Trip leaders who work for Santa Barbara Adventure Company are truly special people. We hire only the top 10% of all applicants who apply. Because the Santa Barbara area is so beautiful, and our trips sound more like fun than work, we find ourselves with piles of applications. We are fortunate that we draw experienced guides from a variety of interesting leadership backgrounds: Outward Bound instructors, NOLS course graduates, river guides, sea kayaking guides, professional mountaineers, environmental educators, teachers, experienced surfing instructors and teambuilding facilitators.

Most of our staff members were raised in the Santa Barbara area, offering local insight on secret spots and little known lore and history. All trip leaders and assistant guides are CPR and First Aid certified—many have earned EMT, Wilderness First Responder, and Lifeguard certifications—and our rockclimbing instructors boast American Mountain Guide Association certification as well.

Guide training: Our leaders are constantly learning and perfecting the skills necessary to lead great trips. We offer hundreds of hours of training to our guides through Trip Leader mentoring, focused in-services and ongoing staff training sessions for all the activities we offer. Check out pictures from our 2009 guide training days.

Name: Matthew Fienup
Years with SBACo: 10+

Education: Brooks Institute of Photography, Associate's Degree (Summa cum Laude)
Woodbury University, Bachelor's of Science (Magna cum Laude)

Leadership Background and Experience: AMGA certified, 1999 and 2004
Level I Avalanche certified, National Outdoor Leadership School,1998
Level II Avalanche certified, American Avalanche Institute (AAI), 1999
Level III Avalanche certified, AAI, 2000
Level III Avalanche for Mountain Guides (real-time forecasting) certified, AAI, 2001

Favorite Climbing Routes: “Wings & Stings” (5.7), Hammer Dome, Central Sierra; “Anti-Jello Crack” (5.10a), Dome Rock, Southern Sierra; “Coarse & Buggy” (5.11b), Joshua Tree National Park

Favorite Adventure Trip: Any time I’m on my telemark skis in the winter backcountry.

Favorite Piece of Gear: K2 World Piste telemark skis; Nikon 17-35mm, f:2.8 lens with D200 body

Other than guiding: Other specialties include California Natural History, adventure photography, gourmet coffee, and backyard astronomy. My photography collection is represented and distributed by World Sports Images, Ltd. (http://www.worldsportsimages.com). I am an enthusiastic member of 1% for the Planet.

Name: Rachel Thurston
Years with SBACo: 7+ But then who's counting?

Education: Bachelors in Conservation of Natural and Cultural Resources cum laude (Miami of Ohio), Masters in Writing (USC), WWOOFR, TEFL (New World Teachers).


Leadership Background and Experience: River Guide and Outward Bound Instructor in California, Utah/Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and Minnesota/Canada.

For the past several years I've been leading Kayaking and Ropes Course Trips for Mike Cohen's Santa Barbara Adventure Company.

Favorite Adventure Trip: My mother and I have been going on a big international trip every year and I have to say that one of the most memorable trips we've ever done was a 13-day trek to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest. Nothing even comes close to the intoxicating fresh of air of the Himalayas.

Other than guiding:Crossing the world's highest pass, The Thorung La in Nepal, mid-winter with my beloved Mamacita!

Favorite piece of gear:My headlamp, Merrells, and my Canon SLR and wide-angle lens.

Name: Simon O'Brien
Years with SBACo: 7+

Education: BA in Geography and Anthropology @UCSB

Favorite Adventure Trip: My favorite adventure trip would have to be trekking in Nepal. I also really enjoy the vastness and colors of the deserts in the South West.

Other than guiding . . . I love running in the creeks, surfing, riding my bike, and making art and building things.

Favorite piece of gear: My favorite piece of gear is my Gymnastik Ball because it improves balance and strength and is really fun stand on. Everyone should have one!

Name: Jessica Gray
Years with SBACo: 5+

Education: BA in History, University of California, Santa Barbara

Leadership Background and Experience: For a few years after college, I ran the education department of a state historic park here in Santa Barbara, where I designed educational programs, resources and events for visitors and outside audiences. I’m currently a kickboxing and martial arts instructor, and have a black belt in the Korean art of Hapkido. Most of my outdoor leadership skills, however, have been picked up while working for Santa Barbara Adventure Company.

Favorite Adventure: A few summers ago a friend and I spent six weeks backpacking through Europe. Every day there was an adventure.

Other than Guiding: I like being in the water, training in martial arts, and just about anything that involves being outside. And I’m always up for learning new things…

Favorite Piece of Gear: My surfboard

Name: Matt Grivetti
Years with SBACo: 'Ive been working for SBACo for 3 summers and this one will be my fourth.

Education: My education is currently in progress I will be a 3rd year student at UCSB.

Leadership Background and Experience: I graduated from SB high school and grew up in SB. I started getting my
leadership experience from SBACo. I trained with many people from the company and learned to be a strong leader.

Favorite Adventure Trip: My favorite adventure trip would have to be the surf trips. I've been surfing pretty much my whole life. I love being at the beach and passing along my surf knowledge and just having a good time.

Other than guiding: I spend most of my free time in the water. I enjoy surfing, kayaking, and fishing. And of course I have my school work to focus on.

Favorite piece of gear: Definitely my toasty hotline wetsuit. I couldn't survive without it.

Name: Jennifer Baker
Years with SBACo: 4+

Education: B.S. in Biology & Sociology
Leadership Background and Experience: When I was a kid I practiced on my little sisters... putting them on the luge track as toddlers, coercing them into litter pick-ups, etc. I've since refined my methods as a certified ropes course instructor & women's self-defense instructor.

