Nathan Reynolds, Executive Director
Nathan (he/him) joined Opal Creek in September 2021, after the Beachie Creek fire and in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic. He was a budding ecologist in his childhood and counted Great Blue Heron sightings on canoe trips or Indian Paintbrush flowers while hiking with his family. After a few divergent career choices and an eventual return to college for an environmental science education, he spent 15 years working with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, where he came to understand more clearly the deep relationships between people and place. A lifelong learner, Nathan enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking, camping, travel, good food, writing, and repairing and maintaining old mechanical and electrical things.
Hometown: Camas, WA.
What are you thankful for this year?: Healthy family and friends, vaccine technology.
Currently listening to?: NPR.
Currently reading?: Shop Class as Soulcraft, by Matthew Crawford.
Guilty pleasure?: Splitting and stacking firewood.
Describe your ideal sandwich: A piece of pizza folded in half is a sandwich.
Favorite outdoor spot?: Mount St. Helens! It was an important vacation place for my family in my childhood and the 1980 eruption captured all my attention. Post-eruption, I keep being drawn to it for vegetation recovery and wildlife studies, backpacking, and seeing what landscape evolution and forest succession looks like.
When you're not working, you're: Driving slowly through the Columbia River Gorge in an old VW bus.
Who's your hero?: I don’t have many heroes… but my father was one of the kindest servant leaders I’ve ever known, so the older I become, the more I try to be like him.
Favorite quote: That old kernel: "The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second-best time is right now.”
Megan Selvig, Programs Director
Megan (she/her) joined the Opal Creek team in March of 2015. A proud Minnesota native, she has been teaching outdoor programs in many distinct places since 2009. Megan was a teacher/naturalist of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed before serving as an environmental conservation volunteer for Peace Corps Paraguay. Megan moved to Jawbone Flats in 2015, where she enjoyed all four seasons of the Opal Creek Wilderness. She now lives in Portland, OR, but frequently returns to natural spaces to search for amphibians and direct Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center’s amazing programs.
Hometown: St. Michael, MN.
What are you thankful for this year?: My tortoise, Alex Banana.
Currently listening to?: Buena Vista Social Club.
Currently reading?: The Three Body Problem's third novel, Death's end, by Liu Cixin.
Guilty pleasure?: Latin pop music.
Describe your ideal sandwich: turn that sandwich into a bowl! And fill that bowl with hearty greens, grains, nuts, an oozy egg, and mustardy dressing.
Favorite outdoor spot?: A mucky swamp.
When you're not working, you're: Caring for plants indoors and out; creating a mini Opal Creek in my backyard.
Who's your hero?: My uncle Utit Choomuang, who says he is the luckiest man in the world but who I know makes his own luck via his child-like curiosity and awe for everything around him.
Favorite quote: "Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." -- Anthony J. D'Angelo
Augustus Gleason, Facilities Director
Hometown: I am from many places, mainly Earth. I spent the first 6 years of my human form in between Mt. Si and Snoqualmie in a small town called North Bend. So much of our lives change, but this will remain the same.
What are you thankful for this year?: Time. Above all, time is the constant provider for my healing and growth. As I get older, I only witness this more and more in myself and in the environment surrounding me. With a constant and ongoing conversation between all of us, where I am feeling drawn to listen as much as possible.
Currently listening to?: Some favorites - Aesop Rock: Shrunk, Environmental Studies, Mindful solutionism & so many more. LARussell; Sidhu Moose Wala; Amber Mark; Robin Wall Kimmerer
Currently reading? : I am reading through an assortment of very old books determining condition and value. I also spend a lot of my time reading FEMA documents, policies, and procedures, restoration and crafting skill books.
What’s your guilty pleasure?: Zelda, Survivor/Amazing Race
Describe your ideal sandwich: Lately I have been enjoying a steak sandwich made with either hanger or skirt steak, on a toasted hoagie from Creswell bakery, sauteed onions, garlic, sweet peppers, with a thick slice of smoked gouda melted over top.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: I love the 3 mile journey into Jawbone. An honor to experience as the current caretaker of Jawbone. Each visit offers a new discovery in the recovering forest. Where there once was dense layers of moss, decomposing trees from long ago, and understory retaining the moisture. There are now layers of densely packed, wind thrown, charred trees and debris to begin decomposition. Surrounded by standing old growth snags, and an astonishing amount of recovering plants. I have truly fallen in love with this, new to me, landscape and the perspective it is bringing into my life. (please don’t give away any secret spots in Opal Creek, and please don’t say “I can’t narrow it down.”)
