Educators

WildPlaces is immensely grateful for the participation of many amazing outdoor experts, enthusiasts and professionals who volunteer their time to take huge responsibilities for youth at Immersed in the Wild and Rio Limpio . It’s a 24/7 schedule that our educators and trip leaders have when they step into a WildPlaces project. For “Immersed in the Wild”, for example, that means multiple days of mentoring, safety, logistics, briefings, breakouts, and planning–night and day.The positive impacts they have on the youth and on the land are immeasurable and priceless.

Nicole Celaya

As a lifelong educator and currently an instructor at Porterville College, I have experienced in our youth the growing disconnection from our environment and those that inhabit it. My hope is to try to encourage in my students a deeper connection and responsibility to the earth and its creatures through education and community. I am passionate about preserving the beauty of our planet for future generations and feel that working with Wild Places and encouraging my students to get involved locally is one way for me to do that.

Aaron and Cabrina Grubb

Aaron flies airplanes and Cabrina spots fires for the forest service.. When we can, we like to be involved with the youth weekends. It is our desire to lead the kids on backcountry overnights and get them involved in rock climbing. Our goal is to empower them by encouraging them to set and accomplish goals they did not think were possible.

James Harbison

I see the principle goal of my volunteer job with Wild Places on the Immersed in the Wild programs as an effort to make sure kids-and adults too-are comfortable being outside. I think you need to be warm and relaxed enough when you find yourself outdoors so that eventually you can grow to become aware and fascinated by the wonders that surrounds you. Loving nature is a prerequisite to becoming a true steward of the wild.

Adaniel Lepe-Camacho

Adaniel is a Certified Natural Health Professional (C.N.H.P.) and an Herb Specialist. He is an instructor and consultant providing Natural Solutions with Holistic Nutrition, Aromatherapy, and other natural techniques. Adaniel has also created a line of natural skin care products.

Susan Macias

Susan Macias is a long-time WildPlaces volunteer and board member. She lives in Long Beach, where she teaches English as a Second Language at Long Beach City College and tends a community garden. She is passionate about natural landscapes, regenerative design, and tracking.

Scott Parkin

Scott is a Senior Organizer with Rainforest Action Network and works with Rising Tide North America. He works to educate and organize youth to take action to stop the destruction of the climate and wild places around the country. He has worked on a variety of campaigns around climate change, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, mountaintop removal, labor issues and anti-corporate globalization. Originally from Texas, he now lives in San Francisco.

Brain Rouch

I love spending time outside–climbing, skiing, kayaking–just having fun and exercising. I grew up in these mountains and my family has been here for generations. I’m excited to engage youth in the natural world and mentor the next generation of stewards. Fortunately, my job–bringing green energy to consumers– compliments these efforts.

Sarah Vail

After five years as an outdoor educator with Outward Bound and thirteen years of work on violence against women with international organizations, I come to Wild Places because of the potent link between the two. The wilderness is a place of discovery, challenge, growth, recovery, and transformation, without distinction based on where any one of us is from or what we have experienced in life. In the wild, we learn to confront fears and to try things that feel uncomfortable or challenging, and we find that our personal limits keep expanding — much like the horizon which gets wider than anything at home once we get outside. I love working with youth in Wild Places because they leave feeling more connected to the outdoors and to themselves, and because it provides a sense of peace and perspective as well as a deeper physical and mental strength.

Trip Leaders

Immersed in the Wild 2009 Trip Leaders

  • Carlos Gomez
  • John Picone
  • James Harbison
  • Sarah Vaill
  • Chico Garza
  • Aaron Grubb
  • Kenny Stroub
  • Brian Rouch
  • Dean diaz de Leon
  • Susan Macias
  • Ian Herdell
  • Scott Parkin

Rio Limpio 2009 Leaders

  • Carlos Gomez
  • Ian Herdell
  • Laura Linton
  • William Kaneversky
  • Richard Miller
  • Nicole Celaya