About Outdoor Bound

Kirk Reynolds

Owner & Guide; Wilderness First Responder

Kirk Reynolds

Since 2003, Kirk has co-owned Outdoor Bound. Kirk’s adventures throughout the world have given him an appreciation for fearless travel. A lifelong participant in sports and three-time NYC Marathoner, Kirk relishes the day trips spent exercising in the great outdoors! Kirk holds a Trail Guide License from the state of New York and holds certifications in Wilderness First Responder, First Aid, CPR and Water Safety. Kirk loves the international mix of people who come on Outdoor Bound trips. There is always a fun array of new adventurers and returning friends, which makes for great conversations. Kirk loves what New York City has to offer, and the chance to get out into the woods year-round makes for a great life here.

Connie Magee

Owner & Guide; Wilderness First Responder

Connie Magee

Connie has been co-owner of Outdoor Bound and NYS Licensed Guide since 2003, and she loves the balance it provides to city living. In past lives, Connie taught eighth-grade science and English in the inner city and was also a technical trainer for several Wall Street banks. Fun stuff indeed (ha!), but she finds leading outdoor adventures far more fun and interesting! An avid international traveler and adventure-seeker, Connie has recently led Outdoor Bound trips to Belize and Croatia. She believes there is no substitute for outdoor exercise, and the wonderful clients Outdoor Bound attracts make it even more fun — some of Connie’s closest friendships in New York have come out of hiking trips! Connie is thankful to have a dream job of taking like-minded city dwellers on explorations of the natural world. Connie has years of experience hiking, boating, camping, skiing, deep-water scuba diving, climbing cliffs and jumping off them. Some of her greatest travel experiences include swimming with dolphins and manatees, hand-feeding howler monkeys and diving with sharks.

Garan Mangan-Dimuzio

Guide, Youth Program Director; Wilderness First Responder, Outdoor Emergency Care Technician

Garan Mangan-Dimuzio

Garan recently joined Outdoor Bound and New York City from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Originally from Vermont, Garan pursued his education and undying lust for the outdoors at Colorado College, where he graduated in 2004. Since then, he has worn many hats in the outdoor world. He has served as the Senior Field Instructor for a wilderness therapy program specializing in survival skills. In addition, Garan has been a lead guide for several outdoor schools where he specialized in rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, backpacking and backcountry skiing. He has enjoyed countless personal expeditions, most notably hiking the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail from Mexico to Canada as well as trekking in the Annapurna and Khumbu regions of Nepal. Garan has worked as a member of the Telluride Ski Patrol for the past two years where he maintains his Wilderness First Responder and Outdoor Emergency Care certifications as well as his Avalanche Control license. In his spare time, you may find Garan on any of his outdoor toys that provide an agreeable measure of lateral G-forces, or maybe just reading a good book.

Dann Landau-Gahres

Senior Guide

Dann Landau-Gahres

Dann has always loved and sought out the wilderness. He has been able to share that passion with others by guiding trips for the last six years. Dann has a wide range of outdoor experiences both personally and as a guide, from single-day rock-climbing and caving excursions to 31-day backpacking trips. He has had extensive Wilderness Medical Training and currently holds certification in First Aid and CPR for the professional rescuer. Believing the outdoors to be more than just a playground, Dann strives to use his guiding opportunities to allow others to understand the fine balance between the city and wilderness and the potential self-confidence, awareness and restoration nature can offer when we spend time in it.

Thomas Gallagher

Guide

Thomas Gallagher

Thomas has been a guide for Outdoor Bound since January 2006. His enthusiasm for the outdoors began with childhood camping trips to the Adirondack Mountains. Hoping to share his enthusiasm with others, he became a New York State–licensed guide in 2005. Thomas’s experience includes guiding extended wilderness trips and canoe camping trips and a stint as an outdoor educator for Nature’s Classroom Inc. Thomas enjoys bicycling, backpacking and finding new ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Susan Despins

Guide, Wilderness First Responder

Susan Despins

Susan discovered Outdoor Bound while pursuing her Wilderness First Responder Certification with co-owner Connie and Anne. Susan’s main passion is mountaineering, having climbed in Alaska, extensively throughout South America, New Zealand, Europe and the U.S. She is also an active ice and rock climber, hiker, backpacker, runner and anything else worth trying. A native New Yorker, Susan has worked several years in finance and with media companies. In addition to her WFR certification, she is also certified in CPR and a graduate of AMGA’s Single Pitch Instructors Course. Susan holds an MA in Economics and MBA from Duke University. An outdoors enthusiast, through Outdoor Bound Susan has found a balance between the energy of the city and the beauties and refreshing qualities of being with nature.

Eugene Leytin

Guide, Wilderness EMT

Eugene Leytin

Eugene enjoys the outdoors and physical challenges. He has traveled extensively, including a 6 month stay in Australia, as well as Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Canada and Greece. Eugene is a Wilderness EMT, and has trained gymnastics and taught an after-school science program to children. Eugene also plays the didgeridoo and enjoys slack line. 

