2024-2025

Ada (she/her) is a UC Santa Barbara alum with a degree in Biological Anthropology. Her academic journey has taken her from studying riparian songbirds and their ecosystems in the field to researching red-tailed monkey energetics using stable isotope analysis in the lab. Ada is captivated by animal behavior ecology and the intricate connections between humans and their natural environments. Outside of research, she is passionate about birding, ceramics, and playing music, and is dedicated to advancing equitable science communication.

White Buffalo Land Trust

Alyana is a Grizzlycorps Fellow serving with the Blodgett Forest Research Station, a research forest with UCBerkeley Forests. In addition to capacity-building and direct service projects, she will be focused on outreach within El Dorado communities and on UC Berkeley's campus. Hailing all the way from Upstate New York, being able to serve within this position is an incredibly unique opportunity to explore California. As such, Alyana is excited most about getting to know California in her free time, building new interests, and learning more about active forest management! At the end of this year, her goal is to identify one native bird to the Sierra Nevadas by sound.

Blodgett Forest Research Station

Anna (she/her) is serving at Shasta Valley RCD as a Forestry & Fuels Fellow. She graduated from Colorado State University in May 2024 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.A. in Spanish. Throughout her undergraduate career, she developed a passion for sustainability and using science to combat the impacts of climate change. Anna spent the past summer serving with the Southwest Conservation Corps, another AmeriCorps program, out of Durango, Colorado where she gained skills in natural resource management and a deeper interest in forestry. She is excited to learn more about these areas and use her knowledge during her time as a GrizzlyCorps fellow to help with forest management and wildfire resilience. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, climbing, and just about anything else that gets her outside.

Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District

Brenda (she/ her) is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Environmental Studies, specializing in Agroecology and Global Environmental Justice. During her time at UCSC, Brenda developed a deep understanding of ecological principles and their application to agricultural systems. Prior to joining GrizzlyCorps, Brenda gained valuable hands-on experience working with urban community gardens in her hometown of Santa Barbara and while at UCSC. This experience allowed her to witness firsthand the positive impact of sustainable farming practices on local communities and ecosystems. Brenda's academic background and practical experience in urban agriculture have equipped her with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in promoting climate resilience and sustainable land management. She is excited to apply her knowledge and skills at The Hopland Research and Extension Center, contributing to the vital work of adapting agricultural practices to meet the challenges of climate change.

Hopland Research and Extension Center

Brian (he/him) will be serving as the Forestry & Fire Fellow with the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County. He earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from UCLA with a concentration in Environmental Systems & Society. While studying Environmental Science at UCLA he gained valuable experience as a student researcher working on wildfire mitigation in the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve alongside the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Areas Steering Committee. Originally from North County San Diego, he is grateful to be able to serve the community where he grew up.

Greater San Diego Resource Conservation District

Brianna (she/they) is spending her first year as a GrizzlyCorps Fellow serving with the Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council (FSC). Born in Sutter County and raised in Butte County, she graduated from UCLA in Biology. Brianna has always held a deep love for STEM, and found their passion for ecology and conservation throughout college. While at UCLA she had the privilege to work on the Stone Canyon Creek Restoration Project, which cemented her dream to work in the field and help protect Californian ecosystems. Brianna's work will be focusing on wildfire resilience, forest management, risk assessment, and community outreach, and they are excited to work with the Madera County community, local agencies, and non-profits to help prepare for and prevent catastrophic wildfires that threaten the safety and health of the community and ecosystem. Brianna looks forward to continuing learning about climate resilience and applying it to help the communities of California as our climate continues to change. In her free time, Brianna enjoys going to concerts, cross-stitching, crocheting, knitting, playing video games, writing, and cuddling with her cat, Artemis.

Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council

Celeste Navarrete (she/her) is a GrizzlyCorps Fellow serving with the California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR). As an Environmental Engineer committed to addressing climate change, Celeste is on a mission to better inform and serve the community. Driven by her passion for sustainable solutions, she focuses on improving water resource management and building climate resilience in California. Celeste is excited to work with CIWR to implement innovative approaches that support both local ecosystems and community needs in the face of climate challenges.

California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR)

Christian (he/him) is from San Jose, California, with proud Mexican and Peruvian roots. He graduated from the University of Redlands with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Spatial Studies. Passionate about environmental stewardship, Christian is eager to apply his academic background in understanding and addressing ecological challenges. Outside of his studies, he loves staying active, whether it's hiking through nature or playing soccer. Combining his love for the environment with his enthusiasm for sports, Christian is excited to bring his skills and energy to new experiences and projects, and he looks forward to the opportunities ahead.

