Mission Statement:
At Big Backyard Adventures, we provide the knowledge, resources, and support to craft an experience that is enriching, memorable, and fun.
Through adventure recreation, we create space to push limits, spark curiosity, embrace The Unknown, and find connection—to yourself and the world around you.
Meet Katelyn
Founder | Guide
My philosophy is that recreation - playing, going on adventures, relaxing, finding joy, and connecting with nature and each other - fuels creation (Life!) When we step away to explore and recharge, we return to our daily lives with fresh energy and inspiration to create, whether in education, engineering, art, science, or something entirely our own. It’s a necessary cycle of renewal and innovation.
Adventure isn’t an escape, it’s a return to self.
I believe in following joy, playing outside, and embracing the weird, wild, and wonderful -and I’d love to help you do the same!
Texan by birth and nomad by heart, I currently call Portland, Oregon home focusing primarily on trips in the Pacific Northwest. Over a decade of wandering has woven me into adventure recreation communities across the United States shaping the experiences I create.
If you have an idea or need some inspiration, reach out!
Experiential Education
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Regenerative Tourism
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Adventure Recreation
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Unforgettable Feelings
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Experiential Education ✺ Regenerative Tourism ✺ Adventure Recreation ✺ Unforgettable Feelings ✺
Outdoor Resume
PRESS: Portland Prosper Outdoor & Athletic: Beer & Gear Article
EDUCATON:
Pennsylvania State University - Bachelor of Science
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management: Outdoor Recreation Adventure Programming
PROFESSIONAL:
Oregon Episcopal School - Outdoor Educator / Guide
Catlin Gabel School - Outdoor Guide
Adventure Day Touring - Guide
First Nature Tours - Guide
First Flight Adventure Park - Park Guide
Farmdog’s Surf School - Camp Instructor
Zuzu Travel - Travel Agency Intern
Lewis & Clark River Expeditions - Office Admin/Reservations
Whole Earth Provisions Co. - Backpacking/Climbing Gear Specialist
St. Bernard Sports - Ski Shop Winter Apparel Specialist
North Coast Adventure Center - Mobile Sales Office Manager / Program Facilitator
Penn State University (Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center) - Multi-Sport Trip Leader / Team-building Facilitator
CERTIFICATIONS:
Wilderness First Responder/Aid
CPR/AED
Leave No Trace Trainer
FAVORITE ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES:
Backpacking, Snowboarding, Rock Climbing, Kiteboarding, Surfing, White Water Rafting, Forest Frolicking
Friends of Big Backyard Adventures
Play with Purpose
At Big Backyard Adventures, we believe the outdoors is for everyone. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive space where all adventurers—regardless of background, identity, or experience—feel welcome, valued, and empowered. We stand in solidarity with our BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities and strive to be a positive force in outdoor recreation.
We also acknowledge that the lands we explore, adventure, and play on are the traditional and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples who have stewarded them for generations. We honor their deep connection to these places and recognize that outdoor recreation exists on stolen land. With this awareness, we encourage responsible recreation by equipping you with conservation resources and Leave No Trace principles, ensuring every journey respects the land and its history.
Beyond our trips, we actively engage in conservation efforts and advocacy to protect public lands, particularly in the United States. We believe these wild places deserve our care, respect, and action—now more than ever.
“Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun.”
- Alan Watts