The Parks & Recreation Board is a supporting group for the Hayden Parks & Recreation department. This team helps plan & execute the many events this community has come to love.
If you have any questions about this board, please reach out to Rhonda Sweetser, Recreation Director at:
rhonda.sweetser@haydencolorado.org
O: 970-276-0504
Rhonda is a native of Colorado and the Yampa Valley, having been raised in Hayden with her three sisters. She left to attend Western State College to earn a BA in education, and later achieved an MA in education. She also obtained a MA in administration from Grand Canyon University. After college, Rhonda came back to a career in the Hayden School District for 30 years, working with teachers and educators in the Yampa Valley community. Rhonda has always enjoyed working with kids, and the Hayden Center and Town Recreation Department is a great fit for the next stage of her career. Outside of encouraging everyone to visit the Hayden Center, and welcoming new members to the Hayden Park and Recreation Board, Rhonda truly enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys sports, being outdoors, teaching, and spoiling her grandchildren.
Originally from Minnesota, Dan grew up coming to Colorado on family vacations to enjoy the great outdoors skiing, hiking and spending time in the mountains. Deciding where to attend college, he chose the University of Denver so he could continue his experiences in the mountains, while working summers for the Park and Rec department in his hometown of Golden Valley. He is passionate about enabling everyone to spend time in the outdoors and experience everything Colorado has to offer. As Chair of the Board of Directors for Hayden’s Park and Rec Department, he has the ability to pursue his passion by helping with outdoor events in our community.
Mike moved to the Yampa Valley in 2018, working as a park ranger at Yampa River and Elkhead Reservoir State Parks. Mike began his career as a park ranger in 2010, in his home state of Illinois, where he found his passion for sharing outdoor recreation with the public. Mike has been a Hayden Parks and Recreation board member since 2022 and enjoys being able to show members of the community all that Hayden has to offer.
Erica Royer Benson grew up mostly in Wyoming, and has been enjoying Colorado as long as she can remember. She officially moved to the Yampa Valley in 2011 and to Hayden in 2019. She has been on the Parks and Rec Board since the beginning of 2021. Erica has many years as an elementary teacher, coach, nanny, volunteer and tutor with experience across a wide variety of sports and subjects. She loves to use her background to build up and preserve the current offerings, but also bring some new fun to the community. Erica loves raising her family in Hayden, and truly appreciates the opportunity to help the Board.
Megan has been working in the youth program field for the past 19 years. As a resident of Routt County since 2012 , she is currently the Youth and Teen Supervisor for the City of Steamboat Springs. She enjoys rafting, camping, skiing, and mountain biking with her family.
Katie Berning moved to the Yampa Valley from North Dakota in 2015 after visiting close friends in Steamboat Springs. She moved to Hayden in 2018. She is passionate about outdoor recreation, rivers and conservation. When not in a PFD, Katie can be found skiing, ski touring, mountain biking, backpacking, hiking and hanging in a hammock. She has a cat and more houseplants than most to make her home in Hayden the perfect place to settle down and grow her own roots in the Yampa Valley.
Adam joined the Parks and Recreation board in 2023 after moving to Hayden in 2022 from Denver. Adam is originally from North Carolina where he worked as a Parks and Recreation youth programmer. He is now an elementary school teacher at the Hayden School District. He also coaches multiple youth sports teams and loves volunteering in the community. Adam loves spending time recreating outdoors and spending time with his wife, dog, rabbit and ducks.
Rachel has a background in various capacities within leadership, implementing teams, administration and event planning. She has a heart and passion for community for as long as she can remember. Rachel is married to Evan, an Orthopaedic PA who serves the Yampa Valley and also on the Hayden School Board. She enjoys occasionally coaching her 3 children who are all very active within parks and rec leagues throughout the year. Their family moved to the valley in July of 2017 from central Illinois and are humbled by their journey that has brought them to this place. They welcome opportunities to serve the Hayden community.
Jessica grew up in a small town in eastern Kansas, where parks and recreation sports and activities were important to the growth and development of her and her community. She has worked in the dental field since 2006 and is currently a dental hygienist in Steamboat Springs. Her family moved to Hayden in the summer of 2023 and are enjoying all the opportunities our community offers. Jessica’s family is active with various sports, and she is excited to help with the growing Hayden Parks and Rec programs.
Nash was born and raised in the low country of South Carolina. In his early 20’s he moved to Colorado to experience the big mountains. He quickly fell in love with all that the Rockies had to offer, including fly fishing, backpacking, paddling and skiing. His passion for the mountains led him to call Hayden, CO home. He loves bringing his dog Boone to the weekly Hayden disc golf league and playing Pickleball with his wife Steph Hayden’s own 3rd Street Park.
Bio:
Click the link below for the Hayden Parks & Rec Board application. Applications can be submited in-person or via email to Rhonda Sweetser, Recreation Director: Rhonda.Sweetser@haydencolorado.org
You stay connected by viewing the Hayden Parks & Recreation Boards’s Agendas & Minutes at the button below.