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working? I am currently collecting and creating. I will soon be thrifting or building with the tools and supplies I have recently acquired through storage auctions.
Who’s your hero?: I am my hero, I pick myself up when I fall, I acknowledge my triumphs and see my failures as opportunities for growth, granted it requires some deep reflection and introspection to get there. I will always need to be present to remind me I am worth it, and have learned not to rely on external sources. My partner, Elene, is also my hero, my best friend, and has brought the most balance and perspective to my life. I am lucky to live with both of my heroes.
D'Mario Mooney, Outdoor School Manager
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo
What are you thankful for this year?: The abundance of love and support from friends and family
Currently listening to: 90's Techno
Currently reading: The Courage To Be Disliked
What's your guilty pleasure?: Irish Goodbye-ing a group of friends
Describe your ideal sandwich: A fresh loaf of sourdough room temp salted butter thinly sliced radishes and a glass of wine
What's your favorite outdoor spot?: Shhhhhh nice try 🙂
Where can we find you when you're not working?: Probably immersed in wilderness somewhere!
Who's your hero?: Anyone being true to themselves.
What's your favorite quote?: 'I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Kenzi Merrill-Olsson, Expeditions Manager
Kenzi (he/him) joined Opal Creek in 2021 as an expedition guide. He brings a strong background in ecology and naturalism, with a particular passion for plant identification and exploring the connections between people and the natural world. When not working, Kenzi stays active as a snowboarder, backpacker, climber, and (beginner!) surfer.
Hometown: Portland, OR.
What are you thankful for this year?: The mountain!
What are you reading right now: Either/Or by Elif Batuman and Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard.
What’s your guilty pleasure: Lunchables.
Describe your ideal sandwich: I’m not a big meat person, but lately I’ve been craving a big chicago deli sandwich.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: Over the past couple years, I've gone to the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness more times than probably any other place in Oregon and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite places.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: Making food with friends, spending time outdoors, and surfing with my surf club.
Who’s your hero?: Martha Stewart
Sarah Stuart-Sikowitz, Finance and Administration Director
Sarah Stuart-Sikowitz (she/they) has been working for Opal Creek since 2019. She lived in Jawbone Flats for two education seasons, traversing the rainforest with students and pointing out fungus and amphibians to her classes. After the Beachie Creek fire, Sarah helped expand the Expeditions program beyond the wilderness’ reach so the organization could continue its mission. She worked for Northwest Outward Bound School as their Associate Program Director, learning about the practices of a National program and brand. Now, Sarah has pivoted her efforts into accounting and finance and has joined Opal Creek in a finance capacity. She absolutely loves this organization, its mission, and its people.
Hometown: Rockville, MD, and I like to claim Brooklyn, NY, too.
What are you thankful for this year?: I am grateful for the safety, security, and health of my friends and family.
Currently listening to: My music taste has been centered around Malian string artists, like Ballaké Sissoko or Vieux Farka Touré.
Currently reading: The First Law series, and a few Kurt Vonnegut books.
What’s your guilty pleasure: In a concentrated effort to avoid shame, I will say nothing. (It’s definitely drinking coffee at 3pm)
Describe your ideal sandwich: A NYC everything bagel. Lox. Way too much schmear. Capers. One slice of NJ tomato. One slice of red onion. Toast it. Cut it half. Serve.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: I like to be on top of a snowy ridge, looking out at the world.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: Typically hanging out with my beautiful friends, on a hike somewhere, traveling back home to the East Coast, at the gym, or shamelessly binging netflix.
Who’s your hero?: All the strong, resilient plants and animals in Opal Creek who remind me that you can continue on no matter the circumstances.
What’s your favorite quote? “The only calibration that counts is how much heart people invest, how much they ignore their fears of being hurt or caught out or humiliated. And the only thing people regret is that they didn't live boldly enough, that they didn't invest enough heart, didn't love enough. Nothing else really counts at all.”― Ted Hughes
Bobbi Kok, Logistics Coordinator
Bobbi (they/them) has spent years of their life as a summertime tent dweller along trails throughout the western United States. They have guided high-alpine trail crews on Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, as well as trail and maintenance crews based out of eastern Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Their first experience in the backcountry consisted of participating in youth camping trail crews at the age of 15. They still hold onto these transformative experiences as ones that fostered an appreciation for the outdoor's teachings, along with the friendships they made along the way.
