Dream your next adventure
4Points Guides empowers people to create positive change through adventure, education, and personal and team challenges.
Our Story
From the founder:
My career as a Firefighter and Paramedic and love for the outdoors taught me vital life lessons and values:
• Professionalism
• Competency
• Empathy
• Integrity
After retiring I focused on helping people in a new way: founding 4Points Guides—a leading provider of wilderness medicine training and guided adventures.
We focus on finding ways to incorporate challenge and fun into each program and trip that our amazing team leads. This is truly a labor of love.
We take our trainings and our adventures seriously—join us for the program or trip of a lifetime!
“Our experience and love for the outdoors goes into every trip we run…from my family vacations to yours!”
Every 4Points Guides program is unique.
We take great pride in offering the most comprehensive training programs available. We take personal responsibility to ensure that every trip we run is well organized, has great equipment, amazing meals, and the best guides. Our trips and programs are special—we care about what we do!
Meet the Team
Matt May
Guide Level: CEO/Founder, Lead Guide
Certifications: Retired Firefighter, EMT-Paramedic and Wilderness EMT; NPS Backcountry Guide; Kayaking Guide; CPR, WFA and WFR Instructor; ROPES Level II Certification. Graduate of the University of Michigan; Post-Graduate Degree in Outdoor Education at the University of Edinburgh;
4Points Activities: Backpacking, Canoeing, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course and International Trips.
About Matt: As John Muir said: ‘Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt’! Matt tries to live by this mantra; he loves the adventure of the outdoors. There will never be enough to explore in this world and he loves sharing it all with his girls and their amazing dog Denali. His favorite places to travel are Scotland, New Zealand, Israel, Alaska and Michigan.
Casey Andrews
Guide Level: Director of Operations Lead Guide
Certifications: WEMT, CPR/WFA/WFR Instructor, National Park Certified Backcountry Guide and instructor, B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Outdoor Recreation.
4Points Activities: Backpacking, Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, School Groups, Wilderness Medicine Instructor and more.
About Casey: Some of his favorite activities include surfing, rock climbing, peak bagging, playing music and wildlife conservation; his most memorable locations are Sierra Nevada, deserts of the Southwest, California’s coastal ranges, Patagonia, and Indonesia.
Anna Johnson
Guide Level: Director of Outreach
Certifications: Wilderness First Aid/ CPR Certified
4Points Activities: Operations and coordination of course programs, contracts and customer outreach.
About Anna: Some of her favorite activities include traveling to Europe, composing and performing music, and staying outside as much as possible. Her most memorable locations are Mont St. Michel in France and the gardens at the Royal Palace (Reggia de Caserta) near Naples, Italy.
Katie Hall
Guide Level: Lead Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder/CPR
4Points Activities: Guiding, hiking, kayaking
About Katie: Katie got her start in the outdoors leading trips at UCSC, and she also spent a few summers in Yosemite leading backpacking trips for summer campers. More recently she has been working as a kayak guide in the Channel Islands. She loves to spend her free time traveling, frolicking in the ocean, and eating good food with good friends.
Allison (Alli) Daymond
Guide Level: Assistant Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder
4Points Activities: Trip guide, hiking, biking, rock climbing
About Alli: Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alli spent the past four years in Southern California earning her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. In her free time she loves rock climbing, trail running, backpacking, and swimming! After a few months in Hawaii, she excited to be back in Southern California!
Denali
Guide Level: Trip Companion
About Denali: “I’m 11 years old and still love to hike, swim and play. If you see me on a trip or around the office, say hi!
Joseph Brandt
Guide Level: Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Aid, Red Cross CPR for professional rescuer, Lifeguard, ROPES
4Points Activities: Joseph helps with trips and guide work as needed when not working as a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
About Joseph: An avid surfer who spent his college years mountaineering and rock climbing in the High Cascades of Oregon. Joseph still enjoys the occasional climbing adventure or backpacking trip into the mountains to fly fish alpine streams and lakes. He also snowboards and cross country skis. Most recently, he found a new hobby in the sport of buhurt which has given him an opportunity to travel across Europe and win the buhurt league worldcup in 2023.
Madison Parnell
Guide level: Lead Guide
Certifications: CPR, Wilderness First Responder; ROPES Certified
4Points Activities: Ropes course facilitator, climbing excursions, hiking and backpacking trips
About Madison: Madison likes to consider herself an outdoor enthusiast, in her off-time she will often be rock climbing, hiking, slack-lining, and swimming in creeks or the ocean. Some locations that hold a special place in her heart are Estes Park, CO. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. And her hometown of Ojai, CA.
Brittney Shadday
Guide Level: Rock Climbing Guide
Certifications: CPR and Wilderness First Responder
4Points Activities: Brittney helps with rock climbing guide work when she’s not working out at Channel Islands National Park.
