Dear friends,

It’s here: the big transition from winter to summer. The snow is melting, the valley is turning green, and we’re transitioning our gear garage from skis and boots to bikes and backpacks! Winter programs are over, with over 450 participants having enjoyed the magic of the slopes and snow all season. We recently wrapped up our spring break programs too, with day camps for elementary schoolers and regional trips for our middle and high schoolers.

Now summer is coming and camp programs are already almost fully enrolled. We even have all our summer instructors hired and the Coombs logo is printed on our fresh batch of Stio sunshirts. As we take a deep breath between seasons, we can’t wait to hike, bike, climb, paddle, and camp with our participants soon. Read on for a recap of our successful winter and spring seasons.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported us through the year so far. Whether you joined us at our Skiing with the Stars fundraiser, came to see our new Clubhouse building, donated, volunteered, or cheered us on some other way, we couldn’t do it without you!

Happy spring,

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

P.S. We still have a long way to go to make sure our new building can be our forever home. If you are interested in a tour or pledging your support to the Coombs Clubhouse Campaign, please reach out to me at jenny@coombsoutdoors.org or stop by 85 W. Snow King Ave.

What a winter!

This was another stellar season for Coombs winter programs. From beginner ski school and Nordic lessons to afterschool workshops and backcountry ski club, we were proud to watch our participants grow and have fun together. Kids gained confidence, connected with Jackson’s ski culture, had fun being active with their friends, and experienced the joy and excitement of sliding on snow.

Winter recap:

• 155 elementary schoolers in ski or snowboard lessons at Snow King

• 15 4th & 5th graders skiing in Rockchuck Racers with JH Ski & Snowboard Club (JHSC)

• 31 elementary schoolers in Ositos Nordic ski lessons in partnership with JHSC

• 12 Ositos competed in the Moose Chase Nordic race

• 40+ parents learned to ski/snowboard at Snow King and started to ski with their kids

• 183 middle and high schoolers in Coombs Club ski/snowboard mentorship program at Snow King and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

• 3 Coombs Club kids dropped Corbet’s Couloir for the first time

• 20+ participants rode the tram for the first time

• 75 volunteers skied with participants, making Coombs Club possible

• 6 Coombs interns became Junior PSIA Ski Instructors

• 4 professional development workshops for high schoolers

• 14 skiers in backcountry club

• 3 participants summited 25 Short in Grand Teton National Park

• 32 afterschool participants ice skating, cooking, climbing, playing pickleball, and more

• 60+ attendees at the first Spanish-language Avalanche Awareness Night in partnership with Camina Conmigo and TCSAR

Thank you to our winter partners for making it all possible!

• Black Tie Ski Rental

• Stio

• Share Winter Foundation

• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

• Snow King Mountain

• Exum Mountain Guides

• American Avalanche Institute

• Teton County Search & Rescue

• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)

• Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club

• Faction Skis

• United Shapes Snowboards

• Arc’teryx

• Teton County Parks & Recreation

Thank you to our amazing winter volunteers!

Spring Break Programs

Spring break programs provide an opportunity for Coombs kids to be active and engaged during a time when school is out of session and many parents are busy working. Launched three years ago after receiving feedback from parents and kids that there was a gap in resources for kids during time out of school, Coombs continues to prioritize and expand spring break programming for families. This year, each spring break program received applications that exceeded program capacity by more than double, confirming the community need and demand for these services.

Activate Day Camp

While our older participants headed out on trips, 24 elementary schoolers had fun exploring and being active right here in Jackson! Special thanks to our community partners at the Art Association, Teton County Parks and Rec, Astoria Hot Springs, the Animal Adoption Center, Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, and National Museum of Wildlife Art for helping make the week amazing.

Engage Moab Trip

For the third year, Coombs staff headed to Moab, Utah with 20 middle schoolers to have a desert spring break getaway. Although it wasn’t as warm as we had hoped, the participants had an amazing adventure biking, climbing, and camping together for a week. We love seeing kids explore and use their outdoor skills in a new environment and make vacation memories with their peers.

Empower Salt Lake City College Visit

Coombs Empower had the best time bringing 12 participants on our college visit trip to Salt Lake City for spring break! This was our third time offering a high school college trip over spring break, and we’re excited to see participant interest growing every year. Highlights included visiting the University of Utah and Westminster University, a sunny day at Snowbird, exploring Salt Lake City, and lots of good food.

Thank you for supporting us through Skiing with the Stars!

This year’s Skiing with the Stars event was a huge success, and we are so grateful for everyone who joined us. 22 Stars hit the slopes with 20 kids in the morning and 100 supporters in the afternoon, and then we celebrated - and raised important funds - with even more friends at the Après party!

Dear friends,

We hope you’re enjoying the winter season and staying warm out there! After a busy fall moving into our new Coombs Clubhouse building, it has been such a joy to start filling it with families, participants, partners, and supporters. We’re so proud to have a permanent space where our community can come to connect, learn, access resources, and feel that they belong - not to mention how much it eases our logistics to have a place to store our gear, park our vans, access Snow King, and hold simultaneous programs!

Both outside and inside the Clubhouse walls, Coombs kids are on the slopes and active in our programs almost every day of the week. Read on to see everything our participants are up to this winter.

Warm wishes,

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

P.S. We still have a long way to go to make sure this home can be ours forever. If you are interested in a tour or pledging your support to the Coombs Clubhouse Campaign, please reach out to me at jenny@coombsoutdoors.org.

Introducing New Program Coordinators

Welcome, Max! After serving as an Activate instructor this past summer, we’re excited to have Max join our staff team as a part-time Activate coordinator this winter. His favorite candy is peanut M&Ms and he’s loving the opportunity to ski with all the Coombs elementary school kids this winter. We’re loving having his help to keep our busy Snow King learn-to-ski and Ositos Nordic programs running smoothly!

Welcome, Jael! Jael is our new part-time Engage coordinator, helping run our middle and high school programs this winter. His favorite candy is gummy clusters and he’s excited to join the team and help out the community. He is a great asset to our programs like Coombs Club ski days and afterschool workshops, where he plans creative activities and serves as a positive role model while having fun with participants.

Activate: Learn-to-ski and more

Snow King Mountain Sports School

We currently have 155 elementary-aged kids enrolled in ski or snowboard lessons at Snow King. There are also 9 older students enrolled in a learn-to-snowboard class. These beginner lessons have been a staple of Coombs programming since our organization was founded, helping make skiing more accessible for Jackson kids. It’s amazing to continue to see so many Coombs kids out on the mountain learning and having fun.

Rockchuck Racers

We have 15 4th and 5th graders enrolled in the Rockchuck Racers program through Jackson Hole Ski Club, and they are already learning so much in this more advanced program! A highlight has been witnessing the confidence gained by our returning participants alongside excited new faces in the group. Despite icy conditions on the first day, all of the participants skied the full 5 hours with a short break for lunch.

Ositos Nordic ski

We currently have 31 kids enrolled in Ositos, our afterschool cross country ski program. Ositos is a partnership between Coombs and the Jackson Hole Ski Club, with coaches from both organizations leading practices at Trail Creek. 21 beginners participate once a week and 10 kids who are a bit more advanced, or have been in the program before, come twice a week. We continue to be impressed at how quickly the kids progress with their comfort on skis over the first few weeks of the program.

“It’s been great to see kids getting off the bus excited for Ositos every day. Learning a sport like Nordic skiing involves falling a lot and can feel really awkward at first. But constantly falling in the snow seems to have only spurred enthusiasm for the program. One participant in particular has been struggling adjusting to the sport, but despite always being covered with snow he has yelled, “I LOVE SKIING!” at the end of almost every practice. I’ve been having a lot of fun with this group. They have such a good attitude and every day brings something new.” - Max, Activate Program Coordinator

Padres Adult Ski Programs

This year the Coombs Padres program is supporting 22 parents enrolled in ski and snowboard lessons and 33 more advanced parents skiing independently with their families. We also started a Padres Coombs Club for the first time this year, and has already been a highlight of our winter. All 12 of the parents who attended the first day skied together, with more skilled parents taking a leadership role in providing instruction and support for the less experienced parents. Many of the parents stayed at Snow King in the afternoon to ski with their kids once the lessons were over, and we’re so glad to see more families getting to ski together!

Engage: Hitting the slopes, picking up skills

Coombs Club

This is another record year for our Coombs Club ski mentorship program, with 183 middle and high school participants skiing and snowboarding with 73 amazing volunteers. We have 117 kids at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and 54 at Snow King on weekends, and this year 11 participants also joined our new afterschool option to ski at Snow King.

The camaraderie, excitement, and kindness of the Coombs community has already been on full display. Kids have been skiing hard, eating lots of chicken tenders at Casper, and getting to know their volunteers. Thank you to this year’s volunteers, who have been our most reliable and enthusiastic crew ever! We are so proud of our Engage participants and we can’t wait to watch them progress throughout the season.

Backcountry Club

Coombs Backcountry Ski club is back for its third year! We have 13 participants, including 6 returners who have naturally become amazing mentors for the new members of the group. We have 10 volunteer coaches, including ski guides, professional skiers, and long standing Coombs volunteers. The group has weekly practices at Snow King plus weekend backcountry days like skiing Edelweiss on Teton Pass. The group has already participated in robust learning opportunities like Winter Wilderness First Aid and our first ever community Spanish-language Avalanche Awareness Night, both in partnership with the Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation.

Afterschool Workshops

This year we have 36 participants joining us once a week after school. These programs give middle and high schoolers a way to have fun, get outside in new ways, stay active and safe, and spend time with friends. Programs are run by staff and volunteers and include rock climbing, ice skating, sledding, sports, cooking, art projects, and more.

Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club

Four of our 6th and 7th graders are on JHSC’s Junior Nordic team for the first time, and making great progress already. We also have 3 participants in the JHSC Alpine Progression Program, who are excited to take on an extra commitment to skiing.

