About the Founders
Imagine If was founded in 2021 to give a voice to students who felt unheard during COVID. Our first project, Youth Speaks, was an experiential classroom that wove creative writing, improv, and poetry into an oral tapestry of our communities. That project grew out of a simple mission we still hold today: to invite, inform, and inspire.
Jay Zarr Jay is a master of using natural settings and adventure-based experiences to teach leadership, teamwork, and self-esteem. He works quickly to establish trust among all group members and has them involved, interested and motivated.
How do you explain the excitement that one receives upon sensing the shifting of an individual or organization’s paradigm? I have been honored to see the enlightenment that comes from someone on their first outdoor adventure or creating their first successful program at work. And I have witnessed the spark of leadership development grow into a flame for an empowered individual. When these things happen, I feel like I am making a positive difference globally, creating my sparks of life.
Jay offers a unique perspective from his 45+ years in the field about the value of self-knowledge, the collaborative nature of leadership, and a leader’s role as a servant. Be prepared to move, think and feel – three crucial “tools” for aspiring, budding, or established leaders. His experiences range from working Thirty-Two years in Higher Education, a Senior Instructor for the Wilderness Education Association, United States Forest Service, At-risk youth, Aging to Saging Certified Instructor, to serving as the Board President of the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo. Some of his involvement has been creating programs at CSU-Pueblo, Western State University, Colorado Mountain College, and helped design the 10th Mountain Hut System in Colorado.
During the last seven years, Jay has helped to create 11 different homeschool outdoor exploration programs. Recently, He served as President of the International Association of Experiential Education.
How do you explain the excitement that one receives upon sensing the shifting of an individual or organization’s paradigm? I have been honored to see the enlightenment that comes from someone on their first outdoor adventure or creating their first successful program at work. And I have witnessed the spark of leadership development grow into a flame for an empowered individual. When these things happen, I feel like I am making a positive difference globally, creating my sparks of life.
Jay offers a unique perspective from his 45+ years in the field about the value of self-knowledge, the collaborative nature of leadership, and a leader’s role as a servant. Be prepared to move, think and feel – three crucial “tools” for aspiring, budding, or established leaders. His experiences range from working Thirty-Two years in Higher Education, a Senior Instructor for the Wilderness Education Association, United States Forest Service, At-risk youth, Aging to Saging Certified Instructor, to serving as the Board President of the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo. Some of his involvement has been creating programs at CSU-Pueblo, Western State University, Colorado Mountain College, and helped design the 10th Mountain Hut System in Colorado.
During the last seven years, Jay has helped to create 11 different homeschool outdoor exploration programs. Recently, He served as President of the International Association of Experiential Education.
Cleo Zarr Born in Colorful Colorado, Cleo understands the creativity and healing powers that come from Nature. She is an international traveler, explorer, trip leader, and healer who continually knows all that surrounds her and us. She has committed her life to making a positive difference in all stages of life. Some of her adventures include rafting the Grand Canyon, exploring the sacred valley of Peru with a Native Shaman, a 31-day backpack through the Grand Teton, and caring for those who need an advocate. Through the Omega Institute, she is a trained Mindfulness Facilitator, has been a massage therapist and healer for 20+ years. Cleo is an educator in all aspects of the world and has led Women Only Adventures trips.
Trained as a Storyteller through the Spellbinder organization and has established the Spoken Word and Poetry Slam Off Project in Pueblo, which awards scholarships to the “winning” High School Spoken’ Words artists. She comes from the unique view of always finding people’s strengths and honoring who they are. She recently has become a certified Aging to Saging facilitator through Saging international, and with her husband, Jay is the Co-founder of Imagine If-Storytellers Travels company. In her own words; “Lessons are often found in Nature, Migrating the Wilderness of our soul, and most often, I become inspired through our collective resilience”.
Trained as a Storyteller through the Spellbinder organization and has established the Spoken Word and Poetry Slam Off Project in Pueblo, which awards scholarships to the “winning” High School Spoken’ Words artists. She comes from the unique view of always finding people’s strengths and honoring who they are. She recently has become a certified Aging to Saging facilitator through Saging international, and with her husband, Jay is the Co-founder of Imagine If-Storytellers Travels company. In her own words; “Lessons are often found in Nature, Migrating the Wilderness of our soul, and most often, I become inspired through our collective resilience”.