About Brittney: Brittney spends most of her free time in the outdoors and loves rock climbing, surfing, skiing, mountain biking, and backpacking. She also loves to travel and enjoys writing articles about her adventures!
Wil Sterner
Guide level: Lead Guide
Certifications: CPR and Wilderness First Responder
4Points Activities: Wil guides our Backpacking, Ropes course, rock climbing, surfing, and mountain biking outings.
About Wil: Wil is one of our lead guides. He's an avid rock climber, mountain biker, and nature lover. When he's not guiding our backpacking, climbing, hiking and biking adventures he's either out having his own adventures or in the office at his main gig as a Hellerwork Structural Integrator. Wil grew up in Southern California and is well rooted in our local environment, he's knowledgeable about local history, flora and fauna.
Cameron Leventen
Guide Level: Mountaineer / Alpine Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder; ROPES Certified, Backpacking Guide
4Points Activities: Cameron leads backpacking trips at Camp Ramah and supports Ropes Course programming.
About Cameron: Cameron was raised in Ojai, California and has a deep love for the Ojai Wilderness that raised her. She has experience in a wide range of extreme sports - including working as a Dog Mushing guide in Alaska, a Mountaineer Guide in the Eastern Sierras and Mont Blancs, and lounging in the desert after long sandy trail runs in Joshua Tree. Cameron stays on her feet year round - working as a Producer for Film/TV in the Fall & Winter, and Expedition Guiding with 4Points in the Spring/Summer.
Meghan May
Guide Level: Lead Guide
Certifications: EMT; Wilderness First Responder; Lifeguard; NPS Backpacking Guide; ROPES Certified
4Points Activities: Meghan is a trip guide when not working in her regular work as an Emergency Medical Technician.
About Meghan: Excited to be part of the ‘Family Business’. Her favorite outdoor activities include backpacking, hiking, biking, swimming, paddle-boarding and skiing. Meghan’s favorite places are the Grand Canyon, Mt. Whitney, and the Smoky Mountains.
Chris Gustin
Guide Level: Guide
Certifications: CPR; Wilderness First Aid
4Points Activities: Chris helps with trips and guide work out in the backcountry.
About Chris: Currently residing in Los Angeles, Chris takes every opportunity to get outdoors around SoCal and beyond! His favorite outdoor activities include backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking. Some of his favorite places are Yosemite, Big Pine Lake, and the Rocky Mountains.
Lisa Anderson
Guide Level: Guide, Wilderness First Aid/Responder Assistant Instructor
Certifications: WFA/R, CPR, NAUI Dive Instructor, and Channel Islands National Park Certified Educator and Guide.
4Points Activities: Backpacking guide for Grand Canyon trips, mountain biking activities, and ROPES course guide.
About Lisa: Her favorite activities include triathalons, kayaking, backpacking, camping, and traveling. Lisa enjoys the Grand Canyon, Channel Islands National Park, Santa Monica Mountains, and the Sierras.
Margot Solvay
Guide Level: Assistant Guide
Certifications: CPR, Wilderness First Aid, ROPES
4Points Activities: ROPES Course, Hiking, Backpacking and Camping trips guide.
About Margot: Margot loves to hike, backpack, swim in rivers, climb, camp and love the general outdoors. She is also an avid reader and practices mediation often to keep herself in the present. She is so grateful to live in the Ojai Valley and to enjoy all the nature it has to offer. Sharing her love for the outdoors with others and inspiring them to challenge themselves fills her heart with joy. She believes that, like many things, nature should be shared and protected.
Julia Dominguez
Guide Level: Guide
Certifications: CPR, Wilderness First Aid, Associates Degree in Natural Sciences, and Certified LMT.
4Points Activities: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Backpacking and Camping trips guide.
About Julia: She enjoys surfing, swimming, running, hiking, backpacking and being outdoors. When she has the time, you can be sure she’ll find ways to get to the Eastern Sierras, Grand Canyon, or our local Ojai and Sespe wilderness.
Jason Moore
Guide Level: Lead Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Aid, Mountain Biking Instructor
4Points Activities: Jason guides for our hiking, biking and rock climbing trips.
About Jason: An outdoor enthusiast with many talents and skills including Telemark skiing and mountain biking. Hiking, camping, bouldering and climbing are just a few of his passions. Facilitator of technique, safety, exploration and fun are his main focuses. “Let’s go!”
Maya Mortimer
Guide Level: Guide / Wilderness Instructor
Certificates: EMT, Wilderness First Responder, RD
4Points Activities: Maya teaches summer camp outings (hike, climb, surf) in Malibu, Ojai and Ventura as well as wilderness medicine courses.
About Maya: A mother of 2 daughters (age 14 and 19) NOLS instructor, registered dietitian and all-around outdoor enthusiast. She loves to hike with her dog, climb, surf, ski and spend time with her family. She loves traveling and her happy place is Switzerland (where she was born) but any mountain range will do!
