OUTDOOR LEADER

Yolanda is a loving, fun & spontaneous adventurer. She is a professional Educator /Teacher who is committed to supporting her larger community, especially teens.

She remembers what it was like to be a teenager and go through all the tough stuff that comes with growing up in a world that often isn’t fair, balanced or respectful. She loves to support and connect with kids from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Yolanda also has a gift for lighting up others around her, as well as, bringing open-minded enthusiasm and curiosity to new environments and experiences.

FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR + OUTDOOR LEADER

Niles was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. He attended K-12 here and then received his undergraduate degree in Sociology, while also playing collegiate football at the University of Oregon as a running back. After college, he made his way to Europe where he played professional American football for 4 Seasons in Italy and 1 Season in Poland.

After his European football career ended, he knew he’d make his way back to Eugene, to launch into his ambition of empowering youth and his native community. To give back in the same way others had for him during his journey as an ‘at-risk’ adolescent seeking direction and guidance.

He believes in the power of nature and mentor-ship. He’s excited to play his part in giving back to our community through the Back2Youth platform he’d always envisioned building well before it became a reality.

Niles has traveled to over 30 countries and 5 continents, enjoys learning new languages, Italian food, and is an avid fisherman.

OUTDOOR LEADER

Sadie grew up between Oregon and Samoa, where her love for both nature and culture was shaped by family, athletics, and adventure.

As a professional model and the reigning Miss Eugene Volunteer 2025–2026, she brings creativity, confidence, and leadership into every space she serves. Currently a student at New Hope Christian College studying Pastoral Studies, Sadie is passionate about weaving faith, mentorship, and the outdoors into opportunities that inspire and uplift local youth.

At Back2Youth, she serves as an Outdoor Leader, guiding participants to connect with the land, embrace new challenges, and grow in resilience.

Sadie believes that the outdoors is one of the best classrooms for developing courage, teamwork, and self-discovery— and she is honored to support young people in more fully stepping into their true potential.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE + GRANT WRITER

A professional Grant Writer with 30 years of experience in Resource Development and Program Design, Lori has the proven ability to take a complex vision and translate it into goal-based application to create real world impact. With degrees from UC San Diego and the University of Oregon, Lori honed her grant writing skills as the Associate Director of an international research institute at the University of Oregon, and later as the Grants Development Manager for Lane Community College.

Her strengths are her ability to combine skills in management, data collection, and program design with adept problem solving and diplomatic savvy. Clients appreciate her sense of humor, positive horsepower, and experienced ability to move heavy mental and philosophical objects out of the way. Her greatest reward is the unspoken acknowledgement that occurs when she sees a successful project take flight and can reflect, “I helped do that.”

Learn more about Lori at: www.goddessofgrants.com

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE, CREATIVE DIRECTOR + FAMILY/YOUTH CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

A professional Graphic Designer, Entrepreneurial Strategist and Authenticity Coach, Kellee was the first teammate to come aboard on Back2Youth’s mission and vision - when it was only an idea in the mind of our Founder/Executive Director, Niles Mittasch. 

Kellee quickly saw what Niles looked to achieve, keenly bringing forward her design skills, brand clarity, creative strategy, copy writing, and a shared vision to support the now co-creative endeavor.  Kellee remains excited to see how B2Y’s reach will grow, as we all remember/rediscover that we are innate Nature Enthusiasts, and that Mother Nature is our ultimate ally..

When not serving outwardly, Kellee enjoys exploring a wide variety of inner and outer landscapes - playing with her natural curiosity, intuitive, creative and healing skill sets, as well as ever studying and exploring Mother Nature through overlanding, camping, hiking, meditation, grounding, gardening, photography, healing modalities and much more.

Learn more about Kellee at: www.awedore.com.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT + INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM DESIGN

Jami, the founder of HeartWise Community Learning Center, is a dedicated SEL specialist who creates innovative frameworks for collaborative curriculum instruction and mindfulness in education. As a leader, designer, and compassionate facilitator, her approach reflects her commitment to nurturing the growth and potential of every human.

