Hey everyone!

I have an incredible opportunity to attend rafting guide school, and I need your help to make it happen! This training will teach me essential skills like navigation, rescue techniques, and river safety—allowing me to lead unforgettable experiences for others. Even more exciting? Guide school happens the week of my 30th birthday (May 7), and spending that time doing something I truly love would be the best gift I could ask for!

For a little background: When I moved to Taos, NM, almost two years ago, I was lucky enough to befriend a group of raft guides. Last summer, my best memories were made on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama. There’s something about being in nature, fully at the mercy of the river’s flow, that brings a kind of joy, laughter, and freedom that’s hard to find these days. As I step into my 30s, I’ve been more intentional about how I spend my time—trading late nights in restaurants and craft cocktails for a more balanced life filled with sunsets, river walks with my dog, and home-cooked meals. But if you know me, you know there’s one thing I miss: the performance.

Bartending was my stage—a place where I could listen, welcome, console, and make people laugh. That’s why I feel so drawn to becoming a river guide. Leading people down a river, helping others experience the outdoors the way I do—it’s the perfect way to fill that space in my life while sharing something truly special.

But this dream goes beyond just me. Once I become certified and gain enough experience, I want to start a queer rafting group in Taos, NM to create a space where LGBTQIA+ individuals can connect, build community, and support each other through outdoor adventure. Research shows that spending time in nature significantly benefits mental health, and for LGBTQIA+ individuals—who experience higher rates of depression due to discrimination and rejection—having a safe, supportive space in the outdoors could be truly life-changing.

The cost of tuition, gear, and travel adds up, and I can’t do it alone. I’m already $400 closer to my goal (thank you to those who have donated and shared!), but I still have a ways to go. If you’re able to donate, even a little, it would mean the world to me. If you can’t contribute financially, sharing my GoFundMe with others would be just as helpful.

Thank you so much for your support—here’s to an unforgettable birthday on the river and building something meaningful for our community! Every donation, every share, and every bit of encouragement gets me one step closer to guiding my first trip!