Year-Around Staff
Beth Stein, Executive Director
Beth (she/her) has worked with Nearby Nature since 1994, serving in a variety of capacities, from Programs Director to Executive Director. In addition to managing our group’s finances and community outreach, Beth coordinates our School Nature Walks program, teaches at our Wonder Keepers Preschool, writes grants, plans special events, and creates our newsletters. She has also been known to dress up as Frannie the Frog! Her favorite role at Nearby Nature is probably that of a programs storyteller and she believes that if you can tell a good story, you can do anything! Beth has a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in Environmental Studies from Williams College. When she’s not working at Nearby Nature, you’ll find Beth most happy hiking in the woods, biking around town, canoeing down the Willamette, shopping at the farmers market, or hanging out with family and friends.
Programs Manager, Claire Griffin
Claire (she/they) joined the Nearby Nature team in the Winter of 2025 as Programs Manager. With a strong background in outdoor education, youth program development, and nonprofit management, Claire is passionate about building community connections — and is thrilled to be part of such a vibrant one, from berries to bees and beyond. Born and raised in the Midwest, Claire earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Indiana University. While there, she led outdoor adventure courses, refining her skills in outdoor education. Her love for alternative education led Claire to pursue a Master’s in Museum Studies at George Washington University. After graduation, Claire made the cross-country move to Eugene in June 2023, where she began as a Camp Instructor at the Eugene Science Center, stayed on as an Outreach Educator, and later became the Outreach Coordinator. Outside of work, Claire enjoys hiking, crafting, reading, cuddling with her cats, spending time with friends, and roller skating at sunset.
Wendy McKenzie, NCS Instructor & Nearby Nature Administrative Assistant
Wendy (she/they) has been a Network Charter School science teacher since 2003. She has worked with Nearby Nature since 1995 and served for many years as its Park Host, both in Alton Baker Park and at Armitage Park. Wendy has BA in Environmental Studies and Philosophy from the University of Oregon. In Wendy’s NCS classes, students develop a keen appreciation of the natural world as well as a clear understanding of the many threats that currently face it. Hands-on work in nature is a common project for students in her classes, who spend lots of time in NCS’s gardens as well as Nearby Nature’s Learnscape Outdoor Classroom. Wendy is also the original creator of Nearby Nature’s Kinder Critters! Wendy has served for many years as an Administrative Director in our work with the Network Charter School during the school year, and starting in 2022, as an Administrative Assistant for the rest of Nearby Nature.
Kurt Kamin, Resident Host & Park Stewardship Coordinator
Kurt Kamin (he/him) joined our staff in the Fall of 2024, and brings to his work at Nearby Nature a diverse range of professional and personal skills and interests. Since moving to Eugene from Wisconsin in 1996, Kurt has worn a variety of interesting hats. For the most recent 20 years, he worked to protect and restore native habitats and ecosystems in the Willamette Valley as a floodplain and upland steward for the Friends of Buford Park. Prior to that, he delivered cargo by bike for Pedaler’s Express, edited Oregon Cycling Magazine, worked with Full Circle Farm, and got a degree in Literary Non-Fiction from the University of Oregon. His passion for nature began in the Badger State, however, where he played in creeks and ponds, explored prairies and forests, and took long bike rides in the countryside and suburbia. These days, when he’s not Park Hosting, Kurt likes to read and write, listen to music or podcasts, play games, garden, hike, bike, and juggle!Sophia Zandi, Preschool Education Coordinator & Programs Assistant
Sophia Zandi, Preschool Education Coordinator & Programs Assistant
Sophia Zandi (she/they) joined Nearby Nature in the Fall of 2023 as our Preschool Programs Coordinator as well as a general Programs Instructor. During the school year, she is our Wonder Keepers Preschool Lead Instructor. Sophia brings to Nearby Nature early childhood education experience working in a Montessori preschool, teaching preschool nature camps for Whole Earth Nature School, and doing youth programs at farm schools. Originally from the Southwest, Sophia graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio with a B.A in Environmental Studies and Comparative Literature, with Highest Honors for her ecocritical thesis on Ancient Greek myths. In addition to spending time with preschoolers, Sophia has worked as a wetland conservationist, an organic vegetable farmer, and an artist’s assistant. A woman of many nicknames, she was officially dubbed “The Fairy Queen of the Gardens” by Taos Land Trust and was known fondly as “Spider” by kids in her past nature camps! When she’s not teaching at Nearby Nature, you can find her storytelling, foraging for berries, crafting, singing on a bike ride, watercoloring, or reading a book under a big tree.
