Kay Salwen received a bachelor's degree in biopsychology from Tufts university in 2012. Kay started their career in wilderness therapy immediately after graduation in upstate New York before accepting a job as a field guide at Open Sky the following year. Open Sky has been a place where Kay has felt empowered to teach others how to be in better connection with the land, with each other, and ultimately with themselves. It has been refreshing to work in an environment where the expectation is honesty and care.

Kay loves getting to teach how to create fire from the plants around us, and more broadly, how to not only survive but more importantly, thrive on the land.  Kay also loves to teach a wide variety of relational skills that help students and guides better communicate their wants and needs creating a healthier, more grounded community.

As a field mentor, Kay's main role is to support guides in holding a safe, loving, deep, and playful space for students. Kay meets weekly with guides to discuss their goals and help them feel better equipped to further their guiding careers.

In off time, you can find Kay at home picking nettles, drying mushrooms, and making pottery, or out in the wilderness exploring canyons and sleeping under the stars.