Amy Donahue, BA

Clinical Assistant

Amy was born and raised in Estes Park, CO, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. She spent her childhood romping around the mountains in hiking boots or ski boots, depending on the fickle snowfall. During this time, Amy also developed her passion for writing and what has proven to be a lifelong love of learning.

Having spent her formative years in the wilderness with a strong group of family and friends who are avid outdoor enthusiasts, Amy looked for a place that would be conducive to her lifestyle while also providing a space for continued academic challenges. Thus, Amy attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO and graduated with honors in April 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Arts in English Communications.

Throughout her schooling and time in Durango, Amy has worked as a gardener, landscaper, freelance writer for the Durango Telegraph, and administrative assistant for the Fort Lewis College chapter of Engineers Without Borders. The last of these positions provided an opportunity to travel to the Chimborazo region of Ecuador in order to help with the implementation of several engineering projects that now provide clean water to four rural communities.

After spending January through April of 2009 tramping, surfing and learning new gardening techniques in New Zealand, Amy returned to Durango determined to stay in the area she has come to call home. She worked her third year as a crew-leader for a landscaping and gardening company in Durango, and in September 2009 joined the Open Sky team as Clinical Assistant.

Although this is her first experience with wilderness therapy, Amy can testify to the healing power of nature. Working closely with the therapists at Open Sky, she is excited to be continually learning about the two things that intrigue her most: the beautiful scenery of the southwest in relation to the complexity of interpersonal relationships.

Amy spends most of her free time in the outdoors hiking, camping, mountain biking, snowboarding, and telemark skiing. The mountains are and always will be her home.