Passionate & Dedicated
Meet Our Staff
Our staff members are well-educated, highly trained and share a passion for outdoor education. Pali instructors come from all over the United States and the world, year after year bringing their high energy and a strong commitment to making a difference in the lives of students.
Leadership Team
Director
Emily ‘Bauder’ Balcome
Director
Emily ‘Bauder’ Balcome
Hometown West Chester PA
Education Gordon College, B.S Recreation and Leisure; Concentration in Outdoor Education; Business Minor
Emily has over a decade of camp and outdoor education and camp experience. She is passionate and excited about supporting a team of amazing educators to facilitate a safe, fun and hands on experience for students of all ages. She has been with Pali since 2014.
Director of Sales
Bridgette Janes
Director of Sales
Bridgette Janes
Assistant Director
Kalee ‘Spinelli’ Chapman
Assistant Director
Kalee ‘Spinelli’ Chapman
Hometown Townsend, MA
Kalee has always been passionate about working with children their whole life, and combining that with the whimsy of outdoor education it is just a win all around. She is loving her time at Pali and hopes to be here for at least a little while. They started as an instructor in August 2019.
Assistant Director
Luis ‘Crush’ Bonilla
Assistant Director
Luis ‘Crush’ Bonilla
Hometown Aguada, PR
Education Eckerd College, B.S. Biology, minor in Environmental Studies
After graduating, Luis decided to pursue Outdoor education and joined our team in 2018. He has worked in the camping industry for many years and enjoys teaching while sharing his passion for the outdoors with the students. Luis is excited for this new season and cannot wait to welcome all the students who will be joining us.
Business Development Manager
April Zazueta
Business Development Manager
April Zazueta
Sales Associate
Jamie Hoopes
Sales Associate
Jamie Hoopes
Sales Associate
Natalie ‘Babushka’ Hart
Sales Associate
Natalie ‘Babushka’ Hart
Hometown Lowell, Ohio
Education Wingate University, B.S. Environmental Biology
Natalie found her passion for experiential learning and outdoor stewardship through camps she attended in her youth. Like the majority of Pali staff, she loves to travel and spend most of her time outside. Natalie started as an instructor in Spring 2020 and is excited to continue her time at Pali on the leadership team!
Sales Associate
Christina Hitt
Sales Associate
Christina Hitt
Billing Coordinator
Arlene Marquez
Billing Coordinator
Arlene Marquez
Staff Supervisor
Joey ‘Steely Dan’ Schill
Staff Supervisor
Joey ‘Steely Dan’ Schill
Hometown Rochester, NY
Education New York State University in Oswego; B.S. in Zoology
After earning a degree in zoology, Joey started working at various environmental education organizations to provide resources for local schools and communities, igniting the desire to grow in the field of outdoor education. He started as an instructor in the Fall of 2023 and hopes to stay in the education industry for years to come.
Staff Supervisor
Zoé ‘Mars’ Acosta
Staff Supervisor
Zoé ‘Mars’ Acosta
Hometown Monrovia, California
Education University of Hawai’i at Hilo: B.S. Marine Science
Zoé started working at summer camps after graduating college, which inspired her to combine her love for camp with a desire to teach in the outdoors. She started working at Pali as an instructor in Fall 2022 and hopes to build a long-lasting career in outdoor education.
Challenge Course Director
Dan ‘TBD’ Harbuck
Challenge Course Director
Dan ‘TBD’ Harbuck
Hometown Lufkin, TX
Dan started in the outdoor adventure field in the early 2000’s. His 20+ year career in outdoor recreation has taken him to programs across the US, leading outdoor adventure trips as well as training, inspecting, and building ropes courses. Dan started at Pali in January 2023 as the Challenge Course Director.
Assistant Ropes Director
Michael ‘Duck’ Ellison
Assistant Ropes Director
Michael ‘Duck’ Ellison
Hometown Clayton, NC
Education North Carolina State University B.S. Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, minors in Environmental Education, Outdoor Leadership
Michael grew up exploring the forests around his home in central North Carolina, and those experiences led him to working in the outdoor recreation industry as a trip leader and rock climbing instructor in college. After graduating, he travelled across the country to work at a variety of camps, at all of which he has been focused on sharing his passion for adventure and the outdoors with everyone around him. Since starting at Pali in fall of 2023, he has found a joy in the ropes courses and facilitating so many meaningful experiences for all of the participants and hopes to continue creating a space for the growth of each person and group that rolls through our gates.
Education Coordinator
Christina ‘Speedo’ Mascalo
Education Coordinator
Christina ‘Speedo’ Mascalo
Hometown Doylestown, PA
Education Providence College: B.A. Elementary and Special Education; Saint Joseph's University: M.Ed. Reading Specialist
After teaching 5th and 6th grade in a traditional classroom, Christina came to Pali to explore teaching in a new environment. She began as an instructor in the fall of 2025 and has really enjoyed adapting and applying her skills to the outdoor education space.
