Get to Know Us
Six Women. Six Leaders. One Expedition.
The Edge of the Atlantic team is made up of six women with deep roots in wilderness adventure and stark leadership. Collectively, we bring decades of canoe tripping experience, certifications in safety and first aid, and a shared passion for empowering the next generation of female adventurers.
Together, we will paddle 1,000 kilometers across Labrador and Quebec, blazing a new Arctic route and building a legacy of mentorship, conservation, and courage.
Madlen Anderson
Born and raised in Chicago, Madlen first set foot at Camp Ogichi Daa Kwe (ODK) when she was ten years old, beginning a lifelong journey of wilderness exploration and community leadership. Over the past eleven years, she has grown from camper to cornerstone staff member, leading trips and overseeing logistics as Ogichi’s Trip Food Coordinator. Known for her creativity in backcountry cooking, she can turn a bag of freeze-dried beans into a feast and has consistently emphasized nutrition and balance to keep paddlers strong on trail.
Madlen’s leadership extends far beyond the canoe. She has served as a Unit Head, in a Data Analytics position, staff recruiter, and trainer in Leave No Trace ethics and wilderness living. Her work ethic is matched only by her humor and warmth—she’s the person blasting music in the trip center while simultaneously reorganizing systems to run more smoothly.
Outside of camp, Madlen has taught science and outdoor education in California and served as Outdoor Program Coordinator for the Urban Wilderness Program, where she led over 40 day trips in Cincinnati, managed and wrote grants, and developed new curricula. With over 201 days of tripping experience, certifications as a Wilderness First Responder and lifeguard, and a degree in Sustainable Design, she brings a rare mix of logistical mastery, environmental stewardship, and people-first leadership to the expedition.
Project Manager, Trip Food
Emily Kay Dunning
Emily blends artistry, resilience, and medical expertise into her leadership. She began her career as a dancer, studying ballet and communications before redirecting her discipline and creativity toward the outdoors. Today, she is a firefighter and Remote EMT, combining professional emergency response with a deep love for wilderness travel.
Her expedition résumé is one of the most extensive among the team. She has logged over 357 days of tripping experience, including thru-hikes of the 500-mile Colorado Trail and New Zealand’s 1,800-mile Te Araroa, summits of Kilimanjaro and Mt. St. Helens, and leadership in Ogichi’s first Hudson Bay expedition. She has also served as Risk Management Coordinator, Climbing Department Head, and Unit Head, consistently modeling steadiness under pressure and attention to detail.
Emily’s strengths extend beyond her medical knowledge. She brings calm to chaotic moments, humor to difficult days, and an unwavering belief in her team. Whether leading a group through whitewater or providing critical medical care, she demonstrates a balance of competence and compassion. Her certifications as a R-EMT, WFR, lifeguard, and Firefighter II ensure the team’s safety, while her adventurous spirit fuels the expedition’s energy.
Chief Medical Officer, Risk Management
Abby Auran
A Rainy Lake local, Abby has spent much of her life navigating the waters of the Canadian wilderness. She has extensive experience at Camp Vermillion, leading multiple week-long trips through the Boundary Waters. Her dedication eventually brought her to ODK, where she grew into a trusted leader, known for her resilience, steady presence, and humor in challenging moments. With lots of involvement at ODK and the Urban Wilderness Program, she has logged over 175 days of tripping experience, guiding routes across Quetico, the Turtle River, and beyond.
Abby has a gift for motivating groups in demanding physical settings. A lifelong hockey player and athlete, she thrives under pressure and models a work ethic that pushes her teammates forward. At camp, she has worn many hats: LDAC instructor, cabin staff, trip head, and leadership team member: in-camp program manager and lifeguard instructor. She has brought her signature grit and compassion to every role.
Beyond camp, Abby was a high school mathematics teacher, balancing analytical precision with the creativity needed to connect with students. She has now expanded the Urban Wilderness Program into Minneapolis, making the outdoors more accessible to new communities. With certifications as a Wilderness First Responder, lifeguard instructor, and advanced whitewater paddler, she brings both technical skill and a calm, grounded energy to her role as Trip Head.
