Heather West - Executive Director
With a strong foundation in experiential education from her time working for Outward Bound and her time as Program Director with LOOP NOLA, Heather West brings a passion for providing positive outdoor experiences to urban youth in the New Orleans area. A New Orleans native, Heather transferred to King College in Tennessee following Hurricane Katrina. While there, she earned a BA in Psychology and Youth Ministry and fell in love with the outdoors. Following college, Heather worked for Outward Bound for 5 years leading 20-28 day wilderness expeditions with teens. After moving back home, Heather was thrilled to begin the role of Program Director with LOOP NOLA in January of 2016. Since that time, Heather has helped LOOP NOLA revitalize the programming that built the organization, developed new programming to propel organizational growth, and built relationships within the community. As Executive Director, Heather joins her passion for the outdoors and youth development with a leadership background to lead LOOP NOLA’s developmental and strategic vision for the future.
Arin Okada - Program Director
Born and raised in the mountains of Northern California, Arin experienced first hand how the outdoors could be a positive tool for struggling youth. As a teen, she volunteered her time at a local outdoor school where her love of the outdoors turned into a passion to foster connections between other youth and the power the outdoors can have on mental health. From there, she headed to Oregon where she received her BS in Outdoor Adventure Leadership from Southern Oregon University with minors in both Child Psychology and Earth Sciences. After graduating, Arin traveled to various environmental schools and outdoor programs in Oregon, California, New York, and Alabama. They taught everything from state based science curriculum to guiding backpacking, rock climbing and kayaking trips. She eventually settled in New Orleans, where she started part-time at LOOP, helping to create our Wetlands Ecology Program and develop our high school Outdoor Adventure Club. During Covid, Arin made the decision to take a full-time position with New Orleans Boulder Lounge as their Program Director. This is where they were able to grow their leadership skills, overseeing and managing a diverse staff while creating and developing programming for both indoor and outdoor climbing.
When LOOP’s Program Director position opened up, Arin could not pass up the opportunity to work back outside. Now, with over 12 years of experience leading in the outdoors, Arin is excited to bring her skills and passions to help further LOOP NOLA’s mission; creating positive outdoor experiences for youth in and around New Orleans.
Christian Vogelgesang - Youth Programs Coordinator
Christian Vogelgesang was born in Ohio where there's not much to do, so he spent his youth building rafts, climbing trees, and staring out the window while he should have been paying attention in math class. After graduating from Ohio University, he decided to make outdoor leadership a priority and began working for Outward Bound. Working as a Lead Instructor and Course Director, Christian learned that the outdoors has immense potential to change the way individuals relate to the world, other beings, and themselves. This transformative work led Christian to LOOP, where he continues to encourage and educate folks in New Orleans in order to enhance their lives through spending time outside.
Katya Agamy - Lead Outdoor Programs Facilitator
Originally from New England, Katya has never wanted to be inside. Whether it was hiking, camping, paddling, or picnicking, she was always spending time outdoors. In 2016, Katya made the move to New Orleans to attend Loyola University. Upon graduating and working a number of different jobs (all behind closed doors), a change needed to be made. She couldn’t stay inside forever! Then in 2021, Katya escaped the indoors and began working with LOOP NOLA. She jumped right into outdoor programming and handled every challenge that came at her. As time went on, Katya found her place as our Youth Programs Coordinator overseeing the Outdoor Adventure Club, many days of summer camp, and day-to-day outdoor programs.
Cartez Bennett - Lead Outdoor Programs Facilitator
Cartez is a New Orleans native who grew up not getting many chances to enjoy the outdoors or develop a love for nature. Thankfully, he came out to do multiple LOOP programs during his high school years! After falling in love with what LOOP does and the different programs it offers, Cartez learned about the Outdoor Ambassador internship opportunity at LOOP. He applied, got the internship and (of course) completed it. Following the internship, Cartez joined LOOP’s Outdoor Adventure Club for high school students who want to enjoy the outdoors and try a plethora of outdoor activities. He attended the annual OAC North Carolina trip and was hooked. Not long after the trip, Cartez made it clear that he wanted to work with LOOP and aid in our mission, and now he’s here all the time!
Kelly Smith - Lead Outdoor Programs Facilitator
Kelly is a middle school teacher and outdoor enthusiast with an undergraduate degree from Emerson College in Boston and a Master's degree in teaching from Loyola University. At LOOP, she loves learning and being in nature with kids and families of all ages! She is Wilderness First Responder Certified and a head guide for middle school and high school backpacking trips to North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas with Live Oak Wilderness Adventure seasonally. During her free time, she camps, rides her bike, and rock climbs with her friends.
Joshua Gibbons - Outdoor Programs Facilitator
Joshua Gibbons has been with LOOP for nearly four years altogether, first as a student and now as a staff member. He started with LOOP as a student in the Outdoor Adventure Club when he was in high school. Club activities included going on a week-long trip to North Carolina, mountain biking, and a bunch of other fun outdoor adventures. After graduation, he wanted to stick with LOOP, so he became an intern for Camp LOOP Garou learning to lead outdoor day camp trips for 3rd-8th graders. Joshua is now an official part-time staff member as well as a mentor for the Outdoor Adventure Club. He loves anything to do with the outdoors. His favorite hobbies include fishing, motocross, bike riding, and swimming. He plans to continue working with LOOP on a part time basis and enjoying the great outdoors into the future. His long-term goal is to become a fish and game warden in Louisiana.
Quel Cooper - Outdoor Programs Facilitator
Quel received enriching outdoor experiences from a young age, enjoying Girl Scouts, exploring nature, and attending a school with engaging recess and PE activities. She fondly recalls childhood trips exploring new nature areas with fellow scouts along with trying fun sporting activities that piqued her interest in wellness. In middle school through college, Quel furthered her love for physical education by embracing activities like yoga and physical exercise while volunteering to assist peers with disabilities in accessing health and wellness activities. Recently awarded the Lifespan Coach Certification by the International Sports Science Association, Quel has enhanced her research on how educational psychology, mindfulness, and yoga in nature-based learning boosts fitness and productivity in younger generations. Her passion is now channeled through her role at LOOP NOLA, where she works to ensure all people can experience the physical, mental, and community benefits of accessing natural spaces for outdoor recreation.
Aspien is a vibrant and adventurous person at this point in her life. But she was a shy and reserved girl when she was younger, hesitant to step outside her comfort zone. That changed the day she joined LOOP NOLA’s Outdoor Adventure Club. What started as a simple desire to explore nature soon turned into a transformative experience, pushing her to overcome fears, take risks, and build confidence in herself. Today, Aspien hopes she can create life-changing experiences for the people she comes across, just like the one that altered her own path.