Challenge Center Staff
Valerie Regner
Associate Director
Education/Qualifications
I have a Bachelor’s in Recreation Administration from Sacramento
State University and 15 years of Challenge Course
experience. I am also a certified Level 2 ACCT Facilitator.
Why do you love the outdoors?
It just smells better out there.
Three Favorite Hobbies
Karaoke, dancing, and staying away from social media.
John Gratton
Challenge Center Program Assistant
Education/Qualifications
BS in Kinesiology and I am CPR and Wilderness First Aid
certified.
Why do you love the outdoors?
The outdoors provides tons of opportunities for new experiences.
Experiences like meeting interesting people, seeing new sites and
challenging myself both physically and mentally. Also the
sunsets, those are pretty sweet too.
Three Favorite Hobbies
Doing pull ups on rocks, sliding on the snow with sticks and
cruising on my bike.
Wendi Weston
Challenge Center Team Lead
Education
AA in Fashion Design, BA Family and Consumer Sciences, Minor in
Recreation and Leisure Studies, Credentials in Home Economics and
Health Science.
Qualifications
Wilderness First Aid, Infant, Child, Adult CPR/First Aid, AED,
Class B Permit. Wendi has been part of Peak Adventures since
2002. She has worked with many different groups on the Peak
Adventure Challenge Center along with being contracted to work at
other courses in the area. She has taught over 7 years in the
public school system including junior high and high school
students. Wendi has over 15 years of youth camp leadership
and training for both elementary school students and teenagers.
Taught an aspiring young artist for 3 years and currently has her
own women and children accessories design business creating
beautiful one of a kind fabric creations.
Favorite Thing About Peak Adventures
Being part of Peak Adventures has provided so much growth in my
professional and personal life. Each day on the Challenge Center
I have the opportunity to mentor, share and learn with both my
fellow “Peakies” and clients. I love to go to work!!!
Without ASI’s support for Peak Adventures this would never have
happened.
Antony Demidenko
Challenge Center Team Lead
Education/Qualifications
B.S. in Recreation Administration. CPR, AED, First Aid certified.
Why do you love the outdoors?
The outdoors provides me with an outlet to be creative and free
from the classroom setting where I can enjoy recreational
activities and be myself with some good people. There is
something about carrying gear on your back to a place where you
have never been and spend the night with the wilderness breathing
in fresh air.
Three Favorite Hobbies
Backpacking, soccer, and hammocking.
Savanna Charlton
Challenge Center Facilitator & Trip Leader
Education/Qualifications
I am currently a Psychology major at Sacramento State. I have
worked at Peak Adventures for over a year and have obtained my
Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications.
Why do you love the outdoors?
The outdoors has always given me perspective and clarity on my
life. Sharing that sense of peace with others is a passion of
mine.
Three Favorite Hobbies
My top three hobbies are water activities (rafting, swimming,
etc), video games, and learning as much as I can.
John Kenkel
Challenge Center Team Lead
Education/Qualifications: I am a Senior at Sacramento State studying Recreational Therapy. I’ve facilitated groups since 2010 when I was a Community Planting Leader with the Sacramento Tree Foundation. I’m an Americorps Alumni, serving with the California Conservation Corps Backcountry Trails Program. I also was a crew leader for the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. I am a 500 hr Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and I’ve been teaching yoga for 8 years spanning settings from studios, juvenile hall, prisons, jail, psychiatric hospitals and wilderness settings.
Kyle Murphy
Outdoor Trip Leader & Challenge Center Facilitator
Education/Qualifications
200 hours of Yoga Instructors Training, Wilderness First
Responder, CPR, LNT Trainer, AIARE 1, Studying Wilderness
Education at Lake Tahoe Community College.
Why do you love the outdoors?
The wilderness highlights our true nature by forcing us to
overcome difficult circumstances, and thereby bringing us closer
to our higher selves. My love of the wilderness derives from a
deep desire within myself to live everyday by those values
which infuse love, excitement, wisdom and knowledge into my life.
Three Favorite Hobbies
Rock climbing, mountaineering, and white water rafting.
Alicia Munoz
Challenge Center Facilitator
Education/Qualifications
I am a transfer student from Southern California and I am
currently attending CSUS and working towards a Bachelors of
Science Degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology. I am certified
in CPR/AED and First aid.
Why do you love the outdoors?
I love being able to step back from the stress of day to day
life and just relax, have fun, and enjoy the beautiful
world. Over time, my appreciation and respect for nature has
matured greatly. I love listening to rain during an incredible
thunderstorm and watching snowflakes descend past the leafless
trees while skiing. Each year I participate in more outdoor
activities such as fishing, sailing, white water rafting, and
camping and in their own way they give me a positive outlook on
everything nature/outdoors has to offer.
Three Favorite Hobbies
Hiking/camping, skiing, and playing soccer.