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 as a child 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.

Since graduating, I 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 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. My most exciting work has been showing inner city children the outdoors for the very first time! Imagine the priceless expression of a ten year old child, who lives 30 minutes from the beach, as they dig their hands into the sandy shores for the first time.

My adventures have led me throughout Europe and Asia as well as to every state in the Continental United States. I love exploring, laughing, and singing songs with new and old friends by a campfire.