Northern Lakes Canoe Base Alumni Association

MEET THE BOARD

The Executive Board serves 3 year-terms and meet virtually every other month to keep the current NLCBAA initiatives alive! Our board is made up of mostly former canoe guides, spanning across several canoe base "generations"!

Rebecca Gaida

Board Chair

Graduated with her Masters in Public Administration and works for the City of Minneapolis as a Contracts Administrator.
Resides in St. Paul
Participant in 2011 and 2012, GIT in 2013 and 2014, Guide in 2015 and 2016.

Kate Ford

Vice Chair

Currently works at Univ of Vermont in Residential Life
Resides in Burlington, VT
Guide 2001, 02, 03
Director 2004, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09

Currently teaches high school earth and environmental science
Resides in Chesapeake, VA
Guide 1995, 1996
Assistant Director 1999

Liz Thapaliya

Treasurer

Secondary science teacher specializing in Earth and Environmental Sciences
Parent of Sam and Annalise and tender of ducks and chickens
Served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal
Guide 1995, 1996
Assistant Director 1999

Lindsey Lee

Secretary

Currently works as a camp director for North Homes, which is a nonprofit based in Grand Rapids, MN, doing year round mental health experiential education programming with children of all ages who are currently in their foster care, group homes or inpatient/ outpatient facilities.
Resides in Minneapolis, MN
Guide 2011, 2012
Guide/ assistant director 2014, 2015

Leigh Stepan

Membership Coordinator

Graduated with her Masters in Public Administration and works for a Public Housing Authority as a Housing Choice Voucher Specialist.
Resides in St. Paul
Participant in 2011 and 2012, GIT in 2013 and 2014, Guide in 2015 and 2016.

Faith Knipe

Fundraising and Website Coordinator

Faith has spent 5 years on the NLCBAA board, coordinating the annual fall fundraiser since 2017.

She currently works as a Project Coordinator for Operations for the Environmental Defense Fund, and is based in Philadelphia, PA. Outside of enjoying city-perks like live music and trying new/delicious food, Faith tries to adventure whenever possible! Whether exploring new cities or taking weekend backpacking excursions, she's always plotting her next trip.

GIT: 2012
Guide: 2014, 2015, partial 2017, guest guide 2022

Cynthia Hagan

Special Projects

Currently working parttime in schools and volunteering for local GS council
Resides in Seattle, Washington
Participant 1989, 90, 91; GIT 1992, 93; Guide 1994, 95
Brought her own Girl Scout troop for a trip!
Rejoined board in 2019

Doris Kolodji

Vision Coordinator

Currently teaches 6th grade
Resides in Hibbing, MN
Guide, Director, All-Around Consultant, pretty much all the years of the base
On board since 2016

Jenn "Thomason" Phillips

Communications

Lives in Adelaide, Australia
Primary school teacher, mom to 2 girls and emergency foster mother to many
Participant on 10 day wider-op 2001, GIT 2002, Guide 2003-2007
Joined board in 2020

Jenny Morrison Cleary

Vision Coordinator

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