Blue Oak Ranch Reserve

Clay Groetsch (she/he/they) is a second year GrizzlyCorps fellow serving with the Trinity County Resource Conservation District in Weaverville, California and will by working with the Forest Health, Watershed, and Education/Outreach departments. Clay received their Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management from North Carolina State University, and a Master of Science in Natural Resources from Auburn University. As GrizzlyCorp's first "gap year" fellow, they spent their time between their first and second GrizzlyCorps term hiking the Appalachian Trail, and hope to bring a can do attitude and enthusiasm to a new community.

Trinity County Resource Conservation District

Cora is serving with the Pit River tribe this year.

Pit River Tribe

Daniel (he/him) is from the High Desert of the Inland Empire in Southern California and recently graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a B.S. in Environmental Sciences. During his time at UCR, Daniel worked for over two years as a research associate in the soil biogeochemistry lab, focusing on projects related to microbe-mediated sustainable agriculture and the analysis of lead (Pb) exceedances in schools across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. He also served as an educator in his local school district, working as a substitute teacher before joining GrizzlyCorps. This will be Daniel's first year as a fellow at the South Coast Research & Extension Center in Irvine, where he is eager to support sustainable water resource management for both urban and agricultural communities throughout Southern California. A fun fact about Daniel is that he is an independent musical artist and aspiring actor.

South Coast Research & Extension Center

Daniel (he/him) is a GrizzlyCorps Fellow working at the Pit River Greenhouse Complex for the Pit River Tribe. As part of a dedicated team, he’s focused on revitalizing greenhouse operations to grow native plants essential for landscape restoration, especially after fires and dam removals. The greenhouse will also provide fresh produce, traditional herbs, and medicinal plants to benefit tribal members. Daniel’s love for the outdoors has always been central to his life—he’s worked as a cowboy and enjoys spending his time hiking and fishing. He joined GrizzlyCorps to deepen his connection to the Pit River community and to develop both personally and professionally. Outside of work, Daniel enjoys hanging out with friends, riding ATVs, and making lasting memories with his kids.

Pit River Tribe

Dylan (he/they/el) was born and raised on Tongva and Acjachemen land in Southern California and holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from San Francisco State University, with a focus on habitat conservation and restoration. Now a GrizzlyCorps Fellow at Pie Ranch, Dylan is passionate about land stewardship as a “fire dog” and is grateful for the chance to remove invasive species, work with the soil, and reintroduce fire as a tool for ecosystem regeneration. Outside of work, they love digging holes, cheering on their favorite teams, surfing, and cooking meals for friends.

Pie Ranch

Emily attended Auburn University in Alabama where she obtained her MS in Forestry. Her research interests included tree ecophysiology and fire ecology. While field and lab work were her primary focus, she is excited to delve more into pubic outreach and education while in the GrizzlyCorps program. She is currently working with Trinity County Fire Safe Council as their Hazards Resilience Coordinator. Fun fact about Emily is that this past summer she hiked the entire Appalachian trail with her partner, and when she isn't backpacking she is rock climbing, mountain biking, or birding.

Trinity County RCD

Emily Dewing (she/her) is a GrizzlyCorps Fellow serving with Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR). While pursuing her B.S. in Environmental Science at Sonoma State University, Emily frequently heard her professors describe ACR as a “local superhero” in conservation, inspiring her interest in their impactful work. Over the years, she has researched ACR from afar, admiring their dedication to protecting natural habitats and supporting local ecosystems. Now, she’s thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside them, applying her skills and passion to support ACR’s mission of environmental stewardship and conservation. Emily looks forward to making a meaningful contribution to the landscapes and communities that have long inspired her.

Audubon Canyon Ranch

Emily is serving with the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council. She is working with the Prescribed Burn Association to scale up burning and build community across the county as well as expanding fire science education for middle schoolers in collaboration with the Hopland Research and Extension Center. Emily grew up in San Rafael, CA and graduated from Columbia University in 2023 with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and past experiences include designing phytoremediation systems for legacy heavy metal contamination, overseeing solar field construction, and early childhood environmental education. Personally, Emily loves abstract landscape photography, watching movies, hiking, and being in the ocean.

Mendocino County Fire Safe Council

Erik (he/him) is a GrizzlyCorps Fellow from San Luis Obispo, California. He recently graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection. This season, Erik will be stationed at the Point Reyes Field Station, where he’s eager to apply his passion for the natural world—especially the diverse flora and fauna—while expanding his knowledge and hands-on skills. Erik is excited about the opportunity to learn more about environmental stewardship and contribute to the preservation of the unique ecosystems that inspire him.

