jeff is a former Soltreks instructor.

Jeff grew up in Southern Minnesota and has lived and worked on both coasts. Jeff is excited and feeling grounded now that he and his wife Aimee have made their home Minnesota.

Jeff enjoys wilderness expeditions, mountaineering, telemark skiing, woodturning and spending time at his family cabins.