Originally from South Dakota, Kodi most recently called Nebraska home. While in college, she worked for the campus’ outdoor adventure center, leading multi-day canoeing, backpacking, biking, and kayaking trips. She also taught climbing and backpacking courses and served with Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, helping teach kids about health and wellness.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, bachelor’s degree in engineering
Wilderness first responder
I love to paddle! I love canoeing, kayaking, and river surfing. I enjoy climbing and biking as well. I love to create things, and I am always crafting something. I love to sew, work with clay, and watercolor paint. All of my free time I fill with an outdoor adventure or a craft!
My favorite outdoor achievement was hearing the reflections of the people I lead on my last canoeing trip. It was a 10-day expedition to the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park. At the end of the trip, I asked them to all share about how the trip had affected how they think of themselves or their life. Each person on the trip shared about how they had learned to love themselves completely, or had learned how to disconnect from the bustle of the world and find enjoyment with nature and those around them. It was really beautiful to hear that I had helped give them an experience that affected them so deeply in a positive way.
Last year, when I was on a week-long trip to the Boundary Waters. We had been paddling for a few days and stopped to portage our boats. Along the trail we found a massive waterfall. We stopped and swam and scrambled up the waterfall. It was so fun and beautiful. Then afterward we dried in the sun in our boats in the middle of the lake. It looked so beautiful, like a painting. The lake was like glass, reflecting all the clouds above.
The Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande. It is a beautiful dessert of massive canyons towering overhead a turquoise blue river. It is where I first experience the power of the outdoors and fell in love with the community of people encouraging other to get out there and experience it. I started my outdoor career as an assistant lead on the Rio Grande over three years worked up to being head lead on the Rio Grande 10-day trip at my adventure program. It will forever hold a special place in my heart as the place that creating who I am today.
Getting to meet so many interesting people that have passions similar to mine. And getting to connect and have deep talks with students. Nothing better than a chat about life around a campfire under the stars!
Eleanor