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?: Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the wisdom of the forest by Suzanne Simard.
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?: The Oregon outdoor provider community. Somehow they find ways to teach kids outside during a pandemic. They inspire me to be creative, take risks, and just try for the kiddos.
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.
Matilde McCann, Expeditions Manager
Matilde, who goes by Mati, is a Chilean American woman who grew up in and around the East Coast, PNW, and South of Spain. In past lives, Mati has been a tree climber, math tutor, bike mechanic, raft guide, emergency pet hospital receptionist, and a bike messenger. She came to know of Opal Creek through working as a ski patroller for Hoodoo Ski Hill off the Santiam Pass, as it seems there is a Venn Diagram of things Valley folk of Oregon know about of which Hoodoo and Opal Creek fall into. In 2022, she was a guide for Expeditions and this year she is with Opal Creek in her second year managing the Expeditions Program! She currently lives out of her van called "Azulita" and is obsessed with the idea of thru-hiking a long distance trail. Mati is what you would call a "small dog person."
Hometown: Richmond, VA.
What are you thankful for this year?: My family! Also learning new things. As well as the ever diverse landscapes of Oregon.
What music are you listening to right now?: My mom got me into some wacky Andean music from her youth. A lot of horns. Kinda scary amount of horns. Otherwise I have a constant replay of Bad Bunny, SZA, a little bit of house music here and there, and the B-52's.
What are you reading right now?: "Invisible Women." It's about data gaps in the way society is designed. Also reading "Becoming a Man," a Paul Monette autobiography.
What's your guilty pleasure?: Probably whatever garbage TV Netflix is promoting for the week. I am a big fan of film and tv.
Describe your ideal sandwich: Anything someone makes for me tastes 1000x better than anything I make for myself. This may be considered a red flag with my personality.
What's your favorite outdoor spot?: Whenever I can I escape to the desert. If I lived in the desert I'd probably escape to snowy mountains. So I guess my favorite outdoor spot is probably wherever I'm not.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you're not working?: Bikepacking with my mom, on the river in a raft, skiing at Hoodoo Ski Resort or in the backcountry, or forcing myself not to watch garbage Netflix tv and instead go back to the books I'm reading!!!
Who's your hero?: I have many heroes, rotating based on my current obsession. Right now I am rewatching HBO's Chernobyl and the woman scientist Ulyana Khomyuk, who isn't based on a real person, is pretty badass. She doesn't take no for an answer and knows what she knows. I am also obsessed with Pedro Pascal, the actor who plays Joel in Last of Us (TV show) and Mando in the Mandalorian. He is a Chilean Aries. I am a Chilean Aries. I'd say things are pretty serious between us.
What's your favorite quote?: "Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final." Rainer Maria Rilke
Bobbi Kok, High School Leader Coordinator
Bobbi 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
Tona Murray
, Logistics Coordinator
Growing up Tona (he/him) always appreciated the beauty of nature from afar, but never imagined being able to live and convene with it for days at a time. In an effort to push his limits and become a leader, he signed up for a 3 month expedition in the Rocky Mountains. Having experienced nature’s immense power to create meaningful, life changing experiences Tona decided to become an outdoor guide. Tona’s goal to preserve nature and facilitate people having similar experiences aligned perfectly with Opal Creek’s mission, and so we got our sickest guide on the team.
Hometown: I was born and raised in Mexico City but currently live in Maryland.
What are you thankful for this year?: This year the main thing I’m grateful for is all the amazing outdoor experiences I’ve been able to participate in and the people and places I’ve got to know through those experiences.
What music are you listening to right now?: Dolly Parton, cause she goes hard.
What are you reading right now?: All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy.
What’s your guilty pleasure?: Eating an entire box of chocolate chip cookies in one sitting.
Describe your ideal sandwich: Crispy french baguette, tuna salad, cucumber, and excessive amounts of black pepper.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: I’ve been to a lot of beautiful places, but my favorite is probably Sugarloaf Mountain in Maryland.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: Exploring new places.
Who’s your hero?: As cliche of an answer as it is, my hero would have to be my Dad because of how hard he works to overcome adversity and help his loved ones throughout his life.
