Sempervirens Staff
The Naturalist staff at Exploring New Horizons Outdoor Schools have extensive training and teaching experience in the Outdoor Education field. They have a passion for teaching children in the outdoors and a commitment to creating a learning atmosphere that is fun, safe, educational, and inclusive of all learning styles. All staff members are certified in both First Aid and CPR.
Daniel/Dingo – Program Director
Danny began his Naturalist career in 2012 with Audubon Greenwich in Connecticut. This sparked not just an interest in birding, but also the pursuit of a career in Outdoor Education. From there, Danny spent time working in Maine and Vermont before settling in Santa Cruz, California in 2016. Since moving to California, he has led field study groups through the redwoods, out to the tidepools, and under the giant granite cliffs of Yosemite. During the 2020-21 school year, Danny led ENH’s Virtual Science Camp Program as well as the Outdoor Afterschool Program at ENH’s new site in Scotts Valley. In his free time he can be found with a guitar, out surfing, or planning the next big adventure. His favorite bird is an osprey and hopes one day he can see the view from the top of an old-growth coastal redwood.
You can email him at: daniel@exploringnewhorizons.org
Samantha/Clover
Clover grew up in Western Massachusetts where she gained a long lasting love and appreciation for the outdoors. She pursued her love of teaching and working with kids by earning a degree in General and Special Education at Juniata College. Before joining ENH, Clover worked at Nature’s Classroom and multiple camps in New England then at San Mateo County Outdoor Education. When not working, she enjoys creating and listening to music, traveling, spending time outdoors and with friends, reading, playing games, and doing puzzles! Clover is looking forward to sharing adventures and her appreciation for nature with all of the students coming to Outdoor School!
Katie/Puddle – Assistant Director
Katie is from the Garden State, right outside the city of Philadelphia. She went to school at Merrimack College just outside of Boston to compete in athletics. While there, she took an opportunity to travel to and hike in Montana for a semester which influenced her decision to move out west to California post graduation. Living in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, she taught outdoor education, and went on hikes and museums in LA. She moved to the central coast where her passion for the outdoors led her to Exploring New Horizons. As a naturalist she was able to share her connection to the earth with students. After ENH she ventured to Washington state to work on a small scale organic farm outside of Seattle. Developing an obsession with planting and growing, she plans on returning to the dirt in the summer, but is looking forward to returning to the redwoods to share the magic of the earth with students again!!!
Erin/Blue
Blue was born and raised in sunny Florida just ten minutes away from the beach, and has actually seen an alligator crawl out of a storm drain. While attending college at the University of Florida (go Gators!), Blue began working with local nesting Northern Mockingbirds, and she hasn’t looked back since. Since graduating college Blue has worked all over the eastern United States and Costa Rica as an outdoor educator. Blue first moved to California to work on the central coast, and is excited to explore the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz area!
Lauren/Red Fox
Born and raised in Livermore, California, Red Fox has always had a fascination for the coastline and ocean critters. This made her decision to attend UC Santa Cruz to study Marine Biology easy. Before coming to ENH she spent two summers working at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) where she trained with a very charismatic and clever red fox which quickly became her favorite.
Upon returning to California, Red Fox discovered the world of Outdoor Education and dove in head first. She interned for 2 years at San Joaquin Outdoor School, and then spent a year working for YMCA Camp Campbell Outdoor School before arriving at ENH Sempervirens.
When she is not running around looking for new animals to encounter during beach day Red Fox loves working with guests at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or relaxing with sci-fi films, various sewing, crochet and art projects. She is excited to call the redwoods home and share her excitement with all the incoming students!