Erin Greer

Guide, Wilderness First Responder

Erin Greer

Erin has been an addict of the outdoors since her childhood days of exploring the woods near her house with her black lab. While in college in North Carolina, she was an active member of the student-run wilderness education program. She led backpacking trips for incoming freshman and taught a course emphasizing the various personal, social,and environmental lessons linked with an active life amongst the wild things. After graduation, she worked for a summer as an adventure guide at a children’s camp, leading campers on mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, caving, and rock-climbing trips throughout Pennsylvania and New York. She is currently attempting the balance between earning a living and writing creatively. She recently discovered Outdoor Bound, and it satisfies her craving to go where the wild things are.

Natalie Wessel

CSCS, USATF–Certified Coach, Guide, Wilderness First Responder

Natalie Wessel

Natalie Wessel is an avid runner and cyclist and has been running competitively for over eight years. She completed her first marathon in 2004 and in shorter distance races has placed first in her age group.

Natalie began her coaching career as head assistant coach for The Running Center, where she led the beginner running classes and the Marathon/Half Marathon training program. In addition to owning a private personal training business, Natalie teaches group classes in road and trail-running in various parks in the metropolitan area. She is also associate trainer for the American Museum of Natural History’s winter fitness walking program. Natalie holds the credential of distinction from NSCA as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and is a Certified Level 1 Coach with USA Track & Field.

In a former life Natalie was marketing director for one of the largest firms in the country, and served as president-elect of her professional association, for which she won numerous leadership awards. Natalie speaks Japanese, is a self-proclaimed “Iron Chef,” and is super-excited to share her passion in the world of adventure racing.

Jaclyn Shea

Guide

Jaclyn Shea

Jaclyn Shea joined the Outdoor Bound team in the Spring of 2008 and loves the balance of city living with her outdoor adventures on the weekends! Before living in New York City, Jaclyn went from being a high school music teacher in California, to a full time tour leader for Trek America, where she led small-group adventure camping and hiking tours all around the country. Her Trek America adventures brought her from the depths of the Grand Canyon to hiking to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park!

Along with her Outdoor Bound adventures, Jaclyn is an avid yogi, musician, and full-time program manager for The VH1 Save The Music Foundation… Jaclyn definitely keeps busy in this city, but she wouldn’t have it any other way!

Julie Kandall

Guide

Julie Kandall

Julie began working with Outdoor Bound during the summer of 2006 after going on a kayaking trip as a client. Before joining the Outdoor Bound team, Julie spent most weekends hiking, biking and rock climbing in the areas surrounding New York City and traveling internationally. For a number of summers Julie led wilderness trips for teenagers in Maine. She is a New York Certified Guide with First Aid and CPR training. When not outdoors on the weekends, Julie can be found in the classroom teaching kindergarten.

Max Wastler

Guide

Max Wastler

A jack of all trades, master of none, Max will tell you he’s had every job under the sun. A former disc jockey and clothing designer, at the moment, he spends his weekdays nose-deep in books as an editor’s assistant. All the more reason to get outside! He came to Outdoor Bound after a rather inspirational trip to Long’s Peak in Colorado found him thirsting for the adventures of his youth. A Missouri boy, this Ozark Mountain Daredevil spent his summers hiking, mountain biking, and swimming, pining all winter for that week-long trip to The Colorado Rockies where it’s been said he danced down the mountain. From ‘the top of Europe’ to the bottom of Lake Skenonto, this jack’s fallen hard for the highs of the wild.

Martin Hak

Guide

Martin Hak

Martin Hak began working with Outdoor Bound soon after his arrival to New York and is excited to share his passion and appreciation for the great outdoors with others. Originally from the Czech Republic, Martin has lived for over fifteen years in California and three years in Maine, where he was active in outdoor pursuits including mountain biking, hiking, skiing, whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, rafting and rock climbing. While studying at University of California — Davis, Martin was a whitewater guide on the American River and a sea kayaking guide in Sonoma County. Martin has backpacked extensively in the Sierra Nevada, the Rocky Mountains, Patagonia, the Andes, the Alps and the Appalachian Mountains. Before moving to New York, Martin lived in Maine, where he started running marathons as a way to stay warm and has recently competed in the World Championship Pack-Burro Race in Fairplay, Colorado, running alongside his stubborn burro, Masai, for a ridiculously long distance. Martin is one of our mountain biking specialists.

Evan Oppenheimer

Guide

Evan Oppenheimer

Evan is excited to join us as one of the newest members of the Outdoor Bound team. Presently, Evan is working to complete his Master’s degree in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness at The New York University.

Evan is in his element when he is outdoors and exploring the world. Most recently Evan spent time in rural Mexico studying community-based programs in effort to better understand how to improve cross-cultural counseling practices.

Evan enjoys all that nature has to offer from hiking and camping to climbing, and water-sports. Evan’s specialty is mountain biking through winding single-track. Evan’s greatest passion is people. Through facilitating outdoor programs, he encourages others to challenge themselves and strive to accomplish things they never thought possible.

