Jacob Dahl: DA Class of 2013, Leadership and Trips Director for Camp Chief Ouray in Granby, Colo.

We love it when our alumni tell us what they’ve been up to. DA Class of 2013 graduate Jacob Dahl recently updated us on his post-DA activities.

I am the Leadership and Trips Director for Camp Chief Ouray in Granby, Colo. We run a huge variety of outdoor trips and backcountry programs, from four-day rafting trips to 15+ day backpacking trips. I will attend law school in the fall of 2026 and plan to focus primarily on water law and its adjudication in the western U.S.

 

We have hundreds of campers who show up every week, hesitant or nervous, and seeing a camper who is shy or scared at the beginning of the week be fully confident in who they are by the end of the week is incredible. Additionally, seeing younger campers become leaders and grow their love and appreciation for the outdoors is fantastic.

It gave me confidence to succeed in an environment that I know would prepare me for college and beyond. Teachers pushed me to succeed while also providing individualized support. Additionally, experiential trips like Chaco Canyon helped foster a love and appreciation for the outdoors, which is certainly applicable to my current role.

It wasn't a specific lesson in school, but rather the "if you are excited, they will be excited" mentality that teachers at DA seem to embrace. That was very applicable in both my various roles as a counselor at camp years ago, and is especially pertinent in my role supervising folks. Also, organization: I work through permits with a ton of National Parks and National Forests, and my teachers focused me to have a planner and become organized, and that has certainly helped in both college and my professional career.

Mr. Loose, Ms. Eskesen, Mr. Dastin, Mr. McMillin, and Ms. Thomson

Teachers who were willing to go above and beyond to help you succeed. Their excitement for their subject matter and genuine passion go a long way toward helping students become interested and succeed.

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