Catherine grew up in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, outdoors all the time, climbing trees, skating and riding around her neighborhood, stopping to pet and talk to all the animals encountered. Loving animals and trees, as a little girl she thought the world’s best jobs had to be Tree Hugger or Dog Walker. A…
Emily Rose is a lifelong Los Osos local and spent her childhood exploring the Los Osos oak woodlands, making nature forts, and kayaking across the back bay. She grew up in an English/Spanish-speaking household and is excited to share her Spanish skills with LATO. Emily Rose is a recent grad from UC Santa Cruz, where…
A two week visit to the area after college at the University of Illinois was all that Heather needed to fall thoroughly in love with the Central Coast. Drawn to the vast hiking options, biodiversity of flora, and coastal splendor, she made the move across country. She spent the last decade in office management and…
Born in the Midwest, Jen grew up moving from state to state, eventually settling in Northern California as a preteen. After a weekend visiting her older brother at Cal Poly, she fell in love with the area and its seemingly endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. She became inspired to also study at Cal Poly, with her…
Chris grew up in Ladera, a small and bucolic neighborhood nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, where he spent his childhood overturning logs to discover critters in his backyard. Unable to shake his fascination with the natural world, Chris graduated from the University of Michigan’s Program in the Environment, with a specialization…
Westin grew up in the small town of Weed, located in the utmost reaches of Northern California. He spent most of his young life outdoors, hiking with his mom and dog, swimming in countless lakes, dirt bike riding with his dad, and snowboarding on the beautiful Mt. Shasta. Westin made the move to San Luis…
Lindsey hails from the beaches of Ventura, California and spent much her childhood on her grandparents’ ranch in the Ojai Valley. Lindsey has a B.S in Environmental Management and Protection and a M.S. in Biological Sciences from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Much of her early career was spent working in youth environmental and science…
Carolyn “CJ” Silas has spent most evenings throughout her life on a microphone talking sports & announcing games for college football & baseball at Cal Poly and Hancock College. By day she laces up her hiking boots or Roller Derby skates to get her blood pumping and her heart racing. She has been a volunteer…
Christa grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, where childhood exploration of the forests and tallgrass prairies instilled in her a passion for the environment. Pursuing this passion and seeking better weather, she moved to the Central Coast to attend Cal Poly, where she received a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection in 2021. Recognizing the…
Dylan grew up in Seattle, Washington and gained an appreciation for the mountains, clean water, and lush forests that surround his hometown. He graduated with a BS degree in Natural Resources Management and an MS degree in Forest Hydrology from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo California. Dylan is enthusiastic about managing Land…