Eric Taber

Guide

Eric Taber

Eric’s wanderlust has recently landed him here in New York City after spending the last 2 years abroad in Paris and London working for The Rugby World Cup 2007. A native of Missoula Montana, Eric brings his adventurous ways and love of all things natural to Outdoor Bound. Growing up in Montana, Eric spent his winters Telemark skiing, and summers exploring Glacier National Park, or the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Since, his wanderlust has driven him to live in wild places such as New Zealand, Telluride CO, Mexico, and Southern California.

While not Guiding for Outdoor Bound, Eric is a Journalist, Filmmaker, Event Producer, Carpenter, and Chef. He hopes to somehow combine all of these passions to preserve our environment so future generations can enjoy the wilderness we all love today.

Jeff Cravens

Jeff Cravens

Jeff got bitten by the outdoor bug growing up as a Boy Scout in
Kansas. After that, he tried to get outside whenever he could,
including working as a canoeing instructor for challenged youth and
participating in a college program combining New England Literature,
low-tech living, and hiking and camping. Recently, while teaching high
school English in NYC, he has enjoyed trips in Ecuador and the greater
New York/New Jersey area where he has hiked, camped, mountain-biked,
and gone white-water-rafting. Equipped with a recent MS in Education
and a love for the outdoors, he is excited to guide for Outdoor Bound
and explore new trails and destinations.

Colleen Wahl

Guide

Colleen Wahl

Colleen’s life is about human movement. She is currently pursuing her MA in Dance Education at New York University and works as a personal trainer. She is also a Certified Laban Movement Analyst and enjoys merging fitness with her Somatic Training. Outside of dance and training, Colleen keeps her movement palette diverse with outdoor adventure: whitewater kayaking, hiking, camping, rock-climbing, and canoeing. As a teenager she fell in love with outdoor adventure while working for a family-owned outdoor company in upstate New York. Then while at Hobart and William Smith Colleges she directed and co-directed the Outdoor Education Adventure Program, where she led a slew of trips. Her excitement for the outdoors has taken her on adventures throughout the United States.

Gary Granger

Intern, Guide

Gary Granger

Born in South Africa, Gary has a natural aptitude for the outdoors. Since he was a child, he went camping, hiking and went on many safaries in South Africa and Botswana. He was one of the first 12 people to receive a Gold level International Youth Award in South East Asia, in which he organized, planned, and executed expeditions such as climbing Mount Kinabalu in Borneo, hiking and climbing in the forests and mountains of Thailand, kayaking in the Able Tasman National Park New Zealand. He Studies Entrepreneurship at the University of Tampa. He has founded a small Educational Diving company, and is currently in the process of introducing the Young Americans’ Challenge in Tampa Florida. He also won Entrepreneur of the Year award from the University of Tampa. Gary has lived in South Africa and Thailand, as well as visiting family in Japan, Singapore, England and has traveled to over 20 countries. He his full of energy and don’t be surprised if you see him running up the rockface!

Orlando Vargas

Regional Director, Central America

Orlando Vargas

Born and raised in Costa Rica, Orlando joined the Outdoor Bound team in 2007 as our Latin America Specialist. His passion for the natural world stems from growing up in the Costa Rican countryside, learning about and experiencing nature as part of his everyday life. After graduating from high school, Orlando moved to the capital, San Jose, where he studied Costa Rican ornithology, tropical dendrology, ecology, medical plants, natural history, turtle biology and biodiversity. He has also studied wilderness first aid and CPR as well as foreign languages; he is fluent in Spanish, English and French. For the last 17 years, he has explored Latin America as a Naturalist Tour Guide. Orlando especially loves to bird watch and can identify species by sight and sound.

Craig Loewenstern

Comic Relief, Social Butterfly, Connie’s Husband

Craig Loewenstern

Craig is usually along for the ride, helping out as Sweep on hikes, providing amusing social discourse and generally winning over all Outdoor Bound clients with his wit and easy demeanor. If you have met him, you have laughed, learned something and likely divulged your high-school sports team name. Craig has traveled as much as anyone you know and probably has a friend in most of the places you’ve been. This Texas native is also a fantastic cook and is the craftsman behind Connie’s gourmet sandwiches coveted by other hikers. Craig also assists on Adventure Travel for Outdoor Bound.

Outdoor Bound Hounds!

Dogs You Are Likely to Meet: Tex & China

Tex and China after a hike

Outdoor Bound is dog-friendly! And these are two of our friendly trail dogs.

Tex belongs to Connie and Craig and loves to hike. He is a year-old rescued Boxer/American Staffordshire mix, and super-friendly. He has his own pack and it is loaded with, among other things, a first-aid kit and extra water!

China is an 11-month-old Sharpei/Yellow-Lab mix from Arkansas. She’s as fast as a rabbit when she gets on the trail and she absolutely loves being outside.

If you have a friendly, socialized dog, they are welcome on our hikes (please let us know if you plan to bring a pooch).

Join the Outdoor Bound Team

2008 Internship & Guide Positions Available

We are accepting applications for excellent new Interns and Guides for 2008. Learn more >