ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Facility Maintenance Manager
Ali has been working in science and outdoor education for almost 20 years. As the Facility Maintenance Manager, he is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the Environmental Nature Center's grounds including the implementation of improvements and maintenance activities. He also teaches educational programs. Prior to working at the ENC, Ali was the Grounds Keeper and Naturalist for the Orange County Department of Education, where he also taught outdoor science education. He also worked on the Island of Saipan as a Middle School Teacher. Ali received his Bachelor's of Science degree in the Philippines, where he was born and raised. His hobbies include hiking, photography, bike riding, and gardening.
Alison is a Southern California native who has always loved nature and the outdoors. She grew up hiking and camping with her family, and also summited San Gorgonio ("Old Greyback") Mountain with her Girl Scout Troup when she was 13 years old. Alison has a B.A. in English from California State University, Long Beach. In addition to nature, Alison loves animals and gained hands on experience working for an animal shelter and a veterinary office. Her other passions include music, sci-fi and playing pool.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- V.P. Board Governance
During the school year Ashley teaches elementary school at the Arbor Learning Community in Fullerton. Her favorite subjects to teach are nature studies, forensics, and chess. She grew up climbing trees and running barefoot on her family's small citrus orchard in San Diego. She believes in the importance of nature play for all children and loves the great outdoors. In her free time she plays board games, acts in musicals, and boogie boards at the beach with her 4 kids.
Trail building, habitat restoration and leading educational tours as a volunteer marked the early days of Bo's career at the ENC after moving to California in 1991. Bo is currently the Executive Director of the ENC and has held that position since 1995. When he is not hiking or camping with his family, Bo affiliates himself with a number of worthwhile community organizations. Bo is Past-President of the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA) and California Society for Ecological Restoration (SERCAL). He was also a member of the Orange County CREEC Network Advisory Committee, the Chairman of the City of Newport Beach Castaways Park Advisory Committee from 1999 - 2003, a member of the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation Grants Allocations Committee from 1996-2012, and served on the Environmental Board of the City of Huntington Beach from 2009 to 2012. Bo, a LEED Accredited Professional, serves on the Board of Directors of Orange Coast River Park Inc. and is a member of the Market Leader Advisory Board of the OC USGBC. Bo was also recently the recipient of the Lakers Community Champion award, presented by the Lakers and LG Solar on the Court at halftime, to recognize him for his work at the ENC. He received the 2018 Leadership Award from the Association of Nature Center Administrators in September 2018. Always remember… Unless.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- V.P. Education and Site
Britta is an enthusiastic naturalist and educator that grew up beachcombing, tide-pooling, hiking, and camping in California. With a strong love for animals and learning about the intricacies of the natural world, Britta earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Zoology at California State University of Long Beach. After graduating, she sought ways to share her love of learning with others through teaching in summer camps and public schools; and obtained her teaching credential. She continued teaching science (along with some geography and yoga) in K-12 private and public schools for the next nine years. Later she earned her Masters in Teaching Biological Sciences with a focus in Conservation Leadership and taught at a Forest School. In her spare time, you can find Britta exploring trails with her husband, their preschooler, and their dogs.
Job Titles:
- President of the Board of Directors
Chris Holland Naturalist email me Chris began his Naturalist career as a volunteer at the ENC long ago! We loved him so much that we hired him! When Chris is not teaching he is a Residential Sales & Leasing agent at Evergreen Realty and Associates, Inc. He likes the San Diego Chargers and listens to Country Music.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Desi knew she was curious about nature ever since her high school environmental science class came to ENC to sample leaf litter for a project on microfauna. She went on to study Environmental Science and Management at University of California, Davis. During her time in Davis, she worked on plant ecology research, and helped lead a program called Sprout Up, where college students would visit elementary classrooms to teach hands-on environmental science lessons. Today she splits her time between teaching programs at ENC and Crystal Cove Conservancy. She spends her free time baking pies, paddleboarding, at the beach, and skiing in the mountains.
