Meet the Staff

Administrative Staff

Allison Collins | Director

Allison Collins grew up outside of Salinas, CA, the "salad bowl of the world".  She is a graduate of UC Davis with a BA in Human Development and a minor in Education. She received her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Cal State TEACH and completed a Master’s in Educational Leadership with an Administrative Credential from San Jose State University. Her passions in regard to outdoor education include increasing access and equity for all students and staff in the field, and a focus on positive social and emotional learning experiences. Her journey in outdoor education started right here at Jones Gulch as a naturalist intern in the 2008-2009 school year, and since then she has spent time as a naturalist, a 6th grade teacher, an afterschool programs coordinator, and as principal of San Joaquin County Office of Education’s Outdoor Education program.  She enjoys reading, cooking, and epic forest walks. She likes traveling by train and has been to all 50 states. She speaks Spanish, sings and plays the guitar. She has lived at Jones Gulch for 6 years and has a second grader at La Honda Elementary. She is returning to SMOE for a 3rd year. Allison’s nature name at outdoor education is Sorrel.

Jonathan Harris | Program Manager/Principal

Jonathan Harris grew up in Belmont, California, and he is a proud graduate of Fox Elementary, Ralston Middle and Carlmont High Schools.  He received two bachelor’s degrees from UCLA in Germanic Languages and History, with an emphasis in West African & Diaspora History. After working in summer camps and pre-schools for many summers through high school and college, Jonathan found himself at the University of San Francisco for his multiple subject teaching credential. He taught first and fourth grades at Belle Haven Elementary in the Ravenswood City School District for 6 years before moving to Ocean Shore Elementary School in Pacifica to teach a 4/5th Grade class for twenty years.  Throughout his time in the classroom, Jonathan has loved nothing more than to teach in the great outdoors, organizing many overnight field trips and hikes.  He loves to mentor new educators and has taught in the teacher credentialing program at San Francisco State and had many student teachers over the years. Nature journaling, music, gardening, cooking and birding are among Jonathan’s passions, and he loves to share them with his two children and many students.  Jonathan speaks Spanish and German and has had the pleasure of visiting 38 countries. It has been said that while everyone is no more than 6 degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon, they are only 3 degrees from Jonathan. His nature name at Outdoor Education is Jay.

Amanda Lee | Outdoor Education Information and Registration

Amanda Lee grew up in San Francisco, CA and is a graduate of the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Child and Youth Studies. She holds a program director permit in early childhood education and has built her communication and leadership skills with over ten years of working with children and fostering relationships with families. As site coordinator at St. Francis Preschool, she oversaw all program activities and events, managed staff and schedules, and led staff and parent meetings. She has also worked as both a teacher and coordinator at Gateway Child Development Center and as a teacher at Balboa Preschool. She has worked as a camp counselor, a site supervisor of a YMCA preschool, and as a swim teacher working with children ranging from infants to teens. She is highly skilled at managing an office, using technology, and interfacing with the public. She grew up going on annual camping trips with her family and joining the Salesian Boys’ and Girls’ Club on their sleep-away camps. She enjoys rock climbing, biking, baking, swimming, and traveling. She likes to explore new trails and hikes throughout the Bay Area. She likes Disney and is also a Golden State Warriors fan. She speaks and understands Cantonese. She has worked at the San Mateo County Office of Education for almost 5 years, and this will be her fourth year working with Outdoor Education. It’s been said Amanda has the answer to any problem you may have, if you only ask!