Favorite Adventure Trip: Sailing/hiking/diving around the Virgin Islands

Other than guiding: Hanging out with my dog

Favorite piece of gear: Ibex hoodie

Name: Christi Stockhaus
Years with SBACo: 1+

Education: M.Ed (Higher Education & Student Development) from the University of South Florida and a B.S. in Communication Studies (Health Communication) from James Madison University in Virginia.

Leadership Background and Experience: I began teaching and leading adventure activities 10 years ago working at camps as a college student. I began working on high ropes courses and climbing walls, and gradually began leading new activities. I haven't been able to stop since. From kayaking, white water rafting, rock climbing, caving, biking, and scuba diving, I just love exploring and experiencing beautiful places, and I love using my experience to help others enjoy it too!

For the last 4 years, I have been a full time faculty lecturer at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. I was lucky to be able to teach a Rock Climbing course each semester, and taught a Mountain Sports class in the summers in New Mexico. I loved having my summers free to travel and find new adventures.

Favorite Adventure Trip: Its hard to pick one! I'll always love my first long trip that I took in college camping and biking around the country and exploring the Southwest and Colorado for the first time. We hiked the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce canyons, mountain biked in Moab, and explored the Rocky Mountains. I'd never left the East Coast, so it was incredible to discover a new part of the country.

Other than guiding: I love traveling and exploring my new home in Santa Barbara with my husband and my dog. I am teaching at UCSB, and enjoy working with college students. I teach Pilates, Kickboxing, and a variety of other fitness classes and train both groups and individuals. I also love spending time in the Wine Country and hosting wine tasting parties!

Favorite piece of gear: A camera

Name: Rob Sporrer
Years with SBACo: 7+

Education: 2 classes short of a BA in business (Entrepreneur Program USC)

Leadership Background and Experience: Eagle Paragliding Chief flight Instructor, United States Hang Gliding & Paragliding Instructor Administrator, and Tandem Administrator, 2002 USHPA Instructor of the Year, Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue, Certified EMT, Team coach of the 2009 US Paragliding Team.

Favorite Adventure Trip: Guiding pilots in Valle De Bravo (Valley of the Brave) Mexico on Cross Country Paragliding flights

Other than guiding: Hiking and flying The Andes in Peru

Favorite piece of gear: Compass

Name: Dave Rosen.
Years with SBACo: 7+

Education: SJSU, illustration/graphic design.

Leadership Background & Experience: Skofield Park Nature Camp Counselor-2 years, Peabody School Rec. Director-2 years Kayak, Bike guide SBACo. Surf Instruction SBACo.

Favorite Adventure trip: Costa Rica/Mexico trip 2003, 36 days. 

Favorite piece of gear: My longboard.

Name: Amy Di Chiro
Years with SBACO: 1+

Education: UC Santa Cruz Graduated with Honors in Community Studies: Social Change with a focus on Youth Empowerment.
SBCC: Business 101

Leadership: 5 Years with City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recs Leading Teen Center Programs, Activities, Adventures, and Field Trips.
1 Year Teaching surf lessons to Moms ages 20-50 with Toes on the Nose in Orange County.2003 Volunteer of the Year City of Santa Cruz. 2008 US lifesaving Heroic Act Award.

Favorite Trip: Mountain Biking Wine Tasting.

Other than guiding: Playing guitar and singing (6 years of Opera). Surfing, Biking, Kayaking, Yoga. I dream of opening my own restuarant one day and singing back up in a band.

Favorite piece of gear: A nice new, warm , dry, wet suit. Its an amazing invention.

Name: Brina Carey

Years with SBACo: This is my first season.

Education: BS in Recreation Administration with an Outdoor Emphasis, from San Diego State University.

Leadership Background and Experience: I worked as a ropes course facilitator at the SDSU ARC Team Challenge Ropes Course for 2 years. I interned for Outdoor Outreach, a non-profit organization working with at-risk youth through outdoor programming. I also worked for I Love a Clean San Diego, where I delivered presentations on topics including resource conservation, waste reduction, recycling, community enhancement, and pollution prevention to youth and adults. Most recently, I spent 5 years working for the California Department of Parks and Recreation. I worked as a field biologist, environmental planner, and was also the Interpreter and Docent Coordinator at Ano Nuevo State Reserve, a major Northern elephant seal rookery. There I managed the docent program and trained the docents on how to give effective and meaningful tours and also gave tours myself.

Favorite Adventure Trip: Last October my husband and I spent 2 weeks driving the north coast of Spain. The coastline was incredible and we got some fun waves. We followed that up with a 3 week trip to Northern Baja. It's pretty rugged, as there's no shelter or running water where we go - but that makes it a great chance to re-center and lose track of time.

Other than guiding: I love to surf, hike with my dog, do yoga and pilates, and just explore this incredible place that I live in.

Favorite piece of gear: Any of my Moss Research Surfboards.

Name: Julie Templeton, Office Manager

Education: A.A. in Liberal Arts and B.S. in Recreation Administration from Chico State University.

Favorite Adventure Trip: My semester abroad in New Zeland. Hiking and exploring both the North and South Islands was just amazing. I got to hike on glaciers and swim with dolphins. It was an awesome experience for me.

Other Than Office Managing: Hiking, camping and kayaking. Now that I am live by the ocean, I am finally learning to surf!

Favorite Piece of Gear: My hiking boots.

Also on our team!
(Just missed Q&A day)

Kenji Webb

Mike Nesbitt

Kari Weber

Ryland Grivetti

Doug Littell

David Erickson