Point Reyes Field Station

Estefania Laines joined the Lake County Resource Conservation District in September 2024 as a GrizzlyCorps Fellow, focusing on capacity building for the Forest Health program and Lake County Fire Safe Council. Her work includes developing guidance for post-fire resilience, reforestation, forest management plans, and outreach. Estefania earned a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies with a minor in Forestry from UC Berkeley, where she built a strong foundation in environmental management and sustainability. Passionate about forest management and the restoration of fire-affected landscapes, Estefania is committed to bringing practical, science-based solutions to Lake County. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and discovering the area's natural beauty!

Lake County Resource Conservation District

Ethan (he/him) is a GrizzlyCorps fellow serving with the Watershed Research and Training Center in Trinity County. His passion for nature, fueled by a childhood spent building shelters, climbing trees, and practicing friction fire, led him to pursue a B.Sc. in Natural Resources Conservation at the University of British Columbia. As a research assistant for a wildfire research lab in university, he developed a keen interest in the complex challenge of enhancing community wildfire resiliency in the face of a changing climate. He is thrilled to be serving with the Watershed Center this year and is eager to contribute to the critical work they’re doing while continuing to learn and grow.

Watershed Research and Training Center

Evelyn (she/her) is serving with the Marin Municipal Water District on Mt. Tamalpais for the 2024-2025 GrizzlyCorps term. As a fellow with Marin Water, she will develop a better understanding of watershed health, enhance her GIS skillset, and build relationships with governmental agencies, non-profits, and community members. The position will involve collecting, analyzing, and visualizing data to engage with non-scientific audiences and inform conservation policy decisions. She will also support the volunteer program through work on trail stewardship, habitat restoration, and outreach focused on watershed and forest health. Evelyn earned a B.S. in Computational Biology and an M.S. in Bioinformatics from UCLA. She loves hiking, skiing, backpacking, climbing, and really any activity that will get her outdoors. Having grown up in Berkeley and spent many years in Los Angeles, she is more than excited to return to the Bay Area and explore all that Marin has to offer.

Marin Municipal Water District

Heather (she/her) is excited to spend her service year working with Western Shasta RCD. Originally from Westford, MA, she graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Environmental Science, focusing on Natural Systems. This year, Heather looks forward to planning community outreach events, contributing to restoration projects, and exploring the beauty of California. Passionate about the interdisciplinary nature of the environmental field, she enjoys learning from and collaborating with both experts and local community members to create lasting change. Outside of work, Heather loves spending time outdoors, cooking for her friends, and expressing her creativity through various projects.

Western Shasta Resource Conservation District

Jade (she/her) is working with Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) in Davis. She was born and raised in the Central Coast and recently graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Agroecology. Through her upbringing in a very agriculture prominent region, she grew passionate about improving and localizing agri-food systems. As a fellow, Jade will assist CAFF's Ecological Farming Team in developing resources, help with their Ecological Pest Management and Latinx Farmer Engagement Projects among others and create materials in Spanish. She looks forward to continue learning how Agroecological practices can be of use to famers and help them meet their needs throughout the GrizzlyCorps service term. In her free time Jade enjoys thrifting, reading, visiting the farmers market, cooking & baking, collecting plants and traveling.

Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)

James (he/him) is serving with the Sonoma Resource Conservation District. James recently graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection, along with a minor in Landscape Rehabilitation and Restoration Ecology. He is passionate about local community land management, process-based ecological restoration, and equitable outdoor recreation. In his personal life, James enjoys surfing, running, and mending his clothes. He’s excited to embark on this service year and is eager to see what the future holds. In the words of Incubus, “Whatever tomorrow brings, I’ll be there, with open arms and open eyes.”

Sonoma Resource Conservation District

Jonah (he/him) is serving a second term with White Buffalo Land Trust on the California Central Coast. Jonah is spending his fellowship term working towards quantifying the positive impacts of regenerative agriculture on native biodiversity and enhancing his knowledge of proper land stewardship. Jonah is originally from a rural mountain town in California called Markleeville. He attended the University of California, Davis and majored in Environmental Science and Management with a concentration in ecology, biodiversity, and conservation. Having spent the majority of his childhood in the great outdoors backpacking, mountain biking, skiing, frolfing, etc., Jonah had a firm resolve that he wanted to work outdoors and work to conserve the diverse ecosystems that he has been able to enjoy throughout his life.

