The Basics:
- Nature Name: Buckeye
- Hometown: Menlo Park, California
- Occupation: Educator & Adventurer
- Education:
- M.Ed. UC Davis
- B.A. UC Berkeley
- NOLS Semester in Rockies
- Certs: First Aid/CPR, LNT
- Favorite Food: Kale Chips & Kimchi Fried Rice
From Concrete Jungle to Backcountry Expert:
While I have faint memories as a three year old playing in the countryside of the state of New York, most of my childhood memories begin as a Californian living along the Peninsula of the San Francisco Bay Area. Playing in the suburbs right next to Highway 101, I rarely had the chance to explore past the concrete jungle.
I was incredibly fortunate to attend San Mateo Outdoor Education in fifth grade. It changed my life in numerous ways including being inspired by the outdoors. I was engulfed into a caring and loving community where I was free to explore the amazing Redwoods and learn about the many wonders nature provides. I asked the director of the camp how I could stay at camp forever – he told me to go to college and then come back as a naturalist. So I did. My grades and motivation for school dramatically improved after my experiences with Outdoor Education.
Throughout high school and college, I worked with numerous education programs geared toward helping kids find their inner strengths. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Public Health, focused in infectious diseases. I also graduated from National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) where I spent 96 days in the Rockies with simply a pack on my back learning how to not only survive but lead others mountaineering, backpacking, climbing, and paddling/kayaking.
Work Experiences:
I have worked as a Naturalist and Director at the Web of Life Field School in Aptos, CA, Great Basin Oudoor school in Lake Tahoe, NV and Klamath Outdoor Science School in Klamath Falls, OR. I have also subbed for other outdoor schools including The Riekes Center based out of Menlo Park, CA, Koinonia Challenge Courses in Watsonville, CA and Boojum Institute for Experiential Education located in Anza, CA. A very exciting opportunity has been to create and direct the outdoor education program EcoRangers for the City of Vacaville.
In addition to outdoor education, I have spent years in the indoor classroom exploring the wonders of our natural world through teaching middle school science.
Personal Adventures:
My husband and I have traveled over 16,000 human powered miles together, from hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail to bicycling the continent of South America. You can learn more about our adventures together here.
Today, I am a leadership coach and outdoor educator who loves to travel and share my passion for the great outdoors with trekkers of all ages.
My adventures have led me throughout Europe, North & South America, New Zealand, and Asia as well as to every state in the United States. I love exploring, laughing, and singing songs with new and old friends by a campfire. When I am not playing in the backcountry, you can find me training for triathlons and ultra runs in the frontcountry, as well as cooking a good meal with friends.