Blake was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes a couple months after his 13th birthday. He had been having the common symptoms of unquenchable thirst, frequent urination, exhaustion, and weight loss for months. Coaches thought that Blake had lost interest in sports due to his lack of performance, and his parents couldn’t figure out what was going on. Finally on January 15th 2001 he went to the hospital and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

That summer Blake attended a diabetes summer camp in Wisconsin and met other people who were dealing with the same challenges that he was. He learned more about carb counting, ketone testing, and treatment of low blood sugars. At camp he felt normal again. He fell in love with the community and the outdoor adventures that camp had to offer. This was the seed that grew into the purpose and passion of Blake’s life.

Blake pursued a purpose of making the world a better place by working with and supporting youth. He taught martial arts, imparting the values of respect, perseverance, self control, and integrity. He took that foundation into working with youth at programs all across the country. He guided youth on multi-day wilderness canoe trips in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota, led a group of youth on wilderness conservation projects all across the state of Oregon, and worked as the Rock Climbing Director at a summer long camp.

Blake’s desire to support youth led him into the realm of therapy. He worked 2 years for a Wilderness Adventure Therapy company in Utah. There he took youth on week long trips rock climbing, canyoneering, mountain biking, backpacking, hiking and camping.

Through all these years of travel and work, Blake would find his way back to diabetes camp. He worked with the camp’s Leadership Development Program in Wisconsin, joined a diabetes camp in New Mexico to help design and co-run their Teen Adventure Program, and then worked for 2 years as a Camp Director for American Diabetes Association camps in Utah, Montana, Colorado, Washington, and Alaska.

The desire to travel, explore, and adventure was always near the top of Blake’s list. He’s been to all 50 of the states in the USA, traveled to the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, New Zealand, Canada, and Mexico. He tries to get on the rock for some climbing everywhere he goes, but also regularly participates in backcountry backpacking, canyoneering, hiking, camping, snowboarding, canoeing, biking, and whitewater rafting.

Blake has led over 100 trips, having spent more than 500 days guiding in backcountry settings, and has worked with more than 800 participants in outdoor adventure programming. He's worked as a Crew Leader for a youth conservation corps, a Camp Counselor for more than 10 years,  Ropes Course Facilitator, Zip Line Guide, Canoe Guide, and a Wilderness Therapy Guide.

His passion for the outdoors and youth development led him to pursue a degree in Recreation and Park Management at Minnesota State University. He holds certificates from the American Mountain Guide Association, Wilderness Medicine Institute, Leave No Trace, and the Swiftwater Safety Institute.