Empower: Winter professional development opportunities

High School Internships & Professional Development

We have 8 interns participating in 3 different internships this winter, including Snow King Apprentice Instructors, Coombs Outdoors Nordic Instructors, and our first JHMR Apprentice Instructors. We will also offer four professional development workshops for interns and interested high school students, covering financial literacy, writing resumes and cover letters, career panels, and mock interview skills. We are also collaborating with Teton Literacy Center, First in Family, Central Wyoming College, and Jackson Hole High School to provide some support for Juniors and Seniors considering college, such as the well-attended scholarship and financial aid info nights we held in December.

We also would like to note that, while they participate in our “Empower” professional development offerings, high schoolers are also welcome to participate in our “Engage” outdoor programming. Engage afterschool workshops have some high school participants and Coombs Club is almost half high schoolers!

Thank you for sharing joy and adventure with us in 2024.

This has been such a special year for Coombs Outdoors. We moved into a new home, started new programs, got to work with wonderful volunteers and partners, and made memories with more participants than ever. We also decked the halls of the Coombs Clubhouse, shared gifts with our kids, and celebrated with our staff, board, and supporters. Learn more about our successes in 2024 in the “year in review” snapshots below or by reading our recent Annual Gratitude and Impact Report.

From all of us at Coombs Outdoors, we want to thank you for your support in 2024 and wish you a happy new year filled with adventure. See you in 2025!

Dear friends,

Every season is busy for Coombs in a different way, and this fall has been no exception. We are coming off of our biggest summer yet, expanding summer programs by 50%, serving over 275 kids, and filling a growing need in our community. We ran more challenging backpacking trips and offered new specialty camps where participants built more advanced skills in their favorite activities like biking, hiking, climbing, and kayaking.

We spent our fall season getting the Coombs Clubhouse move-in ready. Coombs staff and volunteers set to work painting, demoing walls, building a bike barn, organizing gear, and moving our operations. We’re thrilled to be settling in and already welcoming participants and families into our new home.

Now we’re in full swing preparing for winter by signing participants up for ski programs, coordinating with partner organizations, and training a solid winter volunteer team. More than 400 participants are preparing to spend their winter with Coombs.

We are only able to offer this range of programs to an ever-growing number of kids thanks to support like yours. Thank you for being part of the Coombs community!

With gratitude,

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

P.S. We are moved into our new building, but we still need to raise funds to pay the mortgage and make it our forever home. If you are interested in a tour or pledging your support to the Coombs Clubhouse Campaign, please reach out to me at jenny@coombsoutdoors.org.

Celebrating our biggest summer yet!

Due to a loss in funding our school district had to dramatically reduce summer school capacity for 2024, leaving a gap in services that disproportionately affected Coombs families. We were proud to expand our summer programming in response to this reduction in services. Thanks to support from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, we doubled the size of our elementary school day camp to meet this community need, adding 26 kids per week or 1,170 camper days across the summer. We grew our total summer capacity from 225 to 275 participants this past year, including 145 in Activate K-5 programs and 130 in Engage middle school programs. These programs provided each kid up to 3 weeks of camp to learn, grow, and engage in fun, structured activities while their parents worked.

Not only did we expand our participant capacity, but we grew our summer program offerings as well. We offered a wider range of options such as our first summer swimming lessons at the Rec Center, including our first swimming lessons for middle schoolers. We launched our new skills-focused day camps as part of our Engage summer programs, where middle and high schoolers experienced full days biking, climbing, paddling, or hiking in addition to our existing evening skills clubs and the backpacking trips we offer. Growing these specialty skillbuilding opportunities from last year’s 50 spots to this year’s 90 spots helped us move toward our goal of providing older participants with ways to pursue their individual interests and build more advanced outdoor skills. Skills camps are a way to keep our older participants engaged, check in with participants more often throughout the season, and help them maintain their connection to our community and resources.

The new staggered Engage camp schedule also made it possible for us to run longer, more challenging backpacking trips where participants were able to take their wilderness experience and group bonding to the next level. One example was an amazing 8-day trip through the Wind River Range. Our internships were also a success, with 11 high schoolers gaining experience in education, conservation, outdoor gear, and even physical therapy.

Thank you, summer partners & funders!

Community Foundation of Jackson Hole

National Park Foundation

Stio

Exum Mountain Guides

Dave Hansen Whitewater

Snake River Fund

Rendezvous River Sports

Jackson Hole Kayak Club

Wilderness Adventures

Patagonia

REI Cooperative Action Fund

Teton Conservation District

Grand Teton National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Bridger Teton National Forest

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Jackson Hole Land Trust

Slow Food in the Tetons

Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School

International Game Fish Association

Jackson Hole One Fly

Grand Teton Music Festival

Jackson Hole Children’s Museum

Animal Adoption Center

Teton County Search and Rescue

Wheel Wranglers

HGG Bikes

Grand Targhee Resort

JH Art Association

National Museum of Wildlife Art

Protect Our Waters JH

Jackson Hole Swimming

Teton County Parks & Recreation

Hole Food Rescue

REI

The Nature Conservancy

Teton Physical Therapy

…and more!!!

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Winter is coming!

We took a break from fall programs to move into our new building, but now we’re in full swing preparing for winter. Families are stopping by the Coombs Clubhouse to get signed up for ski and snowboard programs, we’re training our volunteer team, and our winter interns are getting oriented to their upcoming roles.

We’re about to dive into another big winter season coordinating activities for about 400 participants of all ages. This winter’s programs include:

• Coombs Club: ski & snowboarding at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King

• Learn to ski & snowboard: lessons at Snow King

• Rockchuck Racers: advanced alpine skiing with JH Ski & Snowboard Club

• Junior Nordic: advanced cross country skiing with JH Ski & Snowboard Club

• Ositos Nordic: beginner cross country skiing with Coombs & JH Ski & Snowboard Club

• Coombs Backcountry Club: backcountry skiing & avalanche safety

• Afterschool programs & workshops

Trip Spotlight: Blowin’ in the Wind River Range

This summer a group of 12 participants took on a new challenge for Coombs Outdoors: an epic 8-day backpacking trip in the Wind River Range. The adventure started with a night base camping at New Fork Lake, where they ate burrito bowls, got caught up on the latest chisme (gossip), taught each other new friendship bracelet designs, and showed off their favorite Coombs Outdoors stickers from Sticker Mule.

These kids started with us when they were little elementary schoolers and are now in late middle school or early high school, making them some of our longest running participants. It’s been so silly and impressive to watch them grow up through various phases and emerge as strong, confident leaders who don’t bat an eye at carrying a heavy pack up and over one of the coolest mountain ranges in the world.

Check out this incredible “day in the life” video of their trip made by a longstanding participant, Camila.

Camila, a rising 8th grader, has been part of Coombs programs since she was in elementary school. Over the past few years, Camila has participated in many Coombs activities: summer camps, the Coombs Club ski mentorship program, climbing club, mountain bike club, after school workshops, and more. Although she always enjoyed being outside, Camila was often hesitant about trying new things and less than enthusiastic about leaving her phone behind to go on hiking trips.

This spring, Camila elected to go on the most difficult backpacking trip of the summer, which included 7 nights in the Wind River Range. She was the youngest participant on the trip, but was undeterred by the challenge ahead. While the trip was intense, Camila’s positive attitude had an impressive impact on the entire group. She was often overheard telling her fellow participants and instructors “don’t worry, it’s gonna be okay” in moments of stress. She went swimming every day after the hikes, and even taught other group members how to dive. Camila volunteered to create a “day in the life” video of her experience on the trip. We are so proud of how confident Camila has become, and we can’t wait to watch her continue to grow and take on new responsibilities through Coombs programs!

Summer Adventures are the Best!

With summer flying by, I hope you’re enjoying this special time of year as much as we are. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through our summer programs for over 275 participants, with more than 75 kids adventuring with us every week.

With summer school’s significant drop in capacity this year, we expanded our summer camp programs by 2 groups per week or over 1,000 camper days. This was only possible due to generous funding from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and a big lift from our amazing staff. We were proud to be one of 3 organizations able to help fill this gap in services for our families. You can read more about the community effort in this article from the Jackson Hole News & Guide.

Once again this is our biggest summer yet, with doubled Activate elementary school camp capacity and a wider variety of adventures for middle and high schoolers. We hired a record 13 summer instructors, 7 of whom are former Coombs Outdoors participants now in a position of leadership and representation for younger kids.

We’re so proud to be able to offer more and updated opportunities for local youth to try new things, get comfortable in the outdoors, and build skills that can help them overcome challenges on the trail and in life.

Thanks again for being a friend of Coombs, whether that’s joining us at an event, volunteering at our bike or climbing clubs, or donating to support our programs. By helping us create access to the activities that make Jackson special, you are making a difference in our community and in the lives of over 450 kids.

Activate Summer Camp

Activate day camp is bigger and more action-packed than ever. 145 participants in grades K-5 are attending up to three weeks each of camp this summer.

So far this summer, our elementary school participants have explored Grand Teton National Park, made arts & crafts with the Art Association, paddleboarded at R Park, tried fishing, visited the Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, played in local parks, cooked with Slow Food in the Tetons, played disc golf, visited the National Museum of Wildlife Art, met cats at the Animal Adoption Center, ridden strider bikes from Friends of Pathways, learned about hydrology with Protect Our Waters JH, played ukulele with the Grand Teton Music Festival, gone rock climbing with Exum Mountain Guides, rafted the Snake River with Dave Hansen and Snake River Fund, taken swimming lessons with Jackson Hole Swimming, and more!

Engage Summer Adventures

This summer’s Engage programs are an exciting mosaic of opportunities for middle and high schoolers to pursue their interests, challenge themselves, and spend time outside with peers and mentors. 107 participants are backpacking with us and also have the opportunity to attend outdoor clubs during day camps or evening sessions, keeping them engaged, active, off of screens, and having fun.

