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
Anna Kay Sitzman, Instructor
Anna Kay (she/her) joined Nearby Nature in the Fall of 2024 and has served in a variety of teaching positions since that time. She has been a lead teacher for Natural Neighbors, No School Days, and Summer Daycamps. She was also an Instructional Assistant for Wonder Keepers in the Spring 2025. Anna Kay has worked in childcare for over a decade and is passionate about fostering curiosity about the world around us. She received an M.S. in Geography from Louisiana State University, where she researched impacts of rainfall and street flooding on vehicle parking on medians in New Orleans. Her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Social Sciences was completed at Loyola University New Orleans. Anna Kay is a trained climatologist and is enthusiastic to answer any weather related question. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Anna Kay loves country line dancing, practicing yoga, swimming, biking, canoeing, hiking, and eating dessert.
Bear Scamman, Instructor
Bear (he/him) joined Nearby Nature’s staff in 2017 as an Assistant Park Host to help with the myriad of tasks that come along with caring for our Learnscape and Alton Baker Park. Since that time, Bear has taught Summer Daycamps, No School Days, Nature Quests, and Nature School programs. He currently serves as a site Lead for the Alton Baker Park Walks program, which he first helped out with in 2016 as a Volunteer Nature Guide. Bear still subs for other programs occasionally, but these days spends many hours as a country dance instructor at OSU in Corvallis! Bear originally hails from faraway Maine, where his family has lived for 11 generations.
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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!
Conor Tracey, Instructor
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.
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.
Jesse Hubbe, Instructor
Jesse (he/him) joined Nearby Nature’s staff in the summer of 2022 as a Spanish-English bilingual Daycamps instructor and also teaches No School Day Adventures! Jesse grew up in Eugene and participated in Churchill Hill School’s Rachel Carson Environmental Studies Program, where he became particularly interested in native plants. After high school, Jesse earned a general studies Arts and Associates Transfer Degree at Lane Community College, joined the LCC’s Men’s Basketball Coaching staff, and spent time working with Willamalane guiding field trips and camps at Dorris Ranch. For many years, Jesse worked as a Kindergarten Educational Assistant at Eugene’s River Road/El Camino del Rio Elementary School. These days, works as a professional mentor for an organization called Friends of the Children. Jesse has participated in multiple local climate and social justice campaigns over the years, and is passionate about local ecology. He is honored to have the opportunity to encourage a positive connection between young people and nature nearby. In his spare time, Jesse loves playing basketball, cooking meals with friends, and gardening.
Karina Rogers, Instructor
Karina (she/her) joined Nearby Nature as a Daycamps intern in the summers of 2018 and 2020, served as a Program Assistant as well as an Instructor for Wonder Keepers and Natural Neighbors from 2021-23, and taught Daycamps in 2023. Karina still subs for programs occasionally! Karina graduated from the University of Oregon in 2022 with her Master of Education in Curriculum and Teacher Education. She enjoys traveling, and has had the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland and volunteer in Nepal. In her free time, Karina enjoys hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, and really anything that involves the outdoors. Karina grew up in Eugene and is passionate about working with and serving children in Lane County. She currently works as a professional mentor for an organization called Friends of the Children, where she works to impact generational change for children and families in Lane County who face the greatest obstacles.
Libby Bridges, Instructor
Libby Bridges (she/her) joined Nearby Nature as a Summer Daycamps instructor in 2025 and is a current graduate student in Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon, with concentration areas in environmental education, climate justice, and food studies. Before moving to Eugene, she earned her elementary teaching license and taught fifth-grade in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to classroom teaching in Tennessee, Libby has managed environmental education projects in Oregon, led outdoor education camps in Montana, and assisted teaching in Copenhagen forest schools. In her free time, she loves to run, visit the farmer’s market, and admire mosses and trees.
Rachel Young, 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 Daycamps in 2025. For the fall of 2025, we will be 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 our crew 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.
Sam Pickard, Instructor
Sam (she/her) joined Nearby Nature to teach 2024 daycamps after her recent move from Ohio to Oregon to be closer to wild spaces! Thanks to her desire to share her love of nature with young people, she has worked in a wide variety of outdoor youth settings, from children’s survival classes to school gardens to ecosystem education programs. The topics she most enjoys teaching about focus on reciprocity, land stewardship, and appreciation of beings that are integral to ecosystems, but often forgotten. In her spare time Sam prefers to not be found, and is usually foraging for teas, reading good books, wandering in the forest, or stopping to look at every small creature or shiny rock along her path.