What’s your favorite quote?: “Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.” Albert Einstein
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
Kenzi Merrill-Olsson, Program Administrator/Outdoor School and Expeditions Guide
Kenzi (he/him) joined Opal Creek this year as an expeditions guide. He grew up hiking in Oregon and Northern California. In the past, he’s taught art classes, instructed kids in bike maintenance, and led a summer program for youth in Chicago. In his free time you can find him in bodies of water surfing, kayaking, and swimming. Kenzi is occasionally spotted on land backpacking or reading a book.
Hometown: Portland, OR.
What are you thankful for this year?: Close friendships and my surfboard.
What music are you listening to right now: Rosalía, Prince, and a lot of old country music.
What are you reading right now: Either/Or by Elif Batuman, How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee, and Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard.
What’s your guilty pleasure: Hot springs!
Describe your ideal sandwich: I’m not a big meat person, but lately I’ve been craving a big ole chicago deli sandwich.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: Oregon’s surf beaches.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: Making food with friends, spending time outdoors, and surfing with Feel Good Surf Club.
Who’s your hero?: Everyone working to make the outdoors more accessible and inclusive. And Dolly Parton.
What’s your favorite quote?: "Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world." Robin Wall Kimmerer
Drew Fuentes, Program Administrator/Outdoor School and Expeditions Guide
Drew (she/they) found her passion for living in connection with the land during Summer 2020, on a socially distant cross country road trip with family. She studied environmental anthropology at the University of Maryland and loves to share knowledge through guiding. Drew has always felt called to work with and empower kids! They are also eager to try new outdoor activities and hope to continue connecting with others through the earth and all it provides. Drew's personal mission reflects that of Opal Creek's and she hopes to continue growing her knowledge and connections through her time with the organization.
Hometown: Havertown, PA (Delco).
What are you thankful for this year?: I am thankful for the people I've met through work and travel and for having opportunities to explore this beautiful world.
What music are you listening to right now?: Australian surf rock and indie are my little niche genres. Getting real into classic rock right now, but Noah Kahan, Remi Wolf, and Wild Rivers are always at the top of my list.
What are you reading right now?: The Memory Police by Yoko Ozawa, Chronicles from the Future by Paul Amadeus Dienach, and Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard.
What's your guilty pleasure?: Love Island UK.
Describe your ideal sandwich: The Grilled Milano from Boccella's Deli in Havertown.
What's your favorite outdoor spot?: Ridley Creek State Park is home to my emotional support creek, but I just visited Sedona and really fell in love with it there as well!
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you're not working?: You can find me on a running trail or wherever my friends are.
Who's your hero?: My mom and my grandmother are my heroes.
What's your favorite quote?: "We are all walking repositories of buried treasure." Elizabeth Gilbert
Meet our Guides!
Jonathan Caraveo
Jonny (he/him) has always had a love for being outdoors ever since his mom would take him on camping trips in Texas as a kid. Throughout high school and college, he had the opportunity to lead high school student summer camp trips and has always had a passion for working with youth. A college trip to British Columbia sparked an interest and passion for nature in him and since then Jonny has been seeking to explore and see more of the world. In Texas, Jonny would often frequent nearby state parks for hiking and camping and has always been curious about deepening his knowledge and love for nature. Jonny wishes to continue deepening his knowledge of the connection between people and the world around them and is excited to get to work with students and spark a passion for being outdoors into a new generation of kids!
Hometown: Clarksdale, MS.
What are you thankful for this year?: New opportunities. Moving to a new location. Meeting new people. Empathy, second chances. Opportunities to grow.
What music are you listening to right now?: A lot of 90's alternative. The Cranberries, Mazzy Star, Jeff Buckley.
What are you reading right now?: The Things They Carried. A book about the Vietnam War.
What's your guilty pleasure?: Pride and Prejudice.....
Describe your ideal sandwich: Plain Jane, Avocado, Tomatoes, Turkey, some pepper jack cheese.
What's your favorite outdoor spot?: Big Bend National Park in Texas!
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you're not working?: Most likely gaming, painting, or going for drives. I love driving.
Who's your hero?: My mom. She has been through so much and still remains kind and humble despite all that life has thrown at her. I aspire to be more like my mom as I continue growing.
