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Office Location

Adventure Learning Center
ISU Extension - Polk County
1625 Adventureland Drive, Suite A
Altoona, IA 50009
Main 515.957.5767
Fax 515.967.9614
Email: moneil@iastate.edu
Site Locations

Living History Farms
12098 Douglas Pkwy
Urbandale, IA 50322

Southeast Polk Community School District
8025 NE University Ave.
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327



Adventure Learning Center - Staff

Our program staff include 20 talented educators from ISU Polk County Extension, Polk County Conservation Board, as well as contracted educational professionals. Together, our staff have many years of experience in education; facilitating skills development courses, wellness promotion and leading outdoor pursuits.

We pride ourselves on being well trained and knowledgeable facilitators of experiential education. All of the ALC staff complete an intensive technical training and annual recertification process by ABEE, Inc., that meet ACCT safety standards. In addition they participate in ongoing trainings and workshops offered by leaders in the field.

Ben Black

MS Degree in Counseling; Drake University
BS Degree in Special Education; Northern Illinois University
Middle School Special Education Teacher; 8 years running
Level 1 ACCT Certified adventure based education facilitator for ALC; 5 years running
I LOVE WORKING WITH ANYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE/GENDER/PROFESSION. 'BRING IT' AND WE'LL CREATE SOME UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES IN YOUR WORLD OF INDIVIDUAL/GROUP SUCCESS!



Sheena Evans

Lead Facilitator
Level I Certification
Youth Program Specialist



Jake Fisher

1st year as facilitator for Adventure Learning Center
Physical Education teacher at Clay Elementary School (Southeast Polk School district)
Assistant Softball coach at Central College (Pella, Iowa)


Robert Ford

Facilitator
Level I ACCT Certification
Creative Analyst



Garrett Hall

Facilitator
Level I Certification
Program Naturalist
Fights for Freedom


Jeff Macomber

Facilitator
ISU Youth Field Specialist


Beth Mensing

Program Assistant-Lead Facilitator
Low and High Challenge Course Trainer
Challenge for Healthy Relationships Trainer
Level II ACCT Certification
Expert in afterschool programs
Fights for Freedom


Melissa O'Neil

Challenge Course Coordinator
Portable Challenge Trainer
Low and High Challenge Course Trainer
Challenge for Healthy Relationship Trainer
Next Element Self-Efficacy Trainer
Corporate Liason
Level II ACCT Certification


Marc Peterson

Lead Facilitator
Portable Challenge Trainer
ACCT Level 1 Certification
ISU Youth Field Specialist


Mike Sherman

Facilitator
Level I ACCT Certification



Chris Sosnowski

First year ALC facilitator
8th Grade science teacher (Weeks MS in Des Moines)
Weeks Guys Group facilitator
8th Grade football coach (Roosevelt High School)


Julie Vardaman

Lead Facilitator
Level II ACCT Certification
Certified EMT
Certified Personal Trainer
Fights for Freedom


Filice Williams

Facilitator
Specializes in Health and Nutrition



 
 
For more information about the Adventure Learning Center
contact Melissa O'Neil at (515)957-5767
or moneil@iastate.edu