Sempervirens Staff
The Naturalist staff at Exploring New Horizons Outdoor Schools have extensive training and teaching experience in the Outdoor Education field. They have a passion for teaching children in the outdoors and a commitment to creating a learning atmosphere that is fun, safe, educational, and inclusive of all learning styles. All staff members are certified in both First Aid and CPR.
Katherine/Mango She/Her – Program Director
Born and raised near Philadelphia, spent her youth camping and exploring nature with her Venturing Crew. Once she’d grown a wee bit taller, she studied biology at Villanova University and researched hybridizing birds. By working at camps and the Philadelphia Zoo, Katherine found her passion in teaching young people about nature. So, she moved to Fairbanks, Alaska where she and her students learned about spawning salmon, denning bears, and migrating birds through work with Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In 2020 she herself migrated to warmer weather in California, where she and her students explored beaches and bluffs. There, she also found joy in helping Naturalists grow their skills and confidence, so when life pulled her to Santa Cruz in 2023, she was thrilled to continue this work at Exploring New Horizons. On the weekends, you might spot her backpacking, learning a new dance, or cooking up a mean pot of Sinigang (a rich tamarind stew from the Philippines).
Fawn She/Her – Assistant Program Director
Seasons at ENH: I have worked in education for 10 years, specializing in the sports, science, and outdoor education industries. My first experience at outdoor school was as a high school cabin leader. Since then, I have worked several years as a naturalist and began working at Exploring New Horizons in 2023.
From: Born and raised in beautiful Santa Cruz, I consider my home to be the redwood forest, the ocean’s edge, and the patchwork of chaparral that connects them.
Favorite ENH Activity: My favorite part of program is when students, cabin leaders, teachers, and staff all gather around the campfire to fill the night air with their voices, through stories and songs.
Favorite way to spend their free time: In my free time, I love to hike, camp, cook, and play board games.
Additional Info: I studied Environmental Education at CSU Monterey Bay. I love to keep learning new things by exploring the natural world, watching nature documentaries, and always asking questions.
Aurora She/Her/Hers – Assistant Director
Seasons at ENH: 10 years
From: I am originally from Southern California.
Favorite ENH Activity: My favorite ENH program component is Barnyard Boogie– I love dancing!
Favorite way to spend their free time: Two of my favorite things to do on my free time include dancing salsa/bachata as well as hiking
Additional Info: I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Education and a Master’s in Education with a specialization in Curriculum Design and Implementation. Before joining ENH, I spent eight years as a classroom teacher and, prior to that, ran a small landscape design-build business.
In 2013, while living in the Bay Area, I led backpacking and camping trips for middle school students—an experience that deeply shaped my path and ultimately guided me back to outdoor education. I’m also a proud first-generation college graduate and the first in my family to earn a degree.
In 2020, I completed the Diverse Outdoor Leaders Institute (DOLI) training through Outward Bound Adventures, one of the leading outdoor education programs for youth and leaders of color in Southern California.
I’m thrilled to be part of the ENH team and look forward to welcoming all the campers who will join us to learn, grow, and connect with the outdoors!
Bison He/Him – Healthcare Supervisor
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: 3rd
From: I am from New York City but call Santa Cruz my home now.
Favorite ENH Activity: I love the team building
Favorite way to spend their free time: Hobbies are rock climbing, trail running, and eating yummy food.
Magpie He/Him/His – Healthcare Specialist
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: 8
From: The Boundary Waters of Wisconsin and Minnesota
Favorite ENH Activity: I absolutely love a good stargaze and night hike
Favorite way to spend their free time: When I am not in the Health Center, I can be found canoeing, kayaking, or free diving!
Additional Info: I am Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, and have a Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine
Red-Shouldered Hawk He/Him – Garden Coordinator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: 7
From: Coastal Chaparral and Canyons of San Diego County
Favorite ENH Activity: My favorite branch of ENH’s Program is the Garden and helping students connect with the soil and it’s incredible inhabitants.
Favorite way to spend their free time: I like to ride my bike along the coast, kick the soccer ball around, play video/card games with friends and identify plants and mushrooms on the sides of trails.
Additional Info: My love for plants began as a kid with the guidance of my loved ones, learning to cultivate fruits and veggies at a young age. As years went by, I attended Cal State Uni. Monterey Bay where I gained hands on experience with native plant nurseries. I became a Naturalist with ENH in 2022 and the Garden Manager at the end of 2023.
Hammerhead Shark He/Him – Outdoor Educator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: 9
From: The Bay Area! Specifically, Campbell California, but the ocean has always had a special place in my heart.