Part Time Instructors & Instructional Assistants
Ben Larson, Instructor
Ben (he/him) joined our staff as a summer bike daycamps instructor in 2025. A local land steward and educator, Ben has over a decade of experience managing a diversified orchard, ranch, and riparian forest involved with a multitude of agricultural research, soil and water conservation, and air quality projects. His primary passions include building, maintaining, and enhancing agroecological systems, providing education about sustainable land stewardship to his local community, helping steward habitat for countless flora, fauna, and fungi, and bicycling. Ben’s work also includes being an educator in our local school system. Outside of work, he loves cooking with close ones and planning the next bike trip!
Chloe Gipson, Instructional Assistant
Chloe (she/her) joined our staff as an intern in the Summer of 2025 and moved on to become an Instructional Assistant in the Fall of 2025, primarily for Natural Neighbors After School. Chloe is in her senior year at the University of Oregon, studying biology and psychology—two subjects that fuel her curiosity about how living things, from plants to animals, interact within the world. Chloe has spent years working with kids as a camp counselor, nanny, and swim instructor, and was active in 4-H for a full decade, which shaped her love for hands-on learning and adventure. Outside of school, Chloe is happiest outdoors—camping, bouldering, and taking her dog to the river for quality time in nature. She also loves training dogs and has volunteered to train four dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind over the last 5 years. Whether she’s diving into a research project or exploring a new trail, she’s always looking to learn, grow, and connect with the world around her.
Conor Tracey, Instructor & Instructional Assistant
Conor (he/they) first joined our staff in the Summer of 2023 when he served as a Daycamps Teaching Assistant. He enjoyed himself so much that year that he returned for the Summer of 2025 to be a Lead Instructor! Conor grew up in Eugene and has always been passionate about our local environment and the great outdoors. Over the last few years, Conor has been getting more involved in education and working with children and will be completing his teaching certification in June 2025. In addition to working with kids at Nearby Nature, Conor previously worked at a sleepaway summer camp in Washington called Camp Nor’wester and at the Village School in South Eugene as an Educational Assistant. As of the fall of 2025, Conor is a math teacher at Oakhill School in Eugene.
Cylver Walter, Instructor
Cylver (she/her) joined Nearby Nature in the Summer of 2026 as a Lead Instructor for Daycamps. Originally from Minnesota, Cylver is a portrait photographer, childhood educator, nature lover, and creative now making her home in the Eugene area. Cylver has been working with kids for over a decade in a variety of settings, from being a traveling art teacher at schools across the Twin Cities to teaching kids how to grow food, work with medicinal plants, and support the ecosystem as a Garden Teacher at a Eugene school. She is deeply passionate about fostering connection with the world around us and creating space for children to explore their unique gifts. When not in the classroom she can probably be found in a mossy nook by the river, sharing her art and herbal creations at the Farmers Market, covered in clay at the pottery studio, or in her garden.
Emma Brigham, Instructor
Emma (she/her) joined Nearby Nature as a Daycamp Instructor in the Summer of 2022. Emma is by no means new to camps! She has been helping out as a volunteer since she was a teenager. Emma is passionate about human rights and the environment, loves to teach kids about the world around us, and enjoys art of all kinds. Born in Ohio, she has lived in Eugene since she was 10 and loves spending time in nature and with her dog Olive. Emma now attends Western Washington University during the school year and enjoys spending her summers with Nearby Nature.
Esmé Juenemann, Instructor
Esmé (she/they) joined Nearby Nature as a Daycamps Instructor in the summer of 2024. She has been involved with Nearby Nature for a long time, attending camps throughout her childhood and volunteering since she was 13. Born and raised in Eugene, Esmé loves spending time with friends, working on sewing projects, being outside, and listening to music (especially Fleetwood Mac)! Esmé will be entering her second year of college at the University of Oregon this fall, where they are studying to become a forensic chemist.
Finn Fischer, Instructor
Finn (they/them) joined Nearby Nature in the Summer of 2026 as a Lead Instructor for Daycamps. Finn has been with Nearby Nature since high school, as they are a Network Charter School alum! Their love of nature fueled them through a BA in Biology at Oregon State University and for the 2025-26 school year Finn served as an instructional assistant with our Network Charter School classes at the yurt. For six years, Finn also worked on the staff of Oregon Country Fair’s Culture Jam summer camp. When not teaching, Finn loves to bake sweet treats, dance, and do fiber arts.