Kids entering grades 6-7 get their feet wet on shorter 2-night backpacking trips to Leigh Lake in Grand Teton National Park and Firehole Meadows in Yellowstone. We were thrilled to see some of our older middle schoolers step up as volunteer leaders on these trips and help show our newer backpackers the ropes.

This year we wanted to offer our more experienced Engage participants opportunities to explore new terrain and push themselves farther with longer backpacking trips. These more challenging adventures include 3-night trips in the Tetons, 5-day trips to Black Canyon in Yellowstone, an 8-day trip in the Wind River Range, and 8-day trips backpacking and sea kayaking in Yellowstone partnering with Wilderness Adventures. These trips keep our older participants engaged with our programs and excited to keep exploring and progressing their outdoor skills.

We were also excited to begin offering other program options for our middle schoolers such as swimming lessons and specialty day camps. We’re calling this new program structure “Club Weeks,” giving kids the opportunity to sign up for full days of biking, climbing, paddling, or hiking in addition to the backpacking trips we offer. We also continue to offer our “aftercamp” evening clubs for climbing and biking with staff and volunteers. Growing all of these specialty skillbuilding opportunities from last year’s 50 spots to this year’s 90 spots helps us move toward our goal of providing participants with ways to increase confidence, experience the same activities as their peers, connect to Jackson’s outdoor community, pursue their individual interests, and build more advanced outdoor skills.

Empower Summer Internships

After a successful and fun training week including a campout and rafting trip, 11 interns are enjoying their experiences so far this summer through our Empower program. This season’s internships are with Stio, Hole Food Rescue, the Nature Conservancy, Teton Physical Therapy, REI, and Coombs Outdoors. A highlight this summer is seeing our interns take on roles at Coombs including Activate instructor, lifeguard, Engage backpacking co-leader, gear manager, and club instructor. This has been an exciting way for them to see different parts of summer at Coombs, learn a variety of skills, and become positive role models for younger participants.

Congratulations, Coombs Grads!

Another class of Coombs graduates is heading off to new adventures! We are so thankful to have shared so many memories with this group of leaders over the years. We know they are all going to do great things!  

We’d like you to meet the Coombs class of 2024, and share some of their reflections as a member of our community over the years.

Aldric Torres Rangel

Started with Coombs: 2nd Grade

Plans after high school: Universal Technical Institute in California, studying to be an Automotive Technician

Favorite Coombs Memory: My favorite Coombs memory was for sure crossing off going into Corbett’s Couloir with all my friends and amazing mentors I had that day, and along with all the memories I have with Coombs.

Advice to a younger Coombs kid: Definitely take advantage of all the opportunities they offer. It’ll help you create and grow a sense of what it’s like to have fun. As you get older take the chance to get a job/internship to get ready to perform well in the real word.

Anything else to share? I am definitely going to miss the entire Coombs family and all the amazing people I’ve met through the program, and enjoy how big Coombs has gotten since when Emily first started it.

Angel Villanueva

Started with Coombs: 11th Grade

Plans after high school: College, Biology

Favorite Coombs Memory: The views between the mountains. 

Advice to a younger Coombs kid: Enjoy the present more and stop thinking too much about the future.

Edwin Montiel

Started with Coombs: 2nd Grade

Plans after high school: Electrician school

Favorite Coombs Memory: Going backpacking in the mountains for multiple days.

Advice to a younger Coombs kid: Try everything, it’s fun.

Anything else to share? Thank you guys for giving me everything I could ask for!

Jackson Rossington Duckett

Started with Coombs: 9th Grade

Plans after high school: Montana State University, Business

Favorite Coombs Memory: Skiing and doing the scavenger hunts on final ski days.

Advice to a younger Coombs Kid: Have fun and participate, even if it seems corny, because you’ll regret it if you don’t.

Joe Martinez

Started with Coombs: 6th Grade

Plans after high school: Wyotech, studying to be a Diesel Mechanic

Favorite Coombs Memory: Skiing and snowboarding

Advice to a younger Coombs Kid: Enjoy it while it lasts!

Anything else to share? Hiking may be hard, but it’s worth it.

Kevin Hernandez Lopez

Started with Coombs: 5th Grade

Plans after high school: University of Wyoming, Finance

Favorite Coombs Memory: Skiing with friends

Advice to a younger Coombs Kid: Don’t be scared to try new things, and be open minded.

Nathan Espejel-Andraca

Started with Coombs: 3rd Grade

Plans after high school: Wyotech

Favorite Coombs Memory: Horse camping on my birthday.

Advice to a younger Coombs Kid: Push yourself.

Suemy Gaona Perez

Started with Coombs: 3rd Grade

Plans after high school: Colorado State University, majoring in architecture and minoring in real estate

Favorite Coombs Memory: 3-day backpacking/camping trip.

Advice to a younger Coombs kid: Appreciate and take more opportunities.

Anything else to share? Thank you for giving me so much.

Alex Robles

Angel Fernando Resendiz

Betzabed Vazquez Zarate

Brandon Vazquez

Gerardo Bonilla Gonzalez

Hugo Alberto Alvarado Villegas

Jair Bedolla Perez

Jael Garcia Mejia

Josh Finck Martinez

Mario Juarez Cervantes

Mesa Smithmen

Noel Tzompa Sanchez

Yair Cervantes

Dear friends,

Spring is a unique time of year in Jackson Hole. As the snow gives way to mud, it makes us want to run off and explore the desert or relax on a tropical beach. The Coombs staff all took some time off to reset between our busy winter and summer seasons, but not before creating opportunities for our participants to have some awesome spring breaks of their own. We launched spring break programs last year in response to feedback from parents and participants that kids of all ages didn’t have a lot to do during spring break if their parents weren’t able to take time off. We planned camps and adventures for each of our age groups doing spring break and these programs filled up quickly. We are committed to providing this valuable offseason programming in years to come. 

I had the pleasure of going on a trip to Moab with Coombs middle schoolers, where we spent the week biking, canyoneering, camping, and just spending quality time together. I didn’t know what to expect when I signed on to go camping with 20 middle schoolers, but I can honestly say it was one of my favorite desert trips to date. As I led groups of first-time mountain bikers around the trails, I was so impressed by their willingness to try hard things, get back on the bike when they messed up or fell, and, most significantly, supported and cheered on one another. In fact, if I had to use a word to sum up the trip, it would be kindness. Younger campers were included and encouraged by older campers, meals were made and dishes were washed with singing and dancing, gear was happily shared, and the smiles on everyone’s faces were wide and genuine. I hope you’ll read on for a glimpse into all of our spring break programs, from our local Activate day camp to our Empower college visit.

Now that our staff is all back together in the office, we’re diving in deep. We’re putting our winter gear back into storage, hiring summer instructors, placing kids into camp groups, finalizing plans with our partners, and getting excited to share another Teton summer with our largest group of summer participants yet. 

Thanks again for everything you do to support Coombs, whether that’s joining us at an event, volunteering at our ski clubs, or donating to support our work. By helping us create access to the activities that make Jackson special, you are making a difference in our community and in the lives of over 450 kids.

Happy spring!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

P.S. In case you missed it, we bought a building! This step toward permanence was made possible by our generous Board of Directors and several leadership donors through the Coombs Clubhouse Campaign. If you are interested in a tour of the building or pledging your support, please reach out to me at jenny@coombsoutdoors.org.

Spring Break Adventures

Activate Day Camp

Our Activate spring break day camp was so much fun! Last month 26 elementary school kids joined us for week-long programs while they were out of school and their parents were working. Activities included epic sledding, arts and crafts with the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the Art Association with Sage Living, playing with kittens at the Animal Adoption Center, snow ice cream making, soccer and extreme tag at JH Indoor, Easter egg hunting at R Park, swimming at Astoria Hot Springs, and becoming Junior Wildland Firefighters in Grand Teton National Park. 

This was our second year running spring break camps, and we can’t wait to do it again next year! Thanks to our amazing partners for welcoming our participants and making our spring break camps possible.

Engage Moab Trip

Coombs Engage participants in 6-9th grade had a magical week in Moab, Utah during their spring break! From canyoneering to mountain biking to skateboarding, everyone got to try new things and step outside of their comfort zones. We love being able to give these kids an opportunity to experience a Jackson-favorite spring desert trip. Thanks to Evo Hotel, Wheel Wranglers, and The Mountain Guides for making this adventure possible!

Empower Bozeman Visit

Our Empower program had the best time bringing 9 high schoolers on our annual college visit to check out what Bozeman and Montana State University have to offer. Highlights of the trip included visiting the MSU campus, skiing and snowboarding at Bridger Bowl, cooking awesome meals together at the AirBnB, soaking at Bozeman Hot Springs, and of course a visit to Sweet Peaks ice cream. Special shoutout to Trio MSU and Montana State University for welcoming us!

Dear friends,

It’s hard to believe winter is over and summer is already approaching. Each season is a busy time for us, running different kinds of programs to meet the needs of our community.

With over 450 participants, this was another winter for the record books. We were proud to watch our 200+ beginners progress quickly in Snow King lessons and our Ositos Nordic ski program. Our more advanced participants impressed us with their skill and confidence at JHMR and in our second season of Backcountry Ski Club. 

I need to take a moment to thank our partners, sponsors, volunteers, and amazing staff who make all this possible! Our staff works hard to open the doors to the magic of winter for more and more kids every year.

Next, we ran our second year of spring break programs for over 50 kids. This year’s offerings included elementary school day camps, middle school Moab adventures, and a high school Bozeman trip featuring a college visit at Montana State University. (We’ll tell you more about spring break in our May newsletter!)

With summer applications rolling in, we’re hard at work tying up all the loose ends of our summer plans for one of our biggest summers yet. We can’t wait for another busy season exploring, biking, climbing, backpacking, paddling, and making memories with our participants.

Your support makes it possible for us to offer this range of programs season after season. Thank you for being part of our Coombs community and helping local kids have meaningful experiences outdoors. 