Eric is a graduate of Vanguard University with a BA in Psychology. After college, Eric worked as an English and reading comprehension tutor before serving his community as Recreation Leader, overseeing the R.O.C.K.S program at various elementary schools in Costa Mesa. Eric has been on various mountain biking trips with his family throughout the Pacific Northwest and other areas, camping in the wilderness and riding between destinations. He is an Eagle Scout of Troop 339, whose fellow Scouts have conducted a number of Eagle Scout Projects here at the ENC. In his free time, Eric enjoys bike riding, cooking, and playing games.
Gavin attended Colorado State University and graduated in December of 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science with a focus on Environmental Politics and Policy. He has always had a passion for connecting with nature and having outdoor experiences as an avid hiker and backpacker. After having spent time working many odd jobs such as being a skateboard camp counselor in Colorado, and as a charter boat deckhand in Sitka, Alaska, Gavin has come to work at the ENC where he fills at home working with kids in an outdoor environment. He believes in nurturing a sense of connection and respect for all living beings, and being a Naturalist with the ENC has given him the power to do just that.
Graeme graduated with a BA in Psychology at California State University Long Beach. During this time he took child development classes along with his required psychology courses. He has always had a feeling of connection with nature and pursued environmental/horticultural classes in the hopes of teaching others about how nature can help an individual mentally and physically. Graeme was born and raised in SoCal and loves living by the beach. When Graeme is not working he is most likely trying to stay active by swimming in the ocean, hiking, or playing sports.
Harmonie Wooley grew up in SoCal and studied graphic design at the FIDM in Los Angeles. She has always had an appreciation for the natural world and in 2013 she and her son signed up for a falconry course. What began as a fun bonding experience between Harmonie and her son turned into deep love and respect of birds of prey! A year later she began volunteering at the Orange County Birds of Prey Center (OCBPC), where she learned all about how to care for, present, and enrich rehabilitated raptors from all over Orange County. Harmonie is now a supervisor at OCBPC where she trains volunteers on raptor-handling skills. She joined our naturalist staff in 2018 and has been bringing birds of prey to several of the ENC's public, traveling, and enrichment programs. When Harmonie is not at the ENC or OCBPC, she enjoys embarking on new adventures with her family.
Hugo is responsible for the development, protection and enhancement of the native plant communities and landscapes at the Environmental Nature Center, ENC Nature Preschool and Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. He monitors and manages our plant communities so that they provide healthy habitat for native wildlife and are aesthetically pleasing to human visitors. Hugo graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills with a bachelor's degree in Biological Science (concentration in Ecology and Environmental Science). Coursework in Botany, Plant Physiology, and Landscape Ecology doubled with his experience working at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary for two years makes him an excellent choice for the role! Hugo started at the ENC as a Horticulture Intern. He also volunteered at the CSU Fullerton Arboretum Nursery, the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve, and he completed a Native Garden Internship at CSU Dominguez Hills. Proof that volunteering helps you with your career goals!
Janelle helps protect and conserve our native plant communities at the Environmental Nature Center, ENC Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, and the ENC Nature Preschool! She began her journey with us after a year of volunteering every week at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. Currently majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Environmental Psychology, her innate curiosity behind our connection to, and impact on nature as a whole makes her a wonderful fit for this position. Janelle's passion for the environment sparked at a young age by receiving a Natured-Based Education at a developmental preschool. Her early immersion in our natural world ignited a desire and dedication to caring for all things living- especially plants! Janelle's tenacity and commitment to educating herself and others about the environment and our impact grows every day! When she's not studying, you can find her reading, gardening, camping, and exploring the backroads of California with her dog.
