PRESIDENT

Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Todd Hindman moved to Homer from Nome in 2016, where he had spent 17 years working as the principal/teacher at Anvil City Science Academy. While vacationing in Alaska in 1992 he knew Homer was where he wanted to end up, It took 24 years, but that goal was met. In his spare time Todd enjoys art, photography, cooking, bicycling, swimming, music, and spending time outdoors. Having worked with youth for many years as an educator, he was eager to join the HoWL organization.

VICE PRESIDENT

Tela is a mother, wrestling coach, gender equality advocate, and 2004 Olympic wrestler. Her passion is empowering youth and women to live to their full potential and capability, and developing a culture that recognizes sports and recreation as powerful tools of social change and personal growth. She is a founding board member of Wrestle Like A Girl where she has supported the development of girls wrestling across 20 states and participated in initiatives, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, to utilize sport to address Gender Based Violence (GBV) and mental health in indigionous populations in Alaska, Canada, and Pakistan. Tela was raised by a single mother in Homer and grew up in the woods living from, and close to the Alaskan wilderness. Here, her spirit and fortitude were formed and in 2007, Tela and her husband returned to Homer to raise their three children.

SECRETARY

Born and raised in Homer, Jane is a former Howler and after a somewhat brief hiatus, is back to be a part of the team. During her time away Jane lived in Seattle, where she attended school and explored the mountains of Washington, strengthening her love for the outdoors. In 2021, she decided to leave the city life and return to the community she knows and loves. Over the last two years she has spent most of her time educating the community in the reproductive health world. In the off time you can find Jane meandering the beach, knitting in the sunshine and consuming copious amounts of baked goods. With a strong belief that one cannot take themselves too seriously in life or in adventuring she is excited to serve on the Howl board and help ensure that the youth of Homer have the opportunity to explore their goofy selves in the beautiful outdoors.

FOUNDER

Libby, born and raised in Homer, founded HoWL in 2009 at age 24. Libby loves extended time in the back country for the beauty and the challenge of it, but more importantly, for the community that develops when a group of kids (or kids at heart) become expedition teammates. Libby's community grew dramatically in the 7 years that she was Programs Director for HoWL, and she still meets up with many of her "kids" to go on adventures. After 6 years away from Homer, Libby has returned and joined HoWL's board of directors to continue the tradition of HoWL's fun-first methodology for teaching leadership and wilderness skills to our youth.

TREASURER

Kayla grew up in North Pole, Alaska spending lots of time outdoors under the aurora and the midnight sun. A HoWL instructor for the past two years she is passionate about having fun in the backcountry! Outside of work you can find her, trail running, reading or persuing a new artistic hobby. On occasion, you can catch her unicycling or juggling!

Delane Blackstock was born and raised in Homer, Alaska. She graduated from Homer High with the honor of being elected “Worst Driver” in 1999. Delane dropped out of college in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and the final time of 2004. She moved to Portland, Oregon with her now husband in pursuit of opening a restaurant. After several years of changing one customer’s mind at a time about deep dish pizza (its just as good or better than wood fired!), she headed to the coast of Oregon with her husband and two young girls to help rehabilitate a compound they had acquired out of desperation for a “fun project” they could “all work on together” in 2016. Delane returned to her hometown, and was delighted to receive a warm welcome and an actual jersey at her graduating class’ 20 year anniversary customized with “Honorary Class Clown”, considered now to be her greatest achievement. Well, besides being entrusted with various duties at HoWL, which is an organization that empowers older leaders through indoor rote education by providing screentime with Zoom, Excel, DropBox, Gmail, Quickbooks, the State of Alaska gaming board, and Kenai Peninsula Sales tax division.

Jamie was born (figuratively) and raised (for reals!) in the bleachers at the Homer High School. Her hair was styled by teenage girls in the fashion of the day, and the teachers actually let her bring puppies to school. This could have corrupted a child with less integrity, but somehow the freedom and access crafted character and an unparalleled obsession with having as much fun as possible at all times. More on that later. She enrolled in college in Montana, and then tended to her adventures on motorcycles, boats and abroad. Jamie is no fool; she knew instinctively that she needed to raise her future kids in Homer with a man that could handle high seas and fast tracks. She moved back solo and opened Spit Sisters, where her home cooking could flourish. Skip ahead ten years-o-so, the rest of the family-life puzzle came together, and Jamie is dedicated to trying to recreate all the great memories of her youth. Not only for her own spirited children, but for everyone who can keep up with her runaway fun train, is able to ignore time and emails, and loves ice cream.

Originally from western Massachusetts, Leah has a strong passion for expeditions in wild places and a long history with outdoor education. After completing a NOLS semester in New Zealand and receiving her BA in Global Studies from Warren Wilson College, Leah found her way to Kroka Expeditions, a land-based non-profit expeditionary learning school and farm in New Hampshire where she guided expeditions and ran the summer program. In 2016, Leah spent a summer in Homer as the Program Director for HoWL, before moving to California to launch and direct a west coast branch of Kroka Expeditions. Leah returned to Alaska in 2021 to pursue a masters in outdoor and environmental education and a K-8 teaching credential at Alaska Pacific University, recently graduating in 2023. Leah is thrilled to have made home on McNeil Canyon with her husband Cooper and son Quinn and to be involved with HoWL again.

Rylee grew up in Southern California and spent most of her early adult life working and playing in the outdoors. She spent 4 years as a wilderness therapy guide in Utah and Southeast Alaska and has developed a passion for getting kids outdoors! In 2022 she moved to Homer to work as a HoWL instructor and decided it was a place she wanted to stay. She took a full time position with Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula working with middle and highschoolers in Nanwalek, Ninilchik, Port Graham, and Tyonek while spending as much of her freetime outside as possible. She enjoys skiing, biking, running, and backpacking, generally with glitter on her face. After a few years away from HoWL, she's excited to join the board to support getting kids outside!!!