“You are powerful and you are beautiful, so what do you want to do about it?” This playful yet profound inquiry guides her curriculum, inspiring curiosity, compassion and joy. Jami believes that these values are essential in exploring one’s identity, creativity, intellect and purpose. Through this lens, learning becomes a transformative and empowering process. 

Jami is a wild hearted optimist and is here to bring a high frequency of love and joy to the big beautiful experiment of life!

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE

Dr. Lori Allen is Executive Director of the Oregon Mind Body Institute (OMBI). She is a licensed psychologist specializing in mind-body treatment of traumatic stress, eating and body image, depression, and anxiety. Dr. Allen holds a Master of Education and began her career in Special Education teaching students with learning and behavioral issues.

As Executive Director of OMBI, Dr. Allen oversees the everyday operations of the business and supervises and trains trainers, leads groups, and teaches mindfulness-based mental health in schools.  She believes our individual and collective health and well-being are intricately connected, and that to address mental health at its core, we need to re-imagine the meaning of education and the deeper societal sources of stress.

Preventive mental health involves incorporating activities that bring nature, joy and meaning into daily life and she is excited to support Back2Youth’s programming, which does just that.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE + OUTDOOR LEADER

Eva Osirus’s background is in classical music, healing arts, literature, and art. Creation is life; whether it is a story, verse, collage art, singing, or music production, Eva creates that which is inspiring, truthful, and contrary to illusion. When she is not working in the community or making, Eva is walking a path to become a better being through qigong, kungfu, and meditation. Eva is a lover and seeker of life that embraces duality as an enlightening tool of reality. Every day she chooses to create and live a life endowed with faith, love, truth, and balance.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE

Dante Zúñiga-West is an educator, outdoorsman and conservationist who believes that young people should be present in nature. He is passionate about environmental conservation and exploring the natural world. A novelist, short story writer and journalist, his writing is frequently published in lifestyle magazines and adventure journals. He lives in the coastal mountain range of Oregon with his family and some very handsome German Shepherds.

Learn more about Dante at:

https://www.wellspringsfriends.org/about

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE

Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, Christopher Thomas brings nearly two decades of experience as a B2B Success Manager and currently serves as a Service Consultant for a mechanical contracting firm.

A former collegiate athlete on a full-ride basketball scholarship in Eastern Oregon, Christopher now gives back to the game as a certified OSAA basketball official. He is a proud husband and father of two, and he’s driven by a passion for helping youth grow into the best versions of themselves. With a growth mindset and a heart for service, Christopher is committed to building a stronger, more connected future for the next generation.

ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE

Greg Wolley is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Creating Tomorrow’s Workforce. After many years working in all levels of government, the non-profit sector, and serving on various community boards of directors, he decided to begin his own practice to help to make these organizations more equitable, compassionate and effective. 

Following his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, he began his career in environmental education taking high schoolers backpacking in the Mohave Desert. That organization, Outward Bound Adventures (OBA) was founded in 1962 by a middle school science teacher that recognized the value of nature and career education for kids in Los Angeles and Pasadena.

Greg then worked for several conservation corps programs supervising crews and coordinating education and career programs. He then went to Southern Oregon University to gain a Masters degree in outdoor education. When he returned to the SF Bay Area, he became interested in decisions about how land use affects people and nature, and began work as a preserve manager for The Nature Conservancy.  

Upon moving back to Oregon, he became forest planner and then Conservation Education Manager for the US Forest Service - Mt Hood National Forest. He worked closely with local middle and high schools to increase students’ awareness of natural resource management, ecology and careers. During this time he served on the board of directors of Friends of Trees, the Portland Urban Forest Commission, and The Oregon Urban and Community Forest Council (Now Oregon Community Trees). 

Fast forward, Greg more recently worked in several local government agencies in workforce development and training, and community affairs. His most enjoyable volunteer responsibility was serving as Commissioner for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. His coolest teaching experience was an assignment to teach environmental education to Peace Corps volunteers and school administrators in Swaziland and neighboring African countries. 

For fun and personal growth, Greg enjoys many outdoor pursuits, including hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, travel, and also yoga and mediation.