Jasmine is a Bay Area native and 2023 graduate of University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy, with a minor in Urban Studies. Her experiences growing up are what she contributes to her love for nature and education. Jasmine has worked in multiple roles with children and loves being able to connect with them, especially in an outdoors setting where they are allowed to explore freely and be creative. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys going on walks with her friends and loved ones, finding new coffee shops and restaurants to frequent, going to the beach, watching TV, and reorganizing her space when she feels like an impromptu interior designer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- V.P. Finance / Treasurer
Julie is a nature-inspired artist and birding enthusiast who comes to the ENC after working as a Naturalist for Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary for four years. She has also served both the ENC and Tucker as a volunteer. Her devotion to sharing her passion for wildlife and habitat conservation shapes her involvement in teaching children and exploring nature with people of all ages. Her favorite pursuits include creating, birding, traveling to nature preserves, camping and documenting her trips in photographs. She also loves folk music, her tiny garden, a well-written book and morning coffee with her backyard birds. She has taught nature painting classes and has shown her mixed media pieces and sculpture at local art events for many years. She holds a BA degree in Art from Scripps College.
Job Titles:
- Childhood Education Specialist
Kass studied Child Development at Crafton Hills College, where she took every child development class they offered. Following college, she began teaching at a Montessori based preschool. After teaching indoors for a few years, she got the opportunity to teach outdoors and became a naturalist at a non-profit nature preserve. It was here where Kass found her true passion: teaching children about the wonder and joys of nature. Viewing the outdoors through a child's lens Kass learned how to create fun and engaging programming. To escape snowy winter conditions, Kass moved from the mountains to Orange County where she taught as a naturalist at a Reggio-Emilia Preschool. When not working, Kass enjoys sewing, ceramics, roller skating, and working in her garden.
Kate Chambers is a Southern California native who grew up exploring National Parks and local trails. Born in Long Beach, Kate attended UC Davis where she earned her BA in History in 2015. While at UCD, Kate worked in radio as well as the on campus bike shop where she developed her lifelong passion for cycling. Living in Northern California while attending an agricultural school fostered a deeper appreciation for nature, equity, and conservation that Kate has carried into her postgraduate life. Since graduating, Kate has returned home where she's currently in the Single Subject credential program at CSULB. In her free time, Kate enjoys taking her dog to the beach, corralling her two cats, and exploring new places.
After many years working in the corporate world and raising her daughter, Kathy found the ENC and realized she was home. Teaching children and experiencing the ENC on a frequent basis has given her great satisfaction.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Laura is thrilled for the opportunity to inspire kids with the same wonder about nature that made her try to live in her backyard as a kid. Her curiosity about the natural world took her to UC San Diego where she earned her Masters in Biology and Bachelors in Biochemistry. While completing her thesis there in plant biochemistry she also worked as a teaching assistant, where she became involved in research on the cognitive science of learning. In school she was passionate about her coursework in biogeochemistry, fossil studies, the chemistry of pollution, and evolutionary ecology. Laura is now a college instructor of Biology during the school year and is ecstatic to be spending her summers sharing nature with children. When she's not working Laura loves backpacking, oil painting, growing chili peppers, and telling dogs they're such good boys.
This summer, Lauren Dimler joined the ENC team as a summer camp Naturalist. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, but relocated to Monterey to pursue her B.S. in Environmental Studies from Cal State University Monterey Bay. Lauren spent her summers in high school and early college working at a summer camp in Malibu Canyon serving 8-16 year olds living in the Los Angeles area. When she moved to Monterey, she held positions at the local art museum as an art educator. After a professor of Lauren's told his class about working at a kayak shop, she took a leap of faith and landed a job working as a kayak guide. Lauren led school and tour groups through Elkhorn Slough, a protected estuarine habitat that is known for their southern sea otter populations. She fell in love, and additionally pursued a position at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve as a scientific aide with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lauren started teaching in a classroom environment in 2018, but still continued working at the kayak shop on weekends and summers. She relocated back to Southern California last summer, and has been teaching 3rd grade throughout the school year. In her free time, you'll find her identifying plant species while hiking with her toddler and husband, walking her dog Basil, and binge-watching House Hunters.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Director of Communications
Lori has worked in the non-profit field for nearly two decades. She joined the ENC staff in 2003. Lori oversees the ENC's communications, education programs, volunteer programs and horticulture, and assists with funds development. Previously she has worked for The Nature Conservancy, the City of Huntington Beach, and the Orange County Department of Education. Lori has a BS from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and an MA in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. She is a member of the Marketing Committee for the Association of Nature Center Administrators. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, and garden with native plants. She was the recipient of the prestigious Nathaniel Lamm Scholarship Award for excellence in Environmental Education on 2002, and the California Senate "Women Making a Difference" award in 2012.
