Instructors
Mitch Groothuis
Founder, Lead Instructor
Founder Mitch Groothuis has loved being outdoors since he was very young and spent all his spare time hiking, mountain biking, building tree forts, and camping with his family while growing up in Chattanooga, TN. In high school and college the activities expanded to include backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater canoeing and kayaking, and snow skiing. What began as a mostly self-interested pursuit of fun outdoor experiences resulted in a deeper appreciation for the Creator and relational closeness with friends and family. Witnessing these life-altering results in his own life, Mitch became convinced that when viewed from a spiritual and relational standpoint, outdoor pursuits can transcend recreation and offer unique benefits of eternal value.
Mitch graduated from Chattanooga Christian School in 2005 and then UT Knoxville with a degree in Biosystems Engineering. He worked as an engineer for five years, then moved to Denver, CO to chase big mountains and was given an opportunity to work for an adventure day camp based in Boulder, CO. He received certifications as a NOLS Wilderness First Responder, American Mountain Guides Association Single Pitch Instructor, and American Canoe Association Level 3 River Kayak Instructor. His first summer out of the office he taught rock climbing, kayaking, and other adventure sports to kids ages 6-12. He then became director of the organization’s Denver camp, where he managed 250 campers per week participating in canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, paddle boarding, and survival skills. In 2016 he moved with his wife and daughter back to Tennessee to be closer to family and continue exploring Chattanooga’s incredible outdoor resources.
Through a wild series of events the opportunity arose to start Young Explorers Society in 2020. Here we go!
Golden Goss
Founder, Lead Instructor
Golden has been playing in the woods since he learned to walk. Growing up on 100 acres in Hawkinsville, GA on a farm named GoLaZe, he and his family spent time building tree houses, making hideouts, wading in creeks, walking logs, climbing trees, playing in gullies, and camping out. He experienced everything outdoors that the heart of Georgia had to offer, from learning all the conservation aspects of being a hunter to paddling and camping on the Ocmulgee River. Along the way, he realized how creation naturally fosters relationships among friends and family. Golden left home to attend Berry College, thankful for its 28,000 acres and a healthy population of whitetail deer.
The adventure continued as Golden completed a co-op with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, contributed to research with Berry College’s Longleaf Pine Management Program, and earned a degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Biology. While a student, Golden was the manager for the adventure sports and outdoor leadership program where he developed skills in whitewater kayaking/canoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing, backpacking, and planning outdoor adventures.
After his time at Berry College, Golden traveled to over 20 countries for work, fun, and ministry, developing a deep appreciation for many different perspectives and cultures, all the while gaining more experience leading adventures in the wilderness. Golden met his wife while living in Rome, GA and they now have two adventure loving kids and currently live in the Chattanooga area.
Golden is a certified Top Rope Climbing Instructor through Professional Climbing Instructors Association (PCIA). He holds the following certifications through the American Red Cross: Lifeguard Instructor, Professional Rescuer CPR/First Aid/AED Instructor, Lifeguard, Wilderness First Aid. He is a NPQ certified Georgia State Firefighter/First Responder and Technical Rope Rescue Technician.
Mitch and Golden met adventuring in the outdoors and a strong friendship formed. The opportunity arose for Golden to come alongside Mitch as he started the Young Explorers Society. It is funny how creation fosters relationships here in Chattanooga the same way it did back on that farm in Georgia!
David Ragland
Lead Instructor
David grew up in Birmingham, AL and moved to Chattanooga to attend Covenant College, where he graduated with a degree in Biblical and Theological studies. Afterward he worked in North Carolina doing camp programing, before moving back to the scenic city to marry his wife, Jemima Ragland. He has always loved being outdoors and grew up discovering the beauty of the created world with the Boy Scouts. He continuously seeks out ways to experience the wonder of creation in as many forms as possible. Whether it’s floating a local creek, exploring a new cliff face, or dropping into a cave, you can be sure he’s down for the adventure! David has training in lifeguarding, CPR, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Chad Smeiles
Lead Instructor
Chad grew up in Akron, OH, near the Allegheny’s, and instantly had a love for the outdoors. From climbing trees and bouldering to solidarity in the woods with God and working at gear stores, the desire to be outdoors would last a lifetime. And that desire has become one of building friendships, nurturing relationships and assisting others in ways that can only be done in the great outdoors. This combination of passions led Chad to Toccoa Falls College in NE Georgia where he earned a BA in Youth Ministry and Outdoor Education. There he served as the president of the Outdoor Club which led him to adventuring in the beautiful area surrounding Chattanooga, to where he would later put down roots. In the meantime, Chad worked at camps and led adventure programs in Ohio, Virginia, Oregon, Alabama and Georgia. Now he works as a Firefighter in Walker County, GA and has a wonderful family he enjoys leading on adventures. He continues to enjoy hiking, mountain biking, caving, rock climbing and more. Chad is a licensed Advanced EMT, Certified Firefighter and Rope Technician. Through a divine series of connections, Chad was introduced to Mitch and Golden and a natural relationship with Y.E.S. was born. Throughout all of this is a common theme of a love for the outdoors, its Creator and leading others closer to each.
