Demrie was born and raised in Indiana. While in school at Indiana University, he worked as a trip leader, gear specialist, and administrative assistant for the school’s outdoor adventure program; there, he facilitated outdoor courses while managing teams of other leaders. He also worked several summers at Camp Kesem, both on the administrative team and as a camp counselor. This spring, he was a tutor and instructional assistant for high school kids.
Indiana University, bachelor’s degree in anthropology
Wilderness first responder
Rock climbing has been my top pursuit for a while now, but I’m also keen to do more extended backpacking, flatwater paddling, and caving, amongst other things. In general, I like to read all genres, I’m kind of a harsh movie critic, I pick up the guitar from time to time, and I love to learn and play card games.
I’m proud of the work I put into planning and leading a staff training trip for my university outdoor program last spring. We headed to northern Florida to paddle the Suwannee River for about a week, then witnessed a massive thunderstorm on our put-in day which created tons of complications for the rest of our time there. I think it was objectively a challenging trip, but we all had the right attitude and adaptability to make it a success nonetheless.
I still think about the last night of a backpacking trip I led a few months prior to graduation. We were camped out in a pine grove with a full moon and a steady bonfire, eating snacks and exchanging stories and such. At one point we each did our own comedic interpretation of a sound that Bigfoot might make while lurking in the surrounding woods, which led to about 15 completely unique growls, yelps, and one-liners. Great time with a great group of students!
Can I say that it’s wherever I’m going next? I’m always drawn by the potential of new places and experiences—if you want to find something, it’s all out there.
As a new instructor, my plan is to dive headfirst into the world of Adventure Treks this summer. I’m stoked to meet people, learn traditions, challenge myself, and have lots of fun outside!
Christina