Melaine Leong Naturalist email me Melanie graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology in 2018. She found her love for teaching as an undergraduate teaching assistant for introductory biology labs where she learned how to use inquiry-based methods to get students excited about the material. Throughout her college experience, she was involved with many teaching opportunities from leading peer mentor groups for first-year and international students to coaching youth lacrosse. Her senior year, she led 4th grade students on field trips to teach them about ecosystem interactions and facilitated the completion of environmental science experiments with local high school students. After graduating and returning to southern California, she worked as an after-school science educator for Bionerds. When Melanie is not working at the ENC, she tutors middle and high school students online. In her free time, she likes rock climbing, hiking, birding, reading, making art, and watching TV shows.
Michael studied neurobiology and biological sciences at the University of California, Irvine. He worked at the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory assisting with the UCI Brain Camp and Brain Explorer Academy, where students from middle and high school learned about the nature of the brain. He's worked with children at various capacities such as soccer coach, dance instructor, and science tutor. He also serves adults through life coaching that focuses on neuroplasticity, brain health and emotional intelligence. Michael is curious, and he enjoys all kinds of adventurous activities. Some of his hobbies include dancing, reading, calligraphy and boxing. He loves animals and is passionate about children's education.
Mindy comes to us with a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and an M.S. in Conservation Ecology & Sustainable Development from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, she also earned a certificate in nonprofit management. During an internship at the Environmental Education Center at Lord Stirling Park, Mindy was exposed to writing and executing her own environmental education lessons using the outdoors as a classroom - and she fell in love with it. For over 15 years she has kept busy as an environmental educator and naturalist at a variety of zoos, nature centers, and outdoor schools. Most recently, Mindy was employed by the California Science Center as an Education Program Specialist and at Trash for Teaching as the Director of Creative Programming. She brings her skills of leadership, professional development, and creative problem solving to the ENC. Her passion is building collaborations with other organizations, allowing both partners to go beyond what they would do alone. In her spare time Mindy enjoys traveling, photography, team trivia, and swing dancing.
Raquel has over 8 years of experience working in the education field. She has taught environmental education with various non-profit organizations and also has experience teaching in a formal education setting. Raquel previously worked at the ENC as our Early Childhood Education Specialist, but is now going back to school to become a credentialed high school environmental science teacher. When on breaks, Raquel loves coming back to the ENC to teach Little Naturalist camp.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Rob is graduate of the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in English Literature. He recently finished his first full year teaching at Seashore Academy in Huntington Beach, and plans to continue his career as an educator. Rob's been on countless camping trips to places such as Catalina, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Joshua Tree. In his spare time he loves to read, surf, and play beach volleyball.
Job Titles:
- Director Emeritus
- Member of the Board of Directors
Sabrina is currently an 8th grade science teacher. She also has experience teaching high school for both AP and regular Environmental Science classes. She earned her master's and teaching credentials from USC in Science Education alongside certification to teach gifted students. While attending UC Berkeley for her bachelor's in environmental science, Sabrina designed the curriculum for Berkeley's Political Agriculture Food Systems lecture. In an effort to increase students' potential, Sabrina advocates for her community as a delegate for the 68th district in OC. She is involved with city planning focusing around access to resources, environmental justice, and higher incomes to support healthy families. In her free time she loves to go on coastal hikes along OC and LA, enjoy outdoor lunches at new restaurants with her son - eating lots of vegetarian meals, and listening to podcasts.
