Kyle Loveridge
Founder
Paige Loveridge
Founder
Sidni Walser
Forest School Teacher
Stats: 653 rounds of the animal game played on the trail. Kyle’s passion for outdoor growth stems from his Recreational Therapy studies at BYU, where he specialized in experience design. Starting his journey working with youth in state custody and wilderness programs, Kyle later served as a student advisor at ScenicView Academy for individuals on the Autism Spectrum. His focus eventually shifted to operations, where he led as a Program Director at residential treatment centers. As a father of four, Kyle finds his greatest purpose in guiding children to discover the hidden treasures of the mountains. He is dedicated to creating transformative wilderness experiences that build confidence and character. Driven by a vision for systemic social change and a deep love for the Wasatch range, Kyle co-founded Skyriver Outdoor Schools in 2023. He believes in the power of nature to heal and educate, striving every day to serve the local community through outdoor immersion.
Stats: has read aloud 498 picture books (and counting!) in the forest. Paige is a natural science enthusiast who can usually be found immersed in a field guide, eager to share new knowledge about local flora or bushcraft with her students. Having homeschooled her own children, Paige has seen firsthand how essential nature is for a child's mental and physical wellbeing. She is deeply committed to helping other families experience the profound benefits of an outdoor-centered education. While she has worked as a dental hygienist for over a decade, her heart truly belongs in the woods. Paige’s ideal day involves hanging a hammock and sharing stories with a group of curious young explorers under the forest canopy. Over the last few years, Paige has poured her soul into building SkyRiver Forest School alongside Kyle. What began as nature-based day camps has blossomed into a full forest school curriculum where she witnesses students’ confidence bloom week by week. For Paige, teaching in the wild is truly the greatest job on earth.
Stats: 273 nights spent sleeping under the stars (and counting) Sidni’s background in Outdoor Education and Recreation provided her with a toolkit of survival skills, from winter backpacking to canyoneering and Leave No Trace ethics. She advocates for the forest as a classroom, believing that nature fosters a brand of resilience and curiosity that indoor environments simply cannot match. Since joining Skyriver in 2024, she has focused on facilitating individualized adventures for every child. Sidni understands that milestones look different for everyone—whether it’s the bravery to touch a spider web or the grit to hike a new trail. As a homeschooling mother of three, she blends her professional expertise with a gentle, child-led approach to discovery. Her mission is for every student to walk away from Forest School feeling a deeper connection to the earth and a sense of pride in their own capabilities.
Lauren Cooper
Forest School Teacher
Chris Heseston
Forest School Teacher
Stat: Has eaten approximately 500 pounds of trail mix Chris graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Multi-Disciplinary Studies with three minors of Sustainable trails, Recreation Parks and Tourism, and Wildlife and Fisheries from West Virginia University. While in college Chris spent all four years working for an outdoor orientation program teaching students how to backpack, rock climb, white water raft, and more. It was from that Chris fell in love with using the outdoors to make a profound impact on the next generation. Once graduated, Chris continued to bring passion for the outdoors to various outdoor programs, continuing to teach kids all different skills like sailing, fishing, skiing, archery, rock climbing, BMX, and much more. Their love for the outdoors has reached all parts of the country from West Virginia to Florida and now to Utah. Chris strives to continue to learn more about the world around them and continues to use the outdoors as a tool to make a difference.
Forest School Teacher
Meara Simmons
Stats: Collected 163 cool rocks (and always on the hunt for more!) Meara has been in the wilderness world for the past 6 years, guiding kids and teens through extended stays in the backcountry. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder and self proclaimed type 2 fun enthusiast. Her cup is filled by exploring in nature, spending time with her cat Blue, and learning about the people around her. Meara aims to continue teaching people of all ages how to be comfortable in the outdoors no matter where life takes her. Originally from Georgia, she has adapted to the desert and really enjoys the lack of mosquitos here. She has a degree in Psychology and is very interested in the different ways people learn. She brings this perspective to Forest School and loves to see what interests each student. Meara is constantly learning from her students and peers, she believes that everyone has something to teach!
Katelyn Garcia
Forest School Teacher
Rosie Walser
Forest School Doggy Teacher
Rusty Loveridge
Forest School Doggy Teacher
Stats: Will stop at least 50 times per mile on a hike to look at a rock or plant. Katelyn’s expertise was forged in the wilderness as a guide for youth therapy programs. During her time in the backcountry, she mastered primitive skills like bow-drill fires and desert foraging, learning to live harmoniously with the land using minimal tools. These experiences cultivated her signature patience and calm, allowing her to support children as they navigate the physical and emotional challenges of outdoor learning. With an Art degree from BYU, Katelyn uniquely integrates creativity into the wild. She has led numerous nature-based art workshops, encouraging kids to use found materials like stones and pigments in their work. She is continually inspired by the boundless imagination children bring to the trail and loves watching them express their curiosity through both art and exploration.
Stats: 1,000+ belly rubs received during forest story time. Bio: Rosie is the gentle soul of our younger classes. A former therapy dog, her calm presence and wagging tail help every child feel safe and welcomed in the woods. Whether we are building stick forts or reading under a tree, Rosie is there to provide love, comfort, and the occasional happy drool for our little explorers.
Stats: 42 successful (and very noisy) squirrel chases through the brush. Bio: Rusty is the energetic lead for our teen outdoor adventures. A master swimmer and lover of all things water, he keeps the older kids motivated on long hikes. Rusty truly believes he is one of the group, bringing humor and spirit to every expedition as he hunts for rodents and keeps the trail lively.
Stats: 50+ bear encounters (and counting!) Born and raised in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Lauren grew up with the outdoors as her backyard and adventure as a way of life. From fishing, hiking, camping, and boating to climbing trees just to find the perfect place to hide and read a book, she developed an early love for the wild—and a lifelong desire to see all the beauty the world has to offer. Lauren believes some of the most important things children learn can’t be taught inside four walls. She is passionate about helping kids develop a love for the outdoors while discovering the confidence, resilience, and independence that can only come from real experiences in nature. A homeschool mom herself, Lauren brings a gentle, child-centered approach to the trail. She is also the co-founder of Harbor and Sprout, a worldwide homeschool curriculum, where she helps families create meaningful learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom. Known affectionately by the kids as “Miss Honey,” Lauren has a natural sweetness and kindness that makes children feel safe, seen, and encouraged to try new things. She especially loves watching a hesitant child find the courage to climb a little higher, wander a little farther, or discover something they didn’t know they could do. As she raises her own wild, adventure-loving boy, Lauren hopes to give the next generation the same gift she was given growing up in the mountains: a deep love for the natural world and the confidence to explore it. And yes—she really has seen more than 50 bears.
Meet our Team
