Our Team
We aim to provide the necessary support to Backcountry Squatters’ chapters in their establishment, growth, sustainability, and leadership transition.
SQUATTERS STAFF
DARBY KNOLL
she/her
executive director
darby@backcountrysquatters.org
Darby’s joy for the outdoors started at a young age somewhere between the mountains and rivers of Teton Valley, Idaho and northern New Mexico. While attending Montana State Univrsity Darby earned a dual degree in Microbiology and Animal Science but her free time was quickly focused on making Backcountry Squatters the best club that it could be. Her attention to detail, commitment to the shared vision, and ‘get it done’ attitude made Darby a valuable asset to the initial success of the MSU club and has made her the right person to become the founding ED of this nonprofit.
She thrives on a passion to share her greatest outdoor experiences with others. Darby realizes that she is lucky to have all of the opportunities that Bozeman has to offer, and hopes to make outdoor recreation more attainable for young women and gender-queer folks across the country.
LILA SPURGEON
she/her
programs director
lila@backcountrysquatters.org
Growing up in coastal Virginia, Lila spent much of her time playing in and on the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. She developed a love for the mountains and hiking at an early age, and her interest in mountain sports only blossomed with a move out west for college. In her time at the University of Colorado Boulder, she embraced skiing, climbing, and backpacking, while also earning a degree in Strategic Communication. She served as the Chapter President of CU’s Squatters Chapter, and completed thesis research on the role of identity for activists working to make outdoor sports more diverse and inclusive.
Lila is grateful for the wonderful support the Squatters community provided to her as she first ventured into new mountain sports. She is passionate about helping create that same sense of community and belonging at Squatters chapters across the country in her role as Programs Director.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors provides strategic guidance, financial oversight, and community advocacy, ensuring that Backcountry Squatters continues to empower women and non-binary folks in the outdoor community.
KAITLYNN SORENSEN
she/her
president
kaitlynn@backcountrysquatters.org
Born and raised in the front range of Colorado, Kaitlynn has been trailblazing since she was young. With no plans to leave Colorful Colorado anytime soon she attended the University of Colorado Boulder where she was the President of the first Squatter’s chapter at CU. Throughout her undergraduate she would discover her passion for encouraging leadership opportunities and recreational growth for college-aged women and other people of marginalized genders. She found joy in spending time outside with people she loved and fulfilment from passing the experience on! After securing her BA in Sociology in 2022, Kaitlynn traveled the United States in a travel trailer to see what trails across the country had to offer. She just couldn’t leave the BCS community behind and stayed involved by becoming the East Coast Ambassador during the 2022-2023 school year. Kaitlynn continued to be inspired by the BCS community and vision, finding so much confidence and professional skill development volunteering for the nonprofit. She is now back in Denver, CO pursuing a career in Occupational Therapy. Outside of her professional life you might find Kaitlynn enjoying a girl dinner of cheetos and chocolate milk, pursuing rabbit hole passion projects, and maybe just maybe, stuck in 1-70 weekend traffic.
EMILY WILEY
she/her
vice president
emily.w@backcountrysquatters.org
In the valley of the Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers, Emily grew up in Carbondale, CO. There, she learned that a classroom is not solely found indoors but outdoors as well. Through outdoor spaces, Emily was exposed to the importance of leadership, advocacy, and responsibility. She found Montana State University to be the best fit for continuing her pursuit in the duality of education and felt strongly aligned with MSU’s mantra of “Mountains and Minds”. Motivated to find womxn driven by inclusivity and excitement for the outdoors, Emily grew attached to the Squatters mission. During her undergrad, Emily evolved from the social media coordinator to the Co-President of the Backcountry Squatters Club. She graduated with a dual degree in Applied Psychology and Hispanic Studies on a Pre-Physician Assistant track. Since graduating, Emily has found her calling in Women’s Health and works as a medical assistant in Reproductive Endocrinology. She hopes to attend Physician Assistant school to further her interest in rural medicine and widen healthcare access for Spanish speaking individuals. Emily’s recipe for enjoying life includes but is not limited to: kayaking, snowboarding, sweet-treats, and spontaneous outings with friends.
SHIMUL BIJOOR
she/her
secretary
shimul@backcountrysquatters.org
Shimul spent much of her upbringing outdoors in the Himalayas and Western Ghats of India, which steered her into a career in environmental conservation and a passion for rock climbing, backpacking, and frolicking outdoors. Eager to share this passion with a larger community in India, she started an outdoor sports magazine in college to amplify the voices of outdoor sportspersons, share resources for those looking to explore, and report on events like highlining festivals, rock climbing championships, and surf competitions happening across the country. Shimul currently works as a philanthropic strategy advisor to environmental foundations, supporting the funding of marine conservation, coastal resilience, and climate change solutions. Since moving to Berkeley, CA, she has thrived within the expanding community of climbers, bikers, and surfers in the Bay. With gratitude and privilege for growing up with a comfort in the outdoors, she is keen for more BIPOC womxn to feel a similar sense of belonging to this community.
FRANNIE ADAMS
she/her
board member
frannie@backcountrysquatters.org
Frannie grew up in Roxbury, a neighborhood of Boston, MA. From a young age, she felt a deep connection to nature that led her to admire all its intricacies, earning her the nicknames “nature girl” and “our environmentalist” among others. She received her BA in Environmental Studies at Wellesley College with a double minor in Economics and Africana Studies. Her passion to work on environmental health in the Caribbean guided her through her academic, scientific and professional careers. She continued her education and recently graduated from the Yale School of the Environment as a Master of Environmental Science. Frannie found opportunities to further explore, study, and take care of nature through coursework, research field trips, kayaking, hiking, and environmental clean-ups. She is eager to help expand the reach of this impactful non-profit to help more students find community and have safe opportunities to experience and lead in outdoor spaces. Currently, she works in ocean, coastal, and coral reef management. Outside of work, Frannie can be found singing, playing instruments, at an environmental cleanup, at the beach, enjoying live music, mentally comparing flora and fauna during travels, and trying new recipes.
ERICA KURASH
she/her
board member
erica@backcountrysquatters.org
Erica hails from the Green Mountains of Vermont and ventured to St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, where she earned a degree in Environmental Studies and Sociology. As she embarked on her college journey, Erica sought avenues to explore outdoor spaces alongside fellow female and non-binary adventurers—a quest that had eluded her in the past. Inspired by this vision, Erica took the initiative to establish the SLU Backcountry Squatters chapter, carving out the inclusive environment she had longed for as a female outdoor enthusiast. During her time at SLU, Erica also served as an Outdoor Program Guide, guiding others on their own outdoor adventures. Unwilling to part ways with Backcountry Squatters upon graduation, Erica has continued her journey by joining The Board of Directors, dedicated to fostering an equitable future for outdoor recreation.