Sean Zulueta Naturalist email me Sean is a Southern Californian native and fell in love with biology during his time at Santiago Canyon College. He initially pursued a degree in nursing but fell in love with biology when his professor handed him a mysterious creature on a class field trip and told him to classify it. Driven by the curiosity and uniqueness of the biological field he transferred to California State University, Fullerton where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. His social and professional network brought him to work in a variety of ecosystems spanning from the high desert of the Mojave National Preserve to the mysterious depths of the deep sea off the coast of California and everything in between. Sean primarily researched deep-sea fish but that didn't prevent him from working with rats, sharks, mistletoe, scorpions, snakes, big horned sheep, desert sunflowers, redwood trees, sea turtles, and many other organisms. Prior to joining the ENC staff, Sean taught in the tidepools, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, high desert, and redwood forests with all age groups. Being a part of the ENC staff allows Sean to take complex subjects he learned in college and simplify those concepts to show how diverse and significant the natural world is in hopes of fostering curiosity and critical thinking. Outside of being a Naturalist you can find Sean playing board and video games, lifting weights at the gym, and testing his pop-culture knowledge at trivia nights.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- V.P. Fund Development
Shelbi graduated from the University of California San Diego with a Bachelors in Environmental Systems. While in school, she interned and worked at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the plankton lab studying krill and tuna crabs. After college she worked in the Outdoor Education Department for the Ocean Institute and Crystal Cove Conservancy where she fell in love with teaching kids about the wonders of nature. When she's not working you can find her hiking around searching for butterflies or snorkeling in the ocean.
Skyler began his college education at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo as a Microbiology major. He soon learned that his passions were in the outdoors and changed his major to Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and began studying at Colorado State University. Nonprofits Skyler has volunteered with include the Spectacled Bear Society, Trees Water People, and the Environmental Learning Center in Colorado. Skyler began as an Early Childhood Education Intern at the ENC before becoming a part-time Naturalist. Hobbies of his include hiking, camping, and swimming in the ocean.
Ulla Wilcox Naturalist email me Ulla has a passion for STEM education, and has participated in this field for many years as both a student and an educator. She studied Mathematics and Education Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, graduating in June of 2023. She also graduated from UCI's Campuswide Honors Collegium, in which she opted for the Sustainable Societies track of study. During her time at UCI, Ulla was a research assistant at the STEM Learning Lab, where she was involved in the development, implementation, and analysis of the educational intervention called Fraction Ball. She was also able to work with students through her major fieldwork, which required her to write and teach original curriculum in a sixth grade math class of Garden Grove. She has enjoyed working with students through private tutoring for years and continues to do so. In Ulla's time outside of these many classrooms, you can find her somewhere in nature, out trying different restaurants and coffee shops, or at home creating art alongside her houseplants.
Job Titles:
- Nature Preschool Director
Vanessa is an Orange County native who grew up as an outdoor enthusiast, swimming off the shores of her beloved hometown, San Clemente. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College and brings twenty years of experience as an inclusive Early Years Educator to the Nature Preschool. Vanessa has been with the Nature Preschool since its inception, first as an ENC member and Camp Naturalist, continuing on as our Curriculum Coordinator and Lead Nature Teacher in the Bear Classroom (Pre-K classroom). She is a dedicated and passionate advocate for children who has spent her career teaching and sharing her compassion, love, and respect for all living things and nurturing a deep connection with the natural world. Vanessa has constructed lasting, impactful relationships with children by helping them build a strong sense of self and offering unconditional acceptance, inspirational learning experiences, independence, and reflective engagement, developed through a play-based, child-led philosophy. Her experience working in a play-based program, serving on their Board of Directors as a staff representative and participating in the local Pre-K/TK/K Articulation Committee helped build a strong foundation for collaboration and leading. Vanessa has been a longstanding member of NAEYC and OCAEYC, where she currently serves as board chair of their Social Media Committee.
Wendy is originally from Connecticut. Her grandfather taught her love of the outdoors. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science from UNH and a M.S. in Wildlife Biology from UConn. Professionally she worked as an endangered species biologist for the USFWS specializing in coastal shorebird recovery for over a decade. For the past 10 years she's called California home as a stay-at-home mom of two boys. She's excited to get back to work and share her love of nature with everyone at the ENC.