Bobbi is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in counseling psychology at Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado. In guiding youth, they hope to maintain a space that focuses on safety while promoting curiosity, exploration, authenticity, and empowerment in the backcountry.
Hometown: Moscow, Idaho.
What are you thankful for this year?: Dogs. Especially of the miniature and medium-sized variety, and all those with wire hair and long fur.
What music are you listening to right now?: I'm often cycling between many genres, but my favorites are hip hop/rap, indie rock, and country music! Exploring music of all genres is one of my favorite activities.
What are you reading right now?: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, by Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
What's your guilty pleasure?: Fruity candy. I can eat a whole family-size bag of Skittles in one sitting, and still want more. I have to stop myself from buying it a lot of the time!
Describe your ideal sandwich: Monte Cristo with raspberry jam! The perfect mix of sweet and savory.
What's your favorite outdoor spot?: Chalk Creek Pass, a gorgeous high-alpine mountain pass in the mountains of Colorado. You can only get to it on foot by hiking on the Colorado Trail and following the trail to the top. It's surrounded by dramatic craggy ridges, and one time I spotted an elk herd there! There's a little lake for fishing, and if you're lucky, you'll see a moose grazing in the willows.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you're not working?: Finding a cozy nook at a breakfast restaurant with an eggs Benedict, reading about the universe. Or driving to a hike on the coast, with music blasting in my car! Maybe at a concert dancing with my friends.
Who's your hero?: I can think of many people who have inspired me. However, right now one of my greatest inspirations is the early formation of the universe. Every piece of matter was once condensed in a volume less than one-trillionth the size of the period that marks the end of this sentence. Really puts things into perspective. These is so much we don't know out there. As I sit, writing this on a beach overlooking the crashing waves of the Pacific, I think of the tiny area of the ocean that has been explored. Expansion and the unknowns of the universe drive my quest for new perspectives and knowledge.
What's your favorite quote?: "Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer." Rainer Maria Rilke
Meet our Guides!
Gabriella "Sy" Sosa Medina
Raised in a concrete jungle, Sy (she/ they) had always dreamed of adventure beyond the steel rebar and glass panes, doodling mountains ranges and reading of lush forests behind musty walls in shadowed apartments. After a harrowing pandemic experience, they found themselves breaking away from the “norm”, working amongst the rolling Adirondacks and eventually, the tall peaks of the Cascades. After leaving in Fall 2023 newly inspired to finish their studies, they once again find themselves 3,000 miles away from New York City, nestled amongst the beautiful old-growth trees of Oregon and reconnecting with an inner child that longed for foggy forests, awe-inspiring mountain ranges, gentle rains, and mysterious skies– and calling this enchanting place “home” once again before pursuing their Bachelor’s in Meteorology
Hometown: Born and raised in New York City, Queens– home of our Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman!
What are you thankful for this year?: I am grateful to live another day to witness and experience the beauty this Earth holds, and for the many friends I am blessed to call family. Also, my beloved feline friend, Ashy.
Currently listening to: Depending on mood, I’m listening to either all soundtracks from the second season of “Arcane”, or the original soundtracks from Kingdom Hearts.
Currently reading: “Why You Don’t Need Shoes” by Xian.
Guilty pleasure: Salt & Vinegar chips- I can and WILL devour a Party-Stack of Pringles in one go! Also collecting plushies :3
Describe your ideal sandwich: A good ol' tuna sandwich mixed in with celery, red pepper, and mayo - and a salt & vinegar chip smushed in for extra *c r u n c h*. A classic bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich always hits the spot too!
Favorite outdoor spot: Anywhere a storm is brewing, amongst soft rains.
When you're not working, you're: Most likely hidden in a rustic cafe drinking coffee, or staring up at the stars, or buried nose deep on my laptop tracking the next storm.
Who's your hero: Carl Sagan; a beautiful soul who insisted on the exploration of extraordinary ideas and the admiration of the natural world around us, offering a daily reminder; "The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself."
Favorite quote:
“We have calcium in our bones,
iron in our veins,
carbon in our souls,
and nitrogen in our brains.
