Meet the Crew: Ralph Berry and Leif Anderson, staff

Adventure Crew is thrilled to introduce our two newest outdoor specialists: Ralph Berry and Leif Anderson!

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ralph retired from the police force after 25 years. Since then, he has worked as a school security officer for the last 26 years, currently at Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy. Additionally, he works part time as a recreation specialist with Cincinnati Recreation Commission.

He first connected with the Crew while volunteering on one of our bike programs, where he chatted with Executive Director Libby Hunter.

"I do enjoy doing outdoor activities with kids, so I realized this was an organization I would be very interested in being a part of," he said. "What I like so far in the little time that I’ve been here is working with the staff and the kids and doing different outdoor activities."

For his part, his favorite outdoor pursuits are cycling and fishing, but he's pretty happy doing just about any outdoor activity, he said. 

Ralph brings a range of skills to the Crew: He's a licensed cycling instructor with the the League of American Bicyclists, and he has Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) certification. He's also a certified high school basketball official.

Considering his upbringing in Sunbury, Ohio, a town north of Columbus, it might not be a surprise that Leif wanted to pursue a career in the outdoors.

"I was lucky to have parents who encouraged me and my sister to play outside, and took us hiking, backpacking, biking and skiing from a young age," Leif said. "We went on some memorable family vacations that included things like steep mountain hikes taking much longer than expected, leaving us stranded in the dark, or trying to shoo away a horde of mosquitoes long enough to poop in the woods. The times where things went awry just ended up being our favorite stories to tell!" 

As an adult, Leif has worked at a gear retailer and a local bike shop. "Putting on bike repair clinics and doing popup bike shops in neighborhoods around the city made me realize that I wanted to be more involved with the people and personal connections, not just the technical details of the gear," the self-described "bike nerd" said.  

He initially came to the Crew because of his skills as a bike mechanic, but he quickly realized he wanted to get involved with our programs, too.

"I believe that there are so many benefits that come from getting outside: The ability to challenge yourself in ways you never thought you would, the self confidence that comes from overcoming those challenges and the welcoming community that will support you through them," he said. "Being outdoors connects us with our local environment and our earth, and it teaches the values that extend beyond the adventure and into everyday life. I wanted to be a part of the work Adventure Crew does to share these experiences with students who might not get the opportunity to have them otherwise."  

"It’s awesome to get to work with the same students over multiple adventures and see their skills and confidence grow," he added. "And getting the opportunity to introduce the next generation to all the pastimes that have been such a huge part of my own life is a privilege!"

When he's not out with the Crew, Leif works at Birdie’s Coffee in Norwood and as a snowboarding instructor at Perfect North Slopes. An avid cyclist, he enjoys riding the hills of Cincinnati (his hometown was flat!) but can also be found rock climbing, snowboarding and getting outside just about any way he can. He lives with his partner, Moira, in an apartment that also houses their combined total of six bikes.

Welcome to the Crew, Ralph and Leif!