Emily Malone
Instructor
Emily grew up at a summer camp in the backwoods of Mississippi. She was outside exploring and finding fun animals any chance she got. Not much has changed since then. Emily’s love for exploring grew exponentially when she experienced the mountains of Tennessee and worked with children at an adventure camp in the area. Emily has her undergraduate and masters degree in social work. She loves working with kids and connecting with others so she decided to do those things all the time! On the weekends, you can find her hiking, climbing, camping, or creek hopping in the warm weather. Emily can't wait to share the joys of exploration with awesome kids!
Neil Groothuis
Instructor Emeritus
If it weren’t for Neil Groothuis, Y.E.S. would not exist. Neil has shared his insatiable curiosity and love for exploring with Mitch and his brothers from the time they could walk through the present day. Growing up hearing Neil’s stories about working on a shrimp boat crew, SCUBA diving with sharks, canoeing rivers at flood stage, and cycling across America in the 80’s (among many others) instilled an awe of adventure in his sons. The primitive island camping trip Neil organized each summer for 14 years was an ideal training ground and the beginning of the boys’ deep passion for being immersed in the outdoors. Neil can teach any skill in his vast repertoire (from starting a fire in the absolute worst conditions to using applied mathematics to solve real-world problems) with incredible passion and precision.
Honey McNaughton
Instructor
Honey McNaughton grew up in Birmingham, AL going on weekly adventures with her family: rock climbing, mountain biking, dirt biking, camping and more. After high school, Honey traveled out of the country for a few years with a Christian missionary group. She attended The Highlands College majoring in missions and children’s ministry. For seven summers Honey has worked for camps in western North Carolina as a rock climbing guide and counselor. She fell in love with her husband, Caleb McNaughton, through a rock climbing ministry in Mexico and they got married and moved to the beautiful area of Chattanooga.
Honey continues to adventure and find the joy, perseverance and reliance on God in His beautiful creation! Honey has twice qualified as an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and is a current Wilderness First Responder and CPR certified.
Chase Waller
Instructor
Chase Waller grew up in Savannah, GA until he made his way to Chattanooga, where he attended Covenant College and studied History. He and his wife, Samantha, have planted themselves in Rossville, GA, where they keep chickens, ducks, goats, and their amazing dog, Dr. Jane Goodall. When Chase is not adventuring with Y.E.S., he is teaching at the Logos Tutoring Program. He enjoys every opportunity he gets to teach outside.
Katie Reber
Instructor
Katie grew up on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in Kijabe, Kenya. She grew up hiking and building forts in the forest with friends, riding dirt bikes, camping, and running. Summiting Mt. Kenya, white water rafting the Nile in Uganda, and exploring other neighboring African countries in her early years instilled in her a love for adventure, a wonder for creation, it’s Creator, and a desire to experience new places and activities.
She moved to Chattanooga and graduated from Covenant College in 2019, where she developed a greater love for climbing and hiking. During her college years, she had the opportunity to work on a dude ranch in Colorado, teach English and work on a farm in Thailand, do development research in Mozambique, and attend an outdoor leadership program in Upstate New York. After graduating college, she led the counselor-in-training program at a girl’s camp in Upstate New York, where she got to lead backpacking trips in the Adirondacks and help develop young leaders.
She took a small break from Chattanooga to live near her sister in Florida, and then on a farm in Whitwell, TN. After spending six months in Kenya in 2021, she found her way back to Chattanooga where she’s been helping seniors with their insurance needs. She’s excited to learn and adventure with the cool, young explorers in Chattanooga!
Brandon Carr
Instructor
Brandon grew up in Chickamauga, GA and has been exploring the Chattanooga area his whole life. After his first time out west to the Sierra Nevada Mountains (Yosemite), he thought he might be disappointed coming home to ‘smaller’, less defined mountains, but he realized what we have is very special and that accessibility is one of the advantages of smaller mountains!
Brandon has spent over a decade working with children in a variety of facets. His experience included leading backpacking and climbing trips at a camp in North Carolina, working at a therapeutic boarding school that focuses on adventure therapy, and volunteering with the youth at his church. Along with his years of experience, he is certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. He loves sharing the joy of the outdoors with others, and strongly believes nature points to the glory of its Creator! His favorite types of adventures are whitewater kayaking, vertical caving, mountaineering, and mountain biking. He is very excited to share adventures and joy with the students!
Marc Shaver
Instructor
Marc grew up in Florida, and spent most of his childhood chasing frogs and lizards. This got him in trouble often. At 19, he moved to Jackson Wyoming, and stayed for 7 years. He kept chasing critters, but learned how to stay out of trouble (mostly).
He studied mechanical engineering in college, and has worked in the trades since he could legally work. His approach to problem solving reflects his time spent building and tinkering. Marc loves to share his analytical approach to the world with students.
Marc has no outsized passion for one particular sport or hobby over another, but prides himself in being competent in several. On the weekend, he’s likely to be found diving into some esoteric rabbit hole (or literal hole) in search of fun facts or critters.
Caleb McNaughton
Instructor
Caleb McNaughton is too busy with epic adventures to write his bio.