Campus Recreation relies on a staff of over 150, most of whom are University of Montana students, to provide excellent customer service to our community. We recognize those who go above and beyond their job description in the areas of reliability, quality of work, initiative, leadership and community service. Thanks to all of our employees for making Campus Recreation a place to thrive!

Tucker Livermore

Tucker joined the Outdoor Program towards the end of his college career, and we are so lucky he did. Originally from Cincinnati Ohio, and finding outdoor recreation in unlikely places in the Midwest, Tucker felt a desire to be outside, and this would lead Tucker to the University of Montana. Tucker majored in Forestry with a minor in Mountain Studies here at UM, and was part of the Davidson Honors college.

Before joining the Outdoor Program, Tucker served as a Wilderness Ranger for the Forest Service, and also worked as a Wildlife Firefighter. While at UM, Tucker fell in love with climbing. Through this love for climbing, he formed some of the best relationships of his life.  Because of this he wanted to give back to the climbing community. He took the American Mountain Guide Association Climbing Wall Instructor Course when started working at the Outdoor Program in the summer of 2022. He worked at the climbing wall, the rentals department, and began teaching many of the climbing Youth Camps programs that summer. He also worked a few river trips as well. The following fall and spring, Tucker taught an Intro to Indoor Climbing class that he and his co-instructors titled “Intro to Awesome”. He helped teach the two credit Intermediate Climbing class that is the most technical class that we offer. Tucker was a Freshman Wilderness Experience (F.W.E.) student before his freshman year, and a F.W.E. backpacking leader his senior year. Tucker is a natural teacher, and has the ability to put people at ease right away. His students and co-instructors adore him. The ODP staff tease Tucker, and say that at every climbing wall shift, students of all ages come in to see if he is around.  His love of climbing, coupled with his humble nature, helps people feel comfortable and less intimidated while at the wall.

You can often find Tucker hanging out at the climbing gym, or climbing some crazy wide cracks on rock or concrete bridges. He is off to Utah to work on a Forest Service Heli tack crew in the Wasatch Range. There is no doubt that in between hitches, he will be found rock climbing and looking for random wide cracks.

Katherine Wendeln

Katherine joined the Outdoor Program in the summer of 2022. We were sad to not have her for longer, but were so happy she became part of the Outdoor Program family. Katherine came to UM from Cincinnati, Ohio, and double majored in Ecology and Environmental Science with an Environmental Education focus. She was a Davidson Honors College student, and a presidential Leadership scholar maintaining a 4.0 throughout her college career.

She was a Freshman Wilderness Experience (FWE) student in 2019 and ended up leading F W E backpacking trips 2 years after that. She took the American Mountain Guide Association Climbing Wall Instructor Course in the fall of 2022, and has worked as a climbing wall monitor and instructor at the Outdoor Program (ODP). She taught a semester long climbing class for credit, and also led a week-long backpacking trip in Utah over spring break. Katherine is a skilled, positive, and friendly person who puts people at ease immediately. She has a quiet confidence that helps make the potentially intimidating outdoor environment feel supportive and inviting. Katherine is a delight to be around, and has a very upbeat and positive attitude. She is organized, professional, prepared, and both her students and peers love to be around her. Katherine just completed a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Instructor Course, and plans to work field courses for them this summer. Her students and all at NOLS will be lucky to have her!

We are excited to see where her path goes, and we were delighted to have her be a part of the Outdoor Program while she was here.

Noah Mock

Noah came to the University of Montana from San Marcos, Texas the summer of 2019. Noah has taken advantage of many opportunities for growth while at the Outdoor Program. His major is Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management. He has worked for the Outdoor Program for three and a half years, and his love for the outdoors and adventure education has grown extensively during that time. As an incoming freshman he was a Freshman Wilderness Experience (F.W.E.) student, and realized he wanted to be a leader after his trip. He has been a F.W.E. backpack leader for three years, and has served as the Gear Coordinator for two years in addition to leading a trip.

