Staff

Jennifer Baca, Education Manager, grew up on the coastside here in the Bay Area, exploring the beaches and nearby redwood forests. For graduate school, she majored in Curriculum and Instruction and for her undergraduate studies she majored in Geography with emphasis in Environmental Studies at San Francisco State University. She has been working in the field of environmental education for nearly a decade, while also teaching in the classroom for a couple years during the pandemic. In her free time, she enjoys traveling overseas, gardening, going for hikes, spending time in nature exploring and learning, drinking iced coffee, and cuddling with her cat.

Abby Wissink, Camp Office Coordinator, grew up in the Sacramento Valley and spent a majority of their time outside as a child in the Sierra foothills, Humboldt redwoods and red rocks of Southern Utah. They found a love for all things camp at two separate sleepaway camps in the Sierra Nevadas, and worked as a cabin leader, counselor, activities staff, and office assistant. After living in Eastern Washington for a few years to get their BA in English, they are happy to be back in California. Abby has worked as a performing arts Teaching Artist, a radio DJ, and a babysitter, and is so glad to be back at summer camp! When not in the Headlands, you can find Abby performing in local Shakespeare companies, singing in choirs, knitting, and camping all over Marin County.

Callie Nance, Camp Field Coordinator, grew up climbing trees, wading in creeks, and scrambling over river rocks in Mariposa, California, just outside Yosemite. Her childhood adventures laid the foundation for her love of the outdoors. After graduating with a Public Affairs degree from UCLA and learning about different interventions for positive health and environmental outcomes, she decided to explore outdoor education, starting off as a backpacking instructor on the Appalachian trail and in the Sierra Nevada. For the past school year, Callie has been working as a NatureBridge Environmental Science Educator in the Headlands and has fallen in love with the coastal prairie and riparian ecosystems. She is excited to continue watching the seasons change in the Headlands and inspire more students to truly love the outdoors. Beyond her work, you can find her cooking new recipes, nature journaling, practicing yoga, or backpacking.

Mia Perez, Operations Manager, grew up in the Central Valley of CA and spent most of her youth outside either working at her grandparents ranch or swimming, fishing, and enjoying nature at their cabin in the Sierra National Forest. She understood at a young age that she was connected to nature in a deep way and always looked for ways to foster that connection. Mia's affinity for outdoor recreation and outdoor spaces led her to get a degree in Biology at Sacramento State University, emphasizing in Conservation Ecology and Evolution. In her undergraduate work she found a love for studying animal behavior, participating in diversity, inclusion, and equity programs, and worked for a non-profit that introduced college students to outdoor spaces. Sacramentos proximity to amazing outdoor spaces allowed her to expand her recreation interests; here she took up rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and trail running. Mia is extremely excited to join the Costal Camp team for the Summer of 2024!

Tanya Vincent, Operations Manager, was raised in Sacramento, California and grew up in a big family with an even bigger love for enjoying the outdoors. She is dedicated to nurturing her connection to nature, and for the past six years, helping others find their own connection to the outdoors has been her passion! She received her Bachelor's of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California in Santa Barbara and has enjoyed various ecological and environmental education jobs since, especially her years spent educating at NatureBridge in Yosemite! For the past three years, she has been living and working in Valencia, Spain as a teacher of English as a foreign language. Now, she is thrilled to return to NatureBridge as the Operations Manager at the Golden Gate Campus. Outside of work, you will find Tanya drinking coffee, writing, doing yoga, teaching herself guitar, and chasing sunsets!

Caitlin grew up on the opposite coast in Connecticut on Long Island Sound, around 45 min outside of New York City where she fell in love with the outdoors at a young age. She graduated from Boston University in 2022 with teaching licenses in Elementary Grades 1-6 and General Science Grades 1-6 and throughout college worked at the New England Aquarium as a Conservation Educator before taking the leap and coming to NatureBridge August 2022. When she's not teaching you can find her making friendship bracelets, learning to rock climb, looking for seaglass and banana slugs, or attempting to play the ukulele/guitar. She's super excited for her second summer at Coastal Camp (especially singing the camp song every day!) and getting to help out all different groups this year in the full-time day support role!

