Our Team

During this program, Iris was in her final year of completing her Bachelors in Environmental Studies. Having had many personal experiences of how powerful environmental ed can be, she felt inspired to pay it forward, by helping local elementary schoolers have the same opportunity for learning in the outdoors. ELP was the perfect place to make that happen, and she is incredibly grateful for the lessons teaching hads brought her.

In 2025, Maddie was a third year at the University of Oregon, earning her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. For Maddie, the outdoors are a source of magic. As a child, she visited fairy houses in the backyard and searched for mermaid scales along the shore, eager to get out the next day. Her Washington summers were filled with lessons from her grandpa about the land and animals developing her love for environmental education. ELP was her opportunity to pass that magic and knowledge along and help learners grow their excitement and belonging in the outdoors. Maddie brought experience from outdoor camp counseling and tennis coaching, which helped her confidence going into the program. She plans on utilizing the leadership, adaptability and communication skills developed this program into her future career.

Lily was a fourth-year undergraduate Environmental Studies student at the University of Oregon during her time with the Environmental Leadership Program. She discovered a sense of belonging and peace in nature at a young age. Her passion for environmental stewardship was passed on to local elementary students through place-based learning. She based her teaching on the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, aiming to create a warm and welcoming environment where a variety of ideas and experiences are celebrated. This was Lily's first time working with young learners, and she hopes to continue this work in the future.

In 2025, Julie was a fourth year undergraduate at the University of Oregon with a major in environmental studies. Passionate about the opportunity to gain experience in environmental education and promote stewardship in young learners, she enjoyed helping students make scientific observations and watching them get curious out in nature. As a child, she grew up doing things like hiking with her Mom, building mud creations, and hunting for bugs. These experiences set a foundation for the environment as a place where she could express herself freely, something that she was eager to share with the students. Her time as a part of Wild Wanderers allowed her to build crucial skills in project management, team-building, public speaking, and learning facilitation. 

Emily was a third year Environmental Studies Student at the University of Oregon double minoring in Sustainable Business and Sociology. Outdoor ed was her favorite part of school growing up, giving her the motivation to recreate that feeling for others. Emily has taught early elementary schoolers prior to joining this project, she brought those skills into each lesson and hopes to bring her leadership qualities into her career after graduation. 

In 2025, Jai Shah graduated from the University of Oregon, earning him a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. His passion for nature and conservation spanned continents, from his roots in Kenya to his studies in Oregon. Throughout his academic journey, Jai had developed expertise in child education, conservation practices, renewable energy solutions, environmental justice and ecological restoration. He was committed to sharing his international perspective on environmental stewardship with younger generations and had dedicated his undergraduate years to bridging cultural approaches to sustainability. His cross-cultural background provided him with unique insights into global environmental challenges, which he applied to his research and community outreach efforts in the Pacific Northwest.

In 2025, Ruby was a Junior at the University of Oregon, earning her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies with a minor in Sustainable Business. Ruby's passion for environmental education is rooted in her childhood spent exploring the Pacific Northwest,  but matured through her studies at the University of Oregon. Through the Environmental Leadership Program, she had the opportunity to watch students cultivate love and curiosity for the natural world, similar to her own at a younger age. This experience deepened her interest in creating outdoor accessibility for all individuals. Her time in the Wild Wanderers team taught her how to engage with students' curiosity, empowering them to view the world through an investigative lens and have a passion for lifelong learning. In addition to her pursuits outside of the Environmental Leadership Team, being a member of the Wild Wanderers team provided her with the skills to be an effective communicator, adaptable, and a trustworthy leader. 

In 2025, Cambria graduated from the University of Oregon, earning a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, with an emphasis in biological sciences, in addition to the Outdoor Pursuits Leadership Certificate. Cambria is a curious and avid adventurer with a passion for creating inclusive environmental education opportunities for all people. Prior to being involved with the Environmental Leadership Program, Cambria had coached and developed curriculum for children's rock climbing, and has led a variety of outdoor pursuit courses, which had strengthened her understanding of what it means to be an effective and reliable leader. Throughout her time on the Wild Wanderers team, she not only developed skills to effectively manage tasks, communicate, and compromise with the co-developers of the project, but how to be an engaging, empathetic, and curious educator for all students.

In 2025 Josaphine Saccio-Devine was a junior at the University of Oregon. She is a double major studying Environmental Science with a focal area in life sciences and Anthropology with a biological concentration. She has always loved getting outside and her favorite things to do as a kid was to go hiking and learn the stories of the land, and she wants students to feel the same excitement and eagerness to learn about our environment. She has a background in nature-based community outreach and has worked with kids before in mentor programs and was excited to translate this experience into the world of environmental education. She is fueled by her passion for environmental justice and education accessibility. 

In 2025, Alaina graduated from the University of Oregon as an Evans Scholar with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science as well as minors in Planning Public Policy & Management and Earth Science.  Recognizing the intersections between science, environmental protection, sustainable policy, city planning, and community engagement, her combined major and minors position her to contribute meaningfully to environmental work. Alaina is passionate about caring for nature. She is particularly interested in sustainable urban planning but is enthusiastic to work in environmental education, restoration, or consulting.