Started by a team of volunteers of the World Trails Network, Trails Film has now held screenings in seven countries and features films from 23 countries. Its success comes from thriving at the intersection of trails, community, and media by curating an international film collection for unique events held around the globe. As the Festival Director, I lead all aspects of the management and development of this project, from filmmaker relations to event partnerships and sponsorship development.

Walking & Wayfinding in Iceland: a four-part guide book and map collection that weaves the practical, creative and ethereal for those seeking to travel to the Westfjords. In these texts, wayfinding is both a process of navigation by which we locate ourselves in a landscape and determine the way forward, and a collection of practices for finding our way metaphorically in relation to ourselves and the planet.

View projects below or visit jaysimpson.us for full portfolio.

In addition to managing all communications of the World Trails Network, I was an instrumental member of the core World Trails Conference 2022 planning committee. In this role, I led attendee and speaker communications, event coordination timelines, and special projects as they arose. This conference, which was held in Skiathos, Greece, was a successful event for the network as its first event after the start of COVID-19, with 228 attendees from 32 countries.

Trip leader for National Geographic Student Expeditions. Thailand Community Service teaching English to elementary students in 2018, Australia Photography Expedition 2019.

Expeditionary education, project-based learning, and SEL and leadership development.

Collaborate with Henry Fletcher (Founder, Wildfjords Trail) to execute volunteer service excursions for trail, forest, and carin restoration projects and co-lead wilderness adventures.

Audio editing and Photoshop art creation for The Cooler Podcast, KQED (San Francisco's NPR affiliate station)

Outdoor education educator and insight facilitator.

Support youth-led building projects that utilize woodworking tools (including miter saw, band saws, drills, etc.) to build larger-than-ourselves designs.

Develop, fundraise, and produce a collection of multimedia products from the Wolf OR-7 Expedition.

Create 28-part video curriculum made of daily video challenges and instruction for a DIY-style Nature Explorer Camp and Stop Motion Animation Camp (instructing over 200 campers).

Galileo Innovation Summer Camps, an innovation-based youth education program.• Lead week-long innovation-based lessons (up to 20 campers) and lead & support various all- camp activities (approx. 120 participants)• Facilitate a safe space for self expression, collaboration, and trying new things.• Support campers’ diverse needs for language, behavior, and/or development accommodations.• Assist curriculum design, staff development, and peer mentoring.• Created a “Growth & Achievement Team” for staff development outside of work.

Photography, Video, Audio, & Multimedia Production for Non-Profit, Small Business, or Activism. Much of my work takes place in Southern and East Africa.