Brigitte Denton (Steinmetz)

Founder and Owner

Subjects/Classes Taught

• Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED
• Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS for HCP)
• CAEMSA ICEMA CEU Courses
• Child and Babysitting Safety
• Emergency Medical Response (EMR)
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
• Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA)
• Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
• Wilderness EMS Upgrade

Biography

Brigitte is the founder of Beyond Limits Education. She was born and raised in Santa Monica, CA where she fell in love with the sciences and in particular with the outdoor environment. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California where she also played water polo. In addition, she holds a secondary education credential in Biological Sciences with a CLAD emphasis. She has taught in the education field (K-12 and outdoor) since 2000.

Brigitte is a lifelong learner. She uses a variety of activities to feed that thirst for knowledge. She enjoys playing outdoors and participates in a multitude of activities both on land and in water. She loves to surf, free/SCUBA dive, and sea kayak. One can also find her climbing a rock, a glacier, or a mountain as well as find her exploring the backcountry. During the winters she spends a lot of her free time alpine skiing and snowboarding. She also loves to read, write, and practice Bak Fu Pai QiGong/Kung Fu. All in all, she is a big kid at heart that is simply curious about the natural world.

While BLE is Brigitte’s primary job, she also guides for Sierra Mountain Guides, works on an ALS ambulance in Mono County, teaches at Cerro Coso Community College, and carves out time to travel the planet with her husband.

Professional Background

K-12 Teaching Experience

• Freelance Private Tutoring/Beyond Limits Education Services (2007-2013; 2013-2017)
  • Home School Teacher Grades K-12 (curriculum development/instruction)
  • Independent Study Teacher (Mammoth Ski Team Athletes – teach curriculum provided by student’s school district)
  • Science Enrichment Programs – curriculum development/instruction
  • Continued as Beyond Limits Education when incorporated November 2013.
• Mammoth Unified School District Substitute Teacher (2007-2009)
  • All grade levels
• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Science Teacher (2000-2008)
  • Teaching assignments included 7th grade regular/magnet integrated science and SDAIE science (John Adams Middle School)
  • Designed SDAIE science 3-year curriculum wheel and Ocean Globe Field Research Programs (grades 6-8)
  • Worked with students from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds
  • Advisor for QuikSCience Challenge Academic Team 2005-2007
  • Extended Overnight Field Trip Leader
  • Science Department Technology Representative
  • Emergency Response Coordinator
  • Worked with special needs students

Emergency Medical Service Clinical & Teaching Experience

• Kern Community College District (2020-present)
  • Teaching assignment includes Emergency Medical Technician class (Cerro Coso Community College)
• Mono County (2019-present)
  • Emergency Medical Technician
  • Emergency Operations Center Community Support Group Supervisor (April-July 2020)
  • Emergency Operations Center Field Task Force Leader (April-July 2020)
  • Response to/treatment of medical/trauma related calls.
  • Collaborated and developed an action plan for individuals needing community support assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Managed a team of personnel that provided support services, home assessments, and COVID-19 testing including, but not limited to managerial tasks, training materials development, and training.
• Wilderness Medical Associates International Lead Instructor and Education Specialist (2017-present)
  • Instruction in wilderness medicine.
  • Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness EMS courses
  • Instructional Design
  • Instructor Professional Development
  • Tech Support
• Beyond Limits Education Founder and Owner (2014-present)
  • Instruction in layperson, professional rescuer, and wilderness medicine.  Course types listed above.
  • Instructional design (custom training programs).
  • Education consulting.
  • Business administration.
• Los Angeles County Fire Department Professional Ocean Lifeguard (1997-2014)
  • Ocean Rescue Operations including use of various types of rescue equipment (i.e. PWCs, Rescue Boards, Rescue Cans/Buoys)
  • Response to/treatment of medical/trauma related calls.
  • Primarily worked Venice Beach
  • Youth Programs Instructor (Junior Lifeguard Program and W.A.T.E.R. (Water Awareness Training Education Recreation) Program)
    • All Ages
    • Instruction in basic first aid/CPR, assessment of various ocean conditions, surfing, sea kayaking, marine flora/fauna
    • Work with special needs students (Learning Disabled; Physically and Mentally Handicapped)

Outdoor Education/Guiding Experience

• Sierra Mountain Guides Lead Backpacking Guide (2016-present)
  • Guide
  • Guiding clients through the Sierra Nevada Range, California
  • Instruction in outdoor ethics, wilderness travel, natural history
• NOLS Senior Field Faculty (formerly National Outdoor Leadership School; 2008-2019)
  • Ages 11+
  • Instruction in leadership skills, outdoor ethics, wilderness travel, natural history, wilderness first aid, technical glacier mountaineering skills, coastal sea kayak skills
  • Mountaineering, Sea Kayaking, Backpacking Courses
  • Instructional Design – Leadership Journals (Archer School for Girls Arrow Week)
• Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort Alpine Sports School Instructor and Supervisor (2008-2016)
  • All ages (mostly children ages 3-12)
  • Instruction in beginner through advanced alpine ski skills and novice snowboarding skills
  • Supervisor role involved managing instructor scheduling, evaluations, training, and ensuring that guests are receiving quality service. Mainly in charge of Pioneer/Explorer programs (ages 3-7).
• Above and Beyond Alaska, LLC Lead Guide (2009-2015)
  • Lead Guide (Glacier, Sea Kayak, Multi-Day Trips)
  • All Ages
  • Guiding clients out to/on Mendenhall Glacier and surrounding inner coastal waters of Juneau, AK.
  • Instruction in outdoor ethics, wilderness travel, bare glacier travel/technical climbing, sea kayak travel, natural history.
• Adventures Cross Country Multi-Sport Leader (2007)
  • Ages 14-16
  • Southern Europe 28-Day Course
  • Instruction in outdoor ethics, wilderness travel, natural history, city sites history

