Meet our Staff & Guides

FOUNDER & CO-OWNER
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I am the founder of Wander Women. I started Wander Women because I appreciate how important it is for us to connect to nature. Nature has been such a healing force in my life, and I want to share that with you! I’m also very proud of the badass team of Wander Women guides who share this sentiment.

I believe in the healing powers of nature and a circle of women. I love the forest floor and the smell of earth worms. I care deeply about protecting and conserving our lands and waters. And, I absolutely geek out over trip planning.

CO-OWNER
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I was raised in Iowa City but did most of my growing up on the trails of Lake MacBride State Park, a secluded natural oasis from big city life. There I saw my first owl, built many a campfire, and learned to appreciate the value and benefits of Mother Natch. Today, I’ve created a career as close as possible to life-long camp counselor and professional plant nerd. I spend most of my time dreaming up illustrious trips to secluded cabins, hunting down rare houseplants, riding my bike fast enough to get the stomach feelies, snoozing inside my tent, cooking food in unreasonable and unnecessary quantities or navigating my canoe. It’s a good life.

NEBRASKA COORDINATOR
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Give me a sunny day on a kayak and I’m a happy camper. With over 10+ years in outdoor recreation and leading adventure experiences, I’m stoked to guide rad women who are ready to explore. There’s something extraordinary about sharing stories around a campfire, getting messy with mud, and connecting with the magic of Mama Earth. With a little bit of encouragement and a whole lot of playfulness, I’m always ready to take the road less traveled and eat the crispiest s’more.

EASTERN IOWA COORDINATOR
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I grew up on the South Side of Chicago but spent my weekends exploring the hollows of my family’s land in Driftless Wisconsin. I’d show up to school on Mondays smelling of campfire smoke, with burs in my hair, and with deer mandibles for show-and-tell.

After college, I earned a JD and Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law and my first job post-law school took me to Fairbanks, Alaska. I met my husband in Fairbanks, and we adventured under the aurora and the midnight sun with our sled dog, Ayla. In 2011, we moved to Iowa City, my husband being from eastern Iowa, and we’ve since had two kiddos. I’m in-house counsel for a large transportation company, I occasionally write about water quality issues in Iowa, and I’m an Iowa Master Naturalist and Iowa Master River Steward.

When not lawyering, I enjoy spending time with my family outside, particularly at our off-grid cabin northeast of Decorah. I have been an active board member for several conservation organizations, and currently serve as President of the Johnson County Conservation Board.

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I was raised in Valley Junction, and spent most of my childhood exploring neighborhood parks and playing sports. From a young age I developed a love for movement that’s carried into adulthood and continues to be a vessel for my well-being and reminder of my strength. Now my movement looks like a difficult cardio class, long walks or hikes, a bike ride, or chasing my nieces and nephews around new parks. I’m passionate about increasing access to spaces that have been gatekept from BIPOC, LGBTQ, large-bodied, low-income individuals, specifically the outdoors. On my days off, you can catch me with a good book and a gooey pizza.

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I am originally from Illinois and most recently lived in Colorado before moving to Des Moines in summer of 2021. My first memories of spending time outside revolve around being at the lake with my family. There, I learned the importance of surrounding myself with people I love and being present with one another, as well as the power of being outside. While living in Colorado, I found that same feeling through outdoor experiences that allowed me to unplug, reflect, and be present with myself and others. To me that looks like jumping over rocks on a trail run, scoping out wildflowers on a hike, disconnecting from the internet on a backpacking trip, attempting new climbing routes, walking my cute pup Ari, reading in my hammock, and testing out fun camp meals.

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’m Giada and this is my first year guiding with Wander Women! I’ve been exploring central Iowa for a few years and enjoy any chance I can get out into nature, no matter the season. I’m working on visiting all of the state parks and breweries in Iowa, and it’s been a fun way to see more of the state!

When I’m not driving or hiking around Iowa; I live in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines with my dog and so. many. house plants. I enjoy identifying plants when I’m out on the trails, and am always looking to learn more nature fun facts to share with others.

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Detroit, Michigan is where my roots and my love of playing outside began. As long as we were outside and home before the streetlights came on, we played as much as we could and imagined we were anywhere. At 7, my mom dropped me off at a Girl Scout summer camp for a week — yes, I was crying — but 5 days later I didn’t want to go home. I was hooked and yep, Mom knew what was best for me. Girl Scouts for the next 14 years exposed me to outdoor life, my first backpacking trip, but also culture, theatre, leadership, volunteering, and access to so many opportunities this kid from a single-parent home couldn’t have imagined. On nothing more than a gut feeling, I left the beautiful state of Michigan to head west for college. Nope, not what you were thinking — Wisconsin. Spending nearly 11 years on the shores of Lake Superior deepened my love for nature, backpacking, and enjoying a simple life. That beautiful lake has magic powers. After a brief stop in Minnesota, my family once again moved for my job, south this time. For the last 15 years, I have proudly called Iowa home and don’t plan on leaving. When not at my day job as a software company executive, you can find me hiking the trails of the Shimek State Forest or Lacey Keosauqua State Park, which are literally at the end of my driveway! I am a lover of snapping pictures, laying in my hammock, traveling to new places, hanging with the family, or chilling on my front porch rocker.

