Al-E Baldwin

Al-E grew up in the Seattle area where she ran wild and free around the Cascade Mountains and in the rainforest until the time came for a more structured form of education. She graduated from Connecticut College in May 2006 with a degree in Environmental Science. After graduation she went to a wilderness school in Connecticut where she worked a variety of positions. Some of these include leading expedition trips, working with home school groups in outdoor education and team building, leading and coordinating logistics for a program for amazing young women in the wilderness, and food coordinating. She has spent a winter working for an animal preservation group in West Yellowstone, Montana and a few autumns and a spring traveling. Al-E decided it was time for a more drastic scenery change and came to Pathfinder Ranch in late August of 2008.

Monique Berg

Monique graduated with a BA in Environmental Science.  This degree was perfect for her, since she loves working and learning about the outdoors.  Her first outdoor work experience was an Americorps program in Maine.  She traveled all over the state living and working outside without taking showers for 8 days - what fun!  She started working in outdoor education to gain teaching experience for Peace Corps.  However, she hurt her knee and wasn’t able to complete Peace Corps service, and now travels this country learning about the different habitats and cultures.  She has met and taught some amazing individuals.  She feels traveling--being outdoors, educating kids, meeting new people and absorbing as much new information as possible--is the way to live your life.

Leah Callan

Leah is originally from Michigan, where her love for the environment was nurtured by the beautiful Great Lakes and ten years of northern Michigan summer camps. She received her BS from Michigan State University in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Resources, and spent summers exploring the exotic places the world has to offer. After college, Leah took an internship with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in San Francisco, leading local school groups in habitat restoration work from the Marin Headlands to Yosemite. She then decided that California and its amazing environmental education opportunities beat out Michigan's winters any day, and never left. She has worked as a naturalist at two other outdoor education schools in southern California before joining the awesome program at Pathfinder Ranch.

Toya Coleman, Asst. Wrangler / Medic

Toya came to Pathfinder Ranch in 2007. She got her start in EE/OE when she volunteered for Americorps six years ago, and has been teaching ever since. She graduated with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies. When Toya's not riding horses with energetic 5th and 6th graders she's enjoying beautiful southern california and all the mountains and sunshine it has to offer. 

Anna Zielinski

There is a legend that the old folks of Ohio tell when the harvest moon rises.  A story about a mysterious child found wandering the deciduous forests.  Was she raised by squirrels? or perhaps sycamore trees?  No one will ever know, but one family at the end of the alphabet took her in and named her Anna.  She was a smart child and much stronger than her two brothers.  Also after she discovered bathing, she did not stink.   as much.  Since Mother Nature had taught her about the beautiful world, she wanted to pass on that knowledge by teaching others.  She studied hard at the University of Dayton and earned her degree in education.  Wishing to stay outside as much as possible, she eagerly accepted a teaching position at Pathfinder Ranch.   Her love of bread and horses keeps her here.

Written by: Shangu.  Facts not verified.

Bill Flynn

Bill Flynn hails from one of the most influential, important, and exciting states in the Union.  That’s right folks, Iowa!  William David Flynn III was born and raised in Bettendorf, where he ate 35 tons of corn in his childhood, leading to his 6’4”, 250 pounds of awesomeness.  Bill attended the University of Colorado and earned a degree in Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology.  After graduating, he worked for a year as an outdoor educator in Brinkhaven, Ohio and is now happy to be at it again at Pathfinder Ranch.  In his free time Bill enjoys watching football, playing football, playing video game football, and long walks on the beach. 

Brian "Lynx" Johnson

Lynx spent most of his life growing up in Washington State, surrounded by abundant nature. He has always had a love and curiosity for the nature world. It rains a lot in Washington, so he headed to Hawaii to follow the sun. He lived in Hawaii for a total of 6 years, four of which were on Maui. It was on Maui that Lynx started his carrier as a naturalist, where he worked at the Hawaii Nature Center and the Maui YMCA for 3 years. He studied Early Childhood Development and Psychology and incorporated these studies into his curriculum as well. He fell in love with Hawaii and the Aloha spirit, which means just being nice and respectful to everyone and everything. After what seemed like a life time of living in paradise, he made his way back to Washington. He then continued his teaching in the beautiful San Juan Islands at Moran Outdoor School. After two seasons at an amazing program, and a couple of very rainy winters, he was ready and very willing to continue his journey to sunny Southern California. Pathfinder Ranch is another amazing place were he can share his passion for the world and instill a lifelong curiosity in youth about the importance of the natural world.     

Aly Leavitt

Aly grew up in the land of sun and fun right here in Southern California. Living in Los Angeles she has basically grown up at the beach and thinks that there is nothing like a long day of surfing, wave diving and seagull catching. Aly also thinks there is nothing better than a good mud fight! She loves learning and laughing with kids and has been volunteering and working for the past three years at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times where she realized how great pet skunks can be and how magical the great outdoors are. Her love of being outdoors and teaching kids is what brought her to Pathfinder Ranch. Aly is excited to rock it out with all the students that come to Pathfinder Ranch this year!

Dylan-Ernst "Red" Schäfer

Red has been teaching at the Ranch on and off for four years now. His passions include photography, music, sports and the outdoors. In the future, Red would like to use his bachelor's degree in journalism (from USC) and his master's degree in photography (from Boston University) to teach photojournalism on the high school or college level. But for now he's content living in the mountains and teaching kids about stuff. Oh yeah, and "Red is probably the most awesome person you'll ever meet." That's a direct quote from Aijah.

Mark Touchstone

Originally from Georgia, Mark considers North Carolina to be his home. He recently graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Recreation Management and a concentration in Outdoor Experiential Education. His outdoor experience ranges from trip leading to summer camp work. After working as a trip leader with Adventures Cross Country outside San Francisco, he was instantly attracted to the diverse geography of California. On his off days, he loves to go rock climbing, hiking, and exploring everything California has to offer.

Joanna Vance

Jo was born and raised in sunny Southern California and has a great appreciation for sandy beaches, palm trees, and surfing!  Jo has a B.S. in Environmental Management and a minor in Government from the University of Redlands.  During college, she fell in love with the great outdoors and science. She spent two years researching desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert and a semester studying the tropical rainforests of Australia. For the last three years Jo has volunteered and worked for Camp Good Times. It was there that she realized her love for working with children, backpacking, camp songs, mud fights, and laughing until her sides hurt. Jo spent time last year teaching science, exploring nature, and spotting banana slugs with students in the beautiful redwoods of northern California, and is thrilled to spend time with the students that come to Pathfinder Ranch!! In her spare time, Jo enjoys laughing a lot, running, rock 'n' roll music, reading good books, drinking coffee, and spending time with friends and family.

Shangu, Assistant OE Director

Very little is known about Shangu, besides his ridiculous sense of adventure and knowledge of the natural world. We can only assume that he lived his early years in a cave in the Carpathian Mountains. It must be such a unique experience that enables Shangu to share with others his deep love and passion for the outdoors. After a year of travel and tracking mythological beasts, he is delighted to make his distinguished return to Pathfinder Ranch. As the Assistant OE Director, he fearlessly leads by his shining example and wild gesticulations.

[written by Anna. facts are not verified.]