Deena Elrefai (she/her) is a young and dynamic outdoor educator coming from Leesburg, Virginia. She graduated from Elon University in 2022 with a double major in Public Health Studies and Experiential Education, along with a minor in Spanish. She is currently on a Fulbright Fellowship to Uruguay, where she is bringing her innovative ideas for experiential education to a new audience and working with primary and secondary students.

Throughout her time at Elon and beyond, Deena combined her love of experiential learning with her love of the outdoors as she worked with students backpacking, climbing, mountain biking, and more! She adores using the outdoors as a medium for students to find confidence and connect with the natural world around them. She guided several trips with Sequoyah last year and is thrilled to return as a full-time staff member in January 2024.

When she’s not in the backcountry, you can find Deena exploring new places, spending time with friends, or curled up with a good book and her dog Bonnie. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to her with any outdoor adventure, book, or podcast recommendations.