Senior Staff

Joshua Stacy | Senior Naturalist

Joshua grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and spent their summers in the Appalachian Mountains of Maryland and Virginia. They are a graduate of Earlham College with a BA in Music. While growing up, they spent much of their free time exploring any green space and riparian sliver they could find within the urban landscape. They were mentored in wilderness awareness and tracking by their cousin and through their summer camp experiences. Their work as a naturalist started with an internship with San Joaquin Outdoor School which turned into a 15-year career of being both Naturalist and Program Director with Exploring New Horizons. They are an exceptional naturalist and through their many years in the field have mentored and inspired others in the understanding and love of the natural world. As an avid birder and photographer, Joshua has observed more than 700 species of birds and is able to identify birds by their calls. They participate in Sequoia Audubon Society events as well as other citizen science opportunities through eBird and iNaturalist. They are a through-hiker, completing over 20,000 miles on three continents including, the Pacific Crest Trail, The Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail. They have also traversed Iceland and the Cordillera Blanca Range in the Andes of Peru. They have biked over 4,000 miles across the US, from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. Joshua has played the cello since the age of 4; touring and performing across the US as well as Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. They are particularly interested in adapting the cello to all genres of music. They are returning to SMOE for a 4th year. It is their 20th year living and working as a Naturalist in Pescadero Valley. It's been said that Joshua channels Yo Yo Ma and has hiked with a cello farther than anyone else on the planet. Joshua’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Bobcat.

Tim Daly | Health Care Specialist

Tim Daly grew up in Los Angeles, CA and is a graduate of Willamette University with a B.A. in Environmental Science. When Tim was in 6th grade, he attended an outdoor education program outside of Sequoia National Park that inspired him to connect more deeply with nature and pursue a career in the sciences. As a young adult, Tim volunteered with numerous non-profits in the L.A. area to create greenspaces and community gardens around the city. Throughout college, Tim volunteered and worked at Willamette’s Zena Forest and Farm where he practiced and taught about sustainable agriculture and silviculture. Tim has worked in outdoor education for 6 years and his career has taken him across the entire West Coast of North America. After finishing his internship at SMOE in 2016, Tim worked as the Summer Program Director of the Wrangell Institute for Science and the Environment in Kenny Lake, Alaska, and then taught at Exploring New Horizons, Loma Mar for 4 years. Additionally, Tim worked as the Summer Interpretive Specialist at Portola Redwoods State Park in 2018 and at Butano State Park in 2019. When he’s not teaching, Tim loves to find his way out into the backcountry of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades. He enjoys mountaineering, rock climbing, scrambling, gravel biking and trail running. It has been said that he has survived eating only trail mix since college! Tim’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Raptor.

Neil Richardson | Garden Coordinator/Naturalist

Neil Richardson grew up in Santa Clara, California and is a graduate of Humboldt State University with a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection/Environmental Education and Interpretation. He received training in project WET and Project Learning Tree and served as a Project Learning Tree coordinator at local schools. As an Environmental Education Program Designer he created curriculum for 5th grade students and taught in a variety of habitats. As a Program Coordinator with Wetlands on Wheels he worked in the field and classroom to provide hands - on activities about wetland ecosystems for 5th grade students. He has also worked at camp Galileo as an instructor and program director. He enjoys gardening, cycling and exploring remote places. He has a talent for building and fixing things from cars to computers. He loves riding motorcycles and bicycles and has ridden from Baja California to the Arctic Ocean. He is returning to San Mateo Outdoor Education for his 11th year. Through his work as the SMOE garden coordinator he has transformed the space into a rich educational environment.  It has been said that Neil shares no less than 50% of his DNA with bananas.

Ziggy Bates | Naturalist/Village Leader

Ziggy has worked as a Naturalist for three years before working as a Village Leader at San Mateo Outdoor Education. He has previously worked for Hidden Villa in Los Gatos and Exploring New Horizons in Loma Mar before returning to San Mateo Outdoor Education and he is excited to be teaching in the coastal rainforest and sharing his knowledge and passion with the students at this program. Ziggy believes that the best way to learn is through experience and play; he teaches natural history through stories, songs and exploration of the senses. He loves to introduce Next Generation Science Standards as well as social emotional skills to help the students under his care realize that they are a part of nature, not apart from nature, and that by working together can make this world a better place. When Ziggy is not exploring trails, he likes to travel, make artwork with various mediums, listen to podcasts and play music with his educational and inspirational band Dafunkus. It has been said that Ziggy is the creator of his own genre of music known as Yellow Hockey Jazz. Ziggy’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Jackalope.