David is from the tall grass prairies of Kansas City, Kansas. He currently works as an Educator for Nature Bridge during the school year teaching kids the wonders of science and how to be a steward of natural spaces. David’s favorite part of working for NatureBridge is being next to the ocean and getting to see a lot of marine life while hiking. He is really looking forward to hanging out with the campers this summer and continuing teaching environmental science, stewardship, and having fun! David's favorite thing to do in nature is canoeing, camping and swimming.

Annette was raised in Sonoma County and grew up exploring the incredibly diverse landscapes of Northern California. She recently graduated from Sonoma State University with a degree in Environmental Science, Geography, and Management and is looking forward to pursuing a master's degree at the University of San Fransisco in fall 2024. For the last two years Annette has been a Student Naturalist at SSU's Fairfield Osborn Preserve and has worked as an undergraduate researcher focusing on wildfire ecology. Some of her favorite outdoor places include the Sonoma Coast, the Mount Tamalpais and Russian River watersheds, and tidal ecosystems throughout the San Francisco Bay. Her hobbies include birding, playing music, SCUBA diving, and gardening. She is super excited to meet all the campers this summer while getting to spend every day exploring the beautiful Marin Headlands!

Oliver was raised just outside of Calhoun, TN, a town that boasts the extensive population of 423 people. Devoid of the amenities of city living, they turned to the forest surrounding their home where they and their siblings would build stick forts and learn about the beauty of nature with their hands in the dirt and their heads in the trees. After moving to California in 2021 for a year-long national service term as a Team Leader for Americorps NCCC, they took an outdoor education job in SoCal and fell in love with educating youth on the ways science works in our every day lives, and giving them the opportunity to experience what they grew up surrounded by. Two years later, they love getting to reach new groups of kids every week, connecting with them in ways that only camp counselors and naturalists can, and learning from children as much as children learn from them. In their spare time you can find them being bad at tennis, being good at crochet, cooking family dinner for all their friends, or jamming out on their ukelele. They don't know where their outdoor education journey will take them in the future, but they're excited to find out.

Maddie was born in raised on Aquidneck Island in the beautiful state of Rhode Island. She graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies and Sociology from St. Lawrence University in upstate New York. Living in two beautiful, small, tight night communities cultivated her love and passion for helping others and the environment in which we live. Maddie has worked at various outdoor education programs as well as learned through experience at St. Lawrence, inspiring a passion to educate outside of the classroom. Maddie has been really interested in bridging the connection between her interest in food systems, outdoor education, and intersectional environmentalism. Over the last four years, Maddie lived and worked on a few organic farms throughout New England, exploring her newfound passion for sustainable agriculture. When not teaching, Maddie enjoys a casual canoe, dancing with friends, car camping, listening to loud music, and creating art in various forms.

Quinlan grew up in Illinois, just south of Chicago. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a degree in Environmental Studies. Growing up near a city, Quinlan became passionate about connecting children to the nature around them and providing outdoor experiences for people of all abilities and backgrounds. A lot of Quinlan's childcare experience was through a local nonprofit working with special needs individuals. Quinlan moved out to California in pursuit of a career in outdoor education and just completed an internship at Foothill Horizons Outdoor School. Outside of teaching, Quinlan loves eating tuna, deep cleaning various surfaces, visiting National Parks (she's a junior ranger), and watching nature videos on YouTube. She's excited to explore the Headlands, play in the sand, and sit near large and small bodies of water.

Peggy grew up in the midwest, spending every summer of her life backpacking, canoeing, sailing and being outside in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. She has a degree in Natural Resources from Colorado State University where she got to learn to ski, rock climb, and sometimes ice climb! She has lived in California for the last two years, experiencing different environmental education jobs while finally landing at NatureBridge this January. She currently works at the NatureBridge Yosemite campus, and is excited to get to spend the summer on the coast! She also loves to spend her time biking, drinking iced coffee, and playing music.

