Light kisses the top cliffs in the Grand Canyon

Lena Bain

Volunteer Manager

As a Flagstaff local, Lena was fortunate to spend her childhood exploring the silty rivers and snowy peaks of Arizona and Utah. She has immersed herself in the landscapes of the Colorado Plateau as a river guide and outdoor educator since 2006. During those years, she witnessed the degradation of precious ecosystems and felt a need for more tools to engage others in environmental conservation. Motivated to become a steward for systemic change, Lena obtained her master’s degree in community psychology focusing on program development from the University of New Haven in 2016. Lena has since discovered a passion for working with volunteers, especially in outdoor settings. At the Trust, she loves harnessing the diverse knowledge, energy, and skills of our volunteer team to protect the plateau’s most beloved landscapes.

An ellipse of pale rose sand lines the inside of a river bend of such beauty, you could set yourself on fire with the rapture of that curve. In it lies a kind of music in stone that might cure all emptiness.

— Ellen Meloy

Favorite rivers to run

  • San Juan River
  • Colorado River
  • Muddy Creek
  • Rogue River

Favorite books

  • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
  • The Anthropology of Turquoise by Ellen Meloy
  • The Climb Up to Hell by Jack Olsen
  • Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Favorite outdoor activities

  • Long river trips, especially sleeping on my boat under the stars
  • Sniffing ponderosa pines on dog walks
  • Backcountry skiing with friends
  • Gardening with my husband

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