Logistics Supervisor
Jon ‘Pepto’ Kane
Logistics Supervisor
Jon ‘Pepto’ Kane
Hometown Traverse City, MI
Education Northern Michigan University, B.S. Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management
Jonathan has been involved with Boy Scout camps since his mid-teenage years. During college, he started getting involved in outdoor education and after graduating college, Jon journeyed out to Pali Institute. He has worked here for a many number of years and enjoy meeting the many people that end up through our gates.
Program Supervisor
Amara ‘Cinnabun’ Hampton
Program Supervisor
Amara ‘Cinnabun’ Hampton
Program Coordinator
Gabrielle ‘Koda’ Myers
Program Coordinator
Gabrielle ‘Koda’ Myers
Hometown Dillon, CO
Education Colorado State University: BA in Sociology
Gabby has always enjoyed working with students and in the outdoors. She has worked with all ages of children including infants in preschool all the way through seniors in high school. She has previously worked in the ski industry teaching people how to ski as well as coaching ski racing prior to coming to Pali for Spring 2025. She is very excited to continue growing with Pali.
Staff and Student Coordinator
Klara ‘Sol” Krumrey
Staff and Student Coordinator
Klara ‘Sol” Krumrey
Hometown Mount Pleasant, MI
Education University of Michigan, B.A. in Social Theory and Practice, B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies
Klara started as an instructor at Pali in January of 2025 and has greatly enjoyed their first experience working in Outdoor Ed. They possess deep reverence and admiration for nature and an immense love for humanity, life, and learning, which shines through in all that they do. They intend to continue their work in education and human development for many years to come.
Staff and Student Coordinator
Sheyna ‘Cedar’ Roscoe
Staff and Student Coordinator
Sheyna ‘Cedar’ Roscoe
Hometown Bowling Green, KY
After traveling and working hands-on outside across the USA for three years, Sheyna found a home in teaching Outdoor Education at Pali in Spring 2024. She hopes to lead and inspire our next generation of students through fun and meaningful experiences here at Pali.
Visiting Schools Supervisor
Hannah ‘Skoob’ White
Visiting Schools Supervisor
Hannah ‘Skoob’ White
Hometown Gaylord, MI
Education Michigan State University, B.S. Zoology/Marine Biology, Minor in Environmental Science
Hannah grew up with a passion for the outdoors and earth sciences. After graduating, she found Pali in Spring 2024. She quickly learned that introducing children to outdoor spaces and natural environments was one of the most fulfilling experiences she has had yet! Hannah is loving her time working at Pali and hopes to continue her career in Outdoor Education to help foster the new generation of environmental enthusiasts!
Visiting Schools Coordinator
Carenna ‘Wren’ Cody
Visiting Schools Coordinator
Carenna ‘Wren’ Cody
Hometown Swarthmore, PA
Education Boston University: B.A. Sociology, minor in Theatre Arts
Carenna grew up attending summer camp and has worked at camps since she was 16. She started at Pali as an instructor in the fall of 2024 after graduating from BU, and is enjoying life on the west coast! Camp has been a huge part of her life, so she loves being able to help provide that same experience to students coming to Pali!
Visiting Schools Coordinator
Brandon ‘Shakespeare’ Burditt
Visiting Schools Coordinator
Brandon ‘Shakespeare’ Burditt
Hometown Redmond, WA
Education University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, MFA Acting
Brandon has turned a career in theatre into a passion for teaching! After receiving his Masters and teaching in both New York City and Illinois, Brandon has found a home here in Running Springs for the past four seasons. He is grateful to live and grow on this beautiful mountain as well as help make lifelong memories for all the students who come to Pali.
Visiting Schools Coordinator
Izzi ‘Indigo’ Dalsing
Visiting Schools Coordinator
Izzi ‘Indigo’ Dalsing
Visiting Schools Coordinator
Jodi ‘Jet’ Tepper
Visiting Schools Coordinator
Jodi ‘Jet’ Tepper
Hometown Agoura Hills, CA
Education University of Washington: BA in Communications
Jodi’s passion for camp started at 16 at her first job as a summer camp counselor. Since then she has worked many different jobs in camp settings, such as outdoor education instructor, arts and crafts specialist, and CIT director. Jodi started as an instructor at Pali in the fall of 2025 and is grateful that Pali provides an opportunity for her to continue helping students find the same joy for camp and the outdoors that she has.
100+ Team
Our Instructors
Pali Institute instructors come from all over the United States and the world, sharing a passion for education and the outdoors. Our outdoor instructors have the chance to grow and receive feedback while teaching small groups of students in our outdoor classroom. Located in the San Bernardino Mountains, Pali Institute offers a customizable outdoor education program for grades 4 – 12. Educators choose a three, four or five day program and select from over 30 class modules from three categories: Outdoor Education, Science and Leadership.