93 percent stardust,
with souls made of flames,
we are all just stars
that have people names."
-Nikita Gill
Pablo van Renterghem
Pablo van Renterghem (he/him) was adopted from Guatemala and raised in the Netherlands and U.S. Pablo has a deeply rooted connection to nature that stems from growing up surrounded by the ocean and forests of the PNW. For him, nature has brought him peace and showed him beauty in times of hardship and grief. Pablo’s two biggest passions in life are traveling and photography. In his free time, he also loves to surf, hike, play sports, learn new things and cook. Pablo joined Opal Creek with shared values and a love for the natural world. He is excited to play a role in educational and meaningful experiences similar to those that influenced him growing up. There are still many places Pablo wants to visit and explore. He is excited for his next trip, which will be going back to Guatemala, the place where he was born but has not had a chance to return to yet.
Hometown: Ashland OR, Sequim WA, Flagstaff AZ. All three helped shape me as a kid.
What are you thankful for this year?: The chance to finally go back to Guatemala! (I was adopted at the age of 1.5 years)
What music are you listening to right now?: I am listening to a lot of different artists right now. Mostly indie pop for spring. Some of my most recent plays are: Blondes - Coming of Age, Before the Sun - Gregory Alan Isakov, The Band - The Weight, Yussef Dayes - Woman’s Touch, Mayra Andrade - Manga.
What are you reading right now?: I am currently reading “The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss. I also recommend “The Legacy of Lun” written by Julia Butterfly Hill
What’s your guilty pleasure?: Finding new local food places and looking for cool hostels
Describe your ideal sandwich: Ciabatta with homemade guac, cilantro, seasoned local beef patty, a little lime juice, salt & pepper. I also like grilled cheese with green hatch peppers.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: Lake Crescent on the Olympic Peninsula. I have spent many beautiful summer days on the lake and have a lot of amazing memories at Camp David Jr.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: Learning a language, reading, surfing, or working on any number of photography projects
Who’s your hero?: My father. He led a long and colorful life that was filled with adventure, hardship, love and loss but through it all he managed to continue to be open to life. He lived life with love and passion. His love for cooking, photography, history, travel, and consistent effort to help those who are less fortunate have been pillars in the foundation of who I am. His mindset, legacy and love continue to fuel my soul.
What’s your favorite quote?: "The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." - Henry David Thoreau
Ellie Yamam0to
My name is Ellie Yamamoto and this is my first season working with Opal Creek. I have a background in bioengineering but decided it was something I did to be comfortable in life instead of being happy. I am passionate about the intersection between social and environmental justice which is why I am so stoked to work for an organization that deeply cares about both of these things. I have lived in Oregon my whole life and enjoy any and all activities having to do with the outdoors. I also love exploring new places, spending quality time with the people I care about, playing games, and hanging out with my two cats Otis and Pidge.
Hometown: Coburg, Oregon
What are you thankful for this year: Too many things to list but if I had to choose a few: getting the opportunity to work for Opal Creek and become a part of this amazing community of people. I am also thankful for the people in my life that continue to show up for me and make me smile. And last but certainty not least, the beauty of outdoors and all the incredible things nature teaches me everyday!
Currently listening to: Noah Kahan, Chappell Roan, Glass Animals, and lots of fun pods
Currently reading: Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee
Guilty pleasure: Eating an entire bag of Honey Dijon kettle chips and watching Studio Ghibli movies
Describe your ideal sandwich: Turkey, bacon, garlic aioli, grilled mushroom and onion, lettuce, Havarti cheese, and avocado on homemade sourdough bread
Favorite outdoor sport: Pretty much anything I can get my hands on but current favorites are tennis and spikeball
When you're not working you're: Spending time with friends in nature, usually hiking or playing games in the sun
Who's your hero: I think everyone around me is a hero in their own beautiful way and it brings me lots of joy getting to know that part of people
Favorite quote: "A wild heart is a weight to the pain in the world but does not diminish it's own pain. A wild heart can beat with gratitude and lean into pure joy without denying the struggle in the world. We hold that tension with the spirit of the wilderness. It's not always easy or comfortable, sometimes we struggle with the weight of the pull, but what makes it possible is a front made of love and a back built of courage" - Brene Brown
Andre Rivera
Andre is from a bit of everywhere, and is very much enjoying this human experience 🙂 When not working at Opal Creek, he lives in an intentional community in Putumayo, Colombia. After many years of world travel, he has found a beautiful space to call home, alongside a beautiful heart family in service to life. Together we help fellow humans dance back into the depths of their soul. Andre is currently focused on becoming a registered somatic movement educator and therapist.
