Bethany Fosdyck, Director of Outdoor Community and Outfitting

Since she was a little girl, Bethany Fosdyck has loved Adventure and brings it with her everywhere she goes. Adventure led this little girl to live in Costa Rica, Europe, Kenya and beyond; it then returned her home to share the things she saw and felt and knew.

Bethany has been a handicraft designer in Kenya, done language and service work in Costa Rica, and studied fashion history in Italy. She was also a visual merchandiser in Denver, Colorado.

As the founder and owner of Bushbaby, a shop based in Central Illinois that supplies high quality outdoor clothing and gear for babies and kids, she has created a community around Bushbaby that has become the starting point for little adventures.

Bethany is an outdoor enthusiast and energetic aunt who loves to see children everywhere — of all ages — get outside and find their own little adventures.

Shannon Halford, Director of Outdoor Inspiration and Wanderlust

After growing up all over the Midwest and migrating to Colorado for many years, Shannon returned to the Illinois River Valley and rediscovered the beauty of the bluffs and majesty of a river valley she was grateful to once again call home.

Shannon is a practicing web designer and creative director. Her studio practice, Fireside Design, is focused on the design and brand positioning of ecotourism, mental health, the arts, music, and epicurean brands and nonprofits. She is motivated by her passion for elevating the greater good by connecting purpose-driven brands with their people, by empowering communities and organizations with therapeutic recreation resources and guidance, and by advocating for mental health through the great outdoors.

Shannon is happiest outside, whether on the water, on the trails, in the forest, at outdoor concerts and farm dinners, or out finding new places to discover the best local coffee, food, outdoor play and music destinations with family, friends and dogs.

Mark Monge, Director of Outdoor Adventure and Exploration

Mark Monge founded Peoria Outdoor Adventure, a brand that highlights the very best of Peoria area outdoor clubs, groups, and restaurants that make the central Illinois area a special place, and in the process, help promote the groups and individuals that make this area a true Midwestern gem.

Through the Peoria Outdoor Adventure website and social media channels, Mark has successfully created a way to showcase all of the ways to play outside in central Illinois — especially the best kept secrets that many visitors, or even locals — may not yet know about.

In doing so, Mark (and so many others) continue learning to fall in love with our region all over again.

Mark (says he) is not great at anything, but likes to do a lot of everything-whether it’s hiking, biking, camping, paddling, climbing or rediscovering all of the special little local eateries and breweries the Illinois River Valley has to offer.

Julie Robinson, Director of Outdoor Play & Education (DOPE)

Retired schoolteacher and Master Naturalist Julie Robinson is on a forever mission to experience as much of the natural world as possible. She took this mission to heart when observing students spending less and less time outdoors and more time in front of a screen.

Throughout her life as a teacher and a community member, people would always come to her to for a place to go for nature and outdoor exploration, and after becoming a Master Naturalist in 2018, she became inspired to make this wealth of information public through IRVOA and Local OPAL (which offers an expert database of outdoor activities, dog friendliness, terrain, bathroom accessibility, historical/geological significance, and even some of “OPAL’s Observations & Opinions”.

Julie has had the pleasure exploring the many natural areas of central Illinois and, more importantly, brought accessibility of natural areas to a whole new level. She hopes to keep expanding to more counties across the state.