Past Naturalists | GBOS

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Past Naturalists

Honey Badger Heather "Honey Badger" Schwartz Winter Naturalist/Program Director A naturalist with Great Basin Outdoor School since 2012She graduated from Emory University in 2006 with a degree in Psychology & a minor in Spanish. She hails from the shores of Maryland but has come to call the mountain of the West a new home. Her previous exploits have included teaching English in Costa Rica, leading desert wilderness trips in Utah for at-risk youth, and ski instructing at Park City Ski Resort and Northstar.	Shasta -- Fall '15 Eileen "Shasta" Shanahan Fall 2015 Naturalist I graduated from California State University, Chico with a major in anthropology and a minor in parks and recreation. I love helping kids get connected to the outdoors and learn new things. When I am not a naturalist, I am hiking, biking, running, going to concerts and music festivals, hula-hooping, and exploring the west coast. I love the connectedness and aliveness of the outdoors.	Sage -- Fall "15 Walker "Sage" Brown Fall 2015 Naturalist I studied Environmental Science at the University Of Vermont. I enjoy skiing, running or playing music. What I love most about the outdoors is the summer sun, and the winter. I love the curiosity kids exhibit.
Seagull -- Fall '15 Elizabeth "Seagull" Sala Fall 2015 Naturalist I have a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. When I’m not teaching outdoors you can find me hiking, cooking, and spending time with my husband and pets. What I love the most about the outdoors is the way that everything is interconnected. I love working with kids because of their enthusiasm.	Lupine -- Fall '15 Kylee "Lupine" Wilkins Fall 2015 Naturalist I have a degree in Environmental Science, emphasis in ecology from UCSB and I studied abroad for a semester in Cape Town, South Africa. I love how excited kids get about so many things! They are learning new things every day and are so open to discovering things about the natural world. When I am not teaching outside you can usually find me enjoying Tahoe, and hiking, biking, snowboarding.	Quartz -- Fall '15 Cynthia "Quartz" Lincoln Fall 2015 Naturalist I have a BA in English with a Literature emphasis. I really enjoy exploring next places and trying new skills. I also very much enjoy reading and creating art. I love how in the most unexpected ways nature can inspire. The details that nature can share in one moment can continue to be lasting throughout a lifetime. I really enjoy how much kids can gain in just a day hiking outside. They can be inspired to be curious, creative, and learn.
Autumn She graduated from the University of New Hampshire with degrees in environmental conservation and English. Autumn joined the Great Basin Outdoor School in December 2012. After falling for Tahoe's mountains & meadows as an AmeriCorps member at the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. Autumn has also been a field teacher for Kestrel Educational Adventures & the Massachusetts Audubon Society. In her free time, you'll find her snowboarding, hiking, splashing in a river, or cooking with	Coyote Brian "Coyote" DeLa Cerda Coyote is known for its keen sense of smell, its ability to adapt to most environments, and is honored for its great curiosity. In many ways, this Coyote's lifestyle reflects his namesake. Coyote's willingness to connect, explore, learn, share, inspire and be inspired has led him to discover the infinite possibilities and gifts this planet provides.	Cedar Jon "Cedar" Schillo Cedar hails from upstate New York, and feels blessed to be able to live in and explore the West for the recent past portion of his life. He enjoys teaching, riding bikes, and sliding on snow while attached to skis. Cedar looks forward to a wonderful season at GBOS, complete with learning, smiles and star-filled skies. He also aspires to improve his bowling skills in the near future.
Talkeetna Jaimee "Talkeetna" Phipps	Olive Olive Poulsen	Sugar Pine Hugh "Sugar Pine" Denno Past Naturalist As tall as the pine trees that surround him, Hugh "Sugar Pine" Denno enjoys spending as much time in the outdoors as possible. Born in southern California, he moved to the Tahoe Basin to continue to pursue his enthusiasm for the outdoors and excited to bring his knowledge and passion for the great outdoors to Great Basin Outdoor School. He has done extensive conservation work with the Sugar Pine Foundation.
Alpine Liz "Alpine" Allgood Alpine graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a minor in Outdoor Leadership. She then helped teach a forest ecology field course for the Wild Rockies Field Institute in Montana and has taught courses in backpacking, rock climbing, and mountaineering. She recently moved to Tahoe from Juneau, Alaska where she led nature hikes on the Mendenhall Glacier.	Prickly Ponderosa Pine Sarah "Prickly Ponderosa Pine" Buck Ponderosa is a graduate of Middlebury College where she majored in International Studies, Political Science, & Russian. Sarah worked at the Tahoe-Baikal Institute, organizing international environmental exchanges between the US, Russia and Mongolia. She is also a certified Project WET and Project Learning Tree educator and facilitator. She was part of a team that brought these two curricula to Mongolia.	Hodag Grace "Hodag" Barlow was is a first year Oberlin College student where she studies biology and chemistry. Growing up in Wisconsin she learned to love the outdoors at an early age and is an avid hiker, runner, and snowboarder. She enjoys the free things in life such as cloudless starry nights, singing loudly in the car, and when the Packers win.
Lichen Shelby "Lichen" Ziesing Past Naturalist Lichen is an adventurous California native and senior studying environmental conservation at Oberlin College. In her younger years, she developed a passion for nature and outdoor adventure, especially through her family's love of sailing both coasts. She is passionate about teaching and connecting youth with the environment, and looks forward to pursuing a continued career in education post-college. She also happens to be a talented vegan cook!

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