Noah took advantage of many opportunities for growth while at the ODP. He completed a Wilderness First Responder certification, learned to ski, started climbing, and has dabbled in some whitewater. He co-led a week-long spring break canoe trip on the Green River in Utah, and led several overnight backpacking and cross-country ski trips as well. He has worked in the rentals department, taught cross country ski classes, set routes at the climbing wall, and also served as the student manager for rentals. Noah is very organized, systematic, and knowledgeable. He tends to see what needs to be done and do it before others even notice. As a senior leader, his students and co-instructors learned a lot from him.

Noah is now pursuing a career in the field of Outdoor Education. When he is interested in something, he goes all in to learn it and ultimately teach it. He plans to take some time off from school to gain residency, work for Aerie Backcountry Medicine, and pursue ski patrolling. We look forward to seeing where his path leads, and have our fingers crossed that he will stay connected to us here at the ODP.

Alex Kempf

Alex came to the University of Montana in 2019 from Boise, Idaho. Alex is an Athletic Training major, and is combining his love for sports medicine and outdoor recreation into a career. He came in with more of a passion for mountain biking, skiing, and some climbing. While at UM he took the American Mountain Guide Association Climbing Wall Instructor Course, and in December of 2020 began working at the Outdoor Program. Alex has jumped into many roles while at the ODP, but climbing has become one of his favorites. While most of his work revolves around climbing, he also has led Freshman Wilderness Experience (F.W.E.) trips for two years and is about to do it for a third. He has taken on the student coordinator position for F.W.E. this year and is also leading a trip. Alex has worked the rentals desk and some youth camps in the summer that involve some rafting elements. Regardless of what he’s doing, Alex brings a level of enthusiasm that is contagious.

Alex has been a lead route setter at the climbing wall, has taught many climbing classes, and has served as the climbing wall manager. He has also helped coordinate UM’s Rock the Rec climbing competition. He recently spent a semester with Aerie Backcountry Medicine and was certified as a Wilderness EMT. He is getting involved with Aerie teaching wilderness first aid.

You can typically find Alex at the UM climbing wall analyzing the routes, telling some funny dad jokes or quoting Avatar or the Last Airbender. We are happy that Alex is staying around to get a Master’s Degree in Athletic Training, so we get to have him for a few more years.

Ruth Johnson

Ruth came to the University of Montana from Billings, MT. She spent the summers of her childhood backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with her family, and quickly fell in love with being outside. Her love for the outdoors drew her to Missoula where she studied Resource Conservation, Communication Studies, and Climate Change. She was a part of the Davidson Honors College and a Dean’s List Scholar at UM. She plans on going into nonprofit data analysis and research for environmental organizations.

Ruth began working at the Outdoor Program rental desk in the summer of 2020. That fall she took the American Mountain Guide Climbing Wall Instructor Course. Soon after that, Ruth quickly began to make many welcomed upgrades and improvements to the Outdoor Program (ODP). Of those improvements were the editing, and rewriting the climbing wall, and equipment rentals manual. In addition to her attention to detail, and her organization - Ruth also taught many classes at the ODP. She taught climbing classes and backpacking classes for credit, the mountaineering class, and when called upon at the last minute, she led a Freshman Wilderness Experience backpacking trip. She dropped everything to jump into the field and do what needed to be done. Ruth served as the rental’s student manager for two years, and did an amazing job. She has been a big help with scoring calculations for a couple of our climbing competitions – and designed a really cool t-shirt last year for it. In addition to helping out at work, she was a reliable dog lover and dog sat frequently for many furry friends around Missoula.

Ruth plans to move to Burlington, Vermont with her sister and is looking forward to the Burlington beach and to experience life in the East for once. She looks forward to exchanging huckleberry syrup for Vermont’s maple and to indulge on Ben and Jerry’s regularly. She is going to miss so many of the places she grew to love here in MT. Particularly, the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness and waving to Warren Peak on her drives back home to Red Lodge. We will miss Ruth and likely will call on her to help us in one way or another – even when she is in Vermont.