Miriam Urrutia | Naturalist/Village Leader

Miriam Urrutia was born in Watsonville, CA and grew up in Moreno Valley, CA. She is a graduate of the University of Santa Cruz with a BA in Environmental Studies/Earth Science along with a BA in History of Art and Visual Culture. As a teacher assistant for CalTeach she assisted students in their STEM classes, created lesson plans for middle school chemistry classes and provided one-on-one tutoring. Miriam’s passion for environmental education and outdoor learning is evident through her diverse experience in the field. As a docent at the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, she gave presentations to visitors regarding the well-being and care of marine life, interpreted various exhibits and ran several educational stations. At LifeLab: Semillas to Sunflowers Summer Program in Watsonville, Miriam guided 3rd to 6th graders from the Pajaro Valley Unified School District through a range of enriching activities, including garden-based learning, crafting, cooking, and storytelling. She also managed garden stations and coordinated with families. Her impactful work led to her returning the following summer as an Assistant Director. She enjoys playing soccer, she has a passion for photography and loves listening to music. She also likes thrifting and trying new crafts such as making linocut prints, embroidery and graphic design. She has a passion for learning about the natural world particularly, the ocean,  mushrooms, and earth science. She likes collecting rocks and loves learning about insects. It has been said that Miriam doesn’t need a heater because she warms every room with her soul. Miriam’s nature name at outdoor education is Mantle.

Owen Mylod Yee | Naturalist/Village Leader

Owen Mylod Yee grew up in Redwood City, CA and is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a double major in Environmental Studies and Education. Their experience of attending SMOE in 5th grade inspired them to become an environmental steward, and their experience as a Cabin Leader allowed them to think of themselves as a leader. While attending UCSC, they volunteered to lead school groups at Natural Bridges State Park teaching about monarch butterfly life cycles in the monarch groves, and then later joined San Mateo Outdoor Education and helped teach environmental education through livestreams during the pandemic. At Exploring New Horizons Outdoor School, they designed and taught 5th grade curriculum, and then returned to San Mateo Outdoor Education as an intern. They then joined Walker Creek Ranch Outdoor School as a Naturalist Mentor. Throughout this time, they spent summers as the Program Director of OVY Camp, a nonprofit residential summer camp in San Gregorio. They love insects and gastropods, particularly ants and slugs, and enjoy rock climbing, running, and climbing way too high into trees. In their free time they like singing poorly and participating in tomfoolery. It’s been said they are a forest gremlin first, and a human second. Owen’s nature name at outdoor education is Twig.

Lily Tatusko | Naturalist/Village Leader

Lily grew up in Mansfield, Massachusetts and is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Zoology.  She has studied Ecology in both the Ecuadorian Andes and Galapagos Islands, as well as participating in a live/work program in Costa Rica, specifically working with local communities, farmers, ecologists and the National Park Service.  For two years, Lily was a Natural History and Human Ecology Teaching Assistant at the University of Vermont, teaching first year university students about natural history, flora and fauna, geology and how to collect data and do research during field trip-based classes taking them all over the state of Vermont.  She has developed educational programs for engineering-based projects for all ages at the Echo Leahy Center in Vermont and has also taught horseback riding and equine care to college students.  For the past 5 years, Lily has worked in summer camps, as a nature camp counselor at the Mass Audubon Moose Hill Camp in Sharon, Massachusetts and as the Head of Arts & Crafts and Director of Residential Life at the Hosmer Point Summer Camp in Craftsbury, Vermont. She then completed her internship at San Mateo Outdoor Education before moving on to become a Village Leader.  In her spare time, she likes to read, ride horses, swim and make crafts, such as painting, tie-dye and jewelry making.  It has been said that Lily has kissed nearly every bug, and has completed a quest for the love of pickles. Lily’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Ladybug.

Naturalists

Whitney Barnett | Naturalist

Whitney grew up in Sacramento, California and is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a major in Environmental Studies. At age 11, she first saw a redwood tree at the outdoor education program at Mission Springs and has wanted to mentor students while exploring nature ever since. Whitney has worked at summer camps as a counselor and recreation director for the past 8 years, including at the Sacramento County 4 H Camp and Camp Taylor, a summer camp for kids with heart disease.  While at UCSC, she took part in the Natural History Field Quarter, gaining skills in field ecology, education, science illustration, writing, and environmental policy & management.  Whitney speaks Spanish and is learning the banjo.  It has been said that if you can’t find Whitney, she might be found with a moose on the Snake River in Idaho. Whitney’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Towhee.

