Company Overview

Meet Kayla Hoogenraad, our dynamic General Manager who keeps Ridge Wilderness running smoothly. Kayla manages everything from staff coordination and scheduling to client bookings and custom programming. She also oversees accounts and invoicing, ensuring every detail is handled with care and precision.

Kayla joined Ridge Wilderness 6 years ago, bringing with her a wealth of experience from managing a bustling restaurant for nearly 8 years. After a few years dedicated to her family, she returned to the workforce with a passion for outdoor adventures and a knack for organization.

Kayla thrives in environments where she can juggle multiple responsibilities and keep everything on track. Her extensive experience in customer service and administrative tasks makes her an invaluable asset to our team. Though she modestly claims no industry-specific accolades, her expertise and dedication speak volumes.

Outside of work, Kayla enjoys savoring moments of tranquility with a vanilla latte and a thrilling novel. She loves exploring new places on road trips around BC with her husband and four kids, and she never misses a chance to relax in tropical destinations.

Inspired by the challenges life presents, Kayla believes overcoming them makes life meaningful. Her motivation comes from the positive feedback of youth and teachers who find peace and joy in nature through our programs. Kayla is committed to delivering exceptional experiences for all our clients and is always ready to create custom programs to meet unique needs.

Kayla’s favorite quote: “Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”

I am Rachel Campbell, and I call the beautiful Chilliwack, BC home. For over a decade, I’ve dedicated myself to education, specializing in Special Education, Outdoor Education and First Aid. For the past seven years, I’ve been a proud member of Chilliwack Search and Rescue, training in swift water rescue, rope rescue, helicopter rescue, first aid, and risk management.

Professional Experience:

Educator
 First Aid Instructor
 Special Education and Outdoor Education.

Chilliwack Search and Rescue
o Swift Water Rescue
o Rope Rescue
o Helicopter Rescue
o Licensed Emergency Medical Responder

Personal Passions
 Cold Water Swimming
 Canoeing
 Backcountry Adventures
 Wilderness Survival Skills

One of my greatest joys is taking others into the wilderness to share the magic of nature. Working with Ridge Wilderness has been a dream come true, allowing me to combine my love for teaching, guiding, and adventuring. Every day, I get to be outside, doing what I love and sharing my passion with others. So, let’s go on an adventure together and learn some knew skills!

Tim has been with Ridge Wilderness going on 2 seasons now as a Wilderness/Remote First Aid Instructor. In his spare time he also volunteers with the Central Fraser Valley Search & Rescue. Tim currently holds his Wilderness and Remote First Aid Instructorship, including Oxygen Therapy. When he is not wrestling with his mini me you can find him in the local mountains backpacking, or by a campfire catching up with family & friends. Tim has a passion for teaching & learning, he is constantly learning new skills & ways of doing things. Having experience as an active Search & Rescue member, he brings a lot of real world events and experiences to his teaching, which really helps to motivate & see things in a different light. “The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do” – Kobe Bryant

Hi all, I’m Sarah! I’m a part-time instructor with Ridge and teach Remote and Wilderness First Aid. I’m from Nova Scotia, but have been living on Vancouver Island since starting at the University of Victoria a few years ago. I’m majoring in Biology with a minor in Global Development studies. I love ecology, zoology, and have been doing research in the Reimchen Lab at UVic on plumage patterns and foraging behaviour in aquatic birds. This summer I’ve been working as an Endangered Species Monitoring Technician with Canadian Wildlife Services and ECCC to monitor Woodpecker and Sapsucker productivity.

When I’m not working or at school, I love getting outside for backpacking trips, to ski, or to tidepool for cool nudibranchs! My favourite thing about teaching first aid is getting to meet people from different backgrounds who all share a love for the outdoors.

I grew up in the Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe area, where I spent most of my life. My journey into first aid began at the age of 14 with a Canadian Red Cross first aid course. By 17, I earned my Occupational Level Three First Aid certification, despite initial ticket and age restrictions. At 18, I became a Canadian Red Cross First Aid Instructor, and by 20, I had advanced to Level Three First Aid and obtained my Level One First Aid Instructor certification through EMP Canada. During this time, I taught CPR/BLS and other courses, while continuing my education with Red Cross Instructor updates.

My professional experience includes working in the industry as a rescue technician, focusing on mine rescue, high-angle rescue, and confined space rescue across various gas and industrial sites throughout BC and Alberta. I’ve been an active member of Search and Rescue for over 12 years, applying the rescue skills I developed in the industry. I currently teach Confined Space Entry and Rescue, Ground Search and Rescue Training, and ICS 100, and I serve as one of the search managers and certified team leaders for our local Search and Rescue team.

In addition to my professional work, I am an elected official in our village council and run my own company. I’ve been married for 17 years and enjoy spending time outdoors with my wife and our two boys, aged 15 and 12, who share my love for camping. While I don’t do much canoeing on flat calm water—largely because I can’t swim—I find fulfillment in many other outdoor activities.

Jamie Tempel, assistant to all. She started her journey with Ridge Wilderness in 2021 to align her professional life with her passion for adventure and the outdoors. Jamie was born and raised in the West Chilcotin community of Nimpo Lake, BC where nature was ingrained into her foundation and roots. Growing up in the tourism industry and always having customer service at the forefront of her endeavors, she prides herself on every client interaction being one of value, intention and connection. In her spare time she will be found with her family, hiking any mountain she possibly can, wandering through the woods aimlessly or by an open fire cooking up new tasty creations. As a self proclaimed nature geek, Jamie believes in inspiring others, especially youth, to form their connection with the outdoors and is grateful to be a part of a team that allows her the platform to do so! “Going to the mountains, is going home” – John Muir

Guide on the Side? Teaching Troubadour? Director of Eastern Operations? Who is Courtland Kerr? Courtland is a part-time guide and Wilderness First Aid instructor and has worked with Ridge Wilderness Adventures since 2016. Originally from Maple Ridge, Courtland started his outdoor career with Ridge Wilderness. He attended the University of the Fraser Valley and leverages his history and anthropology knowledge to deliver unique historical and cultural experiences when sharing the outdoors with people. Courtland is a recent graduate of Cape Breton University, where he completed a Bachelor of Education which allows him to further leverage his learning to create effective learning spaces during courses. Nowadays, you can find Courtland paddling on the beautiful waters of Muskoka in Ontario, where he works as an history and outdoor education teacher and helps share the Ridge Wilderness experience in Ontario. He loves all outdoor activities, from canoeing all the way to rock climbing, and he is an avid rugby player. Courtland is a lifelong learner and enjoys challenging himself; he has taught himself how to make canoe paddles and crochet. His current endeavor is learning to speak Gaelic, which he picked up while living in the Maritimes. Courtland believes the outdoors is a magical place of wonder and amazement that can transform us and shape our worldview, and this is what inspires him to take others outside.

I live in Abbotsford.  I am a retired professional firefighter, having served 29 years.  My hobbies are outdoor adventure by bicycle, backpack or boat, as well as physical fitness.  I run a small mobile strength training business other than my work with Ridge.  I love guiding and teaching first aid with Ridge because it combines all my passions together and I love meeting new people.

Frank Grosspietsch, Instructor Remote & Wilderness First Aid and sometimes School Canoe Guide.