Kat was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, so she's already very well-adjusted to San Francisco's foggy weather! She received her BS degree in Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management from the University of Washington - Seattle, where she fell in love with learning and teaching about wildlife. Nowadays, she loves hiking and exploring new areas, birdwatching, tidepooling, reading, and swimming! Her favorite dinner to make is a grilled cheese with tomato soup, and her favorite dessert is tiramisu! She's excited to spend the summer teaching outside in a coastal ecosystem, her favorite kind of environment. To Kat, the Marin Headlands is the perfect little pocket of wilderness, while still being close to the fun, hustle-and-bustle of the city. She's REALLY excited to discover all kinds of new sea creatures in the waters next to NatureBridge, and hopes her students will be as fascinated by all the local wildlife as she is!

Clarisa grew up in Las Vegas, but has been living in Canada for the majority of her life, getting to experience the beautiful Canadian lakes, mountains, and wilderness. Her love for nature and the outdoors came from spending time outside with her family and friends throughout her life. Clarisa is in her final year studying at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec majoring in Environment, and hopes to pursue a career in environmental conservation. She loves to connect with nature by hiking, camping, and especially swimming. When she’s not studying or working, she enjoys thrifting, listening to music, and having potlucks with her friends. She cannot wait to explore the Marin Headlands this summer!

Sadie grew up amongst the tall buildings of San Francisco and spent her childhood biking through Golden Gate Park and hunting for sand dollars on Ocean Beach. Her true love of nature wasn't unlocked until high school, when she went on her first backpacking trip in Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Ever since then, she's been hooked! After graduating from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington Sadie left the evergreen state and headed back to the Bay Area hoping that her love of getting outside would lead her to somewhere special. Now, with NatureBridge, she loves that she gets the chance to help other Bay Area kids experience the wonder and magic of being outside while exploring the Marin Headlands. When not working you can find her reading, hunting for sea glass, making pottery and eating gluten free treats.

Sarah recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in environmental studies and while she also enjoyed spending time out on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and trail running in the mountains. When not out in nature, Sarah may also be found at the farmers market, curled up with tea and a book, perfecting her chocolate chip cookie recipe, or dancing to their favorite music. She grew up in the east Bay Area and always considered the Marin Headlands one of their favorite places on Earth because of how magical and beautiful it is, though the Santa Barbara coast is a close second! She's excited to join Coastal Camp this year as an educator and to explore and learn more about one of the most special places with future environmental stewards.

Hannah was born in the small town of Ferndale, Washington and spent her early days playing in her grandma's garden and exploring the beaches of the Salish Sea! Eventually she moved to Seattle, WA to study environmental Geography at the University of Washington, where she also developed a love of teaching. After graduating, Hannah has worked in various summer camps and outdoor education sites throughout both Washington and California. She is excited to share her love of the ocean and the outdoors this summer at Coastal Camp! When not working, you can find Hannah reading, hunting for sea glass/little trinkets, or absolutely locked in on the NYT Games.

Emily was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and currently attends Northern Arizona University studying Environmental Studies and Sustainability. Because her hometown was notoriously hot during the summer months, her family took every chance they could get to escape three hours north to the beautiful (and much cooler) landscapes of northern Arizona. It was here that she learned to have a passion for wildlife and natural systems, and would love to inspire the same passion in others. When she's not completing her schoolwork under a tree, you can find her cooking, reading, thrifting, or browsing a local farmers market.

Amanda is a dedicated environmental enthusiast with a deep love for the outdoors. She received her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Management at Humboldt State University, CA, home of the Lost Coast. She likes to combine her love of nature with an interest in travel and backpacking, having explored domestic and international landscapes. Amanda grew up in Los Angeles, and developed a love for learning and science as a child while going to museums with her Dad to escape the heat in the summer. She spent 2023 spring as an educator with the McDowell Environmental Center. She’s super excited to channel more of her passion and is eager to inspire others to appreciate the natural world.

