Congratulations to ACA members Lily Durkee and Amada Lang, who have been selected for Cohort 3 of the Outdoor Alliance Grasstops Collective!
Lily Durkee is the director and co-founder of Diversify Whitewater and serves on the board of American Whitewater, where she works to increase access, inclusion, and belonging in river recreation and stewardship. She also works as a postdoctoral research scientist at the USGS in Fort Collins, Colorado, applying her expertise in evolutionary ecology and entomology to support ecological conservation.
Amada Lang is a Karuk, Wiyot, Konomihu Shasta, and Purépecha Native and serves as Director of Outdoor Adventure and Cultural Education with Ríos to Rivers, where she also teaches whitewater kayaking. She is the founder of Páah Áama Paddle Club, a culturally based paddle-sport program for Karuk youth, and provides underserved communities with inclusive outdoor therapeutic opportunities.
Both Lily and Amada bring incredible expertise and leadership to the Grasstops Collective, helping shape policies and initiatives that strengthen inclusion, equity, and access in outdoor recreation nationwide.