LANCE FINKBEINER
Lance Finkbeiner has a passion for teaching, adventure, and people. With 25 years of teaching and coaching experience, he brings a wealth of experience to every Simply Venture program—while maintaining the curiosity, energy, and enthusiasm of someone who is truly young at heart.
Lance earned a B.S. in Geography and History from South Dakota State University and a Master’s Degree in International Studies from the University of Denver. He spent 15 years teaching high school social studies, including 10 years at Aspen High School, before spending nine years teaching junior high at Anastasis Academy in Littleton, Colorado, where he taught across the curriculum.
His teaching experience extends well beyond the traditional classroom. In El Salvador, Lance taught and coached at an international school. In Hong Kong, he worked as a private teacher and designed and led educational excursions throughout Southeast Asia as part of his students’ curriculum. Throughout his career, Lance has been recognized as Teacher of the Year by the Aspen School District and Coach of the Year in Colorado.
While at Aspen High School, Lance founded Action in Africa, a nonprofit dedicated to serving, empowering, and educating youth in Uganda. His work with the organization deepened his belief in the power of meaningful travel, cultural connection, and service.
Lance has traveled extensively around the world, both independently and as a group leader. His years of leading students on international experiences in Guatemala, Ukraine, and Uganda, as well as domestic adventures through Cataract Canyon, the Black Hills, and throughout Colorado, ultimately inspired him to create an educational travel company of his own.
That vision became Simply Venture.
Today, Lance brings his experience as an educator, coach, traveler, and group leader to every Simply Venture experience. He believes some of the most powerful learning happens outside the traditional classroom—through adventure, service, cultural immersion, and simply experiencing the world together. His goal is to create experiences that challenge students, broaden their perspectives, build connection, and make learning unforgettable.
SASCHA FINKBEINER
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
This quote captures what travel means to Sascha. For her, travel is an opportunity to reflect, explore, embrace adventure, and experience the world in a way that makes life feel bigger. She brings that same spirit to Simply Venture, along with a passion for nonprofits, community development, and creating meaningful experiences for groups.
Sascha earned B.S. degrees from the University of South Dakota and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. Her career has focused on building strong organizations and strengthening communities. As Executive Director of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, she spearheaded an organizational and financial turnaround that helped the community earn South Dakota’s “Community of the Year” distinction. She later became the founding Executive Director of Beautiful Downtown Lewiston, building the downtown revitalization organization from the ground up and earning “Nonprofit of the Year” during her tenure. Her experience provides Simply Venture with a strong organizational, financial, and strategic foundation.
Travel has always been one of Sascha’s greatest passions. Before kids, she backpacked solo across Europe and led service learning trips to Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Uganda. As a mom, she hauled toddlers across Spain, Nicaragua, and Cuba—proving that the definition of an adventure can evolve!
For Sascha, travel isn't simply about seeing new places. It has taught her that the world is both smaller and more connected than it can seem from home. Different languages, cultures, and customs may shape how we live, but people everywhere share many of the same hopes, joys, challenges, and desire for connection.
That perspective—seeing both our differences and our common humanity—is one of travel’s greatest gifts. It’s also what she hopes to create through Simply Venture: experiences that encourage people to step outside the familiar, connect with others, gain perspective, and return home seeing their own world a little differently.