Maren hails from the scrubland deserts and prairies of the Oklahoma panhandle. She spent her child exploring the local dry river beds and seasonal playas that define No Man’s Land. At an early age her interest in history and environmental science had her nose deep in books ranging in topic from Wild West outlaws to water depletion studies. Passionate about protecting natural resources and ecosystems, Maren is currently a student at Oklahoma State University’s School of Geology pursuing a degree in hydrogeology. A lifelong competitive swimmer turned coach and lifeguard, she has taught and coached all levels of swimming, and has spent three years as both a pool and coastal lifeguard. She is extremely excited to join NatureBridge and explore more of the beautiful west coast. In their free time they enjoy swimming, hiking, painting, reading, and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Sam grew up in the Sierra Nevada mountains in a town called Mariposa. Having been raised in a small mountain town, their passion for the outdoors was ignited at a very young age. They spent summers hiking and camping with friends and family in Yosemite National Park. After living in Southern California for three years and completing their degree in Liberal Studies/Education at Arizona State University, they are thrilled to be exploring a new part of California. They have experience with teaching elementary students and caretaking for children and have always had a passion for working with the youth. They are so excited to be a part of a team that allows them to combine their love for the outdoors with teaching. In their spare time, Sam enjoys crocheting, playing guitar, journaling, and hiking.

Matthew was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is working towards his bachelor degree at LSU in Natural Resource Ecology and Management with a concentration in Wildlife Ecology. In his free time he enjoys hiking, going to the gym, traveling, reading, and he dabbles in camping. He has enjoyed working at a summer camp for elementary school children for 1st through 5th graders while in college. After he graduates, he hopes to go into some form of environmental education and be able to spread some of his knowledge and love for the environment to a younger generation. He also loves going to national parks with Yosemite being his favorite. He is really excited and looking forward to exploring the Marin Headlands this summer. His favorite ice cream flavor is cookies and cream and another fun fact is that he played the drums in a band in high school.

Stephanie was born and raised on east coast, however her love for nature was inspired by west coast wildlife and ecosystems. She has experience in raptor rehab as well as wildlife husbandry. Educating the public is a privilege to Stephanie and sharing her passion for nature is an honor. Her favorite foods are chicken caesar salad and most breakfast foods. Stephanie has been to all 50 states, and has glove-trained a Red-tailed hawk.

Helen grew up in Yorktown, Virginia in a house that backed up to protected natural ponds. Her childhood consisted of many days roaming, exploring and getting dirty. Helen graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Wildlife Conservation. During summers, she worked as a swim team coach which helped her realize that she wanted to pursue a job where she would get to work with kids. Currently, Helen works with NatureBridge as a Multi-campus educator, spending the school season at the Prince William campus and the summer at Golden Gate. This summer will be Helen’s first time in San Francisco and she’s so excited to get to know the area.

Laurel grew up in seven different states and is currently from Northern Virginia. She has a degree in Human Services and is an alum of AmeriCorps NCCC. Laurel spent this spring as an Educator at the NatureBridge Mid-Atlantic Region campus. Her favorite part of being an educator is watching students realize their own role in the natural world. She loves reading, identifying plants, exploring new places, and grooving out.

Tris was born in Iowa and grew up going to outdoor leaning programs all their early life. They grew up biking on trails by their family home and exploring their backyard. They moved to California and fell in love with everything it had to offer. They went to UCLA and studied education graduating in 2023. In their spare time they enjoy drawing, circus arts, hiking and roller skating.

Shantih grew up in the outskirts of Yangminshan National Park in Taipei, Taiwan where she often spent weekends exploring the subtropical forests and mountains in her backyard. She enjoys reading books that pique her interest, cooking too much food for one person and drawing silly doodles. She attended Northeastern University, attaining a degree in Biology and a minor in Environmental Science. She loves and cares for the outdoors as the dear friend that it is. She currently works at MARE during the school year.

Tan grew up in the central valley of California, where they frequented Yosemite Nationals Park on family trips. They fell in love with teaching and the outdoors through their work in other summer camps and through their studies to become an elementary teacher at CSU Stanislaus. Some of their favorite places include Point Lobos in Monterey Bay, the avenue of the giants in Humboldt county, and of course Yosemite National Park. They love to crochet and are excited to discover and explore the Marin Headlands this summer!

