You’re in good hands when you travel with women’s groups at Canyon Calling.

We’re experienced, knowledgeable, safety-minded, and fun!

On your trip, you’ll have a trusted expert at your fingertips who’s dedicated to keeping everyone safe and happy. Our Trip Leaders are intimately acquainted with your tour destination, and they’re eager to share their passion with you.

We want you to truly enjoy yourself on your trip, so our guides confidently lead the way and take care of everything — including providing clear instructions, outlining the schedule so you know exactly what to expect, and letting you know what to wear to keep you comfortable. On top of that, our Trip Leaders are fantastic group alchemists who promote inclusivity throughout the entire adventure.

We can’t wait for you to meet our Rock Stars…

JANET SCALZO

Owner & Chief Adventurer

With a passion for female empowerment, an endless sense of curiosity, and over thirty years of experience in the travel industry, Janet found herself innately drawn to Canyon Calling’s mission. She followed the call of her adventuresome spirit and acquired the company back in 2014. And she’s been leading it with vigor ever since!

For Janet, it’s all about connection — with her wonderful guests and with the locals. She appreciates and desires to connect with local cultures around the world, and this global mindset enriches every tour she leads. Her hospitable nature, extensive experience and knowledge, and dedication to safety will keep you in excellent care — and laughing all the way!

“Growing up, I wanted to see what was around every bend in the road – I still do! I want to meet the people that live there, taste the food, experience the culture, and celebrate our differences and commonalities. I’ve had tremendous opportunities to do this around the world, and now I am sharing the sheer joy of local, personalized adventures with women who are curious and consider themselves global citizens. I learned that connecting with the locals is the essence of any travel experience — so all of our trips ensure this vital element.”

— Janet Scalzo

ANNA LARA FRIDRIKSDOTTIR

Trip Leader — Iceland

Anna Lara is a never-ending well of Icelandic wisdom and experience. She’s our resident expert on everything there is to know about Iceland — including the fascinating mythology! If you have a question about the local geology, flora, and fauna, Anna Lara has you covered. And although she’s native to beautiful Iceland, Anna Lara speaks excellent English and communicates effortlessly with our guests. She has brought her enthusiasm as a travel guide to many adventures in the past. Anna Lara has experience as a Tour Guide, Trekking Guide, and Mountain Guide, and she’s a member of the Iceland Alpine Club. She’s also had the pleasure of guiding for the Icelandic Travel Association and The Icelandic Mountain Guides. Anna Lara is friendly, funny, and focused on safety — she’s a delightful addition to the Canyon Calling women’s travel group team. You’re going to love spending time with Anna Lara!

KAREN RINKER

Trip Leader – USA & International

Karen’s love of travel and exploration began with a high school elective on world travel and backpacking — and she’s been feeding her soul on adventures ever since! She shares her passion with the world by guiding extensively with Canyon Calling.  Adventure has always been an integral part of Karen’s life. Between coaching high school snowboarding, hiking, backpacking, scuba diving, kayaking, wakeboarding, stand-up paddle boarding, and even motorcycling, Karen never seems to stop! This remarkable woman brings a deep love and a real sense of excitement to her tours — in the US and across the globe.

UVI JENKINS

Trip Leader — Costa Rica

Uvi brings the impressive expertise that only a local can bring to our Costa Rica trips. She hails from a small town in the countryside province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica — where her father worked on a dairy farm while her mother was a school teacher. Uvi inherited a deep love and respect for nature from her father, and from her mother, she inherited a love for education. Uvi has her degree in Biology with an emphasis on Ecology and Sustainable Development, and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Tourism Management, making her a knowledgeable force to be reckoned with in the world of touring! An experienced guide for over 20 years, Uvi shares her love of bird watching, hiking in the rainforest, and appreciation of nature with Canyon Calling’s guests on our magical Costa Rica trips.

LIZ MACNEIL

Trip Leader — USA & International

Although Liz was born and raised in the mountains of North Carolina, she comes from a long line of seafarers and grew up with a keen desire to be on the water. And after she experienced her first paddling trip at the age of 11, Liz was hooked! She knew right then and there that she wanted to be a guide. At Sierra Nevada College, Liz excelled as a whitewater guide and skier, which catapulted her into the world of outdoor leadership. Since 2003, Liz has been professionally leading trips and has traveled to more than 40 countries around the world. Her diverse experiences have not only fueled her passion for adventure travel and sustainability, but have instilled in her the importance of introducing people to the unique, natural wonders of the world and the people who live in it.