Trip Head, Finance
Katherine Heinle
Katherine grew up between Minneapolis, Cincinnati, and Rainy Lake, carrying her passion for the outdoors across continents. She has logged more than 310 days of tripping experience, including leading Ogichi’s first expedition to Hudson Bay in 2024 and returning again to the Hayes River in 2025. Through her camper and staff years, she has traveled most routes that ODK runs. Katherine topped off her camper career by embarking on the Mountain River trip, the first Dexter-Davidson sponsored arctic trip for campers. With each trip, she has developed a principled, thoughtful leadership style grounded in patience and integrity.
Her curiosity for the wider world has shaped her academic and professional path. Katherine studied International Studies at the University of Denver, has researched conflict resolution in Bosnia, studied law in Italy, and is currently pursuing a master’s in Global Economic Affairs. She brings this global perspective to wilderness expeditions, framing each journey within broader cultural and environmental contexts.
At Ogichi, Katherine has mentored countless younger campers and staff via roles as cabin and trip staff. She has advanced training in whitewater canoeing and wilderness medicine, pairing technical expertise with strong communication skills. As the team’s Chief Journalist, Katherine will document the expedition, capturing stories, landscapes, and lessons to share with communities far beyond the trail.
Chief Journalist, Marketing
Annabel Weil
Annabel brings creativity, adaptability, and a global perspective to the expedition. Raised between New York and New Orleans with jaunts in London and Thailand, Annabel continues to seek adventure. She worked in South Africa for two years, leading treacherous backpacking and whitewater rafting trips all while teaching survival and First Aid skills. Eventually, family-ties brought her to Ogichi staff in 2022. She quickly grew into leadership roles including Unit Head, CIT Program Coordinator, and Climbing Department Head. Over the years, she has logged more than 192 days of tripping experience, leading expeditions through the Clearwater, Turtle, and Flindt Rivers and tackling the legendary Methye Portage with determination and grit.
Her skills stretch far beyond the wilderness. Annabel has worked in large-scale event production with American Express at venues such as the U.S. Open and Coachella, taught Montessori preschool, and trained as a meditation and mindfulness instructor. Each role has honed her ability to balance structure with creativity and empathy with precision.
Annabel thrives in moments that require adaptability and perseverance. In the summer of 2025, she co-led an exploratory trip that tackled an unforeseen 3-kilometer makeshift portage. On trail, she is the person who keeps spirits high, reframes challenges into opportunities, and fosters connection within the group. Working multiple roles for the team, she inspires others to dream big and venture into wild places.
Outreach, Transportation
Emeline Krill
Emeline is a third-generation camper who grew up immersed in outdoor adventure, from Colorado’s mountains to the lakes of Canada. Her deep ties to the Camping & Education Foundation have led to more than 229 days of tripping experience, including a three-week trip on the Mountain River in the NWT tackling arctic rivers.
Her organizational skill set is unmatched. As Ogichi’s Wilderness Trips Program Manager, she designed new gear systems, route maps, and operations protocols that improved the camp’s ability to run safe and ambitious trips – with a record of two summers without medical evacuations. There is no “outside of camp” for Emmy as she deep dives into necessary work for ODK’s Trip Center in the off-season. She has also mentored young staff, strengthening the foundation’s capacity to continue growing its tripping tradition.
Emeline’s leadership blends energy, technical precision, and compassion. She has a keen ability to read a group’s needs and adapt accordingly, ensuring both safety and growth on trail. Her certifications in wilderness medicine, first responder training, and advanced whitewater canoeing reflect her preparedness, while her mentorship reflects her heart. As Lead Researcher for Route and Gear, she will ensure the expedition’s data, observations, and knowledge are captured and preserved for future generations of Arctic trippers.
Lead Researcher, Route & Gear
Edge of the Atlantic 