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 Director
Seasons at ENH: 2nd
From: Santa Cruz redwoods and beaches
Favorite ENH Activity: “Sharing music and stories at evening campfire”
Favorite way to spend their free time: “Listening to music (Taylor Swift and The White Stripes), cooking and baking, and camping.
Bison He/Him – Healthcare Supervisor
Seasons at ENH: 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.”
Topo She/Her – Health Care Specialist
Seasons at ENH: 2nd
From: Ventura, CA
Favorite ENH Activity: “I love singing together around the campfire under the stars”
Favorite way to spend their free time: “In my free time, I like to rock climb or swim in the river with my dog Finch!”
Hawk He/Him – Garden Coordinator
Seasons at ENH: 4th
From: The chaparral and sandy shores of San Diego
Favorite ENH Activity: “Sowing seeds of social and emotional learning through our night hikes and garden curriculum.”
Favorite way to spend their free time: On his free time, one can find Hawk foraging for mushrooms and berries in the forests, birding around riparian habitats, or catching some live music around the Bay(big fan of indie folk and edm artists)!
Panda She/Her – Lead Naturalist
Seasons at ENH: 3rd
From: Oakland, CA
Favorite ENH Activity: “Exploring in the beautiful redwood forest!”
Favorite way to spend their free time: “Cooking and music”
Eucalyptus She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 3rd
From: East Bay, CA
Favorite ENH Activity: “Exploring the forest and discovering new things!”
Favorite way to spend their free time: “Crafting, hanging out with other people’s cats and dogs, and trying new restaurants”
Hammerhead Shark He/Him – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 4th
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!”
Kite He/Him – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 2nd
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”
Jade She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 3rd
From: Watsonville, CA.
Favorite ENH Activity: “Redwood day/solo hike.”
Favorite way to spend their free time: “Dancing or watching anime”
Lotus She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 1st
From: Virginia Beach, VA.
Favorite ENH Activity: “Redwood Day! The trees are magical.”
Favorite way to spend their free time: “Yoga! or baking.”
Blue He/They – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 1st
From: “I grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland around the Chesapeake Bay!”
Favorite ENH Activity: “My favorite ENH program component is the balancing act of guiding students through hands on environmental science activities while, simultaneously, supporting their social and emotional learning!”
Favorite way to spend their free time: “Finding way to play and frolic in the outdoors with friends!”
Twig She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 1st
From: I was raised in Santa Cruz, but have called the Sierra Nevadas home for the last 5 years.
Favorite ENH Activity: “Most excited for Beach Day!”
Favorite way to spend their free time: Twig has too many hobbies, but currently she loves reading, spending time with cats, and hanging out at local coffee shops.
Dragonfly She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 1st
From: “Proud to be born and raised in the Bay Area — Newark, CA is my hometown! (East Bay Represent!)”
Favorite ENH Activity: “I love that we get to take our students to the beach and teach them about our tidepools at Natural Bridges!”
Favorite way to spend their free time: “I love all things outdoors and being active! In my free time, you can catch me rock climbing, trail running, mountain biking, snowboarding, swimming in the ocean, and stand-up paddleboarding. I love camping and hiking with friends and appreciating all the flora and fauna around me. If I’m not outside, you can catch me exploring cute mom-and-pop’ shops, bookstores, record shops, or at a local coffee shop reading some books. I’m a huge music appreciator and love attending concerts/live music events when I can. I’m also a big Olivia Rodrigo fan so if you enjoy her music, we can sing all of her songs together!”
Breeze She/Her – Outdoor Educator
Seasons at ENH: 1st
From: New Jersey
Favorite ENH Activity: “Night hike, and just being together outside!”
Favorite way to spend their free time: “Cooking, eating, reading, drawing, singing, playing with yarn.”