Welcoming Our New Executive Director
ARC is growing! With Bree joining as Executive Director and Sarah shifting to Director of Development and Finance, we’re building a stronger and more sustainable team for the future.
Dear ARC Community,
The ARC Board of Directors is excited to announce that Breann (Bree) Lindsey has been selected as ARC’s new Executive Director.
Bree brings a decade of experience in outdoor leadership, nonprofit management, and youth development to ARC. From the Appalachian foothills of North Georgia to Alaska, Wisconsin, and most recently California, Bree’s journey has been shaped by a deep belief in the power of outdoor experiences to transform lives and develop leaders.
Bree’s leadership style is grounded in empathy, integrity, and inclusion. She has a strong track record of building effective, values-driven teams and supporting staff with the tools, trust, and inspiration they need to thrive. Her commitment to equity in outdoor spaces and education is long-standing, both in practice and research. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership focused on inclusion and self-efficacy in outdoor learning environments.
Bree holds a B.S. in Outdoor Leadership with a minor in Appalachian Studies and Community Engagement, an M.A. in Outdoor Adventure Leadership, and certifications, including Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator. She is also an adaptive ski instructor, an avid cyclist, and a lifelong learner who finds joy in the poetry of Mary Oliver, the wisdom of bell hooks, and the community she shares with her wife and their two cats, Cricket and Leo.
Scenes from Bree’s first month during an ARC staff backpacking training.
Bree has spent the last month immersed in community building with ARC’s staff as they prepared for meaningful and impactful summer courses in Yosemite National Park. As a Board, we feel energized by Bree’s vision for ARC’s future, and we’re confident that her leadership will strengthen and expand ARC’s work of empowering underserved youth through transformative literacy, leadership, and outdoor experiences.
We also want to take this opportunity to express our immense gratitude to Sarah Ottley for her leadership during her tenure as ARC’s Executive Director. Sarah’s dedication, insight, and unwavering belief in ARC’s mission have guided the organization through many pivotal years of growth and transition. We’re thrilled that she will continue to serve ARC in a key role as Director of Development and Finance, where her knowledge of our programs and operations and her relationships will continue to make a lasting impact.
Please join us in welcoming Bree to the ARC community,
The ARC Board of Directors
A Note from Bree & Sarah
We have had the privilege of working side-by-side since May, deepening a partnership built on trust, collaboration, and a shared vision for ARC’s future. As of June, Bree has officially stepped into the role of Executive Director, and Sarah has transitioned into the role of Director of Development and Finance.
This evolution reflects ARC’s continued momentum. Since our founding in 2004 we’ve been growing in response to the needs of our students and communities. Just in the last seven years, we have grown by 300%, resulting in significantly more programming for more youth. With that comes the opportunity to align our roles in ways that best serve ARC now and prepare us for the years ahead.
While this may feel like a “passing of the torch,” it’s more accurate to say it’s a strengthening of our leadership. Our skills and perspectives compliment each other well, and this shift allows us to each lean into what we do best. Bree brings fresh energy and insight into our daily operations and long-term strategy, and Sarah is excited to focus on cultivating and deepening donor relationships, building on the strong foundation she’s helped lay for over a decade. As our programming has grown exponentially, the need for additional fundraising capacity has become clear. Her transition is a critical investment in our commitment to financial sustainability.
We want to recognize that this moment is about more than just the two of us. ARC’s growth is the result of the remarkable work of our staff and Board of Directors, whose dedication continues to shape and strengthen the organization. Welcoming Bree (as well as several new board members) is part of how we’re building stability and sustainability — with roles that meet the needs of ARC today and into the coming years.
We’re filled with excitement and confidence for what lies ahead. Together, we’re strengthening something enduring — grounded in the communities we engage and guided by the vision that all youth become stewards of their own futures, their communities, and the environment.
Come see us in person! We’ll be at the El Portal Community Hall for the 22nd annual Voices of Youth on July 30th. We’d love to see you there!
With deep gratitude,
Bree Lindsey & Sarah Ottley