Nissa Schlossberg  | Naturalist

Nissa grew up in Oregon and graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, where she majored in Anthropology and Dance.  During her time at Whitman College, Nissa was an Outdoor Trip Leader for college students, as well as an intern for The Traveling School, designing semester abroad programs and recruiting students to those programs.  She has been an outdoor leader and camp counselor at B’nai B’rith Camp, as well as an assistant teacher for students aged 2-6.  With Camp Fire Alaska, Nissa developed and taught lessons for youth in three rural, Indigenous Alaskan villages, focusing on physical wellness, social-emotional learning, and traditional practices. She has implemented trauma-informed programs for young children and teenagers and facilitated community-wide events in rural Alaska.  It has been said that you can locate Nissa by listening for silly songs being played on the ukulele, particularly at a certain alpine lake in northeastern Oregon. Nissa’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Legume.

Belle Carbeck | Naturalist

Belle is originally from Massachusetts and graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Galway in Ireland. She has worked at the Hosmer Point Summer Camp in Vermont for the past 6 years.  During her time there, she has taught outdoor education, swimming and other camp activities, as well as led leadership programs in her many roles there from Residential Counselor, to Swimming Instructor to Leadership Program Director.  At the University of Galway, Belle has done ecological field work and data analysis.  In her free time, she enjoys birding and has also volunteered to host educational green events, such as an Anti-Fast Fashion Show.  It has been said that she can identify nearly every bird in Western Ireland. Belle’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Wren.

Raymond Herrera | Naturalist

Raymond is from Daly City, California and graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology. In college, he studied the effects of Lyme disease in diverse habitats through a semester-long research project. He hopes to continue his work with diseases and better understand them. He attended SMOE as a 5th Grader from Skyline Elementary School and then returned many times over three years at El Camino High School as a Cabin Leader. It has been Raymond’s dream to become a Naturalist at SMOE and he has prepared for that dream by being a mentor and tutor.  From this experience Raymond has honed his natural skills as a mediator and problem solver. He understands Tagalog and is learning Spanish. It has been said that Raymond can tell your shoe size by looking at you and that he knows Neil’s actual nature name. Raymond’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Midnight.

Adriana Avila Medrano | Naturalist

Adriana Avila Medrano is from Aromas, California and has a degree in Plant Biology from UC Santa Cruz. She was a tutor and mentor to middle school students at Cabrillo College. Adriana guided and supported college students through their academic struggles by providing reassurance in their learning abilities and adjusting teaching tactics for a better understanding of the material.  As a field Trip Guide with Life Lab, she created a fun and safe learning environment for culturally diverse elementary students by being flexible and adaptive to their needs.  After graduating, Adriana moved into a Garden Counselor position at Life Lab for their Semillas to Sunflowers summer program in Watsonville.  She led garden stations and used her knowledge of plant biology to harvest, cook and teach students ranging from 2nd-5th grades. Adriana speaks Spanish, loves to camp and plays a little ukulele, but not a big one. It has been said that Adriana can share many fun facts about plants, and likes to do so particularly in the meadows under Mt. Rainier. Adriana’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Sky.

Sam Steinhacker | Naturalist

Sam Steinhacker grew up in Minnesota and graduated from Colorado College with a Major in Environmental Science and a Minor in Education.  He attended the YMCA Camp Widjiwagan in Ely, Minnesota and later completed their leadership seminar and worked there.  As an undergraduate, Sam organized and led no-cost ski lessons and trips for students on scholarship with the Freeriders Union in Colorado Springs.  Through Colorado College, Sam completed the TREE Semester at the Catamount Center for Environmental Science & Education, writing and teaching curriculum for elementary and high school students outdoors and in the classroom.  He has also managed and instructed ten day backpacking trips in the Colorado Sawatch Range, teaching high school students about leadership, community and the environment with the High Mountain Institute.  Sam is proficient in Spanish and is developing his chops as a mandolin player.  It has been said that Sam likes nothing more than spending tranquil time on a canoe in the backcountry of Minnesota and Canada. Sam’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Cedar.