As a passionate lifelong learner, Dominick loves being an educator at NatureBridge and Coastal Camp. Dominick moved around between multiple different countries as a young child, overcoming the challenges of fitting in and developing a sense of home. Coming out of these experiences with an eagerness for compassion and understanding, Dom likes to encourage students to share how they see the world. With just a little effort and a lot of fun, anyone can feel at home in nature! Dom graduated from the University of Redlands with a degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy. Since then, Dom has worked as a research fellow at Harvard Forest in Massachusetts and an AmeriCorps fellow at the Community Alliance of Family Farmers in Davis, CA. At the end of a long day, Dom will cook a grand meal, play some video games, or explore uncharted hobby territories.

Maddy grew up in Shelburne, Vermont and just recently completed her Bachelors at the University of Vermont with a major in Natural Resources and a concentration in Ecology. Being outside has always been a constant in her life and she has picked up many recreational sports along the way including climbing, backpacking, and backcountry skiing! Expanding accessibility and knowledge of the outdoors is one of her greatest passions and she cannot wait to share it with NatureBridge. Along with outdoor education she has a passion for wildlife conservation research which she gained from spending a semester backpacking and studying conservation in Chilean Patagonia. She cannot wait to spend her time learning about the flora and fauna in the area and sharing it with others. Her dad grew up in the Bay Area and she is excited to experience it for herself this coming summer!

Grace grew up in the foothills of East Tennessee. She grew up very connected to nature. She fell in love with the smoky mountains and spent most of her late teens and early twenties hiking any chance she got. Throughout her life her passions in swimming and art stayed constant. She worked coaching children ages two to seventeen in swimming while she pursued an architecture degree with a landscape focus at the University of Tennessee. After graduating she moved to Washington state to be a trip leader in Orcas Island. She leads backpacking, kayaking and canoe trips with kids ages nine to fifteen. Currently she spends the school year working for Web of Life field School where she travels around the Bay Area and works as a Naturalist teaching science camp! She loves teaching kids about science and is eager to start work at NatureBridge Coastal Camp where she gets to continue doing what she loves!

Mia was born and raised in Tijuana B.C., just south of San Diego, where she sporadically lived in throughout her life. Growing up in cities of such rapid development helped her realize that the way things are unfolding in the developing world aren’t in harmony with a sustainable planet. Such realization and her innate connection with nature led her to pursue an environmental sciences degree at San Diego State University, where she completed an internship dedicated to binational plant species and got to work and travel along the beautiful and diverse Sea of Cortez, further enhancing her love for plants.
Getting to learn more about the interconnectedness within earth inspired her to look for a career path and lifestyle that would allow her to connect more with people and the environment. Additionally, her passion to help educate children in a way that encourages their curiosity, and creativity while learning meaningful concepts is why she is very excited to join NatureBridge this year! Aside from that, Mia enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, surfing, skating, camping, listening to music on a good walk, and foraging for edible, and medicinal plants!

Sarah was born and raised in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida. She’s always loved being outside, especially in the springs, beaches and forests. She graduated from UCF with a B.S. in math and a minor in education. She went on to teach math for three years, then fell in love with California doing while doing trail work one summer. She began as an Environmental Science Educator at NatureBridge shortly after, and the rest is history. Sarah loves the Marin Headlands and is beyond excited to share their beauty and wonder with this year’s Coastal Campers.

Fatima was born and raised in Knoxville, TN and attended UTK. After a gap year (and a half) of traveling in New Zealand and Asia, she is coming back to camp, ready to dive into another great summer. She is into climbing, surfing, and snowboarding, and when in San Francisco, she loves grabbing a bite at King Dumpling or having a browse at Ecothrift. She is looking forward to a fun season with everyone before she continues her studies.

Diane grew up in the San Gabriel Valley in LA County. She developed a love for the natural world by going to the aquarium, botanical gardens, and science museums as a kid. In 2023, she graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Environmental Studies. In her free time, she likes to draw, hike, and watch horror movies. She is excited to work surrounded by the beauty of the Bay Area.