Jo Garcia
Guide Level: Guide
Certifications: CPR, ACLS, ROPES
4Points Activities: Jo helps with local trips and rope course activities with kids from all age ranges.
About Jo: Jo loves being outside with friends and family and enjoys working with kids through 4 Points Expeditions. She enjoys hiking, running half marathons with her sister and being around animals. Fun Fact: she owns a piggy named Choco!
Christy Williamson
Guide Level: Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder; AIARE Avalanche Level 1 Cert
4Points Activities: Christy helps to guide trips in her free time.
About Christy: Hiking, backpacking, and skiing are her passions, and her heart belongs to the breathtaking Eastern Sierras for those exhilarating mountain escapades.
Cooper Honeywell
Level: Assistant Guide
Certifications: CPR and Wilderness First Aid
4Points Activities: Cooper takes groups on camping overnights, beach day activities, bike rides and hiking.
About: Cooper grew up in Lake Tahoe, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and running from a young age. He now studies environmental studies at UCSB and loves spearfishing, surfing, and scuba diving the beautiful Channel Islands.
Nic Navarro
Guide Level: Lead Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, First Aid & CPR, AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (Certification pending)
4Points Activities: Hiking, biking
About Nic: Nic has spent more than a decade supporting young people-working with teenage Buddhist monks in Nepal and Christian missionaries in the Philippines; serving with the Peace Corps’ Youth in Development program in Guatemala and guiding struggling teens through Wilderness Therapy in Utah. Nic has a B.A in Psychology and Philosophy and a M.S.Ed from University of Miami. Nic finds rest in hiking long trails like the Pacific Crest Trail (’19) and difficult trails like the Wind River High Route and Sierra High Route; he zig zags across the country on his motorcycle, and loves finding a nice branch to whittle a spoon. Currently Nic lives with his family building a Gaia Farm, runs a mentorship program for struggling teens and young adults, and works for Santa Barbara Middle School as a Teacher and Guide.
Matt Slaughter
Guide level: Lead Guide
Certifications: CPR and Wilderness First Responder
4Points Activities: Matt helps with backpacking, camping and climbing trips.
About Matt: Matt is an avid outdoorsmen and absolutely loves being in the mountains and playing in rivers. When he is not working at 4Points he is planning his next multi-day expedition on some of the beautiful rivers or awesome peaks.
Aly Springer
Guide Level: Assistant Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, EMT, CPR
4Points Activities: Guiding, backpacking, rock climbing
About Aly: Aly was born and raised in Carpinteria, CA. She loves the sunshine and all things outdoors. In her free time she enjoys photography, hiking, trail running, rock climbing, snowboarding, playing soccer and hanging with friends, family and animals. She is currently working on a career in emergency services and is so excited to be working with 4 Points!
Anita Samaha
Guide Level: Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, ROPES
4Points Activities: Guiding, backpacking,
About Anita: Anita (Ani) Samaha has been facilitating team-building, outdoor adventures and ropes courses with corporate teams, schools and organizations for 24 years. From 2004-2006 she taught extracurricular classes and ran the outdoor program at a semester abroad high school in New Zealand. Over the years she has led countless backpacking trips, multiday mountain biking adventures and nature connection programs. In addition to her facilitation work, Ani has a Masters Degree in Chinese Medicine and is an avid outdoor enthusiast.
Howie Kalter
Guide Level: Guide, WFA Instructor
Certifications: CPR, Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness EMT.
4Points Activities: He leads students on excursions to places like Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Joshua Tree National Park.
About Howie: His favorite outdoor activities include backpacking, rock climbing, and fly fishing! He was drawn to outdoor education and wilderness medicine because they both provide students a setting to use their creativity and problem solving skills in very unique ways.
Meadow Solares
Guide Level: Assistant Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Aid, CPR
4Points Activities: Hiking, rock climbing, kayaking
About Meadow: Meadow enjoys swimming, climbing, hiking and yoga in her free time. She studies environmental policy and art at Pitzer College. She loves making pottery and spending time outdoors.
Luc Schutz
Guide level: Assistant Guide
Certifications: CPR and Wilderness Aid, ROPES
4Points Activities: Luc works with ROPES course programs, rock climbing, biking and backpacking.
About Luc: Luc loves to rock climb, ride bikes, play music read, and play on his computer. He is a certified massage therapist and runs his own practice Ventura. His favorite places are the Boundary Waters and the Eastern Sierras. He is very glad to be back in California after living in Chicago for 12 years!
Miela Efraim
Guide Level: Assistant Guide
Certifications: Wilderness First Aid, NAUI Open Water Scuba Diver
4Points Activities: Guiding, backpacking, kayaking
About Miela: Miela holds a B.S. in Engineering Psychology & M.S. in Human Factors Engineering from Tufts University, She loves painting, hiking and kayaking. Her memorable adventures include scuba diving around Catalina Island and ice climbing in Banff. Her favorite place in the world is Ojai, CA!
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