About Outdoor Bound

Kirk Reynolds

Owner & Guide; Wilderness EMT; Leave No Trace Trainer

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 four-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; Advanced Wilderness EMT; Leave No Trace Trainer

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, Peru and Croatia and personal adventures climbing and hiking in Hungary, Utah, Nevada and all over the Northeast. 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, climbing, 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; Leave No Trace Master Trainer

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. In 2009, Eugene travelled all over the U.S. through National Parks. 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. 

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!

Joe Howell

Guide, Wilderness First Responder

Joe Howell & Chief

Starting from his home in Georgia, Joe thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2008...’nuff said. A lifelong outdoorsman, Joe is also a martial arts instructor of many years, specializing in Mixed Martial Arts and Extreme Martial Arts.
In Joe’s own words: “Nothing enters my mind when I am hiking up a mountain side with a heavy pack except “God this hurts” or “when will it end”...lol...NEVER once do I think about work, paying a bill or returning a business call. All I see is beautiful country, all I think of is what is at hand, and all I can smell is mother nature.”

Nicholas Probst

Guide

Nicholas Probst

Yes, he is a professional opera singer, but he is also an outdoor fanatic with years of experience climbing, trekking and instructing. When he’s not in Europe or Carnegie Hall performing, Nick is out cragging, exploring the wilderness and camping. 

Max Stewart

Guide

Max Stewart

Max is a transplant to New York City from the Beautiful State of Oregon with a passion for travel and adventure. Max has spent the majority of his life hiking, climbing, biking, camping, rafting, canoeing, hunting, fishing and backcountry snowboarding throughout Oregon and most of the West. He believes that exploring and understanding the natural world around you is the best route to a fulfilling life. He is Red Cross Certified for First Aid, CPR and AED. He’s always looking forward to the next best day of his life and is excited to help others find their next best day...outside!

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.

Alison Shames

Guide

Alison Shames

Alison found Outdoor Bound after returning to New York after living in more “outdoor friendly” cities for over 10 years. She started guiding for Outdoor Bound in June 2008 and loves sharing her love of nature with others. Alison has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and hiked extensively in Australia, where she fell in love with outdoors adventures and discovered the peace and serenity of hiking, cross-country skiing and a drink around the campfire. When not guiding trips for Outdoor Bound, you can find Alison running around Prospect Park, biking across the Brooklyn Bridge or practicing yoga. Oh, and she also has a day job working as a policy consultant for criminal justice reform.

Evan Collier

Guide, Level 1 Snowboard, Level 2 Hatha Yoga Instructor

Evan Collier

Evan Collier grew up in the Canadian outback, spending much of his time doing board sports, sailing, camping and canoeing. In 2001 he moved to the Banff area and became an avid rock climber and mountaineer. He later spent time in the Vancouver area continuing his passions teaching skateboarding, snowboarding, sailing, and rock climbing recreationally. He has been practicing yoga since 2003 and began teaching in 2006. He is still an active skateboarder, and has also taken to running and biking. Evan also works as a carpenter, musician, performer and artist. Evan is very energetic and has a brilliant perspective on life, he is light at heart and wise beyond his years.

Brandon Beach

Guide, Dive Master, Rescue Diver, Captain

Brandon Beach

He lives up to his name. What you don’t know is that he is a strong climber and trail guide with a lifetime of outdoor experience that only the wilds of Texas can provide. He’s got other tricks, too: Pro-Am Water Ski Team, Treasure Diver on Spanish Privateer ship in the Caribbean, Broadway Stagehand/Rigger, Stunt Performer - “The Mariner” in Universal Studios “Waterworld” and
“Riggs” in Six Flags “Lethal Weapon”. Jack of all trades, master of none. Many friends and family state that they live vicariously through Brandon to which he replies, “I am happy to help.”

Amanda Corbett

Guide, Wilderness First Responder

Amanda Corbett

Amanda was born and raised in the concrete jungle of New York City, and has been running towards the wilderness since day one.  She began exploring the great outdoors on a family farm in Vermont, and later was swept off by the spirit of adventure to such varied locales as Turkey, Iceland, British Columbia and all across the United States.  A lifelong lover of nature, Amanda led wilderness adventure trips with teens around the US & Canada—backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, biking…you name it!  After receiving her BA from Harvard University, Amanda begrudgingly returned to NYC after much convincing from her family and friends.  Working as a middle and high school math teacher in Manhattan at The Spence School, Amanda found herself losing it in New York’s crazy bustle, and joined Outdoor Bound in Summer 2009.  She is very happy to have found an outlet where she can not only explore all of nature’s bountiful wonders but also share the experience with New Yorkers from all walks of life!

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).