Happy spring!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

P.S. In case you missed it, we bought a building! This step toward permanence was made possible by our generous Board of Directors and several leadership donors through the Coombs Clubhouse Campaign. If you are interested in a tour of the building or pledging your support, please reach out to me at jenny@coombsoutdoors.org.

Winter Highlights

Winter ACTIVATE: Snow King lessons to Ositos Nordic

Our Activate winter programs were so amazing that it’s hard to see them end! From January to March we had kids out enjoying winter every day of the week. From Rockchuck Racers and Ositos Nordic ski practice with Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club to ski and snowbaord lessons for kids and parents at Snow King, we have so much to be proud of and grateful for. We had our biggest winter in Activate yet, with over 220 participants. We couldn’t have done it without support from the Share Winter Foundation, Skinny Skis, Fischer Nordic, Stio, the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club, and Snow King Mountain. (Photos by Zach Montes.)

• Learn-to-ski and snowboard is a crucial piece of our winter programming. This year more than 200 participants attended weekly lessons at Snow King, including young kids, adult beginners in our Padres program, and our first snowboard lessons for beginners 6th grade and up. Shoutout to Tom and the instructor team at Snow King for our best season of ski school yet!

• In our Ositos Nordic ski program, 33 participants practiced cross country skiing weekly with coaches from Coombs and the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club. Six Ositos skiers even participated in their first race - the Moose Chase! For the first time this year, we were able to use our very own fleet of classic skis and introduce skate skiing to our participants thanks to a sponsorship from Fischer Nordic Skis and a Micro Grant from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. 

• Rockchuck Racers, a more advanced alpine ski program with the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club, had 15 Coombs participants this year, training for 5 hours every Saturday at Snow King. Participants progressed and built confidence in many different ways from moguls to jumps and from steep, icy terrain to powder.

Winter ENGAGE: Coombs Club, Afterschool, & Backcountry

Our Engage participants continue to impress us with their skills, bravery, and confidence on the slopes. We have known many of them since they were little kids, and it’s amazing to watch them grow into strong, responsible leaders who try new things and cheer on their peers. This year we had over 160 middle and high schoolers participating in our winter programs, including Coombs Club, Backcountry Club, and afterschool programs. (Engage photos by Coombs staff and Joey Sackett.)

• In Coombs Club, groups of kids joined volunteer mentors to ski and snowboard on weekends, with 110+ participants at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and 50+ at Snow King. Highlights included a big JHMR scavenger hunt, inaugural tram laps, enjoying Snow King’s Sunnyside, wearing glitter, and having fun with their friends and volunteer mentors.

• We also had 20+ middle schoolers in our winter afterschool programs. This included After the Bell Nordic ski practices, in partnership with Teton County School District, and Coombs afterschool Workshops where participants did everything from sledding and snowboarding to ice skating and cooking. 

• Our Backcountry Club reached new heights in its second year with 14 middle and high school participants. The group impressed us with their responsibility and adventurous spirits at Snow King uphill practices, avalanche safety training with the American Avalanche Institute, and guided tours in the backcountry on Teton Pass and in Grand Teton National Park with Exum Mountain Guides and NOLS. This year we added intros to wilderness medicine this year with TSCAR and Wounded Bear Medicine and did major investments into our backcountry ski gear fleet thanks to much in-kind support.

Winter EMPOWER: Internships & Workshops 

Our 8 Empower interns had great experiences in their winter roles. These high schoolers gained experience in leadership, education, communication, skiing, and more. The interns in instructor roles were perfect mentors and teachers to inspire our younger Coombs participants. (Empower photos by Zach Montes.)

• 8 interns were part of the Empower program this winter including 4 Snow King Mountain Sports School Apprentice Instructors, 2 Coombs Outdoors Ositos Nordic Ski Instructors, and 2 REI Sales Specialists. 6 interns received Jr. PSIA Instructor training this winter, allowing them to grow their ski and education experience.

• We held 3 professional and personal development workshops this winter based on feedback from our high school participants about their interests. These included career mapping with Central Wyoming College, writing resumes and cover letters, and taxes and personal finances with Deliberate Dollars.

THANK YOU!

Our winter sponsors and partners make our ski, snowboard, and winter afterschool programs possible.

And thanks again to our amazing winter volunteer team!

Biggest Skiing with the Stars ever!

Not only did we have a blast at Skiing with the Stars last month, but we raised record funds - over $200k! - for our programs. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed!

Save the Date: Coombs Cup 2024

Mark your calendars now to join us on August 14 for Coombs Cup Golf Tournament! Support our programs and participate in a fun day of golf, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, live music, and celebration.

We're so excited to announce that Coombs Outdoors has purchased a unicorn of a space that magically fills all our needs to run our programs into the future. We're calling it the Coombs Clubhouse - a permanent place for all of our participants to feel welcome, inspired, and empowered in the heart of Jackson Hole. 

Located at the corner of Snow King and Glenwood, the new Coombs Clubhouse has room for all our organizational needs which are currently spread across 4 different temporary, leased locations: offices, program space, gear storage, and van parking. 

We are so grateful for the leap of faith taken by the Coombs Board, our generous donors, and the seller of the building. This is an exciting opportunity for us to permanently plant roots in Jackson, allowing us to continue to grow and make a difference in our community.

Learn more in this article from the Jackson Hole News & Guide.

“Despite not having had a permanent residence, Coombs Outdoors has become a staple within this outdoor community, as its message of inclusivity has spread through many different groups of people in Jackson. But now that it has a ‘forever home,’ as Wolfrom Holladay described it, Coombs is poised to reach even more.”

With financial support from 100% of the Coombs Board of Directors and leadership gifts from several generous donors, we were able to fund a sizable downpayment that made the initial purchase of the building possible. However, we need additional funding to get it over the finish line. We invite friends and community members to support this momentous effort through the Coombs Clubhouse Campaign. If you are interested in a tour of the building or pledging your support, please reach out to jenny@coombsoutdoors.org.

Thanks for being part of Skiing with the Stars!

This year’s Skiing with the Stars event was beyond special. The energy, enthusiasm, and support for Coombs Outdoors and our mission is inspiring and validating. It is hard to put into words how grateful we are to all the people who joined us to celebrate and support what we do. You’re all stars in our book!

From the slopes to the dance floor, it was our largest and most successful event ever. Dollars raised through Skiing with the Stars will help fund our year-round programs for kids in grades K-12 which include skiing programs, swimming lessons, spring break trips, college visits, internships, professional development workshops, summer camps, afterschool workshops, and so much more. Your generosity will help more than 450 local kids like Aldric and Edwin, who you heard from at the event, grow up with the power and influence of outdoor recreation through Coombs programs. 

THANK YOU!

And thanks for celebrating a successful winter at Coombs Fest!

We had so much fun in the sun at Coombs Fest on Sunday! Thanks to everyone who came out to Snow King to celebrate a successful winter season with our participants, families, volunteers, and friends. How fitting that the event was on St. Patrick’s Day - we’re feeling so lucky for our incredible Coombs community! 

We need to give a big shoutout to Snow King, their amazing Ski School instructors, and all our incredible volunteers for a successful season. 

We would also like to thank everyone who sponsored the awesome Coombs Fest raffle: Snow King Mountain, Stio, Teton Village Sports, Dynastar Skis, Teton Tiger, REI, Kuhl, Faction Skis, Skida, Pearl Street Bagels, Black Diamond, Patagonia, Astoria Hot Springs Conservancy, WorldCast Anglers, Local, and Arc'teryx.

Skiing with the Stars: Thursday March 14

Join us for a day of skiing and celebration to support Coombs Outdoors at our 7th Annual Skiing with the Stars Event on Thursday, March 14! Click here for list of this year’s Stars, more details about the event, and a link to register.

The skiing portion of the event is now sold out, but we invite you to join us for our Après Party at the Mangy Moose 4-7 PM. Celebrate with us over drinks and appetizers, live music from Hot Pocket, a robust silent auction, and a brief program about Coombs Outdoors' recent successes and priorities.

Our Skiing with the Stars Silent Auction is live! Thanks to generous donations from our community, we have a very exciting collection of items and packages to offer from fishing trips and ski gear to custom hats and staycations. Win unique gear, gifts, and experiences while supporting Coombs Outdoors! You do not need to attend the event to bid in the auction. Auction is live online now through 7pm on March 14.

Coombs Fest: Sunday March 17

Join us at Coombs Fest this Sunday March 17! Help us celebrate the end of our winter season with skiing and a party for our participants, their families, volunteers, and community.

This is a fun annual event for all, with free gondola rides to the Panorama House where we have free food, drinks, music and a fun raffle! Families, volunteers and partners receive free lift tickets to ski at the King and community members are invited to ski for a suggested donation of $20. Lift tickets are generously donated by Snow King so all proceeds go to Coombs Outdoors. Our program staff has put together a really exciting raffle this year with prizes ranging from backpacks and restaurant gift cards to ski tunes and snowboards. 

We hope to see you there!

Dear Friends,

The snow might have taken its time, but Coombs Outdoors ski and snowboard programs have been going strong all winter along. Our staff is working 7 days a week to make sure that our 6+ winter programs are running smoothly for our 450+ participants. 

If you’ve been skiing anywhere in Jackson Hole this season, from JHMR and Snow King to the corduroy at Trail Creek, you’ve probably seen our colorful Stio Coombs jackets whizzing by. We’re proud to see the growing presence of Coombs kids and their families on our slopes and trails - increasing access to joy in our community and in the outdoors is what it’s all about!

We’ve had lots of special moments with participants this winter. So, we want to take a moment to celebrate the iterative nature of our programs and the way kids are able to grow up with Coombs. Our staff members not only witness participants building ski skills and outdoor experience, but are also able to truly get to know each kid and watch them develop important friendships, social-emotional learning, confidence, and leadership skills over time. 

