Born and raised in the Arizona desert, Lauren has a lifelong passion to explore nature and stay active. She grew up on an Arabian horse ranch, traveled all over the US showing and riding horses, and volunteered along with some of her therapy horses at women’s shelters and children’s hospitals. This is what made her realize she wanted to dedicate her time to helping others, especially children.

Lauren earned a BA in Communications from Arizona State University and quickly started working in the world of finance. However, she kept her weekends open for camping, hiking, riding, and travel. She fell in love with Durango on a snowboarding excursion and decided to stay, because Durango offers a beautiful outdoor setting to enjoy her hobbies year-round. Once in Durango, Lauren discovered Open Sky. She was immediately attracted to the community of incredible people and, to this day, remains in awe of the powerful work that takes place here.

Lauren is a genuine believer in wilderness therapy. Once at Open Sky, she was exposed to an entire culture rooted in staying healthy, helping others, and appreciating the healing aspects of nature. It opened her eyes to the benefits of being mindful, present, and open to everything in life. As a financial analyst, Lauren spends most of her time working closely with the families on their billing and insurance needs. Her understanding and compassionate spirit help our families navigate the frequently challenging world of finance during the program.

In 2015, Lauren moved back to Arizona to be closer to her family, but continued her work for Open Sky. She splits time traveling to and from Durango—mostly for work, but she also finds time for adventure.