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Staff and Board Members:
 Executive Director, Mary Wright
Mary has served in this capacity since January 2008. She has many years of managerial experience that includes co-owning and operating a river outfitting business since 2001 and working on the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial for the Bureau of Land Management. Mary is a licensed outfitter and whitewater guide in Idaho and a past board member for the Salmon Arts Council. Mary has personal experience parenting a child with a life-threatening disease; her teenage son is a Type 1 diabetic.  Board President, Katsey Long, LCSW
Katsey is a licensed clinical social worker; she has a private practice counseling children and families in Jackson, Wyoming. In addition to her work developing the programming for River Discovery, she served as program director for the 2008 adult adventure and both 2009 adventures. She was program director for eight years at a girl’s summer camp and owned and operated a retail store for five years. Katsey is an outdoor enthusiast and spent several years as a whitewater guide. She also serves as a consultant for various non-profit organizations.  Board Vice President, Ellen Nolan, A.P.R.N.
Ellen is a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner with over 25 years clinical experience, 15 in the mental health field. In 1999 she wrote her thesis on the therapeutic aspects of wilderness. Professionally, she treats both the mind and body; filling two positions on the 2009 adult adventure program, medical volunteer and professional counselor was a familiar role for Ellen.  Co-founder and Board Treasurer, Fran Tonsmeire
Fran has been a small business owner for over 30 years, managing a river outfitting business and operating the family cattle ranch. She is a licensed outfitter in Idaho, Alaska and Montana. She also co-founded and serves on the board of directors of the Lemhi Regional Land Trust. Fran has been a breast cancer survivor since 1994. She and her husband, Joe, founded River Discovery in 2006 when he was undergoing treatment; Joe lost his cancer battle the following March.  Board Secretary, Cheryl Bidstrup
Cheryl is the information technology specialist - system administrator for the Bureau of Land Management in Challis, Idaho. In over 26 years with the federal government she has worked in recreation, forestry, fire suppression, administration, human resources, and information technology. As a young adult, Cheryl served as a Girl Scout leader and camp counselor for three years and more recently served with the Salmon Girl Scout service unit for five years.  Board Member, Dan Tonsmeire
Dan is a coordinator for Apalachicola Riverkeeper, a non-profit organization that provides outdoor education and stewardship of the Apalachicola River and Bay. He spent 15 years with the NW Florida Water Management District, nine years as a backcountry guide with Wilderness River Outfitters and six years as resident manager of the Jeff Lewis Wilderness Preserve on Dog Island. Dan served as a volunteer guide for the 2008 and 2009 adult adventure programs. He has been a prostate cancer survivor since 2003.  Board Member, Gary Power
Gary is an Idaho Department of Fish and Game Commissioner, appointed by Governor Kempthorne in 2004. His professional career at Idaho Department of Fish and Game spanned 28 years where he held the positions of: conservation officer, wildlife biologist, wildlife manager, and regional supervisor. Since retiring, he is a whitewater and fishing guide on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon Rivers. Gary serves on the Central Idaho Resource Advisory committee and is a past Board member for Whitewater Therapeutic and Recreational Riding Association.  Board Member, Mary Bower
Mary has been a small business owner for 26 years and currently co-owns and manages a grass fed cattle ranch. Her previous business ventures include owning and operating a guest ranch, an outdoor retail store and a coffee kiosk. Mary is a past board member for Whitewater Therapeutic and Recreational Riding Association. She spends most of her time outdoors and countless hours on her horse.  Board Member, Brian Lewis
Brian attended the 2008 adult adventure program as a client and served as a volunteer staffer for the 2009 teen program. He has been a professional photographer and small business owner since 1985 and donated an extensive collection of photos from both River Discovery programs he attended. Brian founded and served on the board of directors of two nonprofits in Shreveport, Louisiana: a free medical clinic and a community outreach organization. He is an avid bicyclist and backpacker. Brian has been a head and neck cancer survivor since 2004. Advisors and Staff Volunteers:  Jeff Hancock, M.D., Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Jeff served as the medical volunteer on the 2009 teen adventure program. He collaborated on and reviewed the River Discovery medical forms and refers patients to the program. Jeff earned a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Utah in 2001, completed a Pediatric residency at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in 2004 and a Pediatric Oncology / Hematology fellowship at the University of Utah in 2007. He is an associate at Teton Oncology in Rexburg, Idaho.  Terry Myers, Guest Ranch Co-manager
Terry served as director of the 2007 children's adventure program. She co-manages Indian Creek Guest Ranch and was co-founder and owner of a recreational outfitting business for 19 years. Terry is a licensed professional whitewater and fishing guide in Idaho and a NARHA certified therapeutic and recreational riding instructor. She served one year as a developmental Board member for River Discovery and five years as executive director of Whitewater Therapeutic and Recreational Riding Association. |
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River Discovery · P.O. Box 712, Salmon, ID 83467
Physical Address: 40 Lovers Lane, Salmon, ID 83467 Phone: (208) 303-0040 · Fax: (208) 756-3708 · Email: riverdiscovery@gmail.com |
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