Outdoor Education Faculty at the Alpine Campus

The Alpine Campus faculty are the best faculty on the planet.

John Saunders: John Saunders is the full time Outdoor Education professor at CMC.  His experience ranges from outdoor educator to biologist and includes teaching and working in university outdoor education programs, outdoor youth programs, challenge course facilitation, grade school experiential education programs, Alaska State Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service.  He is an avid naturalist and outdoor enthusiast.  John shares his life with his wife & three kids & three dogs!

Kent Vertrees: Kent moved to Colorado in 1994 after graduating the Ohio State University with a degree in Fisheries Management.  His passion for adventure drove him to a life of guiding, where he has been a white water rafting, kayaking, fly fishing, a snowmobile and ski guide.  He is currently a manager with Steamboat Powdercats and teaches River and Canyon Orientation at CMC.  Kent is a father of 2 beautiful daughters and is active in Colorado recreation and water policy concerns.  Kent currently teaches River Orientation and Canyon Orientation.

Kevin Schwan: A.A., Outdoor Education, Colorado Mountain College; CMT Massage Therapist, IPSB, San Diego, California; Wilderness First Responder and Outdoor Emergency Care.  Kevin is an avid skier, mountain biker, and paddler.  He is currently is a professional ski guide with Steamboat Powder Cats.  He teaches our mountain biking courses & Desert Orientation.

Angie Kralj KenCairn: Along with her joys of being adjunct faculty at CMC's Alpine Campus Outdoor Program, Angie works as an archaeologist for the Routt National Forest. She is originally from Pueblo, Colorado and now lives in Oak Creek where she serves as a Trustee on the Oak Creek Town Board. She received her BA in Anthropology and a Minor in Southwest Studies from the Colorado College. She received her MA in Applied Archaeology from Northern Arizona University. Her primary foci are public archaeology, the protection of our cultural and ecological heritage, experiential education and interpretation, environmental justice and indigenous rights, land stewardship and a new culture of simple living.  Angie regularly assist on our Desert Orientation course & teaches Southwest Archaeology.

Peter Huber: After receiving his A.A. degree from CMC's Alpine Campus, Pete followed his passion for the outdoors to Prescott College, in Arizona and completed his B.A. in Outdoor Education. Since that time, he has worked extensively with CMC's Outdoor Programs in Leadville and Steamboat Springs, Outward Bound, and in private guiding. Favorite outdoor pursuits include sea kayaking, backcountry skiing, and climbing of most any kind.

Rob Meeker: B.S., Geology, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Outdoor Emergency Care Certification, Wilderness First Responder Certification, Level I Avalanche Certification.

John Spezia: John has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Washington with an emphasis in numerical analysis, which led him into working for Boeing in Seattle.  After Boeing he did a stint for the Peace Corp in Africa and spent a year of climbing and traveling in Africa, Middle East, Asia, Far East and Alaska. 

He has written and published articles on climbing and outdoor equipment for several magazines and has been a climbing guide in Colorado. He spent 8 months climbing in Peru, Chile and Argentina before he came to Steamboat Springs to work for Bear Pole Ranch in 1975. He returned to graduate school in 1993 and received a Masters degree in the natural sciences at UNC. Since then he has undertaken extensive sea kayaking, canoeing, rafting, skiing, canyoneering, climbing and white water expeditions to Fiji, New Zealand, Russia, Tonga, the Canadian Arctic, Belize, the Baja, Western United States and Alaska.

John has worked for three Outward Bound Schools, supervised Student Conservation Association trail programs, taught for Colorado Mountain College since 1983, led nature walks for Yampatika, conducted Ecology classes for Rocky Mountain Youth Corp and Colorado Backcountry Corp and has been an active member in the Community of Steamboat Springs since 1975.

Bruce Beckum: M.F.A., Creative Writing, University of Texas at El Paso; M.A., Communication, Stephen F. Austin State University; B.S., Journalism, University of Kansas. Bruce is a Professor of Communications/Humanities at Alpine Campus, Colorado Mountain College. He teaches writing, literature, public speaking and fly fishing. When not working, he enjoy reading, fishing, mountain biking, trail running and floating Western rivers.