Hometown: Lyra Star Constellation
What are you thankful for this year?: Being reunited with the magic and medicine of the PNW
Currently listening to: Made of Rivers be Emory Hall
Currently reading: Soulcraft by Bill Plotkin
Guilty pleasure: The darkest chocolate imaginable with coconut ice cream and almond butter
Describe your ideal sandwich: Venezuelan Arepas 😀
Favorite outdoor spot: Planet Earth
When you're not working, you're: talking to plants and animals, dancing ecstatically, foraging and making plant alchemy, reading, making music, cooking delicious meals, and multi-dimensional time travel
Who's your hero: White Dragons
Favorite quote: To be human is to become visible while carrying what is hidden as a gift to others…
Elizabeth Lay
Elizabeth (she/her) loves being outside and has a very upbeat and caring personality. Her background in environmental science, passion for sharing outdoor experiences with others, and interest in the human connection with nature makes her inclined to take opportunities that allow for the development of these skills and interests. She loves seeing and exploring new places and making friends wherever she goes! Elizabeth enjoys being active and as a newly established 'Oregonian' who lives on a small farm, she can't wait to see what the PNW has to offer! She is most looking forward to having fun and sharing that fun with others in the Opal Creek community and with its many visitors! 🙂
Hometown: Kansas City, MO.
What are you thankful for this year?: Getting to explore new places and having people in my life that support and encourage me and who are as excited by life and its possibilities as I am!
What music are you listening to right now?: Noah Kahan has been a recent obsession of mine, but generally I enjoy listening to alternative/indie/folk music (with a little bit of rock, pop, and throwbacks on occasion).
What are you reading right now?: Currently reading a variety of things! Just finished 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed which I absolutely loved and now I am reading 'The Island Within.' Next on my list is 'Last Child in the Woods' or 'Born to Run!'.
What’s your guilty pleasure?: Long car rides jamming to tunes of all different genres.
Describe your ideal sandwich: If I made my dream sandwich, it would be: toasted sourdough bread, melted cheese, grilled onions and bell peppers, avocado, tomato, lettuce, arugula, mayonnaise, a drizzle of olive oil, and sprinkles of salt, pepper, and garlic.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: Places I can sit and take in a VIEW! I love a lake with mountains in the distance/surrounding it. 🙂
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: I love working on creative projects (paintings, writing poems, scrapbooking) and making and enjoying meals with friends!
Who’s your hero?: Nicholas Cage in National Treasure, specifically.
What’s your favorite quote?: “Work hard, do your best, and have fun." -My mom 🙂
Rosie Riley
Rosie (she/her) grew up on the bank of the Little North Fork of the Santiam River in Lyons, Oregon, spending every summer exploring the many beautiful natural areas of the canyon, including Opal Creek. Feeling inspired at a young age from the landscape around her, she pursued studies in environmental ethics and policy, hoping to one day find herself working with her community to better care for the land that has so greatly taken care of her. She loves to travel, dancing away to live music, meeting new people and exploring every amazing opportunity that life has to offer within and outside of her little hometown. She is dedicated to teaching stewarship and leadership to our next generations so they may move in the world with confidence, curiosity, and connection to nature.
Hometown: Lyons, Oregon.
What are you thankful for this year?: My childhood home burned in the fires - this year I am thankful for moving my family into our new, beautiful home as well as witnessing the land bloom in wondrous ways again.
What music are you listening to right now?: Mostly Bob Marley, Grateful Dead, the Beatles and everything in between.
What are you reading right now?: Brida by Paulo Coelho, my favorite author!
What’s your guilty pleasure?: Baking cookies late at night!
Describe your ideal sandwich: Homemade sourdough bread, mayo, mustard, pepper jack cheese, quality ham, pepperoncini, tomato, lettuce.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: The Little North Fork of the Santiam. Nothing can beat the summer days I've spent there.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: If I'm not off traveling (my favorite pastime), you could probably find me in my little workshop blending herbal teas and tinctures, preparing my small business for a farmer's market, doing yoga, petting my cat in the sunshine or rollerblading.