Favorite ENH Activity: If the tides are good, I love taking a class down to the tide pools at Natural Bridges state beach. Otherwise, anytime I’m on stage getting to make music with my friends, I’m happy.
Favorite way to spend their free time: Despite my very active and outdoors career, I’m actually a homebody. I love to relax at home with my wife and two cats, and play some video games. Nobody can beat me at Super Smash Brothers!
Additional Info: I LOVE playing music and being goofy on stage. Anytime I have the chance to perform on the campfire stage, I’m a happy shark!
Jade She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: 4th year at ENH
From: I’m from beautiful Santa Cruz California, where I was lucky to grow up between the towering redwoods and breathtaking central coast.
Favorite ENH Activity: I love night hike, redwood solo hikes, and magical nature moments.
Favorite way to spend their free time: I love dance, playing games with friends, hanging out with my cats, and trying out new artistic hobbies!
Additional Info: Some of the most memorable and important moments in my education were attending ENH as a 6th grader, kayaking with otters in my high school environmental science class, and graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in environmental science.
Kite He/Him – Outdoor Educator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: 7
From: Concord originally but now in San Jose!
Favorite ENH Activity: Redwood day and boogie!
Favorite way to spend their free time: Poetry, hiking, climbing, reading, bird watching and drawing
Blue He/They – Outdoor Educator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: 3rd full year in outdoor education
From: I am originally from Maryland. Shoutout to the Chesapeake blue crab!
Favorite ENH Activity: My favorite ENH activity is getting students down to the creek and sparking their curiosity about all the different ways the creek is connected to the rest of the world.
Favorite way to spend their free time: My favorite hobby is finding ways to play and frolic in the outdoors with friends.
Breeze She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: I have been teaching indoors and outdoors for 8 years.
From: I am from New Jersey
Favorite ENH Activity: I love hanging out in the shade with campers
Favorite way to spend their free time: Cooking, eating, reading, drawing, singing, playing with yarn.
Dragonfly She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 3 years in outdoor education, 10 years in education/youth programming, 4 seasons directing summer camps!
From: Born and raised in Newark, CA & Hayward, CA (East Bay represent!)
Favorite ENH Activity: Redwood day
Favorite way to spend their free time: Rock climbing, dancing, trail running, attending live music events, stand up paddle boarding, and spending hours exploring flora and fauna out on trail whenever I can 🙂
Additional Info: Dragonfly studied Sociology and Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University.
Manzanita She/Her/Ella – Outdoor Educator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: I have been working with young people for about 8 years.
From: I was born in Mexico, immigrated to the U.S. and was raised in Southern California, on the ancestral lands of the Serrano. I currently live in a small farming town in Monterey County, on the traditional homelands of the Esselen and Ohlone peoples.
Favorite ENH Activity: My favorite ENH activity definitely has to be beach day! I love being out at the beach and seeing how many creatures I can spot in one space.
Favorite way to spend their free time: I love to read and hang with my friends in my free time!
Echo He/Him – Outdoor Educator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: I have been teaching for over 15 years
From: South Dakota
Favorite ENH Activity: Time with the redwoods
Favorite way to spend their free time: Rock climbing and woodworking
Additional Info: I have taught outdoor education in nine different states!
Equinox She/They – Outdoor Educator
From: San Francisco, CA.
Favorite ENH Activity: I love splashing with kids in the creek!
Favorite way to spend their free time: I like to swim in the ocean, read, cook, hike, and craft with my friends.
Additional Info: I am the number one writer of haikus, runner up in the Beginner Embroidery Olympiad, queen of the Made Up Constellations Society, and is pretty good at Mandarin. I also once wrote an award-winning novella about Jewish herbalist witches which you can read if you ask nicely.
Canyon They/She/He – Outdoor Educator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: 8 years
From: Oakland, CA.
Favorite ENH Activity: My favorite activity at ENH is the night hike!
Favorite way to spend their free time: I love dancing and writing poems in my free time.
Additional Info: I graduated from Lewis & Clark College in 2022 and have been working in outdoor ed full time since then. When I’m not at ENH, I spend my summers working in Yosemite National Park.
Kestrel She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Years in Outdoor Education, Education, or Outdoor Fields: I have been working in various educator and outdoor roles for about seven years
From: I am from Southern California, but am so grateful to have lived all over California.
Favorite ENH Activity: My favorite ENH activity is the Night Hike! It’s full of serene magic and lots of first time challenges for students!
Favorite way to spend their free time: I like to swim in the ocean and rivers, read, play guitar, and sing.
Additional Info: I am the the go-to cloudspotter! I love to sing a little song about anything that is happening in any current moment. I love board/card games and doing a little jig. I truly find joy in helping students learn how nature is for everyone and how it can be so calming and grounding.