As we step into a new chapter here at ARC, we are feeling hopeful and excited to welcome two new members to our team: Heather, our new Development Director, and Tanya, our new Program Facilitator in the Tahoe Region.
While their roles at ARC are different, both Heather and Tanya share a deep belief in creating meaningful opportunities for young people to learn, lead, connect, and experience the outdoors. They each bring unique experiences and perspectives to the ARC community, and we are so excited for you to get to know them!
Meet Heather
Director of Development
Heather joins ARC from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), where she strengthened mid-level and planned giving in the roles of Annual Giving Officer and Planned Giving Officer. Throughout her development career, she has built meaningful relationships with supporters, strengthened giving pipelines, and developed strategies to connect donors with a mission and priorities that they care about. She brings experience across the full “arc” of development work, along with a thoughtful and relationship centered approach to fundraising, storytelling, and communications. Heather lives in Truckee, where she is excited to connect with the ARC community, meet with supporters, and build a thriving and sustainable fundraising program.
Before her career in development, Heather was an educator and education policy advocate. Her experience as a teacher and experiential educator give her a unique lens into the transformative power of learning beyond the traditional classroom. Combined with her development experience, Heather brings both the perspective of an educator who understands the impact of ARC’s programs and the skills to help tell and amplify that story. She was especially drawn to ARC’s commitment to making experiential learning and the outdoors more accessible to young people. “ARC sits right at the intersection of my personal and professional passions for equitable access to quality education, especially experiential learning, and access to the outdoors.”
As Development Director, Heather is excited to build relationships with ARC supporters and connect new funders to the incredible work ARC has been doing for the past 23 years. “There’s something special about helping supporters see the real impact they can have and feeling their excitement about playing an active part in advancing a mission like ARC’s.” We are thrilled to welcome Heather to the ARC community and excited for the relationships and opportunities she will help build in this next chapter.
Meet Tanya
Tahoe program Facilitator
Tanya discovered ARC while researching tuition-free outdoor education organizations. Having worked in outdoor education, she was familiar with the barriers that can make outdoor experiences inaccessible, from program costs and gear to an exclusive outdoor culture. Then she found ARC and felt like she “hit the jackpot.”
Tanya’s career has centered around two passions: connecting young people with nature and promoting community literacy through writing. ARC’s unique combination of outdoor access, literacy, and leadership immediately resonated with her.
After spending the summer with ARC students, she discovered an even deeper connection to the mission: watching students grow into confident leaders. Seeing students work through the discomfort of public speaking, physical challenges, and stepping into leadership roles reminded Tanya of her own experience in a similar youth program. Now, she is excited to help create the same opportunities for ARC students.
For Tanya, some of the most meaningful moments are when students come out of their shells, build connections, and feel comfortable being their authentic selves. Her hope is that students leave ARC feeling more confident, empowered, and proud of who they are with the courage to take on challenges, find their voice, and believe they belong.
Heather and Tanya may be joining ARC in different roles, but they share a belief at the heart of our work: young people deserve opportunities to discover their strength, find their voice, and realize their potential. Heather will build relationships with the supporters who make these opportunities possible, while Tanya will help create spaces where students can challenge themselves, build community, and grow. We are thrilled to welcome Heather and Tanya to the ARC community and excited to see the impact they will have in this next chapter!