Educational Staff
Our outdoor education team are dedicated educators who love witnessing individual and group growth. We believe that accessing the outdoors is a basic right for all people and that we have the open space to provide it. While here, we want students and schools to foster lasting connections, and leave with a richer sense of self and community.
Pika/LINA
Naturalist
Lina (she/her) was born and raised in Seattle, WA! She graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a degree in Environmental Studies, and has taught environmental education in a number of incredible places, including in the Tetons, near Mount Rainier, and on the Olympic Peninsula. She is so excited to learn about the people and places around Walker Creek Ranch. While not looking for beautiful plants and exciting animal sightings with students, she enjoys baking and cooking new recipes, taking care of an ever-growing houseplant collection, making greeting cards for friends and family, and playing board games.
Bluebird/Sam
Naturalist
Sam (she/her) was born and raised in California’s Central Valley and is a recent graduate of Long Beach State University with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy. Sam found a love for nature while exploring the Sierra Nevada mountains in her youth and has since fallen in love with the diversity and splendor of California’s ecosystems. In her free time, you can find Sam curled up with a book, exploring local coffee shops, hiking or camping, and spending time with friends.
Ripple/julia
Naturalist
Julia (she/her) grew up in Connecticut where her love for nature grew over summers of camping on the beaches of Long Island Sound. She comes with a bachelor's of psychology, years of experience working as a guide and educator for youth, and a passion for connecting people to the healing power of nature. She enjoys forest bathing, cold plunges, snowboarding, writing, and traveling with her pup.
lichen/nolan
Naturalist
Nolan (he/him) grew up a little less than an hour north of Walker Creek Ranch, in Sebastopol, CA. He recently completed a Master’s Certificate in Environmental Education and Sustainability through the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center Graduate Naturalist program in 2024, and he is thrilled to be giving back to the communities–both human and more than human–that raised him. Nolan spends his time exploring nature, music, cooking, board games, and painting.
dune/Audre'ana
Naturalist
​Audre'ana [au-dree-aw-nuh] (she/her) calls Virginia home but has lived in many places. North Carolina, England, Washington DC, and most recently, Illinois - as you can probably tell, she is always up for a new adventure! Audre'ana has always loved everything about the outdoors and grew up exploring the woods and parks outside her home with her 2 younger siblings. Her passion for the outdoors led her to study Environmental Studies at Howard University. She wants to share her 'Nature Joy' with anyone who will listen and make our beautiful green spaces accessible for all.
Claire
Intern
Claire (she/her) grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in environmental studies and critical race and ethnic studies. With three years of camp counselor experience and an internship at an outdoor education center in Vermont, Claire has always had a passion for working with kids. In her free time Claire likes to ski, color, hike, and read.
Gioia
Intern
Gioia [joy-ah] (she/her) grew up in Sonoma County, and recently graduated the University of California Santa Cruz with a degree in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Conservation Science and Policy. Gioia loves being outside and working with kids, joining them in their curiosity in all things nature. This passion has led her to teaching field inquiry at UCSC and working as a camp counselor in the summers. She grew up exploring Sonoma and Marin Counties and is excited to be back in that familiar ecosystem. In her free time you can find her swimming, soaking up the sun, cooking, climbing, and generally meandering about.
Charlotte
Intern
Coming Soon!
Dylan
Intern
Coming Soon!
Caledonia
Intern
Coming Soon!