Caitlin Sampson was born in La Grande, Oregon, into a tight knit family of musical cowgirls/boys (she has a horse named Choctaw). She is a seventh generation Oregonian--her family was on the first wagon train to Oregon back in 1843. She got a degree in Environmental Studies/Education from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR and began working at Passages Northwest as an Americorps volunteer in 2007. She lives for the moment on course when the participants look at one another and realize that they have eight new best friends. In addition to growing her own vegetables, her favorite things to do are make music, laugh, and sleep under the stars. Her favourite instrument is the marimba, which she plays using four mallets—two per hand. Her outdoor adventures include: climbing, whitewater (despite her fear of water), backpacking, skiing, canyoneering, and learning natural history. She speaks Swahili and plays the marimba. Her dreams include building her own wood fired hot tub and starting a school that uses experiential education methodology to teach environmental and social justice curriculum.