Isabel Geber | Naturalist

Isabel Geber grew up on a farm in Iowa and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Minor in Journalism from Iowa State University.  She has developed and co-taught interactive nature-based camps for children ages 4-12 as a Naturalist Intern at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center in Sioux City, Iowa.  With the Bald Head Island Conservancy in North Carolina, Isabel created an art competition to promote land stewardship and STEAM as well as led small group tours, kayaking, night hikes and classroom programs to teach about the various ecosystems on Bald Head Island. She was a Naturalist Intern for diverse audiences for Story County Conservation in Ames, Iowa. As a Student Teacher, Isabel taught second and fifth graders in both Iowa and Taiwan.  She plays orchestral percussion and it has been said that she is a champion orator who wears a tiny black belt on her tongue. Isabel’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Luna.

Grace Maloney | Naturalist

Grace Maloney is from New Jersey and has an Associates Degree in Humanities from Brookdale Community College in New Jersey, as well as a Bachelor’s in Plant Biology from the University of Vermont. In the course of her education, she has done fieldwork on the Galapagos Islands and studied abroad in Seville, Spain. Grace collected, cleaned, stratified, sowed, and distributed over 1,000 native Vermont plants in partnership with community members, including students from Champlain Elementary School as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Vermont.  In addition she has collaborated with Burlington community partners to design and implement nature-based climate solutions, gather and record data and practice stewardship of local natural areas.  Grace has been a farm hand and caterer at a small, farm-to-table farm in the Burlington area, as well as a volunteer at a hospice care facility in New Jersey.  She plays the guitar and speaks Spanish.  It has been said that Grace has learned and can teach you how plants can save the world. Grace’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Worm.

Charlie Riley | Naturalist

Charlie Riley grew up in New Jersey, has studied Film at both Seton Hall and Temple University and has a degree in Outdoor Education from Sterling College in Vermont.  He has coached lacrosse to seven through nine year-olds, helped create a community garden, as well as been a Naturalist for Somerset County Parks in New Jersey.  Also in the Garden State, he has worked with local communities to create documentaries for musicians and the community at large. Charlie took part in field study in Arizona, specifically learning plant identification techniques and the Grinnell Field Journal Method. For the last three years, Charlie has worked at Hosmer Point Summer camp in Vermont as a Counselor, Head Counselor, and Assistant Director.  It has been said that Charlie can empower students and create community with a cactus in one hand and a harmonica in the other. Charlie’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Sundog.

Sophie Shapiro | Naturalist

Sophie Shapiro is from Pacifica, California and attended SMOE as a 5th Grader, as well as several times as a Cabin Leader in high school.  She graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2017 with a major in Environmental Studies. For her senior thesis, she wrote the original employee handbook for Wild Child Freeschool, an outdoor nature program based in South Bay catering to homeschooled children aged 5-12. Additionally, she has served as a counselor at YMCA Camp Campbell, a classroom teacher with Sprout Up in Santa Cruz, and spent a summer with the US Forest Service in Eldorado National Forest. Sophie spent several years working as an EMT on ambulances in San Mateo County and has also been a medical assistant.  In her free time she loves to paddleboard and volunteers with the Pacifica Beach Coalition and San Mateo County Parks. Sophie plays the guitar and is learning Spanish. Sophie’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Harbor.

Erin Brooks | Naturalist

Erin Brooks is from Massachusetts and has a Minor in Education for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity and a Major in Art Education from the University of Vermont, as well as a Masters in Education with a concentration in Special Education from the University of Missouri.  After graduating, Erin became an Americorps Member with Teach for America for two years in Kansas City. There Erin taught Art at the KIPP Endeavor Academy. More recently, she has been instructing youth programs and collaborating to create Environmental Education curriculum for The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins, Colorado. Erin has also been the Program Coordinator for the Larimer County Colorado Boys & Girls Club, creating diverse programs emphasizing academic enrichment, character development, leadership, and recreation. It has been said that Erin can create community and art from one coast to another using only the dirt under her fingernails and her love for the planet. Erin’s nature name at Outdoor Education is Clove.