Meet A Few of Our Staff
Corey Pfund, Executive Director
Corey Pfund, a Sycamore, Illinois native, has been with Power for over 13 years. He graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration and is an ACA-certified canoe instructor. Corey serves on the Board of Directors for several local organizations, including the Dekalb Area Junior Leadership Academy.
Favorite quote...
"It is usually easier and more reliable to carry extra tricks up your sleeve instead of extra gear in your pack." - John Gookin
Favorite trail food...
Bar Food (Clif Bars or Plumpy Nut Bars)
Lessons from working with people and the outdoors...
"I have learned to appreciate the hidden richness of an experience which lives within the group as a whole." - Corey
Jeremy Fischer, Program Director
Jeremy has worked at Power since 2001. In addition to his work in the experiential field, Jeremy is a middle school teacher and has worked with schools to develop student advisory programs. He has a Masters of the Arts in Teaching from National Louis University, a Bachelors in Journalism from the University of Illinois, and is an ACA-certified Level 3 Canoe Instructor.
Favorite quote...
"There are three ways of trying to win the young. You can preach at them - that is a hook without a worm. You can say, 'You must volunteer' - that is of the devil. And you can tell them, 'You are needed' - that appeal hardly ever fails." - attributed to Kurt Hahn
Favorite trail food...
Beef jerky and tart apples
Lessons from working with people and the outdoors...
"Being in the forest or along a river seems to bring out a hidden side of many people, a part of them being rediscovered and awakened. Nature's pace has taught me to approach groups and people with the same patience...there's something about a shared campfire that slowly invites people to reach deep, examine life, and feel the confidence to change." - Jeremy
Meghan O'Donnell
Meghan has worked at Power and in the field for over 10 years. She has a BA in International Studies and French (c'est vrai), is a massage therapist and an ACA-certified canoe instructor. She loves a good sun salutation or down dog to start the day. About working at Power, Meghan says, "There is more to learn and I continue to grow - and be humbled - as I work with all the people I encounter in our programs. Working here makes me a better person."
Favorite quote...
"Challenging the meaning of life is the truest expressions of the state of being human." ~Victor Frankl
Favorite trail food...
Fresh banana bread on day 3 of a week-long Boundary Waters canoe trip...good ole peanut butter on pretty much anything...hot chocolate when it's cold.
Lessons from working with people and the outdoors...
"I continue to learn about the nature of humanity in all its gnarly, rustic, wonderful forms by working in this field. I'm reminded quite often that things are not always what they seem so be careful not to assume, that we all need to be immersed in a wild place outdoors every once in a while and that bug-stress can breakdown even the toughest person. It is easy to get comfortable, so we need each other to push our limits sometimes, and doing that in a supportive, safe atmosphere can transform us all." - Meghan
Tyler Schmidt
Tyler is currently a senior at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts through the Outdoor Studies Program. Full of youthful enthusiasm, he has traversed the Talkeetna Mountain Range in Alaska, sea kayaked through Prince William Sound, and logged over 1000+ miles in backpacking throughout the United States.
Favorite quote...
“Being grown up, isn’t half as fun as growing up. These are the best days of our life” – Kristopher Roe (The Ataris)
Favorite trail food...
On day 18 of my 23 day traverse of the Talkeetna Mountains, we created handmade pizza calzones filled with cheeses, pepperoni, and peppers. Best meal of my life as the sun set and witnessed the Northern Lights over Mt. Denali.
Lessons from working with people and the outdoors...
"I have learned that no matter who you are or where you come from, when a group enters the outdoors a certain solidarity is formed and a new perspective in life ensues. Whether it’s with your friends playing in a backyard, or a group of strangers going backpacking in the wilderness, your heart and mind open up and become flooded with a vast array of new life perspectives." - Tyler
