As the Continental Divide Trail Coalition moves into summer, there are new faces to assist programs along the Divide. Meet the newest additions to Team CDTC!
Jake Warnica has joined the CDTC team through a partnership with Conservation Legacy. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Dayton in 2018. After graduating Jake gained a passion for working in the outdoor industry through his time with AmeriCorps, serving as the GIS trails assistant for the Cleveland Metroparks trails division. Jake moved to Grand County, Colorado in the spring of 2022 and has embraced his ability to get out in the mountains ever since. Whether it be hiking, skiing/snowboarding, fly fishing, or any of the other activities he enjoys, Jake loves to get out and explore whenever possible.
Jake hopes to gain valuable experience through assisting the CDTC team, primarily with their work in the Muddy Pass area as well as in its work with its several gateway communities throughout Colorado.
Ahnawake Toyekoyah is an intern CDTC is hosting in partnership with the American Indian College Fund for this summer. Ahnawake recently graduated from Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS with her Bachelor’s in Environmental Science. Ahnawake’s background instilled in her a deep respect for the value of public lands and their significance to ecological systems, health and wellness, and indigenous communities, and she is seeking opportunities to combine these passions into a career.
Ahnawake will be developing a project that combines the CDT, community-centered conservation, and education to find out more about how communities connect with and steward the CDT landscape.
Jill Yoder joined team CDTC as Development Manager where she will contribute to innovative, engaging, and diverse strategies to support the growing needs of the organization. She lives in Anaconda, Montana with her two dogs, Maisie and Benny. Jill came to Montana via a summer job in Yellowstone National Park and then she attended Montana State University earning a B.A. and M.A. in English. After graduating from MSU, Jill began working in nonprofits where she developed a love for nonprofit fundraising, grant writing, and grant management. Jill spends much of her time hiking, fishing, backpacking, and skiing near and far from her home in Anaconda.