Thomas Weaver, Instructor
Thomas (he/him) first joined Nearby Nature as a volunteer nature guide in the Fall of 2013. The following summer, he joined our teaching crew and has taught Day Camps, Nature Quests, and No School Days ever since. He’s also been known to moonlight as Milton Moth at the annual Haunted Hike! These days, Thomas is a full time postal worker, but he still subs for programs occasionally. Born in Virginia and raised in West Virginia, Thomas enjoys hiking, bicycling, old computers, volunteering, and acting in local theater in his spare time. He has an M.A. in Education from Pacific University and a B.S. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Geology from the University of Oregon.
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.
Summer 2025 Interns
Chloe Gipson — Summer Daycamps
Chloe (she/her) 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.
Elijah Moreno — Summer Daycamps
Coming Soon!!
Jayda Roberts — Summer Daycamps
Born in Arizona, Jayda (she/her) has lived across the United States and in parts of Germany, gaining a broad appreciation for diverse cultures and natural environments. Through these experiences, she developed a strong passion for environmental stewardship and cultural understanding, which led her to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon. Jayda discovered her enthusiasm for teaching early on while working as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA. With over five years of experience, she is committed to creating
inclusive learning environments where students of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities feel supported and empowered. At the University of Oregon, Jayda deepened her passion for environmental education through the Environmental Leadership Program, where she taught third-grade students at River Road Elementary about birds and their vital relationships with ecosystems.
Libby Bridges — Summer Daycamps
Libby Bridges (she/her) is a current graduate student in Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon, with concentration areas in environmental education, climate justice, and food studies. Before moving to Eugene, she earned her elementary teaching license and taught fifth-grade in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to classroom teaching in Tennessee, Libby has managed environmental education projects in Oregon, led outdoor education camps in Montana, and assisted teaching in Copenhagen forest schools. In her free time, she loves to run, visit the farmer’s market, and admire mosses and trees.
Marina Moyce — Summer Daycamps
Marina (she/her) is a rising sophomore at Whitman College, studying Environmental Studies and Biology. Born and raised in Eugene, Marina has a deep fondness for the places campers get to explore, often learning alongside them. This is Marina’s second year as an intern! In her free time Marina enjoys hiking, reading historical fiction, swimming in the river, and biking everywhere she can.
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Myles Hoff — Summer Daycamps
Myles (he/him) graduated from the University of Oregon as part of the Educational Foundations program. He is now working as a SPED Educational Assistant for a local charter school. As a child, Myles participated in Nearby Nature and is happy to be back years later to help out. Myles enjoys spending time outside in nature, even when the pollen is too much! While at Nearby Nature camps, he is excited to learn right alongside the kids. When not helping with camps, Myles takes care of two kittens and loves to cook.
Rachel Young — Summer Daycamps
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 in the Winter of 2025 and then became an intern in the Spring-Summer of 2025. Rooted in Eugene, her passion for nurturing nature is reflected in her artwork and backyard garden, where she cultivates perennial herbs, edible flowers, and vegetables for her cooking. Rachel loves hiking in local natural areas, taking spontaneous picnics, and sketching landscapes in her pocket notebook. She values community, regularly attends the Saturday Market, volunteers at garden parties, and enjoys live music. Passionate about sustainability, she supports local grocers and second-hand shops. Rachel paints Oregon landscapes and creates mixed-media artworks inspired by her deep connection to nature. Rachel strives to foster joy!
Rainier Cem — Summer Daycamps
Rainier (he/him) just graduated from South Eugene High School and has lived in Oregon since he was eight years old. He’s passionate about being active in the outdoors, whether it’s through climbing at the Skinner Butte Columns or going for a leisurely hike through Alton Baker Park. He will be attending Pacific University next fall to study outdoor adventure and is also hoping to delve deeper into environmental studies and journalism. Rainier’s absolute favorite hobby is birding – challenge him to name every bird you hear and see in the park!
Rhea Florez — Summer Daycamps
Coming Soon!
Sasha Stumpf — Summer Daycamps
Sasha (she/her) is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Sustainable Business. Growing up in Oregon, she’s always loved the outdoors, not just for its beauty and the incredible resources it offers, but because it’s the best jungle gym a girl could ask for! Sasha is passionate about hiking, biking, snowboarding, surfing, climbing…pretty much anything outside. She’s excited to share this love of nature with our kids and help make this summer fun, memorable, and full of adventure!
Will Erskine — Summer Daycamps
Coming Soon!