Chris Inouye, Treasurer

Technology Consultant, Slalom

Jeff Crow

Director of Risk Management, NatureBridge

Jeff serves on the Board of Directors and the ARC Risk Management Committee, providing resources and direct support that helps ARC confront emerging risk management threats. Jeff is passionate about connecting youth to the natural world and he is committed to doing whatever he can to ensure that ARC continues to make deep, transformative connections with students. In his free time, Jeff seeks out wilderness experiences whenever his has the opportunity, whether it’s scaling high walls in Yosemite, backcountry skiing in Patagonia, or paragliding in the Sierra Foothills.

Liz Tucker, Vice Chair

Writer, Former ARC Board Chair (2017-2019)

Liz first started volunteering and mentoring with ARC in 2014 and subsequently joined the Board of Directors in 2015. She is currently a member of the Governance and Risk Management Committees. Being a writer, an outdoor enthusiast and a parent, Liz is perfect fit for the ARC community. She is passionate about helping ARC’s participants take on new risks, build their confidence, and find their voice in order to write a better and brighter future for themselves. Liz finds that in nature—whether its by the ocean or in the mountains—she gains a better idea of where she has been and where she’s going and she sees this happen each year for ARC youth as well.

Reed Schneider

Reed has been an ARC Board Member since 2023 but has been connected with the ARC programming and staff since about 2016. Reed has a long background in outdoor education and working with nonprofits in California. ARC’s mission around facilitating leadership and literacy programs in the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada, especially for central valley students resonates deeply with him.  Reed currently serves on the risk management committee and the new site selection committee.  When he’s not gardening or playing with his two sons, Reed loves to spend time outdoors running, biking, skiing and climbing preferably with his favorite adventure partner, his wife Brenda who is an instructor at Merced College.

Sarah Parkes, Board Chair

Director of Annual Giving, San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust

Sarah joined the ARC Board of Directors to assist with development in the Fresno/Sanger region in 2017. As a lifelong resident of Fresno, Sarah has witnessed the tremendous need for quality programs and mentorship for local youth. She believes deeply in the power of connecting youth to the greater world through outdoor education and was inspired to become involved in ARC to help make an impact on the youth in her community. Since childhood, the natural world has played a major role in Sarah’s life and she spends as much time as possible trail running, mountain biking, and exploring in the outdoors.

Tara House, Secretary

Dual Language Immersion Teacher, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District

Tara joined the ARC board in 2021 after supporting ARC’s partnership with Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD) for many years. She has worked alongside ARC staff on planning and policy development within TTUSD. Tara loves volunteering with ARC, especially working directly with students on their writing. It was the students and their stories that inspired Tara to join the ARC board. Tara lives in the mountains because it’s where she find peaces and happiness in nature all year round.

Ana LiZ Servin-Bancroft

TTUSD Staff

As a former North Tahoe High School student and community service provider, Ana Liz is passionate about supporting the growth of her community. Through her 10 years of work experience in the local non-profit sector and her current role as an ARC Advisory Council member for ARC, her hope is to support ARC’s mission, to advocate for local youth, encourage them to become great leaders and connect them to the outdoors. 

Barbara Ilfeld

RN, MSN, CGP, FAGPA

Barbara joined the ARC Advisory Council in 2008 following an inspirational experience as an interviewee for the ARC Sagehen Student Interview Day. She has since been a financial supporter, mental health counselor and passionate storyteller of the life changing experiences in commune with the natural environment afforded to ARC youth. Barbara’s father instilled in her a curiosity and love for all things in nature and the enrichment and healing that comes from sharing outdoor adventures in groups. In the past several years, she has visited each ARC site multiple times and is an incredible resource for both staff and students.

Jill Haley Penwarden

Partner, Rimon Law

Jill serves as ARC’s pro bono counsel and is a member of ARC’s Advisory Council. She assisted ARC in obtaining its 501©(3) nonprofit corporation status and advises ARC on risk management issues. She is inspired by meeting the young people participating in ARC programs and hearing how their time with ARC changed their perspectives on their lives and futures. As a long-time resident of the Lake Tahoe area, Jill appreciates how important it is for everyone, especially our youth, to spend time away from the noise of their everyday lives and in the quiet of the outdoors.

Kasey McJunkin

College Access Advocate, Former ARC Board Chair (2015-2017)

Kasey served nine years as an ARC Board Member and held the role of Board Chair for several years. Her involvement in ARC also includes volunteering and providing college access support to Tahoe area students. She never ceases to be inspired by the courage and vulnerability of ARC’s students, along with the warmth and effectiveness of our staff and board. Kasey says, “Pushing people outside of their comfort zone is not just talk at ARC — it pervades the organization at all levels.” Kasey feels most at home in the mountains, where she feels challenged, invigorated, and centered.

Katie Zanto, ARC Founder

Interdisciplinary Studies Program Chair, Associate Professor of Humanities, Sierra Nevada College

After a decade of working in outdoor education—teaching mountaineering, rock climbing, backpacking, expeditionary canoeing and backcountry snowboarding courses across the United States, Katie designed and founded ARC for high school age youth in California. This program integrated her two passions: literacy education and wilderness leadership training. In 2011, she received the LL Bean Outdoor Hero award for ARC’s innovation and impact. She continues to work with ARC as chair of the Curriculum Committee, dedicated to updating ARC staff training and programming curriculum. She continues to be inspired by the words and transformations of ARC’s participants each summer. She is happiest in the Sierra backcountry with family and friends.

Merrilyne Lundahl

Assistant Professor of English & Co-Director, Oregon Writing Project at Southern Oregon University

Merrilyne supports ARC on the Advisory Council as an academic researcher, as a member of the Curriculum Committee, and as a summer programs volunteer. She is inspired to work with ARC because of the people who create and sustain it–ARC’s graduates, participants, staff, and board. The courage, creativity, and compassion of ARC youth have deeply inspired her. In 2017, Merrilyne published her dissertation “Place, Literacy Learning, and Civic Engagement: A Case Study of Adventure Risk Challenge,” which is available online here.

Reini Jensen, MD

Tahoe Truckee Medical Group

Reini served on the ARC Advisory Board (the precursor to the Board of Directors) from 2004 to 2007 and then transitioned in 2017 to become the organization’s medical advisor. She is proud to have supported ARC’s transformative work with youth since the organization’s first year of programming. She takes great pleasure in seeing ARC graduates go through college, search for service opportunities, and value connections to each other and the out-of-doors. Reini is passionate about the rigorous literacy instruction ARC provides and the social and emotional support the program offers. Her fondest memories and life lessons have been working through challenges in hiking, rock climbing, and adventuring and she appreciates that ARC creates similar opportunities for its participants. Reini now shares these passions with her two sons.