Outdoor Leadership: Instructors
Amber DeBoer
Mike DeBoer
David Condit
Dr. Ashley Denton
Jim Doenges
Dr. Bradley J. Widstrom
Amber DeBoer
- MS in Outdoor Leadership, Southern Adventist University
- BA in Behavioral Science, Metro State College (Denver, CO)
- Middle School Language Arts instructor
- 8 years 3rd grade public school educator
- Certified Ropes Course Facilitator (Adventure Experiences)
- Red Cross certified First Aid and CPR
- Low Ropes & High Ropes Facilitator (John Brown University & Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je)
- Wilderness Trip Leader (backpacking, rock climbing, rappelling, mountain biking) for 11 years at Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je, Narrow Way Expeditions
- Senior Guide for Denver Seminary outdoor leadership courses
Mike DeBoer
- MS in Outdoor Education, Southern Adventist University
- BA in Biology, Northwestern College
- Certified Wilderness First Aid Instructor (Wilderness Medicine Institute)
- Certified Level I Ropes Course Instructor and Facilitator (Association for Challenge Course Technology)
- Red Cross certified First Aid and CPR instructor
- Certified Wilderness First Responder (Wilderness Medicine Institute)
- Graduate NOLS Instructor Course (National Outdoor Leadership School)
- Executive Director at Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je, Bailey, CO
; prior to this position Mike served for 12 years as the founding director of Narrow Way Expeditions, the adventure ministry at Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je - Former Board Member of Christian Wilderness Leaders Coalition (now the Christian Adventure Association)
- Adjunct Faculty, Colorado Christian University
David Condit
- MDiv Denver Seminary (anticipated graduation May 2011)
- MA in Counseling, Saint Mary’s University; BS in Psychology, Colorado State University
- Licenses: Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor
- Military experience to include C-130 aviator; Flight Instructor; Director of Ariel Firefighting; US Air Force Academy Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science and Leadership; outdoor leadership reaction course, high ropes course, and scenario-based leadership program development and oversight at USAFA; Research Psychologist; Special Operations; numerous combat deployments; and water survival training
- Multiple years professional and lay church-based ministry
Dr. Ashley Denton
- DMin in Missions and Cross Cultural Studies, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (Dissertation: “Wilderness and Missions: A Theology for Developing and Sustaining Young Leaders in Mission”)
- MA in Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary; BLA, Northern Arizona University
- Director of Wilderness Ministry Institute
, a Christian missions organization that develops indigenous outdoor ministry leaders who utilize the outdoors and adventure activities for purposes of evangelism, discipleship, spiritual formation, leadership development and mission. - Director of Outdoor Leadership International
- Both Wilderness Ministry Institute and Outdoor Leadership International are operated under the auspices of Nexus International
, an international organization that serves as a resource center to provide training and support for national youth leaders and their youth agencies as they address the holistic needs of young people in their respective countries. Their deep heartbeat is to transform youth to prepare them for leadership roles in their country of origin. Dr. Denton currently works in over 25 countries in the regions of Asia-Pacific, Oceania, and Eastern Europe. - Director of the Center for International Youth Mission
- College and Student Ministries Pastor at Mountain View Community Church in Fort Collins, CO
- Previously served on the staff with Young Life for 15 years both as an area director in Colorado and as the National Director of Young Life New Zealand
- Author of Christian Outdoor Leadership: Theology, Theory and Practice.
Jim Doenges
- BS and MA in Biology, University of Bridgeport, CT
- Program Director and Senior Instructor, Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries, Laramie, WY (SROM is the only wilderness ministry accredited by the Association for Experiential Education)
- Past Director of Outreach and Mission Trip Leader, Climbing for Christ; led missions trips to Mt. McKinley, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Nepal, and the mountains of Haiti
- Past Outdoor Minister and Director of PEAK Outdoor Ministries at South Suburban Church, Littleton, CO
- Licensed Minister, Disciples of Christ
- Board ratified Avalanche Professional (American Avalanche Association)
- Certified Leave No Trace Master Educator (LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics)
- Certified Wilderness First Responder(Wilderness Medicine Institute)
- Past Director of Outreach, Climbing For Christ
- Past Senior Environmental Scientist for consulting engineering firms
- Thirty years experience in backpacking and mountaineering, including 40-day wilderness courses and summits on four continents (Aconcagua, McKinley, Kilimanjaro, and others)
- Denver Seminary Student Mentor
- Lead guide for Denver Seminary Adventure Previews
Dr. Bradley J. Widstrom
- EdD in Sociology and Anthropology of Education, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education (Dissertation: "Learning to be a Minister: The Occupational Socialization of Youth Ministers")
- MRE, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; BA in Elementary Education, Trinity College
- Youth Pastor and Director of Christian Education for 14 years; ordained by the Evangelical Free Church of America
- Public School Educator in New Jersey and Washington; Illinois K-9 teaching certificate
- Member of Denver Seminary faculty since 1999
- Chair, Department of Youth and Family Ministries, Denver Seminary
- Director, Outdoor Leadership Concentration
- Multiple years of leading backcountry trips with adolescents and young adults
