Denise Hartsock
Hometown: Livonia, Michigan
Leadership Experience: I have loved being outdoors for as long as I can remember. Being able to work with youth outdoors is my passion. During college I worked with the Upward Bound Math and Science Camps as a counselor/tutor/mentor for two summers. After college I served two years in Tanzania, East Africa as a School Health Educator with the Peace Corps, developing and implementing programs. I have worked with AAVE for two summers safely leading Rock and Rapid (now Colorado Classic) and Bold West. I am a certified lifeguard and wilderness first responder. During the rest of the year, I am a science teacher at a small charter school in downtown Denver, CO.
What AAVE Means to me?: When I think of AAVE i immediately think of FUN, adventure, and friends! Many of the other leaders have become some of my closest friends and the teenagers that come on the trips have had a great impact on my life.
Favorite Quote: In the end everything will be ok. If it's not ok, it's not the end.
The Perfect Day: That's tough. There are so many things that could make a perfect day...it just depends on how i feel that day. I love sleeping in, but i also love enjoying a beautiful sunrise. It would definitely need to include some sort of outdoor activity; hiking, mt. biking, road biking, trail running.
Dream Job: A job that allowed me to teach in some realm, work with teegagers, act as a liaison between American culture and some other culture (preferrably African or Asian), live abroad, but still visit the states.
Dream Vacation: Teaching abroad for an extended period of time and having time to travel within the country and to neighboring countries. (basically another Peace Corps stint)
What I do when I'm not at AAVE: When not with AAVE I work full time as a high school science teacher. I get out on the trails as much as possible mt biking, hiking, and trail running. But I also enjoy road biking, yoga, skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing, reading, writing, sewing and sleeping! I get together with friends for lunch, dinner, movies or just sitting around.