Qualifications/Certifications

• California State University Northridge
  Clear Single Subject Credential in Biological Sciences with CLAD Emphasis
• University of Southern California
  Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (emphasized in the Marine Sciences)
• Emergency Medical Technician (State of California)
• Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (Wilderness Medical Associates International)
• BLS for Healthcare Providers (American Red Cross, American Safety & Health Institute)
• American Red Cross Instructor
• American Safety & Health Institute Instructor
• CAEMSA ICEMA CEU Program Director/Instructor
• Wilderness Medical Associates International Instructor
• Mountaineering, Backpacking, Sea Kayaking Instructor (NOLS)
• Professional Ocean Rescue Swimmer (LA County Fire Department)
• Leave No Trace Master
• PSIA Alpine Ski Instruction Level 2 Certified
• AIARE Avalanche Level 1 (Bardini Foundation)
• AIARE Avalanche Level 2 (Sierra Mountain Guides)

• Science Courses:
  • Biology
    • Biology
    • Marine Biology
    • General Physiology
    • Developmental Biology
    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Population Genetics/Evolution
    • History/Discovery of Biology
    • Nutritional Biochemistry
    • Ichthyology
  • Geoscience
    • Geology
    • Oceanography
    • Meteorology
    • Astronomy
  • Physics 
    • General Physics
  • Chemistry
    • General Chemistry
    • Organic Chemistry
    • Biochemistry
    • Nutritional Biochemistry
• Math Courses:
  • Calculus
  • Statistics
• Education Courses:
  • Methods of teaching science in secondary schools
  • Methods of teaching English as a second language
  • Fundamentals of secondary education in multiethnic schools
  • Education in American society
  • Psychological foundations K-12
  • The Chicana/o Child
  • Special Education training for teachers
  • Literacy in multi-ethnic secondary schools
  • Language Acquisition of the Chicana/o Child and ESL Speakers
  • Contemporary Issues in the African American Community
• Education Professional Development Courses/Programs:
  • UCLA SSWIMS Program (Science Standards with Integrated Marine Science): Introduction to Marine Science & Integrative Marine Science & Science Standards in the Classroom
  • Ocean Explorers Geographical Information Systems Program
  • Caribbean Coastal Oceanography (San Diego State University)
• EMS, First Aid, and CPR Courses/Programs:
  • Ocean Lifeguard Training Academy (Los Angeles County Fire Department)
  • Emergency Medical Technician (UCLA Center for Prehospital Care)
  • BLS for Healthcare Providers (American Heart Association)
  • Wilderness Upgrade for the Medical Professional (Wilderness Medical Associates International)
  • First Aid/CPR Instructor Course (American Red Cross)
  • Bloodborne Pathogens Instructor Bridging Course (American Red Cross)
  • CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer/Healthcare Provider Instructor Bridging Course (American Red Cross)
  • Emergency Medical Response Instructor Bridging Course (American Red Cross)
  • Wilderness First Aid Instructor Bridging Course (American Red Cross)
  • Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers Instructor Bridging Course (American Red Cross)
  • ECG & Pharmacology (UCLA Center for Prehospital Care; American Heart Association)
  • Swiftwater Rescue Technician Level 1 (NOLS)
  • Wilderness Medicine Instructor Course (Wilderness Medical Associates International)
• Outdoor Education Courses/Programs:
  • 35-Day Alaska Mountain Instructor Training Course (NOLS Alaska Campus)
  • 31-Day Outdoor Educator Mountaineering Course (NOLS Pacific Northwest Campus)
  • 15-Day Women’s Alaska Mountaineering Seminar (NOLS Alaska Campus)
  • 10-Day Alaska Sea Kayaking Seminar (NOLS Alaska Campus)
  • 3-Day Facilitation and Debriefing Seminar (NOLS Alaska Campus)
  • AIARE Avalanche Level 1 (Bardini Foundation)
  • AIARE Avalanche Level 2 (Sierra Mountain Guides)
  • Level 1 Alpine Ski Instructor Training Program/Exam (Mammoth Mountain Ski Area; Professional Ski Instructors of America)
  • Level 2 Alpine Ski Instructor Training Program/Exam (Mammoth Mountain Ski Area; Professional Ski Instructors of America)

Professional Presentations/Publications

• Denton, Brigitte and Rowe, Abigail. (September 2022). The Importance of In-Person Hands-On Learning in Wilderness Medicine. Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative. https://www.wildmededucationcollaborative.org/uploads/1/1/1/5/111560115/inperson.pdf
• 11/18/2006. “Energy Coalition”. Edison Challenge Workshop for Secondary Education Teachers.
• 11/18/2006. “Light Bulb Lab “. Edison Challenge Workshop for Secondary Education Teachers.
• 9/23/2006. “Santa Monica Bay Game”. COSEE-West Workshop.
• 8/25/2004. “Ocean GLOBE Field Investigations”. COSEE-West Workshop for grade 5-8 Master Teachers.
• 8/25/2004. “Natural Selection at Work”. COSEE-West Workshop for grade 5-8 Master Teachers.
• 11/16/2002. “Ocean Globe Project”. UCLA SSWIMS Secondary Workshop.
• 11/2/2002. “Predator Prey Lab “. UCLA SSWIMS Secondary Workshop.
• 10/19/2002. “Squid Dissection Lab “. UCLA SSWIMS Secondary Workshop.
• 5/8/2002. “Gum Drop Atoms and Marshmallow Molecules”. Educating the Bilingual Student.
• 11/1999. “Contribution to the Knowledge of Marine Mammals in the Santa Monica Basin, California”. 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals.

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Awards/Honors