For example, we had a boy in our Ositos Nordic ski programs for two years who had trouble speaking up and making friends. Now a 6th grader in our After the Bell Nordic program, he immediately stepped into a leadership role and is excitedly teaching the newer participants how to put on skis and get started gliding. Additionally, our Backcountry Club participants were excited enough to ski last year, but by this season we are seeing them exhibit a new level of responsibility, preparedness, and taking safety seriously. We can’t wait to see our current first graders become backcountry leaders one day.

This is the impact made possible by our awesome community through volunteerism, corporate sponsorships, partnerships, and donations - thank you!

We hope you’ll consider supporting our rapidly growing winter programs by joining us for Skiing with the Stars, our annual winter fundraiser and celebration. We’ll have a fun ski day at JHMR followed by an Après celebration at the Mangy Moose with Hot Pocket playing live music, a robust silent auction, and a program providing updates on Coombs successes and priorities for the year - we’d love to see you at both or just the cocktail party.

See you on the slopes!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director

Winter programs are deep! (Even if the snow’s not)

Learn to Ski & Snowboard at Snow King

Each week at Snow King, 165 kids and 22 adults are learning to ski or snowboard. These beginner programs have been a staple of Coombs programming since the start, and we’re proud to have expanded these opportunities for older kids and adults through our Padres Program this year. Participants are progressing quickly, starting to venture off the magic carpet and explore the mountain. They are especially excited to take the gondola all the way to the top and ski Sunny Side! 

We’re also excited to have 17 Coombs participants in Rockchuck Racers and the Freeride Program, more challenging Alpine programs with the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club. These partner programs, run by JHSC staff, are for kids who have the skills and interest in a more advanced, competitive ski experience. 

“We do flat skiing, too!” - Ositos participant

Our Nordic ski programs are getting more and more dialed each year, with the goal of increasing access to “flat skiing” and providing an exciting afterschool activity for working families. This year 32 Activate elementary schoolers are part of our Ositos program in partnership with the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club. Two groups of beginners practice one day per week and a more experienced group practices twice per week, with leadership from two Coombs Empower interns.

We are also excited to be in the second year of our After the Bell afterschool middle school Nordic program for 10 participants in partnership with Teton County School District. This suite of Nordic programs offers participants a progression with more opportunities to develop their skills, relationships, and confidence year to year.

Shredding with friends at Coombs Club

Our Coombs Club ski mentorship program is another one of our most popular programs, with over 160 middle and high school participants skiing or riding every weekend. We rely on our incredible team of over 70 volunteers to ski with groups of kids at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort or Snow King, building mentor relationships and helping them learn the terrain, practice ski skills, and have a space to have fun with their friends.

Engage Afterschool Workshops

Our middle school participants continue to request additional afterschool programs through our Participant Advisory Council, and our winter afterschool workshops are a hit. This gives 26 middle schoolers a chance to have engaging experiences with their peers after school, doing fun activities like ice skating, night skiing, trying snowboarding, sledding, cooking, and more. These 6-8th graders have been in our programs since they were young, and it’s really special to see them build a strong community, start to take on more leadership roles, and open up to each other and program staff. Ongoing supportive relationships and personal growth are a key goal of our afterschool programs, and we hope to keep offering them to more participants in the future.

Interns Glide through Winter Jobs

This winter’s 8 Empower Interns are having a successful season so far at Snow King Sports School, REI, and as Junior Instructors for our Ositos program. Interns are not only learning outdoor skills, but also gaining experience in communication, professionalism, and leadership. It’s especially fun to see Empower interns teaching younger Coombs kids at Snow King (pictured) and Ositos. 

Coombs in the Backcountry

This is our second year running the Coombs Backcountry Club, with 14 adventurous participants including 10 high schoolers and 2 middle schoolers. This program introduces Coombs participants to backcountry skiing through weekly uphill practices, guided weekend excursions, and level 1 avalanche courses. So far this season, Backcountry Club has been to top of Snow King several times, skiing on the pass, and skiing in GTNP with Coombs staff, NOLS instructors, and Exum Mountain Guides. We are so impressed by the excitement, dedication, and responsibility these participants show toward learning a tough new sport and taking safety seriously. 

Join us for Skiing with the Stars!

Backcountry Partner & Sponsor Spotlights

Exum Mountain Guides make awesome backcountry experiences possible for our participants. From summer climbing days to guided ski adventures this winter with our Coombs Backcountry Club, we’re grateful for Exum’s generous support!

Arc’teryx has been crucial in getting our fledgling backcountry ski program off the ground, providing high quality gear and financial support. 

“Getting youth into the outdoors in safe spaces is an important first step in encouraging lifelong, safe backcountry recreation. Coombs Outdoors is an incredible organization that supports youth to get on skis and snowboards and into the mountains, and Arc’teryx is honored to work with their whole team to support the program.” - Arc’teryx staff

Backcountry Access (BCA) provided essential gear for our backcountry club participants. Our program is much stronger with their generous in-kind support!

Dear Friends,

Jackson Hole is a magical place year-round, but the holiday season brings out a special sort of sparkle in our little town. Some may say it’s the twinkling lights scattered around town like stars in the sky, while others love the excitement of the start of winter- snow glittering though the air as we reunite with friends we missed all summer and take those first exhilarating runs on skis. For me, the magic of Christmas in Jackson is conjured by generous community members who spread good cheer and support one another through the holiday season and beyond. 

This year marks the fourth annual Teton Pines Giving Tree for Coombs kids. Members generously helped outfit more than 50 families with all of the gear that will keep them warm and safe in Coombs programs this winter, while simultaneously making sure they have an exciting present under the tree on Christmas morning. Earlier this month we hosted our first gear drive where friends came out with bags of helmets, goggles, base layers, and gloves for Coombs kids in exchange for pizza and beer generously provided by Yeah Buddy Pizza. The Coombs phone seems to be ringing off the hook with inquiries about how folks can support programs. From gear donations, to volunteering, to generous contributions, Coombs Outdoors is feeling the love this holiday season.

Our winter programs officially started last week with 450 participants enrolled this season. This year you’ll find more smiling faces in Coombs jackets than ever before out enjoying our local ski hills. Your ongoing support makes it possible for Coombs to spread the magic of outdoor recreation year-round to as many local kids as possible.

We hope you’ll join us for another year chock full of adventure by making a year-end contribution today. Thank you for helping to make Jackson magical for everyone!

Happy Holidays!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director 

Looking Back at 2023

2023 was a huge year for Coombs Outdoors. We launched new programs such as our backcountry ski club, after school programs for middle schoolers, and spring break programs and trips for students in grades K-12. We grew our amazing and talented staff and Board and enrolled more participants than ever before. Our focus continues to be on creating quality experiences that provide our participants with the many benefits of outdoor recreation, build community connections and inclusivity, increase access to nature, and serve as a resource to the hard working families who make up the Coombs community.

We are proud to share this snapshot of the impact Coombs had on our community this year.

2023 was another year of growth and success thanks to friends like you. We hope you’ll join us for another year of adventures and community building by making an end-of-year gift.

Get your tickets for Skiing with the Stars!

Support Coombs Outdoors and join us for a day of skiing with X Gamers, US Ski Team members, World Tour competitors, Olympic Champions, winter film stars, and local legends at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for our Annual Skiing with the Stars event. 

This year’s event will be Thursday, March 14, with skiing 12:30-4pm followed by an Après party at the Mangy Moose. Click here for list of this year’s Stars, more details about the event, and a link to register.

Coombs Outdoors is excited to announce a partnership with Yeah Buddy Pizza to host the first annual “Gear for Beer” holiday gear drive for Coombs Outdoors. The organization will be collecting new and gently used helmets, goggles, gloves and mittens, base and mid layers, and snow pants to provide to the 450 Coombs participants and families in Coombs programs this winter. The gear drive will take place on Wednesday, December 13th from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Yeah Buddy Pizza located upstairs at 20 West Broadway in downtown Jackson. 

Coombs Outdoors has experienced a significant increase in demand from local families for placement in the organization’s year-round outdoor recreation programs and workshops. Coombs winter downhill skiing and snowboarding programs provide 450 local youth and families with season-long ski lessons or mentorship programs, season rentals, and lift tickets and season passes. Winter coats for Coombs participants are generously donated by Stio.  

“Coombs relies on generous donations from the community to support our winter programs financially, as well as through donations of gear and winter clothing that are critical to creating safe, high-quality experiences for Coombs participants,” said Jenny Wolfrom Holladay, Executive Director of Coombs Outdoors. “As community demand and our capacity to include more youth in our programs has expanded significantly over the past few years, we have been unable to match the need for cold weather gear such as gloves and mittens, warm socks, quality base layers, googles, and helmets. We are looking to this generous community to sort through their gear closets and donate gently-used items that can help keep Coombs kids warm and safe this winter.”

The ”Gear for Beer” event is being generously hosted by Yeah Buddy Pizza who is providing the location for the gear drive as well as donating beer and offering 2-for-1 pizza deals for everyone who brings usable items. For those who don’t have gear to donate, there will be an opportunity to make a donation towards gear from the Coombs Outdoors holiday gear tree. Coombs Outdoors will not be accepting hard goods such as skis, boots, snowboards, and poles at this event.

Dear Friends,

Coombs participants are back at school and settling into the rhythm of the year. With a quick break in September under our belts, October brought the start of multiple afterschool programs for Coombs Outdoors, made possible with funding from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. We are specifically excited to be building on our middle school programs in response to feedback from participants, parents, and the Teton County School District that middle schoolers need more resources.

Imagine you’re 12 years old. You’re in seventh grade. It’s tough. You want to be unique, but also fit in. You want to do well in school, but your teachers are hard on you. You’re trying to keep up with the latest fashion, social media trends, and what gossip is going around about you and your friends on or offline. You want your crush to notice you, but you’re also not sure you actually like them that much. Your family is really important to you, but you’re also exhausted by your siblings and worried about disappointing your parents. With all that pressure, it’s hard to relax, be a kid, and have space to simply work on growing up. 