EMMA LYDDAN

Trip Leader — USA

Emma is currently an international nomad, but she’s originally from California. When she was 14 years old, Emma experienced a life-changing, all-female, backpacking trip through the Sierra Nevada. And she’s been in love with the outdoors ever since! After pursuing her devotion to the environment academically, Emma graduated from the University of Alaska with a degree in Environmental Studies, Geography, and Outdoor Studies.  Since graduating, Emma has enjoyed a life filled with international travel and epic expeditions. Emma has experience as a mountaineering guide on Denali, as well as a glacier, kayak and wilderness guide in Alaska and Patagonia, Chile. At Canyon Calling, Emma shares her passion for the environment by connecting women to the natural world and teaching them about climate change.

ILENE PRICE

Trip Leader — USA

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Ilene has nurtured her love for the outdoors from a young age. In her teenage years, Ilene discovered that life was simply more fun in the outdoors. Her first stint at college in Vermont was spent studying jazz piano. However, it was a life-altering outdoor program to Ecuador that launched her onto the winding path of leading outdoor trips professionally. After graduating from an Adventure Guide Diploma Program, Ilene started a decade-long migration pattern of sea kayak guiding “winters” in Panama, and summers in Alaska. The greatest piece of advice she’s ever received is this: “Your job as a guide is to create exceptional experiences for people. Kayaking trips are never only about kayaking.” Ilene took this to heart. No matter the activity… No matter the place… No matter the weather! — Ilene will always strive to create exceptional experiences for those around her.

ALYSSA FISHER

Trip Leader — USA

A Colorado native, Alyssa has been exploring the majestic Rocky Mountains her whole life. She’s an avid hiker, adventurer, traveler, kayaker, foodie, and nature lover. Alyssa boasts a diverse academic background, with a degree in Psychology, as well as Women’s and Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado. And just like all of our trip leaders, she has all of the safety certifications required for guiding tours. Alyssa is eagerly working toward her travel goal to visit 100 countries, and we’re cheering her on! She loves to share her many passions — travel, adventure, photography, animals, nature and conservation, to name a few — with other women. Welcome Alyssa!

MELANIE STEVENS

Trip Leader — USA

Ever since she can remember, Melanie has had a desire to see and experience new places and new cultures. Sitting still is not an option! Her travels to most of the 50 states and several countries in Europe and South America have shown Melanie that she is most happy when she is seeing new things and meeting new people. Her happy place is on an active tour and where she is going next! Melanie has lived and taught Earth Science in Upstate New York for 30 years.  Melanie has recently graduated from the International Tour Management Institute so she can continue sharing her love of travel with others. She is also a National Geographic Certified Educator. Melanie enjoys skiing, hiking, kayaking, exploring new cities and cultures, spending time with her children and grandson, and meeting new friends. She is very excited to meet you, our dear guest. Welcome Melanie!

JOSELYN FENSTERMACHER

Trip Leader — USA

Joselyn took her first international trip solo at age 13, and since then has been interested in exploring the world and learning about her surroundings.  Transformative, hands-on college study abroad experiences in Ecuador and Tanzania led to an itinerant career as a seasonal field-biologist across the US.  Her master’s degree in botany informs how she sees the world and her educator’s heart drives her to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world in an engaging way.  Searching for isolated and remote places has led her to all seven continents and continues to call her back home to the wilds of Western Texas.  In addition to being involved in several ongoing community advocacy projects, she works locally as a guide and internationally aboard expedition ships to Antarctica and other intriguing locations.  Joselyn is passionate about learning more about the world around her and hopes to inspire this same spark, empowering women to ask questions and think big. Welcome Joselyn!

KLEO BELAY

Trip Leader – USA 

Kleo spent most of her childhood living on the coast of Maine.  After high school in Boston and college in Connecticut, she moved to the American southwest desert where she began guiding rivers, from the upper and lower Rio Grande to the Colorado.   For six years Kleo worked 14 day river expeditions in the Grand Canyon. In the off-season,  she  travelled extensively throughout India, South East Asia, Central America, and the deserts and high mountains of the American West. In 2013 Kleo became a mother to son Otis. After a short break she returned to guiding, leading hiking tours as well as river trips, birding tours, and trips into northern Mexico from the Big Bend region of West Texas, which is Kleo’s home base for 20 years. Kleo is profoundly interested  in Ethnobotany and indigenous culture, ceremonies, and history.  She has also worked as a freelance writer, hotelier, florist, paralegal, archeological typology illustrator, and henna artist. Kleo is bringing all of these talents together to make your Canyon Calling adventure even more special!

Our fantastic guides can’t wait to meet you, share with you, and explore the world with you.

Join one of these Rock Stars on an upcoming tour by clicking the button below!

Are you interested in leading a Canyon Calling solo female travel group?

We’d love to chat with you. Please contact us at trips@canyoncalling.com.