Kayla Griffin, Instructor
Kayla (she/her) joined the Nearby Nature in the Spring of 2026 as a Lead Instructor for No School Days, and will continue into the Summer of 2026 as a Lead Instructor for Daycamps. Prior to that, she served in the Winter of 2026 as an intern with the Wonder Keepers Preschool program. She is a senior at the University of Oregon, majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Education. Kayla has been working with children since she was 11 years old, going from babysitting to being a camp counselor to working at a daycare. She is especially passionate about combining her love of teaching with her love of the outdoors. Outside of her job, Kayla appreciates making art, camping, hiking, and reading. She grew up in Portland Oregon, often referring to Columbia Gorge as her second home.
Rachel Young, Instructor & Instructional Assistant
Rachel (she/her) is a student at Lane Community College, pursuing a certification in Early Childhood Education while planning to continue her studies in art. Rachel joined Nearby Nature as a volunteer for the Wonder Keepers program in the Winter of 2025, worked as an intern in the Spring of 2025, and volunteered with our Summer 2025 Daycamps. Starting in the Fall of 2025, she will be our Wonder Keepers Instructional Assistant. Rooted in Eugene, Rachel enjoys casual bike rides, hiking, gardening, attending live music, and sketching Pacific Northwest landscapes in her notebook during outdoor adventures. Her passion for nurturing nature is reflected in her backyard garden, rock paintings, and mixed-media art. Passionate about sustainability and community, Rachel supports local markets and often volunteers at garden parties. Rachel strives to foster joy!
Read Wagar, Instructional Assistant
Read (he/him) first joined Nearby Nature in the Summer of 2010 as a high school volunteer. He enjoyed working with our kids so much that he continued to volunteer throughout high school, college, and beyond. In the summer of 2020, he officially joined our staff and was a critical member of our educational team as well as one of our key COVID health and safety assistants. Today Read works at a preschool year around and helps out when still he can at Nearby Nature. When Read is not at Nearby Nature, he enjoys camping, hiking, swimming, cooking (baking especially), and game nights.
Seby Souza, Instructor
Seby (he/him) joined Nearby Nature in the Spring of 2026 as a Natural Neighbors After School Program Instructor. Seby is a fourth-year Environmental Science student at the University of Oregon who grew up in San Francisco, but decided to attend school in Eugene in large part because of Oregon’s many amazing outdoor opportunities. He has always loved working with kids, and spent his early college summers working as a counselor at a sleepaway camp outside Yosemite. Seby is passionate about teaching kids about all the interesting things he fell in love with outdoors when he was a kid (including at that same camp he later worked as an instructor)! In his free time, Seby loves hiking, camping, fishing, and swimming. And last summer he expanded his outdoor adventuring to working on a fishing boat in San Diego!
Tayler Gray, Instructor
Tayler (she/her) joined Nearby Nature in the Spring of 2026 as a Lead Instructor for school year programs as well as a Summer Daycamps Instructor. Tayler is a student at the University of Oregon majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry and Public Health. She has always loved being outdoors and grew up going on road trips exploring all over California and beyond. Tayler also spent 14 years as a Girl Scout! In her free time, Tayler enjoys baking, reading, and going on adventures with friends.
Network Charter School Instructors
Wendy McKenzie, NCS Instructor
See under Year-Around Staff above.
Billy Hughes, NCS Instructor
Billy Hughes (he/him) has been an instructor with the Network Charter School since 2005. He loves to garden, hike, backpack, kayak, fish, ride his bike, wild craft, and relax in the great outdoors with his family. Nature is literally the “classroom” for all of Billy’s courses. Through his unique approach to PE, students enjoy fishing, playing ultimate frisbee, going on urban hikes, and gardening. Community service is also part of Billy’s recipe for a complete classroom experience, and his students often spend time helping out at Walama Restoration and at Food for Lane County gardens. He has a Permaculture Design Certification and a Permaculture Teachers Certification.
Matthew Palotti, NCS Instructor
Matthew (he/they) started his journey at Network Charter School in 2022. He teaches math, coding, and physical science. After earning his PhD in physics, Matthew spent seven years teaching physics and physical science at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis, Tennessee. He brings the same student-centered, equity-minded approach to education that he used in his college level classes to his work at Network Charter School. Matthew looks forward to incorporating the natural world into all of his classes. When not teaching, Matthew enjoys exploring the wonders of Oregon with his wife, twin daughters, and two dogs.
Ethan Kruger, NCS Instructor
Ethan (he/his) will be joined the Nearby Nature staff in the Fall of 2023 and is a Network Charter School graduate with a Math degree from the University of Oregon. He hopes to instill in his students the desire to learn that he discovered at NCS, and in doing so, help inspire students to consider math less of a chore and more of a hobby. When not teaching NCS classes, Ethan loves spending time outside with his young daughter.