That’s where Coombs comes in. For the first time, we’re running fall Engage afterschool programs for 26 middle schoolers - a program they requested themselves through our Participant Advisory Council. This gives our participants the space to decompress after school, disconnect from electronics, be active and creative, and hang out with their friends and Coombs staff mentors.

In addition, I’m proud to be leading our first ever Coombs Ski Fit for middle and high school participants. It’s inspiring to see them putting in a lot of effort, pushing through challenging work, and having fun together at the same time. 20 Ski Fit participants will be heading into ski season with strong legs and lungs. 

We’re also continuing our fall afterschool programs and swimming lessons for Activate elementary school kids, led by two Empower high school interns as instructors. These programs are always in high demand, and we look forward to filling these community needs as much as our capacity allows. 

We continue to be grateful for our supportive community, including everyone who donated during Old Bill’s this year. You all make our work possible - thanks for being on our team!

Happy Halloween!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director

Engage Afterschool Programs

Thanks to funding from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, we launched our first ever fall middle school afterschool programs with 26 participants in grades 6 through 8. They meet on Wednesdays, and do activities like hiking, biking, cookie baking, pumpkin carving, scrapbook making, swimming, and more!

We are excited to have started our very own Coombs Ski Fit for middle and high schoolers. 20 participants are gearing up for ski season with strength-building and injury prevention exercises led by Jenny and Ellie at the Jackson Hole Middle School. Even though they feel sore the next day, participants are loving the chance to work out alongside their friends, prepare their legs for skiing and snowboarding, and celebrate finishing a challenging effort.

Activate Afterschool Programs

We currently have 52 elementary schoolers in fall swim lessons and afterschool programs. These fill an important need for our families, serving as childcare for parents and as an opportunity for kids learn important skills, stay active, and have fun with their peers between our summer camp and winter sports seasons. Both of our fall afterschool programs are led by Sally and Espi, our Activate program staff, as well as Maria and Gia, our two fall Empower interns. Our elementary school afterschool programs are also supported with funding from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole.

On Thursdays, 26 kids meet to do a variety of activities after school, including biking, climbing at the bouldering wall, playing in fall leaves, making arts & crafts, trick or treating, and preparing for Dia de los Muertos.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, 26 kids head to the rec center for swimming lessons. They’re learning very quickly to get comfortable in the water, float on their own, and, by the end of the season, kick across the pool! Swimming lessons remain our most popular new program, creating access to water safety skills and opportunities for fun.

THANK YOU for your Old Bill’s gift!

We received a record number of gifts through Old Bill’s Fun Run this year, and are so grateful for this incredible outpouring of support from our community. We’ve grown significantly as an organization, and still have long waitlists for all of our programs. With your generosity, we can continue to increase the capacity of our programs while continuing to make all of them even better for our families. If you gave through Old Bill’s this season, thank you!

Join us for a Dia de los Muertos Celebration

Thursday November 2, 5-7pm

Dia de los Muertos is a time to honor lost loved ones, share stories of their lives, and welcome their souls home. To celebrate this special holiday, our Coombs afterschool program participants have created traditional altars and filled them with decorations and offerings. We invite you to join us for a community Dia de los Muertos celebration 5-7pm this Thursday, November 2 at St. John’s Hansen Hall. Enjoy food, make arts & crafts, get your face painted, and can view the altars made by Coombs and other organizations.

Partner Spotlight:  Share Winter Foundation

As we gear up for winter, we are excited to thank the Share Winter Foundation for their critical support of our ski and snowboard programs. We align with Share Winter’s mission - to enrich the lives of youth through winter sports - and are grateful to be part of their network of like-minded organizations. Their grant funding makes our winter programs possible, from learn to ski/ride lessons at Snow King to Coombs Club ski mentorship programs at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Sponsor Spotlight: Rendezvous River Sports

As summer fades into the rearview mirror, we need to thank one of our key sponsors of the season:  Rendezvous River Sports. They make it possible for our participants to experience water sports, which is always a highlight of the summer. Year after year they provide paddleboards for every week of Activate camp and discounted ducky trips our Engage programs.

Dear Friends, 

This summer was awesome. It was our biggest one yet, full of new experiences for our 230 participants from cooking quinoa with Slow Food in the Tetons to multi-day backpacking in Yellowstone. We capped it off with an amazing week at Teton Valley Ranch Camp with 65 of our middle and high school participants. Even though our participants headed back to school, we were still able to connect with them through Climbing Club and Bike Club through September. We even held Participant and Parent Council meetings as a way to more deeply and consistently involve kids and their families in our program planning, collecting feedback and ideas to inform our programs moving forward in the year.

We were also busy over the last month with our Coombs Cup Golf Tournament and Old Bill's Fun Run, essential ways we fundraise for our programs. We had a blast at both events, from post-golf cocktails with our supporters to watching our Trail Running Club place in the race on Old Bill's run day covered with Coombs temporary tattoos.

Now our staff is taking a quick breath before diving into fall programs. Once again we have more demand than we can accommodate, but we'll fill every spot we can in our afterschool and learn-to-swim programs. Our fall programs are an important way to meet our families' needs and give participants a way to stay active and connected between summer camp and ski season. We're excited to welcome two high school Empower interns to our fall program staff.

No matter the season, these opportunities for local kids are truly only possible with support from our community through events like Old Bill's Fun Run and Coombs Cup. Thanks again for being a friend of Coombs Outdoors.

Happy fall!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director 

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Activate Camp Highlights

This summer, 122 participants in grades K-5 received up to three weeks of Activate camp each throughout the summer, up from the 83 participants in summer 2022.

This summer, Activate campers had the chance to...

• hike

• climb

• swim

• paddleboard

• go rafting

• learn to cook

• harvest veggies

• make arts and crafts

• earn their junior ranger badges

• learn about bugs and wildlife

• play in the mud

• ride the tram

• go camping

• make new friends

• and so much more!

Activate staff say that a huge highlight of the summer was seeing the youngest campers get into fishing. It was a new activity for us this summer and we were nervous about how it would go for K-2nd graders, but it was such a hit that the kids didn't want to stop! It was also special for our staff to be learning alongside the kids. 

"I think it made them feel more comfortable and confident because they got to see me struggling too!" - Espi, Program Outreach Coordinator

Engage Camp Highlights

Coombs Engage programs gave 100 middle and high schoolers the opportunity to have adventures outdoors this summer, a big increase from last year's 65 participants. The main camp event is backpacking, plus our separate clubs for mountain biking, climbing, trail running, and kayaking.

In the 8 weeks that Engage programs occurred this summer, we ran 10 backpacking trips plus a few car camping adventures. Groups explored the backcountry of the Tetons, the Palisades, and Yellowstone, overcoming challenging conditions and coming out more confident and connected.

At the beginning of the summer, it was a lot of the kids' first time backpacking. At first, they were anxious and complained about how heavy their packs were. By the end of that first trip they all realized they could do it, learning a lot about themselves and gaining great outdoor experience. By the end of the summer they were all swapping stories about their backpacking adventures, whether that meant commiserating about the mosquitos or bragging about the great views they hiked to.

"My favorite thing was seeing how excited they were to get to camp - they called it their home for a few nights. And how one group's highlight was their dishwashing dance party. At first they were nervous about these big trips, but then on the last night they didn't want to go to sleep because they didn't want to wake up and have to go home!" - Megan, Engage Program Coordinator

Our weekly clubs were also in high demand, Engage participants to build skills and share passions for specific activities by attending weekly evening clubs led by staff and volunteer mentors.

• Coombs Climbing Club practiced every Monday at the Snow King Boulder Park, and even got to experience more challenging routes on real rocks during weekend excursions into Grand Teton National Park with Exum Mountain Guides.

• Coombs Mountain Bike Club, now in its second year, met every Tuesday through this month teaching important skills like general bike maintenance, technical riding skills, trail etiquette, and navigation. It quickly became one of our most popular programs with kids progressing quickly and having fun together on our local trails.

• This was the first year for our Trail Running Club, requested by participants who wanted to pick up the pace and explore new trails with their friends. This crew capped of the season by racing in Old Bill's Fun Run!

• Coombs Kayak Club got participants on the water for 6 days of whitewater progression, where they learned how to read moving water, river safety, and paddle techniques with the Jackson Hole Kayak Club. 

Twenty participants spent a unique week of camp at Snake River Days put on by our friends at the Snake River Fund. With a focus on promoting and protecting the Snake River for the benefit of our whole community, participants learned about river ecology, navigating in moving water, sustainable fishing, leave-no-trace riverside camping, and more. This was a perfect way for kids to feel connected to our local waters and to build community through spending time together on the river. 

One of the biggest highlights of the summer was its finale, when 65 Engage kids and Coombs staff headed to Teton Valley Ranch Camp supported with funds from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. Kids got to stay in cabins with their friends and do activities from horseback riding and archery to jewelry-making and an incredible karaoke dance party. The week reminded us that Coombs Outdoors is more than a chance to play outside - it's a community where kids can grow up together through special experiences.

Summer Empower Internships

This summer marked the third year of the Coombs Empower internship program, and it was another successful season. We had 10 high school participants working competitively paid positions with partner organizations and businesses in the outdoor or conservation industry including: 

• REI

• Wheel Wranglers

• Jackson Hole Land Trust

• Hole Food Rescue

• Hoback Sports

• Stio

• Slow Food in the Tetons

• Trout Unlimited

• Coombs Outdoors

We know our interns have good experiences when they come back for more, like the 4 interns that returned for a second internship at the same employer this summer. Thanks to our partners for making these experiences possible!

Our Partners Make it Possible!

