Our mission is to guide people through the internal and external wilderness, cultivating a lifelong passion for learning and adventure
Adventure Recovery guides and clinicians are skilled outdoor leaders, educators, and mentors trained to support individuals and groups on a journey of discovery.
Each AR crew member holds Wilderness First Aid certification or higher, along with additional certifications in specific outdoor skills, mental health first aid, and conscious communication skills.
AR Crew members carry an additional qualification—each has walked the path. Overcoming some of life's most difficult challenges, we develop a deep understanding of what it takes to thrive. The ability to compassionately support others with enthusiasm to live life to the fullest is key to the approach. We are unflinching in our mission.
AR CREW
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Tim Walsh
FOUNDER
Tim is an outdoor educator and recovery coach trainer who specializes in guiding people through the external and internal wilderness.
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Josh Flaherty, LCSW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Josh is a licensed clinician, an avid outdoor educator, and an outdoor lead guide with over 15 years of experience in executive business management.
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Peter Lazar, LCSW
CONSULTING CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Peter Lazar is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 30 years of experience in mental health and addiction treatment.
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Nathan Bennick
NATIONAL FIELD DIRECTOR
Nate is a certified American Mountain Guide Association Single Pitch Instructor who has worked in the mental health and recovery field since earning his degree in psychology.
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Seth Gottlieb
FIELD MANAGER, SENIOR GUIDE
Seth is an avid outdoors person who grew up immersed in the wilds of Colorado, partaking in backpacking, skiing, and hiking at an early age.
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Emily Palmer
OUTREACH SPECIALIST
Emily is an outdoor enthusiast who grew up on the East Coast with a passion for adventure. Her years at sleep-away camp, on a lake in eastern Canada, gave her a love of camping, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and time outdoors.
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Steven DaSilva
AR EMT TRAINER + GUIIDE
Steven is an active National EMT with advanced certifications, including Wilderness EMT, Search and Rescue, Advanced Diver/Navigation/Rescue, National Ski Patrol, Peer Recovery Coach, and Geo Medic.
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Max Elder
SENIOR GUIDE
Skating, surfing, snowboarding, hiking, and paddleboarding from a young age catapulted Max into a life as an outdoor guide. In the mental health and treatment space for eight years, he leads through positive psychology and empathy.
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Rourke Weaver
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Rourke has over 15 years of experience in leadership positions within the treatment and recovery arena, as well as in activist, executive, and advocacy roles.
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Jamie Megrue
LEAD GUIDE
Jamie holds a Recovery Coach Professional Certification from CCAR, along with his WFR certification, NY state guide license, and is a frequent rock climber.
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Collin Salmon
LEAD GUIDE
Collin is an advocate for outdoor conservation and education. While working as an AmeriCorps NCCC Member, he learned how to access and maintain natural spaces through stewardship.
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Julia Thorstad
GUIDE
Julia empowers others to push beyond limiting beliefs and cultivate a brave, adventurous spirit. She believes in nature's ability to heal and enjoys sharing this with others.
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Tim Reynolds
GUIDE
Tim is a certified recovery coach and adventurer with 15+ years of experience. He is an AMGA Certified Single-Pitch rock climbing Instructor and a master-level arborist, and a multiple-time New England tree-climbing competition champion.
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Max Hyman
GUIDE
As an active participant in the recovery community, a CCAR certified recovery coach, a former sober house manager, an AR guide, and person in long-term recovery, Max recognizes the importance of multiple pathways to healing.
PAULA SAAF Lead Guide
Paula’s love for adventure started when she was around two and her father put her on a horse and told her to round up the cows on their ranch. She continued to ride and work on her family property until her parents moved to “town”, where she took up road biking so she could get back to her horses. The outdoors plays a vital role in her mental and physical well-being. Guiding others through their outdoor journeys is not just a profession for Paula, it's a deep-seated passion. Paula finds joy in pushing her limits through high-adrenaline sports and her infectious energy, love of sport, and positive outlook serve as catalysts, motivating others to explore and embrace their personal boundaries. In addition to AR Lead Guide credentials, Paula teaches flatwater and whitewater kayaking, SUP, and snowboarding. She is a PSUPA certified SUP Instructor trainer. She has AIARE 2 Avalanche training, ACA Swift Water Rescue, and AASI Level 1 snowboard instructor certifications. She is a climate change activist with Climate Reality and is certified in sustainable health and nutrition from The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition. Some of Paula’s favorite activities include whitewater SUP, mountain and road biking, hiking, and foraging.
KATE MCGRADY Guide
Kate is passionate about the therapeutic effects of adventure in nature, and has 15+ years working in outdoor education. Before moving back to Connecticut in 2019, she worked as a counselor and director at several different organizations, such as Anderson Camps in Gypsum, Colorado, and Colorado Youth Program in Ward, both focused on outdoor education in the Rocky Mountains. In addition to being a certified whitewater rafting guide in Colorado and Utah, Kate also has experience caving, rock climbing, horseback riding, and rappelling. She spent a few years as a director of a Boys and Girls Club in Denver while serving as a middle-school math teacher. Kate graduated from the University of Connecticut with her bachelors in psychology, and is currently working towards her masters in clinical mental health counseling from Fairfield University. She applies her degree and love for adventure therapy with clients through Adventure Recovery.
KEAGHAN DUNN-RHODES Guide
As someone lucky enough to grow up in Colorado, Keaghan spent much of his childhood in the mountains skiing, backpacking, climbing, biking, and canoeing. Those early experiences lay the foundation of his life: one in which playing outside and seeking personal growth go hand in hand. Keaghan holds a B.A. in Cultural & Regional Studies, and wrote his senior thesis on the efficacy of different modalities of treatment on individuals suffering from substance abuse disorders. He is a licensed Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, and has 3+ years of direct patient care experience in the outdoor setting as a ski patroller. In addition, he spent two years working directly with adolescents in acute mental health crises at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Keaghan has worked as a wilderness therapy guide and has 150+ trail days under his belt. He is a huge proponent of the benefits of challenging oneself in the outdoors, and is an avid backcountry traveler in his off time.
JASON DENHAM Guide
Jason is an outdoors enthusiast with almost two decades of experience in wilderness settings. Jason spent 10+ years in inpatient services and wilderness programming, including holding a leadership role at SUWS of the Carolinas as a lead guide and trainer. In addition, he served at Stone Mt School, training and supervising 30 instructors. Following this, he worked at the United Methodist agency focusing on quality of life and managing developmental disabilities. Jason also has experiences in transitional living settings, guiding people in recovery to uplift mental health and wellness. He holds certifications in mental health first aid, suicide prevention, recovery coaching, Wilderness First Aid, Pilates level II, trauma-informed yoga, 200hr YTT, and has 100 hours in attachment therapy training. Currently, he’s studying the Hakomi Method, a mindful, somatic psychotherapy led by the Hakomi Institute in Boulder, Colorado. When not in the woods, Jason is a playing the piano, guitar, and writing songs.
BODHI WALSH Guide
Bodhi is a coach-in-training and junior AR guide who’s been supporting the organization since he was fifteen. Currently in Utah studying for his undergraduate degree in business and outdoor adventure, Bodhi loves to surf, snowboard, whitewater raft, and mountain bike. He is a valuable member of the AR crew who is always up to support the team, pack gear, or help navigate one of his favorite rivers. Bodhi is certified to belay and has his Wilderness First Aid with Swift Whitewater Rescue credentials.
MIMI, the Dog Emotional Support
Mimi is a special member of the AR team. As an amateur therapy dog, Mimi offers compassion and love to everyone she meets.
