Frosty Pines Team

 Thomas Molinelli - President

   I have spent much of my life as a musician touring the country and most of my free time backpacking, fly-fishing, and developing a love and concern for nature’s well being.  As a young boy my father would take me on camping and fishing trips and later enrolled me in a YMCA program called Indian Guides. This program was designed to teach children about the natural ways of the Native Americans and their respect for the land.  In my early teenage years I attended an Outward Bound Course that opened my eyes to how destructive mans' impact has been to the forest and the animals that call it home, this changed my life forever!   Since that day I have dedicated my life to educating others and myself on these matters.
    In my later teen years I began working in the construction field building custom homes and cabins. Shortly after this, I began touring as a musician, playing harmonica around the United States and was able to experience the majesty of nearly all of this countries wilderness areas and state parks, including hiking through the Smokey and Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to New Hampshire as well as the Colorado and John Muir Trails.
    Before long people began constantly asking me to take them on guided backpacking and fly-fishing trips into the Sierra Nevada Mountains each year, as my knowledge of the back-country at this point was well known and sought after by many friends and family.
    After many years of this and constant suggestion that I should become a professional guide I met Marcie Morgan.  I then took her and her children on many backpacking trips to the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range of the West Coast.  It was at this time that I was awakened to the joys of teaching children the ways of the forest.  I decided to resign from both my construction and musical careers in order that Marcie and I could pursue our own guiding and educational program for children.  In the early spring of 2011 Marcie and I decided to move to Southwestern Colorado where we developed Frosty Pines Wilderness Education Program.  I currently serve as a board member for the Vallecito Conservation and Sporting Association, hold certifications in CPR/AED, Wilderness/Remote First Aid, Certified Local Wild Living Nutritionist & Chef and Colorado State Forest Service PLT Educator.

Marcie Morgan - Vice President

    I would like to take a moment to tell you a little about myself and how I came to start Frosty Pines Wilderness Education Program.  I am a naturalist at heart and in my free time I enjoy sitting by the creek writting poetry, collecting and drying wild plants, watercoloring naturescapes, dancing, yoga, knitting, tai chi and ice skating to name a few.  I grew up living in Washington State at the base of Mt. Rainier in a small country town.  My backyard was the mountain and I spent many days in meadows and sitting near creeks watching the animals and collecting wildflowers. I learned my way around and as I got older would hike and camp all over the area, exploring and connecting with nature. My interest and love for the wilderness eventually inspired me to fight wildfire and purchase my own fire-fighting truck as a private contractor with the Department of Natural Resources and Washington State Forest Service.
     I often would take my own children along with others on hiking adventures, teaching them the ways of the natural world.  For the last 4 years Tom and I have been going on extensive 2 week backpacking trips learning and teaching my boys naturalist ways and to be stewards of the wilderness. This is what has inspired us to start Frosty Pines.
    Through the study of Child Psychology and the homeschooling of my children I have been inspired to teach other children about the wonders of the wilderness and the importance of connecting with the world around them.  I am certified with the Colorado State Forest Service as an educator to teach the Project Learning Tree program and am looking forward to to passing this valuable knowledge on to the next generation.  I also hold certifications in CPR/AED and Wilderness/Remote First Aid.

Robert Trevino - Treasurer

Robert Trevino lives in Redondo Beach, California and has a wealth of financial knowledge having managed family owned rental properties for the last 26 years.  He has a love for everything outdoors, his favorites being, the beaches, mountains and deserts.  In his free time he enjoys walking, hiking, cycling, art, live music of all types, good food and wine.  Bob is an amazing swing dancer!  He believes in protecting and respecting Mother Earth.  The goal and vision that is at the heart of Frosty Pines is music to his ears that puts a little skip in his step as he walks along the beach knowing that the future is now and he has a chance to make it great!

Therese Stone - Secretary

Therese Stone takes great pride in being a wife, mother  and grandmother.   Therese holds an Early Childhood Education Degree and has been an educator of pre school and school aged children for over 25 years,  becoming Assistant Director in both schools she was privileged to teach at.   She also worked as teachers aide for 8 years.  She has an extreme love for nature and currently lives in California where she has the pleasure of incorporating the ocean and beaches, many campgrounds along the Pacific Coast as well as the mountains, Redwoods and Sequoia's into her teaching.  Therese has found that being able to teach about waterways, life sources in nature, safety and a great respect for the environment is truly satisfying.  She will always have a humble and enthusiastic view for outdoor life and will always help to preserve it.

Lisa Bourque - Director Of Communications

Ali Baird - Officer

Ali Baird is an environmental consultant with 15 years experience working in public land management issues, primarily for national and state parks. Since 2002, she has volunteered with and served on the boards of local and statewide organizations for environmental education and professional  advancement. As an advocate for environmental education, Ali believes wholeheartedly that the outdoors is the best classroom for educating people of all ages and abilities in science, stewardship, and skills. She also believes that collaboration among education providers is the clear path forward for outdoor education, and is actively working to foster relationships in the local community and beyond.

 Mitch Post - Officer

Mitch Post is a United States Navy Veteran and has been a Primtive Skills Instructor for 25 years, teaching disadvantaged youth and Boy Scouts groups.  He has a passion for the Coloniel Area and loves dressing in period specific clothing as a Mountain Man of the 1700-1800's.  He is most comfortable and at home in the wild and loves to "play in the mountains."  Mitch has a great respect for nature and projects this value in a fun-loving way.  His dilegence towards teaching the children of the future the old ways of life is a wonderful gift for all of us to experience.