Expanding horizons in Big Sky and beyond
By Yarrow Kraner GUEST COLUMNIST
In a place as awe-inspiring as Big Sky, Montana, it’s easy to believe that the mountains themselves are the greatest teachers. But this year, something else powerful happened inside the classrooms of Lone Peak High School—and across the community.
With the support of the Moonlight Community Foundation, HATCH brought four extraordinary global voices to Big Sky. Scientists, explorers, artists and storytellers who have spent their lives pushing the boundaries of what’s possible showed up to share their experiences with local students.
HATCH was founded on a simple but powerful idea: when you connect extraordinary people across disciplines, you accelerate possibility. Founded in 2004 in Montana, HATCH is now a global community that includes Oscar-winning filmmakers, Grammy-winning artists, founders, policymakers, technologists, astronauts, explorers, social impact innovators, teachers, mentors and next-generation leaders, connecting them to drive collective change and make the world a better place.
Through the Global Voices initiative, that philosophy came to life in a deeply local way, bringing world-class thinkers directly into Lone Peak High School and into the broader Big Sky community.
“I wanted to send a huge thank you for the HATCH Global Voices speaker series,” said LPHS Principal Dr. Marlo Mitchem. “The speakers were absolutely wonderful—true experts who were so engaging. I loved that they spoke to our students as the intellectual, curious individuals they are. Because the lineup was so diverse, it felt like every student found a speaker they could really connect with. We’re so grateful for the collaboration with HATCH, and we really appreciate the energy you bring to the programming.”
These speakers were curated and invited; they wanted conversations, moments of curiosity, and to provide windows into entirely new ways of seeing the world.
Gregg Treinish discussed “The Power of Purpose-Driven Exploration.”
National Geographic named Treinish “Adventurer of the Year” when he completed a 7,800-mile trek along the spine of the Andes Mountains. He founded Adventure Scientists with a passion for exploration and scientific discovery. The nonprofit provides institutions with access to scientific data that can amplify and accelerate solutions to environmental and human health issues.
Treinish shared some incredible aspects of his journey through the wilderness, and through science and discovery. But what resonated most with students wasn’t just the scale of his journeys—it was his mission.
Gregg showed how exploration can serve something larger: gathering critical scientific data to help solve environmental and human health challenges. For students, it reframed adventure—not as escape, but as contribution.
Gaelin Rosenwaks discussed “Giving Voice to the Ocean.”
A marine scientist, filmmaker and explorer, Rosenwaks has spent her life studying and documenting the ocean, from Antarctica to global conservation efforts. Her presence brought the vast, often invisible world beneath the ocean’s surface into sharp focus.
Students didn’t just learn about marine ecosystems, but they felt the urgency, beauty and responsibility of protecting them. Her storytelling made science human, emotional and deeply relevant.
Rosenwaks’ career started conducting groundbreaking research in Antarctica and continued at Duke University, where she earned her master’s degree researching giant bluefin tuna. Alarmed by the changes happening in the oceans, Gaelin founded Global Ocean Exploration Inc. to share her passion for ocean exploration, marine conservation and storytelling. She is a fellow of the Explorers Club and Royal Geographical Society, has appeared as an expert and host on many major networks, and was recently featured on the cover of Outside Magazine.
Dr. Luke McKay spoke about “Rethinking Life Itself.”
A biotech scientist, McKay broke down life on Earth and the probability of extraterrestrial life. McKay is fascinated by the overwhelming diversity of life. His work is dedicated to understanding these incredible tiny creatures and, in particular, how they might help us tackle developing environmental catastrophes like climate change. McKay’s research focuses on ancient microbial evolution and metabolism in extreme environments like Yellowstone National Park, unlocking secrets to the universe and the potential for extraterrestrial life.
His sessions sparked something rare: wonder.
Students were invited to think not just about what we know, but what we don’t yet understand. Questions about climate, biology and even life beyond Earth became invitations to imagine futures they might help shape.
Dave Zaboski brought a different kind of magic, as he discussed “Unlocking Creative Confidence.”
Zaboski, founder of Creatively Speaking, is a classically trained painter, illustrator and animator who contributed to Disney, Sony, and Warner Bros. during the Second Golden Age of Animation. His credits include iconic films like “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” “Hercules” and “Fantasia 2000,” as well as CG projects like “Stuart Little.”
His message was simple but profound: creativity belongs to everyone.
Through storytelling, humor and vulnerability, he helped students reconnect with their own creative instincts—not as something reserved for artists, but as a vital tool for problem-solving, leadership and self-expression.
He has illustrated acclaimed children’s books with leaders like Deepak Chopra and Ric Edelman, created concept art for film and television, and exhibited fine art internationally—including painting for the Dalai Lama. A former Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur, Zaboski now leads Creatively Speaking, where he teaches and consults globally—from Esalen to Singularity University—empowering everyone from students to C-suite leaders.
More than inspiration: activation
The goal of Global Voices was never just to inspire. It was to expand horizon lines, and help young people in Big Sky see pathways, possibilities and identities they may not have previously imagined.
It worked. As outlined in the original vision for the program, these kinds of exchanges are designed to do both educate and activate. They build confidence, curiosity and a sense of agency in young people.
“The HATCH network provides a perspective that many of our students simply aren’t accustomed to, and that in itself is a victory,” said Big Sky School District Superintendent Dr. Dustin Shipman. “The more people like the HATCH presenters we can put in front of our students, the higher the likelihood they will become better human beings.”
Students didn’t just listen. They asked questions, they engaged and perhaps they saw reflections of who they could become.
What made this initiative especially powerful was that it didn’t stop at the classroom. Each visit extended into the broader Big Sky community, creating shared experiences across generations. Parents, educators and community members were invited into the same conversations, reinforcing a culture of curiosity, creativity and connection.
This is how communities evolve, through shared inspiration and expanded perspective.
None of this would have been possible without the vision and generosity of the Moonlight Community Foundation.
Their support didn’t just fund a program—it opened doors and created moments that students may carry for the rest of their lives.
“MCF is proud to partner with Yarrow and the HATCH team, and equally proud to support the students of Big Sky,” said Anna Shipley, MCF executive director. “Thank you for your continued collaboration and for championing these kinds of experiences for Big Sky Kids.”
MCF helped bring the world to Big Sky, and in doing so, helped Big Sky’s next generation see their place in the world.
This is just the beginning. The early impact of Global Voices affirms something we deeply believe at HATCH: When young people are exposed to diverse perspectives and extraordinary lived experiences, they don’t just learn—they transform.
And when that happens in a community like Big Sky, the ripple effects can last for generations.
Yarrow Kraner is a creative alchemist, connector of dots, founder of HATCHexperience.org, and founder of H360.ai.