Our programs are so much better thanks to our amazing Jackson Hole community. THANK YOU to all the local organizations who shared their time, expertise, and resources with us and our participants this summer. Partners for our summer programs included:

• Slow Food in the Tetons

• Snake River Fund

• Hole Food Rescue

• Grand Teton National Park

• Bridger-Teton National Forest

• Astoria Park Conservancy

• Jackson Hole Land Trust

• Grand Teton Music Festival

• Rendevous River Sports

• Jackson Hole Kayak Club

• Teton Science Schools

• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

• Teton County Search & Rescue

• National Museum of Wildlife Art

• National Elk Refuge

• Teton Valley Ranch Camp

• Trout Unlimited

• Powers of Flowers EcoPrinting

• Wyoming Game and Fish

• REI

• Teton Pet Partners

• Exum Mountain Guides

Fall Programs Starting Now!

Coombs fall programs are starting now, running 4 days a week for 7 weeks. We had more demand than ever for these programs, so many families are unfortunately on waitlists. We are seeking funds and resources to be able grow this program in future seasons. This year's fall afterschool programs include:

• Swimming lessons, now located at the Rec Center, will help 30 elementary school kids build critical skills in the water on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

• Afterschool programs for K-5th graders, happening on Wednesdays, will keep 26 kids active and connected while serving as important childcare for families.

• This is the first time we're offering fall afterschool workshops for middle schoolers, requested by the participants themselves. We're thrilled to have an especially excited group of 6-8th graders, who wanted to stay involved with Coombs and outdoor activities between summer camp and winter programs.

Thanks for a Successful Coombs Cup!

Thanks to all who attended our Coombs Cup Golf Tournament! It was a beautiful, fun day to play golf and celebrate Coombs programs, with a special performance from the Coombs Ukulele Club. 

Thank you to our hosts at the Snake River Sporting Club and to all the generous sponsors who made the event possible:

• First Republic Bank

• MountainScapes

• Shaw Construction

• Two Ocean Builders

• HUB International

• Stio

• The Wort Hotel

• Jackson Hole News & Guide

• Orijin Media

Get on the water with this ACA Paddle Safety Course

There's still time to get out on the water this fall - make sure you do it safely! We want to pass along an exciting resource from our friends at the American Canoe Association: a free online training course about paddlesport safety, in English and Spanish, that's phone-compatible. Topics include planning trips, managing groups on the water, identifying dangers, inclement weather, rescue priorities, and more! The course can be completed in only about 20 minutes or you can save your progress and finish later. There is no age minimum requirement. We encourage all of our families and other water lovers in our community to take advantage of this great opportunity!

Take the course in Spanish or English.

Volunteer with Coombs this Winter

Interested in sharing your love of snowsports with Coombs kids this winter? Volunteer for Coombs Club, our ski and snowboard mentorship program on weekends at Snow King or Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Thank you to our sponsors!

With 400+ kids making strides each year, the Coombs Path needs a great trail crew. 

That’s you! Your gift helps us get more kids on the Path.

We’re proud of the opportunities we provide for our participants all along the Coombs Path. We can see the impact of our work every time our kids…

• try something new or overcome a challenge

• laugh and get silly with their friends 

• reminisce about a Coombs experience

• tell their family about an accomplishment

• start to show more confidence and self-esteem

• step up to a leadership role 

• do an activity independently outside of Coombs 

• encourage and teach their families to recreate outdoors together

• keep coming back for more and more programs as they get older

Read our new Annual Report

Check out our new Annual Report looking back at the year 2022-2023. Learn about the ins and outs of what we do, from our programs and participants to our goals and plans for the future.

Read here

ACTIVATE

This is where the Coombs Path begins for our participants. Our introductory program provides year-round opportunities for elementary school kids to try new things, get excited, and build comfort in the outdoors from an early age.

Activate by the Numbers

122 summer campers

50 fall afterschool program participants

35 kids in fall & spring swim lessons

185 kids in ski/snowboard lessons

35 Nordic skiers

25 kids in spring break camp

Activate Participant Spotlight

Rihanna, Age 8

Favorite thing to do outdoors: Playing with my friends

Something you’ve learned or tried because of Coombs: Not being shy and making new friends

Something you’re excited to do outdoors in the future: Have playdates with my friends! 

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ENGAGE

By middle school, participants are ready to navigate more difficult terrain along the Coombs Path. Engage programs offer opportunities to build skills and challenge themselves while connecting with peers and mentors. From clubs that focus on skiing, biking, and climbing to multi-day backpacking trips, these programs help participants develop the confidence to take on new adventures in the outdoors and in life.

Engage by the Numbers

100 participants in summer backpacking camp

50+ kids in climbing, bike, and kayak clubs

152 participants in ski mentorship programs

15 skiers in our new backcountry club

26 kids in afterschool programs

11 participants on our first spring break trip 

Engage Participant Spotlight

Maria, Age 14

Favorite thing to do outdoors: Biking and playing sports

Something you’ve learned or tried because of Coombs: Learning to get organized, like packing my backpack and having everything I need.

Something you’re excited to do outdoors in the future: Empowering other people to do things too, even if they’re not comfortable at first.

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EMPOWER

After gaining experience along the Coombs Path, our older participants are getting ready to blaze their own trail. Mentorship programs for our high schoolers provide them with the tools and confidence to pursue their dreams in life after high school.

Summer Internship Partners

Coombs Outdoors

Wheel Wranglers

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort 

Stio

Jackson Hole Land Trust

Hole Food Rescue

Trout Unlimited

Slow Food in the Tetons

REI Co-op

Empower by the Numbers

10 summer internships

8 winter internships

4 fall and spring internships

11 spring break college trip participants

Empower Participant Spotlight

Mikey, Age 15

Favorite thing to do outdoors: I think my favorite thing to do outside, after working with Trout Unlimited for the summer, is fishing.

Something you’ve learned or tried because of Coombs: Skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, climbing, fishing, kayaking, and backpacking.

Something you’re excited to do outdoors in the future: Just try to continue to do the activities I’ve gotten to try through Coombs as much as I can. I think I’m most excited to keep backpacking as I get older because there’s just so much to explore.

The Coombs Path doesn’t have to end for our participants - they can join our staff team!

Kids grow up through our programs. They follow the Coombs Path through all its twists and turns, building all kinds of skills and experience along the way. After graduating high school and our Empower program, participants are encouraged to join our staff team for the summer and beyond. 

It’s a priority for us to hire staff who represent the community we serve. Our former participants are perfect candidates to lead the next generation of Coombs kids down the Path. This year, our staff of former participants has included 6 summer instructors and one member of our full-time staff: Espi, our Activate Program Coordinator!

Former Participant Staff Spotlight

Espi, Activate Program / Program Outreach Coordinator

Started in Coombs programs: Age 11

Favorite thing to do outdoors: Paddle boarding

Something you’ve learned or tried because of Coombs: Skiing! I really was scared of skiing. Or better yet, backpacking. I never knew that even existed til last year.
Something you’re excited to do outdoors in the future: Mountain biking! When I get a helmet. I haven’t done it yet and am excited to go with my Coombs coworkers!

Favorite part of working for Coombs: I like the balance of working in the office and getting outside with the kids. I love helping them enjoy the outdoors and talking to them in Spanish.

Support their journey.

Whether they’re just setting out or gaining momentum for life ahead, our participants are learning and growing on the Coombs Path. Support their journey - give through Old Bill’s this season.

Old Bill’s Giving starts now!

Local youth follow the Coombs Path to adventure, confidence, and belonging. Support their journey - give through Old Bill’s this season.

Dear Friends, 

August has arrived and with it comes the beginning of the Old Bill’s Fun Run giving season. As a nonprofit in Jackson Hole, we feel so fortunate to have a community-wide event that provides us with the opportunity to tell our story, celebrate our successes, and be a recipient of the incredible generosity of this philanthropically spirited town. 

This Old Bill’s season we are looking forward to sharing stories from “the Coombs Path” with you. Young Coombs participants start their journey with us in Activate programs where they are introduced to activities such as alpine and Nordic skiing, hiking, paddleboarding, swimming, and car camping. Activate programs provide a safe space for children in grades K-5 to try new things, learn to feel welcome and included in outdoor recreation, and fall in love with nature. 

Middle schoolers gain momentum along the Path through our Engage programs which focus on skill building, mentorship, and building the confidence and knowledge needed to be independent recreators. Engage participants are provided with the gear and guidance necessary to excel at skiing or snowboarding, kayaking, backpacking, climbing, trail running, mountain biking and more. Engage programs create opportunities that help middle schoolers build confidence and feel like they belong at school and to this community by providing them with similar experiences, equipment and opportunities as their peers. 

High schoolers reach new heights on the Coombs Path in the Empower program, which provides continuity of services and opportunities to high school students at a time when they need it most. Empower participants are able to keep recreating with Coombs at the level of their choice, while also being provided competitively-paid internship positions, professional and personal development workshops, college application and prep assistance, spring break college trips, and leadership trainings. 

Throughout the next few weeks, you will meet Coombs Outdoors’ participants who are at different locations on the Coombs Path. As you read about their experiences, know that your support has been instrumental to blazing a trail for them to travel down. Your contributions through Old Bill’s Fun Run provide critical funds that allow us to expand capacity for more local youth, create new programs, and respond to the needs of our participants and families. 

Thank you for being a part of the Coombs Path. 

Happy trails!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director

2022-2023 By the Numbers

392 participants in winter programs

172 summer campers

25 Empower internships

18 high school graduates

146 participants in afterschool programs

47 participants in spring break programs

Support their journey.

Our participants grow up along the Coombs Path. Support their journey - give through Old Bill’s Fun Run by September 15.

Dear Friends, 

Summer is here and with it comes endless opportunities for outdoor exploration. Here at Coombs Outdoors, we believe that summer should be about fun for kids, catching a break from school and, especially here in Jackson, taking advantage of the amazing playground outside our door. We are excited about the vast array of experiences and opportunities that our summer programs are offering to our participants. Our programs are not only an essential resource for families, but are providing local youth with access to the outdoors which improves quality of life, helps level the social playing field with their peers, and leverages the power of fun and adventure.