White Buffalo Land Trust

Joseph is a GrizzlyCorps Fellow from Visalia, CA, located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. After graduating high school, he spent the past four years studying Agroecology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. During his time at UCSC, Joseph gained hands-on experience interning at local organic farms, where he focused on soil health and farm management skills. Now, he is excited to apply the knowledge and expertise he has gained to the Santa Clara County UC Cooperative Extension Urban Ag site, where he looks forward to contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and community-based solutions.

UCCE Santa Clara

Josephine (she/her) is a recent graduate of Ohio State University, where she earned a degree in Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Josephine has recently moved to Los Angeles and is excited to join GrizzlyCorps as a fellow. She will be working with the Santa Monica Mountains Regional Fire Safe Council, where she aims to build on her passion for community outreach and education, which she developed through her work with various environmental organizations. During her year with SMM RFSC, Josephine looks forward to expanding her skills and deepening her understanding of wildfire mitigation and the California environment.

Santa Monica Mountains Regional Fire Safe Council

Kat (they/she) is serving at the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance as their Operations Coordinator. Driven by work at the intersections of ecological and public health, Kat is excited to continue promoting Tribal sovereignty and building community resilience in their second service term. Kat fuels up by dancing to and making music, cooking and eating nourishing food, breaking their iNaturalist species identification PR, and cavorting with jovial friends.

Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance (TERA)

Kiara Bremner (they/she) is a GrizzlyCorps Fellow currently positioned at the Santa Monica Mountains Regional Fire Safe Council, where they focus on community engagement and outreach. Kiara attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, where they studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and developed a deep passion for fieldwork and plant ecology. During their studies, Kiara worked and volunteered in plant ecology labs, investigating hereditary pathology in species of the Santa Cruz Mountains and studying the physiological adaptations of oak trees to short-term fire impacts. They also spent two years as a field technician at the Santa Cruz Mountains Reserve, conducting post-fire botany and forest inventory surveys for the local forester of San Vicente Redwoods. Before joining GrizzlyCorps, Kiara worked with the Santa Cruz Puma Project, contributing to mountain lion conservation and spatial ecology. Outside of work, Kiara enjoys backpacking, climbing, painting, drawing, foraging, listening to music, and playing banjo. For their service year, Kiara is excited to explore and build community in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Council

Kirthana (she/her) will be serving with the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County to help local farms implement more sustainable agricultural practices. She was raised in Houston, Texas and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, and a minor in Conservation Biology. After working on a self-sustaining organic dairy farm for a summer, she realized that her passion for sustainability extended to food systems and conservation. She also was an Environmental Justice and Sustainability Specialist for UCLA ResLife and frequently volunteered on restoration projects. In her free time, Kirthana enjoys baking, reading, and working out.

Greater San Diego Resource Conservation District 

Lauren (she/her) has a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies from the University of California-Berkeley. During her undergraduate years, Lauren engaged in research exploring the relationship between soil health and landscape contexts in Bay Area farms. Her current interests extend into nurturing healthy soils and supporting local farmers to sustainability thrive in our shared agro-food system. She loves reading, hiking, cooking, and spending far too much time psychoanalyzing fictional characters with her friends. For her 2024-25 term, Lauren is serving as a Small Farms and Specialty Crops Fellow with UC Cooperative Extension in Santa Clara county.

UCCE Santa Clara

Maddy (she/her) will be serving at Farm to Pantry in Healdsburg, where she will be leading gleans and helping with community garden efforts. She moved between California and Colorado throughout her childhood and studied sociology at Colorado College, working with food justice and other community-based organizations. She is passionate about health equity, food sovereignty, mutual aid, and connecting with nature. Most recently, she was a permaculture intern at a sustainability education nonprofit in Oregon. In this new role, she hopes to help build a more equitable, regenerative food system while fostering reciprocal relationships with all the beings in our ecosystem. In her free time, she loves to ski, watercolor, and craft and is an aspiring folk herbalist.

Farm to Pantry 

Maggie (she/her) hails from Milton, MA, home of the Blue Hills Reservation, where she fell in love with the natural world and outdoor recreation. She graduated from Middlebury College in February 2023 with degrees in Conservation Biology and Computer Science. That spring, itching to understand climate change in a region facing environmental disaster, she laced up her sneakers and hiked the 2650-mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington where she encountered record high snowpack in the Sierras and wildfires in Northern California. She found inspiration and admiration for the trail communities in rural California that found ways to come together and adapt to these challenges. As a GrizzlyCorps fellow, she is excited to support Hopland Research and Extension Center in their carbon farm and youth engagement programs.

Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC)

Marielle (she/her) is spending her GrizzlyCorps service year with Lost Sierra Food Project in Plumas County, helping to increase access to local food and expand education surrounding regenerative agriculture. Growing up in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, she spent time working on organic farms and community gardens and exploring the verdant landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. These experiences, along with a bachelor's degree in Global Environmental Studies from University of Oregon, cultivated her passion for work that centers on community and land-based learning to heal relationships between people and their environments. During her time at LSFP, she hopes to learn new ways to involve communities in their food systems that are joyful and healing. In her free time, Marielle loves hiking, swimming in rivers, petting dogs, sharing food with friends, taking photos, and listening to music.

Lost Sierra Food Project

Matt (he/him) is serving at Upper Salinas - Las Tables Resource Conservation District (USLT RCD) as a Farmer Outreach and Network Building fellow. The USLT RCD is dedicated to offering technical support, education, and resources to agricultural, rural, and urban communities, with a focus on conserving natural resources and improving land productivity. Matt was raised in New Jersey before moving to California for higher education. He graduated from University of California, Davis in 2024 with a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with a focus on Urban and Regional Planning. He plans to gain valuable experience in community development and outreach through GrizzlyCorps before pursuing a career in transit planning. In his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with friends and being outdoors.

Upper Salinas - Las Tables Resource Conservation District (USLT RCD)

In her first year with Grizzly Corps at the Coarsegold Resource Conservation District (CRCD), Melanie brings a wealth of knowledge and nearly eight years of experience in ArcGIS Pro. A lifelong resident of California's Central Valley, she is completing her Master's in Geography at San Jose State University, where she has gained advanced GIS skills. Melanie's primary focus is developing a Regional Priority Map to enhance wildfire resilience in Coarsegold and benefit Madera County. She is passionate about using her GIS expertise to create tools that help communities tackle climate resilience. In her free time, Melanie enjoys journaling, reading, listening to music, and spending time with her family. She looks forward to continuing her journey in GIS and positively impacting her site community of Coarsegold. 

Coarsegold  

Resource Conservation District

Michelle (she/they) is a second year GrizzlyCorps fellow serving another term with the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance (Lake County, CA). Michelle received their B.A. in Environmental Studies with minors in Environmental Science and Environmental Health Policy from California State University, Monterey Bay. “When I first sought out this fellowship, I was looking for community. I quickly learned 11 months of service was too short to build a relationship with people and the land.” In the past, you could find Michelle crunching away in ArcGIS pro—as they researched remotely-sensed fog distributions in the Central Coast. Currently, you can find Michelle with a drip torch in hand looking for figurative and literal mycelial networks!

Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance

Natalia (she/her) is from Santa Barbara, California. Natalia graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. This year, she’ll be serving at Hastings Reserve in Carmel Valley, where she is excited to assist with Acorn Woodpecker research, develop her plant identification skills, and learn how to maintain a UC Natural Reserve for research and education. In her free time, Natalia enjoys exploring new places through camping, hiking, and scuba diving. She loves gaining new skills and experiences and is eager to see what this year has in store for her.

Hastings Reserve

Oscar Elias (he/them) is a second-year GrizzlyCorps fellow serving with Sustainable Conservation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving California’s land, air, and water. Originally from Los Angeles, Oscar moved to Merced for college and has remained in the Central Valley. With a background in soil and microbiology research focused on the Sierra Nevada and a degree in Public Health, Oscar also worked as an interpretive ranger with the National Park Service. Their passion for the environment grew through the Yosemite Leadership Program, where they led educational programs and guided students in Yosemite National Park.  

At Sustainable Conservation, Oscar works with the Solutions in Our Soil team, fostering connections with local agencies like GSAs and RCDs to explore how regenerative agricultural practices are integrated into water plans. They aim to combine their scientific knowledge and public outreach experience to promote sustainable, economically viable agricultural practices that benefit both growers and the environment.

Sustainable Conservation

Petra (she/her) will be serving this year with the Humboldt County RCD as a Carbon Farm and Soil Health Management System Planner. She is a graduate of UC Davis where she studied Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems and French while also competing on the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Gymnastics team. She has interned at farms across California as well as France and the UK. She is passionate about polyculture, soil health, integrated pest and predator management, and food justice. Following her term with Grizzly Corps, she intends to regenerate her family’s mircrofarm while also serving as a soil consultant for her former history professor’s smallholding in southern France. In her free time, you can find Petra dancing on her pointe shoes at the local ballet studio, training with the running club and doing handstands.

