Carlos Cortez
Executive Director
Carlos has 20+ years of experience in youth outdoor education and nonprofit management.
Amanda Chick
Camp Director
Meet Amanda, also known as Mako Shark or simply Mako! She serves as the Director for The Outdoor School.
Naturalists
Rockhopper
Camp Admin Assistant
From: Arroyo Grande, CA
Education: Political Science, International Relations and Sociolinguistics
Hobbies: swimming, hiking gaming
Favorite thing about nature: learning new information about nature
Interesting fact: Grapheme Synesthesia (numbers have colors), Eagle Scout
Manta Ray
Program Coordinator
From: Oxnard, CA
Education: Environmental Studies and Art
Hobby: Ballet
Favorite thing about nature: the ocean
Interesting fact: has sculpted marblel
Squid
Lead Naturalist
From: Oxnard, CA
Education: General Sciences
Hobbies: hiking, running, reading and watching weird fiction
Favorite thing about nature: Anything related to animals and plants
Interesting fact: owns a critically endangered animal
Bull Frog
Naturalist
From: Hershey, PA
Education: Plant Science; Master of Science in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science
Hobbies: gaming, hiking, reading
Favorite thing about nature: learning new adaptations of living creatures
Interesting fact: vaccinated to rabies (very rare)
Osprey
Naturalist
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Education: Biology
Hobby: Ballet
Favorite thing about nature: Water
Interesting fact: loves Dunkin
Pigeon
Naturalist
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Education: Microbiology
Hobby: Rock climbing
Favorite thing about nature: Birds
Interesting Fact: Lived in France, Eagle Scout
Quail
Naturalist
From: Orange County, CA; Denver, CO; Lived 4 years in San Francisco
Education: Environmental Studies and Systems
Hobby: Soccer
Favorite thing about nature: Wildflowers
Interesting fact: creating natural art in undisclosed locations
Mojave
Naturalist
From: New Jersey
Education: Environmental Science & Biology
Hobbies: surfing, skateboarding
Favorite thing about nature: observing cool plants
Interesting fact: has same birthday as his mom and dad. Eagle Scout
Mama Eagle
Kitchen Manager
From: Mexico
Education: Self taught chef
Hobby: hiking
Favorite thing about nature: Trees, plants and gardening
Interesting fact: Loves gemstones
Arachnid
Lead Cook
From: Michigan
Education: Medical Assistant
Hobby: reading
Favorite thing about nature: the deer and changing seasons
Interesting fact: had to learn veterinarian skills for her pet dog
Tumbleweed
Lead Cook
From: Greenvale, PA
Education: Biology
Hobby: hiking
Favorite thing about nature: Desert ecosystems
Interesting fact: was a bicycle messenger in college