Our Team

Amanda moved to Richmond from the Pacific Northwest in 2011 and quickly got connected to Blue Sky Fund as a volunteer before joining the staff full time in 2012. Amanda graduated from Rhodes College with a BA in Economics and Business Administration. She then spent several years working at year-round camps and outdoor adventure outfitters in Oregon and Colorado, gaining valuable skills in the "behind the scenes" operations of the outdoor recreation industry along with staff management and development experience. Over the past decade plus at Blue Sky, Amanda has enjoyed combining these skill sets while supporting a mission that aligns so closely to her own growth and development. When she is not working she enjoys exploring the James River Park System with her family, gardening, and taking art classes. Amanda lives in Union Hill with her husband, two children, and dog.

Josh grew up in rural Loudoun County VA, pursuing simultaneous fascinations with the outside world of rivers, streams, and woods and the inside world of amplifiers and drum sets. In 2000, he began his career in education with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), moving into the world of formal education in 2012 (after a 6 year hiatus as a touring bluegrass musician), teaching middle school science for Richmond Public Schools (RPS). Josh moved to the VDOE as a Science Curriculum Specialist in 2018, returning to RPS in 2019 as the K-12 Science Curriculum and Instructional Specialist, helping to systemize a constructivist approach to science education.

Josh holds a Bachelors in Geology from Brown University, a M.Sc from the VA Institute of Marine Science, and a M.Ed from VCU. Josh plays music on a regular basis, and lives and frolics near the river in Richmond with his partner who designs and builds custom upholstered furniture and a precocious daughter who is obsessed with spiders and ukuleles.

Diane moved to Richmond in 2009 to attend the University of Richmond where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Marketing. She fell in love with the city after exploring the park systems and local restaurants during summer internships. Diane's love for the outdoors and passion for environmental education led her to first volunteer with Blue Sky Fund in 2015 with the OAC Rock Climbing program. From taking courses like Landscape Ecology in college to completing her Virginia Master Naturalist training in 2018; Diane has always been passionate about continuing education and sharing the outdoors with others. She is excited to combine her professional skill set and passion in her role at Blue Sky Fund. When not in the office, you will find her adventuring outdoors (rock climbing, kayaking, backpacking, etc), at home reading, or playing tabletop games with friends. Diane lives in Churchill with her husband, two cats, four turtles, and many fish.

David joined Blue Sky Fund in 2016 and fell in love with the mission to get as many people outside as possible and show them why he appreciates the outdoors so much. David’s appreciation for the outdoors began while growing up in Europe and being able to see all the wonders of nature from the tops of mountains.

David has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership both from Virginia Commonwealth University, Go Rams Go! David credits his admiration for the nature of Virginia to a summer course he took during his senior year of college where he was part of a crew that paddled 300 miles of the James River and camped along the banks of the river for a month. David loves helping students connect with the outdoors and seeing their confidence grow when they excel at an outdoor activity!

Jacob was born and raised in Southwest Virginia, where he grew up developing a love for the outdoors while surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. He attended Virginia Tech as a Spanish major, and spent his final year studying abroad and exploring the beautiful country of Ecuador. Jacob moved to Richmond in 2011, and began to develop his passion for working with others through teaching elementary school Spanish, volunteering with a middle school extracurricular program, and obtaining his real estate license.

Along the way, Jacob learned about Blue Sky and its mission and purpose. He was initially involved as a supporter and volunteer and then joined the Explorers team in 2018. When Jacob is not working, you can find him playing disc golf and spending time with his wife Christine, son Eli, and two rescue pups.

Payton grew up in the suburbs of Richmond and is currently enjoying discovering the hidden gems and joys of moving into the city. As a camp counselor, Payton fostered his love for nature and working in youth development, as well as a passion for pedagogy. He also had the opportunity to teach outdoor education in the San Bernardino mountains of California, and visit many of the state’s breathtaking National Parks.

Despite loving all aspects of naturalism, his first love will always be birdwatching and bird identification. Payton joined Blue Sky in the fall of 2021. When not working, you can find Payton birding, foraging for edible mushrooms, or simply listening to music and enjoying the scenery.

Mackenzie grew up in Woodbridge, Virginia before moving to Richmond in 2017 to attend Virginia Commonwealth University. She spent time at VCU as a resident assistant in the housing department working with first year students to acclimate them to campus living, as well as holding various roles in her academic fraternity. She was introduced to the James River Park System through a group of friends in school and quickly fell in love with outdoor adventures such as rafting, whitewater kayaking, and mountain biking. Since graduating with a B.A. in English, Mackenzie has worked with Riverside Outfitters at their summer camp and afterschool programs, as well as joining Blue Sky Fund in 2021 as an Outdoor Adventure Instructor. When she isn't at Blue Sky, you can often find her walking or biking around the city with her friends!