Who’s your hero?: My hero is my mama! She has taught me everything I know about strength and resilience, working hard her whole life to give me one that is beautiful.
What’s your favorite quote?: "We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body." Paulo Coelho
Meet our Kitchen Team!
Justin Misner, Food Service Manager
Justin (he/him) grew up in the High Sierras and the rural foothills of the Coast Range. He has long felt he could hear "the voice" of the forest and revels in learning from the spirits of all things within the ecosystem. With a background in edible landscaping and permaculture, in 2008, when the US economy took a downturn, Justin found himslef changing careers and becoming a chef at Breitenbush Hot Springs, where he honed his skills for nearly 10 years. Since then, he has managed several kitchens, started his own mobile barbeque service, and now finds himself with Opal Creek, bringing delicious food to Outdoor School children and staff.
Hometown: Reno, Nevada.
What are you thankful for this year?: My supportive, loving family, and a life overwhelmingly overflowing with beauty.
What music are you listening to right now?: The Budos Band, Black Keys, Pixies & pretty much anywhere the Spotify rabbit hole takes me.
What are you reading right now?: Labyrinths by Louis Berges & Training the Mind by Chogyam Trungpa.
What's your guilty pleasure?: Salty, crunchy things!
Describe your ideal sandwich: The Dagwood, piled high, dressed and sauced.
What's your favorite outdoor spot?: The place in the forest where you are just positive that the Great Stag of the The Forest is patiently watching over you. Either that, or soaking in a natural hot spring by starlight.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you're not working?: On a walk, doing Qigong, making music or barbequing something.
Who's your hero?: Anyone who is there for someone in their greatest time of need.
What's your favorite quote?: "You are what you is." Frank Zappa
Andy Conn, Lead Cook
Andy (he/him) was born and raised here in Oregon, growing up surrounded by the outdoors, he loved to go out and explore the forests and always wanted to pursue a career that put him in the wild. Having just graduated high school, he was looking around for something to kick off his career. He knew of Opal Creek through being employed at Camp Silver Creek through the YMCA, so he thought that was a perfect opportunity for him to come back to one of the most beautiful places on Earth and to get his career in forestry started.
Hometown: Salem, Oregon.
What are you thankful for this year?: I am thankful for the opportunities that have come my way and the friends and family that have supported me in my decisions.
What music are you listening to right now?: Right now I'm listening to a lot of early synth music, like Mort Garsons album Mother Earths Plantasia.
What are you reading right now?: Right now I'm reading through the Lord of the Rings for the millionth time because a friend of mine bought me a pretty box set for Christmas.
What's your guilty pleasure?: My guilty pleasure is going on really unnecessary long drives, driving is a good stress release for me, but gas does hurt my wallet a bit.
Describe your ideal sandwich: My ideal sandwich has three slices of turkey on it, two slices of cheese, some lettuce, one slice of tomato and pickles. With a little bit of mustard and mayonnaise.
What's your favorite outdoor spot?: My favorite outdoor spot is probably the bridge across from the south falls in Silver Falls. Silver Falls is probably my favorite place on Earth and that bridge is the most peaceful and scenic place in the park.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you're not working?: When I'm not working, I can usually be found chilling at home, spending time playing music and video games. I also like to hike and be in the outdoors in general.
Who's your hero?: My hero is Stanislav Petrov for not only saving the world from nuclear annihilation, but for what he did symbolizes for the world. His hesitation displayed his utter faith in humanity and it's something that I really admire.
What's your favorite quote?: "For many of us, the road is a difficult one, but it is always there for us to follow no matter how many times we fall down." Joshua Graham
Jesse Garcia
Jesse Garcia has been a cook for over twenty years. He is a father, a music lover, and loves to travel.
Hometown: Zigzag, Oregon, but currently lives in Woodburn.
Currently listening to: Wookiefoot and Free Creatures
What's your guilty pleasure?: Expensive cheese
What's your ideal sandwich: A veggie sandwich on Russian rye with provolone avocado friseè alfalfa sprouts red onions and cucumbers olive oil red wine vinegar and salt and pepper.
What's your favorite outdoor spot?: Frenchman's cove in Jamaica
When you're not working, you're: Going to music festivals and traveling.
Your hero: Caesar Chavez
Favorite quote: Every little thing is gonna be alright - Robert Nestor Marley