I'm excited to let you know that Coombs has enrolled the largest summer participant roster in our history, with over 220 local youth benefitting from programs this season. This growth directly reflects a dedicated effort to offer more programs year-round, filling gaps in services for working families and further reducing barriers to outdoor access. We have listened closely to families, participants, and community partners to learn more about what is missing for them and where Coombs programs can provide support. Our summer programs follow the traditional Coombs Path for participants: Activate, Engage, and Empower providing programming designed for kids in grades K-12. 

We wouldn’t be here without you. We are grateful for the support from friends like you, community partners, and businesses that make Coombs Outdoors programs possible. 

See you on the river!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director 

Activate Camp

Activate summer day camp offers K-5 kids an inclusive introduction to outdoor recreation, developing comfort and excitement in the outdoors. This summer’s Activate programs have 122 participants receiving up to three weeks of camp each throughout the summer, which is a 35% increase from the 83 participants in summer 2022 programs. Activate participants experience many different activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, paddle boarding at R Park, rafting the Snake River, rock climbing in Grand Teton National Park, and camping at Colter Bay. Additionally, thanks to a special new partnership with the Grand Teton Music Festival, 13 Activate campers are learning to play the ukulele in an 8-week after-camp club with Meaghan Heinrich, a music teacher and GTMF children’s musician. 

Activate Participant Spotlight

Meet Amairany!

Amairany, a rising 5th grader pictured below, has been involved with Coombs since she was in Kindergarten. She participates in Coombs programs year-round, and especially loves summer camp.

This summer, she has…

- paddleboarded at R Park

- rock climbed in Grand Teton NP with Exum

- soaked at Astoria

- explored Phelps Lake

- spent time at the SK bouldering wall as a part of the Coombs Climbing Club

- run from Cache Creek to Snow King as a part of Coombs new trail running club

Engage Camp

Coombs Engage programs give middle and high schoolers a chance to dive deeper into the activities they tried in Activate programs, working with mentors and peers to build the skills and confidence to be independent recreators. Growing from 65 participants last summer to this year’s 100, summer enrollment in Engage programs is up by 64%. Engage participants will get up to three weeks each of backpacking-based camp programs, spending 2-4 nights out each week on trips through Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Twenty Engage campers will also attend a week-long Snake River Fund camp to raft, kayak, fish, and camp along the Snake. As a grand finale to the summer, 75 Coombs campers will experience a week of sleep-away camp through a special partnership with Teton Valley Ranch Camp with support from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. 

Coombs also invites Engage participants to build skills and share passions for specific activities by attending weekly evening clubs led by staff and volunteer mentors.

• The 25 members of Coombs Climbing Club meet every Monday at the Snow King Boulder Park, and also have two weekend climbing trips to Grand Teton National Park with Exum Mountain Guides.

• Coombs Mountain Bike Club meets every Tuesday and provides 20 participants with mountain bikes, helmets, and other necessary gear to safely hit the singletrack.

• Mountain Bike Club teaches important skills like general bike maintenance, technical riding skills, trail etiquette, and navigation, as well as helping participants feel welcome and supported on their home trail system.

• Our brand new summer Trail Running Club, requested and attended by participants who developed a passion for hiking with Coombs and want to pick up the pace.

• Participants with a passion for water can join Coombs Kayak Club, providing roll and skill clinics at the Teton County Recreation Center and offering six days of kayaking in August. Last summer, Kayak Club members progressed to running the iconic Snake River Canyon on their final day of camp. 

Engage Participant Spotlight

Meet Zoe!

Zoe, pictured below climbing, is a rising 8th grader who is one of our most involved Engage participants throughout the year. This summer, Zoe has…

Spent 4 nights backpacking in the Bechler area of Yellowstone and 3 nights backpacking in the Palisades

Bouldered at the Snow King bouldering wall as a part of Coombs Climbing Club

Run on local trails with Coombs new Trail Running Club

Zoe will spend one week in Colorado in August with Women’s Wilderness as a part of their BIPOC backpacking trip

Empower Internship Program

This summer marks the third year of the Coombs Empower internship program, connecting high school participants with competitively paid job opportunities at local businesses and organizations in the outdoor industry. Each participant develops professional and leadership skills through structured training, on-the-job experience, and dedicated mentorship from partner employers and Coombs Outdoors staff. With positions ranging from bike technician to conservation associate, this program provides a chance for participants to engage with the local community and explore outdoor career opportunities.

This summer 10 interns are working at:

• REI

• Wheel Wranglers

• Jackson Hole Land Trust

• Hole Food Rescue

• Hoback Sports

• Stio

• Slow Food in the Tetons

• Trout Unlimited

Empower Participant Spotlight

Meet Mikey!

After years participating in other Coombs programs, this is Mikey's first year working an Empower internship. He's working with Trout Unlimited's conservation team this summer going to different sites, conducting fish surveys, and helping with data entry on their findings. 

When we asked Mikey what his favorite part of his internship was he said: "Learning to fish and going to places near Jackson I've never been to before. I went to the Buffalo Fork and Mosquito Creek and they were so cool!"

Partner Spotlight: Snake River Fund

They're not just our office building neighbors, Snake River Fund is a key partner for our summer programs. Their dedicated staff offer unique opportunities for our summer camps and make it possible for our participants to connect with rivers in new and deeper ways. They take Coombs campers rafting on the Snake River, share the wonders of macroinvertebrates, and more. We're especially excited for two Engage camp groups to join them for Snake River Days - a full week of activities and learning centered around this amazing resource. Thank you, Snake River Fund!

“Snake River Fund's partnership with Coombs Outdoors in 2023 has allowed us to elevate all of our on-water programming. Together, we've been able to connect nearly 100 youth with the river who may not have otherwise had that opportunity.”

- Orion Hatch, Executive Director, Snake River Fund

The recently graduated class of high school seniors have grown up with Coombs. We feel so proud of these strong, kind, adventurous young people and we can’t wait to see where life takes them.

We’d like to introduce you to some members of the Coombs class of 2023, and share some of their memories as a member of our community over the years.

Jasmin Carrillo

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: Laramie Community College, undecided but would like to study STEM

Favorite Coombs Memory: “It was the last day of the ski season, the sun was out and there was a race course. I decided to try it. As I was going down I could feel the wind pulling me back, yet I wanted to go faster. At that moment, I felt like the fastest skier on the mountain. After this adventure, I thought about becoming a ski racer!”

Johan Garcia

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: University of Wyoming for the fall, then transferring to Colorado College for astronautical engineering

Favorite Coombs Memory: Back in the day Emily Coombs took them out to Phelps Lake for a soccer team lake day. Johan used a booklet to identify animals, including a cool mouse. He also remembers that his brother found a fish in the lake and loved it so much he tried to keep it, but, alas, the fish didn’t make it!

Brittney Tzompa

Started with Coombs: Age 11

Plans after high school: University of Wyoming, Sociology

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite Coombs memory was camping for the first year the Empower program happened. Being at the campfire telling scary stories, and everyone not wanting to go to bed because of how scared we were.”

Destinee Vazquez

Started with Coombs: Freshman year of high school

Plans after high school: Brigham Young University, Business & Finance

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite Coombs memory was skiing with Sofia, Blanca, and Kelly.”

Advice to a New Coombs Kid: “My advice to someone new to Coombs is to have fun, make friends, and if you fall get up and try again.”

Alexis Hernandez

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: Columbia University, Political Science & Economics

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite memory was when I was first starting to ski. I got into Coombs with my sister and we were both trying to learn. The best part was riding Snow King for the first time and being at the top and seeing the whole town.”

Advice to a New Coombs Kid: “Don’t be scared of what’s to come. Everything is going to fall into place in the future. Make the most of the resources you have. Coombs has much to offer and has allowed me to grow so much, so take advantage of that.”

Kelly Lopez Garcia

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: BYU Idaho, Accounting

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite memory from Coombs was the finale parade a few years ago at Snow King, when we all skied down in a single line.”

Advice to a New Coombs Kid: “My advice to someone new to Coombs is put yourself out there, and not be afraid to get out of your bubble and explore.”

Daniela Bedolla Zarate

Started with Coombs: Sophomore year of high school

Plans after high school: Central Wyoming College

Favorite Coombs Memory: “I loved the snowboard program. I also love the training for summer jobs and internships and got to have a cool internship at Hole Food Rescue for two summers.”

Dania Lopez

Started with Coombs: Age 6

Plans after high school: CWC, Accounting

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite memory would be camping with Coombs and hiking with friends while playing card games at night.”

Marco Sosa

Started with Coombs: Age 10

Plans after high school: University of Wyoming, Mechanical Engineering

Favorite Coombs Memory: The horse packing trip was really fun, and cool hikes! He remembers playing campfire games like Cards Against Humanity, and really liked anchovy dip - something new he hadn’t tried.

Yuriel Sosa

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: Gap year, working; then Wyo Tech

Favorite Coombs Memory: The horse packing trip was really fun, and cool hikes! He remembers playing campfire games like Cards Against Humanity, and really liked anchovy dip - something new he hadn’t tried.

Leanne Tzompa

Started with Coombs: Age 17, Empower Internship at Teton Literacy Center

Plans after high school: Central Wyoming College, then University or Utah or Wyoming to study Secondary Education

Advice to a New Coombs Kid: “Be open to trying new things. You may never know if you actually like it if you haven’t tried it at least once!”

Luis Beristain

Started with Coombs: Age 12

Plans after high school: University of Texas Institute, Collision and Repair

Favorite Coombs Memory: “I loved the skiing program and going rock climbing in the Tetons. Camping was also very fun.”

Nicole Checker

Ary Jimenez

Ashley Hernandez

Blanca Sartillo

Deyna Lira 

Gael Gaona

Congratulations!