Humboldt County Resource Conservation District

Rowan (he/him) is a GrizzlyCorps fellow serving with Wild Farm Alliance in Watsonville, CA. He brings a background in communications and production agriculture. An interest in policy and land use management led Rowan to the GrizzlyCorps fellowship. He's excited about the opportunity to help Wild Farm Alliance shape the future of regenerative agriculture and food systems. Rowan holds a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Davis.

Wild Farm Alliance

Samuel Martinich (he/him) is originally from Missoula, MT. GrizzlyCorps is his second AmeriCorps service term, the first being served with the Texas Conservation Corps in 2019. Prior to this, he spent several years traveling around North America, encountering the many walks of life of everyday people. Following his time with TXCC, he completed a thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail. On the trail, Sam learned about Central Wyoming College’s Alpine Science Institute in Lander, WY, which he attended from September of 2022 through May of 2024. There he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Outdoor Education and an Associates of Science degree in Expedition Science, as well as a handful of certifications. This service term sees him working with the Butte County Resource Conservation District in Chico, CA on a number of fire and conservation related projects. In his free-time, he enjoys a variety of adventure sports and running tabletop roleplaying games.

Butte County Resource Conservation District

Sarah (she/her) is the Training and Outreach Coordinator for the Marin County Fire Department’s F.I.R.E. Foundry program. This initiative aims to enhance diversity in the fire service by providing training and educational experiences to underrepresented groups, paving the way for sustainable careers in fire and civic service. In her role, Sarah organizes training for recruits, leads a team of interns on various projects, and works to boost public engagement and awareness of fire services in Marin County. Sarah grew up in the Greater Sacramento area and earned a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with Minors in Anthropology & Geography and Sustainable Environments. As an undergraduate, she served on the Board of the Cal Poly Sustainable Fashion Club, focusing on community outreach and social media strategies to promote ecological integrity and social justice in fashion. In the summer of 2023, Sarah interned at Cal Poly's Swanton Pacific Ranch, studying forest and stream health in relation to fire and fuel management. This internship, in collaboration with UC Santa Cruz, involved various environmental conservation projects, including conducting CFI plots and stream surveys, and assisting the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Cal State Parks with restoration efforts. Most recently, Sarah served as a Community Outreach Fellow for the SLO Climate Coalition as part of Cal Poly’s CollegeCorps Cohort 2. In this role, she developed outreach initiatives to harness community expertise and resources for impactful regional climate solutions, aiming to foster a more resilient community.

Marin FIRE Foundry

Shamik (he/him) is serving with the Tehama County Resource Conservation District to support various projects relating to fire and forest management, habitat restoration and community engagement. After graduating from Centre College in 2023 with a BA in Environmental Studies, Shamik moved to California's Central Valley to serve with the Allensworth Progressive Association to aid in the development and implementation of a regenerative agri-food system to revitalize the ecosystems and economic interests of historic Allensworth CA. Shamik is passionate about regenerative food systems, ecological management and stewardship, and environmental education. Shamik also enjoys backpacking, sharing food with friends and swimming in freshwater.

Tehama County Resource Conservation District

Sophie (she/her) will serve at Gold Ridge RCD in Sonoma County. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, focusing on Conservation and Restoration Ecology. She hopes to further her understanding of community needs by supporting the projects at Gold Ridge. As a Habitat Restoration and Resilience Field Coordinator, she will assist in salmonid research and recovery, increase capacity of the School Garden Network, and support Monarch butterfly conservation efforts. In her free time, Sophie enjoys camping, hiking, exploring farmer’s markets, and spending time with friends. She can’t wait to explore the Sonoma County area and the rest of California!

Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District

Tenaya (she/her) is working with the Shasta Valley RCD in Yreka, CA where she will be assisting in monitoring the Shasta River and its tributaries and implementing sustainable water solutions on farms in the valley. Tenaya was raised on a homestead in the eastern hills of San Diego and went on to earned a B.A. in Sustainability from San Diego State University. She has since worked in the field of regenerative agriculture and conservation. On evenings and weekends, you can find her reading, painting, trying new hobbies and often climbing mountains. She is excited to apply her skills in natural resources to sustainable water management along the Shasta River and explore the wonders of the Mount Shasta area.

Shasta Valley  Resource Conservation District