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I am a born and raised Iowa farm girl, who truly fell in love with nature and the great outdoors as a little girl. From running around on the farm all day “exploring” and catching the beautiful countryside sunsets to star-gazing on the roof (sorry mom) and camping on the Mississippi, being outdoors was my “happy place,” even as a kid. Today this love of the outdoors has developed into so much more because I get to share this love and appreciation with my family.

My passion in life is to teach and inspire others to be the best version of themselves. When I am not helping others reach their nutrition and wellness goals (I am owner of Expedition Wellness a local Nutrition Consulting business), you can find me out for a long run on the local trails, hiking, or any kind of outdoor adventure with my family.

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As a kid, I was lucky to have parents that valued being in the outdoors. Whether it was playing outside, family camping trips, environmental education or solo trips to explore the big wide world - it was always done with a sense of wonder in what could be learned about the world, the people in it and one's self.

These days I can be found spending time with my spouse, hiking in our beautiful national and state parks, laughing my way through trying new outdoor activities...Or just taking a nap with our shih tzu Domino. In life, my goal is to focus on 4 principles, Be Kind, Be Useful, Be an Active Learner and Spread Joy. If I can do these things it will have been a life well lived.

I am excited to go into the wild with all of you to find adventure and the beautiful silence between the music that can only be found in nature....Let's go explore together!

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I'm a primarily a hiker and car camper, dog mom, enthusiastic friend, and a pretty fine cook. I love spending time outdoors observing the world and really enjoy working with people to conserve our natural places. In the summer you'll find me hovering around gardens, going to outdoor concerts, and seeking hidden wading pools. In the winter, (my favorite season) I'm baking, cross stitching, and playing in as much snow as I can find.

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I'm an all-around nature nerd, book-lover, and believer in possibilities! I thru-hiked the John Muir Trail in California in 2019 with my husband Jay, a 250-mile adventure in which we celebrated our sweaty, mosquito-bitten, dusty 25th wedding anniversary, and I earned the trail name Coconut.

A self-described "freedom nester" (my upgraded term for empty nester), I'm the mom of two 20-something outdoor-loving men, and a fur mama to my yellow lab, Tucson. I can be found sauntering around the hills of southwest Iowa, with or without my yoga mat, smelling the flowers, getting muddy, or penning nature poetry.

When I'm not on the trail, I run my own business, Radiant Wellness Solutions, teaching yoga workshops and retreats, coaching, and practicing Reiki. I love to blend seasonal elements into my life and professional work. My passion is supporting others to uncover deep freedom, ease and joy through time in nature, mindful movement, and joyful living!

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I was lucky enough to experience the art of camping at a young age and appreciate the landscape Iowa has to offer. Being born and raised in Des Moines, my goal is to get more POC out on the trails while showing them that one can do so without breaking the bank. Aside from enjoying being on the trail on a crisp fall morning, I also enjoy going to shows, organizing, coffee, craft beer, video games, and anything sasquatch related.

Hi, I’m Clara! I’m Mittzi’s kid. I like crafting with items found in nature and I like snow. I love meeting new mini wanderers and drawing anime. My favorite anime is Demon Slayer.

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Hi :) I’m a Des Moines native who is dedicated to making the outdoors accessible to all! I believe in the restorative and healing power of nature and strive to bring more people of color and large-bodied individuals outdoors. I love sharing what our local parks have to offer and connecting with others and have 10+ years of experience guiding folks on outdoor adventures with their abilities and comfort in mind. When I’m not playing outside I enjoy reading, napping, playing video games, attending concerts and music festivals, playing D&D, and traveling. Let’s go heal our mind, body, and soul!

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Paige is a botanist and environmental educator. In addition to guiding with Wander Women, she is the Adult Education Coordinator at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. When Paige isn’t botanizing you can find her reading, watching her sisters sporting events or chilling with her cats (Potato and Carrot). Paige is passionate about helping all people become comfortable while exploring the outdoors!

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Hey, I’m Rachel, and I’m just as likely to plan an entire camping trip around the menu as I am to carry a hardcover book on a hike. I love scenic runs, long walks, thrifting finds, outdoor music, and new knitting projects.

The outdoors are my favorite place to find fun, stillness, and community. Before I ever learned to camp, I’d build forts in the woods behind my childhood home, and bike around Minnesota trails with my dad. When I took the leap to try camping and backpacking, I found those same things and more.

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Hello everyone! I am a native Iowan, born and raised in northeast Iowa. Some of my earliest memories include adventures with my family exploring Pike’s Peak State Park, Backbone State Park and Hickory Hills. Over the past 15 years, I have made a decent attempt at adventuring at as many places as possible! These days my favorite places to explore include Ahquabi State Park, Brown’s Woods and Greenwood Park. I am a full-time in-home child-care provider, emphasizing slow living, good eating, and getting outdoors to explore our natural surroundings as much as possible. I am also a part-time photographer, specializing in Iowa landscapes and family photography.

My husband is my best friend and my co-worker. Together we are raising three teenagers and a baby! I choose to simplify the natural business of my life by investing time in my daily connection to the world outdoors. I am a sunset stalker, a rainbow chaser, a cloud creeper, and a wildflower enthusiast! I am also a huge fan of tortoises and turtles, a lover of streaming forest light, and a complete devotee to teaching littles the value of marveling at all living things.