What's your favorite quote?: "Let everything happen to you, Beauty and terror, Just keep going, No feeling is final." Rainer Maria Rilke
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
Emma Ellis
Emma (she/her) is a curious human who has traveled the world 3 times over as a writer, a teacher, and a steward of the land. Emma believes in asking beautiful questions without needing to find an answer, which is the foundation of her playful, imaginative, and inquisitive style, both as a human and a teacher. She believes that community and building relationship with the breathing world all around us will bring us all home. Emma came to the PNW and Opal Creek to learn from its magical forests and to help other humans connect with them.
Hometown: Chicago
What are you thankful for this year?: Humans, curiosity, bears, trees, learning to surf, and my van Winnie.
What music are you listening to right now?: I am trying to explore more Irish and Celtic music but inevitably end up back inside all sub genres of folk. Rufous Nightjar's song 'Willows' has been my greatest road trip companion.
What are you reading right now?: Technically....15 books, all haphazardly, today's rotation is 'Biomimicry' by Janine M Beynus and 'Bright Dead Things' by Ada Limon.
What’s your guilty pleasure?: Peanut butter chocolate dates, motorbikes, cold plunging in wild rivers, and finding the perfect song to accompany the moment.
Describe your ideal sandwich: Pita, just anything inside of pita.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: Ha Giang Loop in Northern Vietnam.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: Sitting in nature writing a poem about how beautiful nature is.
Who’s your hero?: Robin Wall Kimmerer and Mary Oliver.
What’s your favorite quote?: "In material fact, strawberries belong only to themselves." Robin Wall Kimmerer
Hollie Rose
Hollie (she/her) is a native Oregonian and the mother of a 11 year old boy. Hollie studied Environmental Sciences and Education at Oregon State University and she's been teaching young people in the outdoor classroom since 2015.
Hometown: Newport, Oregon.
What are you thankful for this year?: This year I am thankful for the opportunity to teach in such beautiful wilderness locations. Outdoor school season in Silver Falls and Mary’s peak, along with pack season throughout the diverse landscapes of Oregon is a dream come true! I am grateful to share these experiences with young people in developing nature connections in these amazing places.
What music are you listening to right now?: Steel guitar sounds of Hawaii.
What are you reading right now?: National Geographic Magazine: Islands in the Sky.
What’s your guilty pleasure?: Procrastinating.
Describe your ideal sandwich: Philly cheese steak with extra jalapenos.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: My campsite along the Yaquina River, upon 10 acres of grassland prairie elk sanctuary, surrounded by forested hills of the old cascades.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: Traveling and surfing.
Who’s your hero?: My son Rowan.
What’s your favorite quote?: “I have lost my smile, But dont worry. The dandelion has it.” A friend of Tich Nat Hanh
Elizabeth Lay
Elizabeth 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 🙂
Isabelle Young
Isabelle Young (she/they) is an art and outdoor educator who studied in Tucson, Arizona and grew up in Santa Cruz, California. Isabelle loves traveling and experiencing new food, landscapes, history, and culture. They connect their experiences and learning through artmaking, and always have a sketchbook on hand. Isabelle currently travels the North American Continent with her partner Isaac and adventurous cattle dog Artie, in their self-built off-grid tiny home known as Lady Loam. Isabelle is especially passionate about helping others appreciate and care for our world and each other, and is excited to experience and share the beauty of Oregon's temperate rainforest with the Opal Creek community.
Hometown: Santa Cruz, California.
What are you thankful for this year?: I am thankful for free dispersed camping across the US (places like National Forest land, State Trust land, and the Bureau of Land Management) creating spaces for remote (and priceless) outdoor recreation.
What music are you listening to right now?: Always Paul McCartney. Lately I've been loving gentle folk too, like Odie Leigh, Big Thief, Angel Olsen, Neko Case, Dr.Dog, and Sierra Ferrell.
What are you reading right now?: A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold.
What’s your guilty pleasure?: Hours-long sessions of beach combing.
Describe your ideal sandwich: A bahn mi or falafel if I'm craving flavor, a meatball sub or fried chicken sandwich if I'm craving substance.
What’s your favorite outdoor spot?: A patch of sunshine next to a creek.
Where can we find you/what are you doing when you’re not working?: Tinkering with all kinds of art and playing with my dog!
Who’s your hero?: My dad; he has always shared his love, respect, and knowledge for nature and encouraged me to find my own niche within this beautiful world.
What’s your favorite quote?: "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Paul McCartney
Rosie Riley
Rosie 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 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 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