Calvin Allan - Teacher - Born in the Philippines and growing up in the scenic Columbia River Gorge on the border of Washington and Oregon, Calvin developed a love for dynamic ecosystems, as well as the mighty Pacific Salmon. Calvin attended Seattle University where he cultivated his passion for public health, environmental and social justice issues. He started out as an AmeriCorps Volunteer, doing environmental and sustainability outreach with various school districts in the Puget Sound and other non-profits organizations, before transitioning to a teaching position at the Mercer Slough. When not working for the Pacific Science Center you can find Calvin in one of the many Seattle Public Schools' elementary schools doing before and after school enrichment programming.

Rianne BeCraft - AmeriCorps Member/WetLab Academy Program Coordinator - Rianne was born and raised in Redmond, WA, and though she has traveled to many places, she can't help but always return to the beautiful Pacific Northwest that she loves so deeply. She graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and a fluency in Spanish. After graduating college, Rianne joined AmeriCorps and served as the Education Outreach Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation in Seattle. She is currently serving her second term of AmeriCorps with Mercer Slough as the WetLab Academy Program Coordinator. Rianne's background includes a variety of work in habitat restoration, field and lab research, and leadership roles for conservancy volunteer groups. You might come across Rianne singing, dancing, talking in strange voices, and doing elaborate impressions. Some of her favorite things to do include kayaking, backpacking and reading under trees.

Mollie Behn - Teacher - Mollie Behn recently earned her Master of Education in Environmental Education from Western Washington University and a certificate in Leadership and Non Profit Administration from North Cascades Institute. A long time employee of the National Park Service, Mollie has worked in education and interpretation for the past eight years. Her passion is working with high school students and promoting their personal and professional growth through adventure-based experiences in nature. She is excited to teach about the natural and cultural history of Mercer Slough and build strong connections with the community. You'll find Mollie hiking, biking and exploring the lakes and mountains of Washington.

Stephanie Huck - Teacher - Growing up in Western Washington and spending summers camping, exploring and beach-combing, Stephanie's childhood relationship with nature developed into an interest in the health of the Puget Sound and Southern Resident Orca population. With hopes of inspiring stewardship in others, she graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor's in Environmental Education, focusing on community education and environmental policy. After graduating, Stephanie spent 3 months in Australia and returned home to spend a year serving an AmeriCorps position with Washington Conservation Corps restoring salmon habitat in Whatcom County. Believing that environmental education is important to start at a young age, Stephanie began volunteering with the Mercer Slough's Polliwog Preschool in 2012 and is now excited to join the Mercer Slough as a teacher for K-8 programs and summer camps. In her free time, you can find Stephanie spending quality time with her dog, hiking, seeing concerts, and travelling abroad whenever possible.

Sarah Kabel - Early Childhood Education Coordinator - Sarah moved to the Northwest five years ago and she never left. She received her Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR, and has a B.A. in Journalism and Environmental Studies from Adrian College in Southeast Michigan. She has worked around the Puget Sound area teaching environmental education and nature-based preschool education. Sarah loves digging for worms, playing in the forest and observing nature with her preschoolers. She also enjoys reading, taking hikes and learning how to garden.

Karen Lennon - Manager - Karen is a natural resource professional and environmental educator with extensive experience and expertise in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Karen has worked in many capacities as a wildlife biologist, outreach specialist and manager of governmental, non-profit and private entities. Karen has developed and implemented educational programs for all age levels, has published on various wildlife species as well as facilitated complex natural resource programs, projects and negotiations. She has a wealth of experience in innovative program development and implementation and especially enjoys fostering partnership opportunities that provide meaningful service in support of natural resource education, conservation and management.

Amanda Mintz - Teacher - Amanda has been teaching weekend programs at Mercer Slough since spring of 2009. She is a Seattle native, and with the exception of three years in Bellingham she has lived here all her life! Amanda earned her teaching certification and a degree in environmental science from the UW. Amanda is currently a classroom teacher, but she has also been a baker, cake decorator, whitewater raft guide, stream restoration ecologist, and science teacher for Pacific Science Center's Science on Wheels outreach program. Amanda can't think of any better way to spend her weekends than hiking around the wetland teaching people about skunk cabbage and yellow spotted millipedes.

Kristen Moss - Teacher - Kristen first became involved in environmental education as a high school student in Kansas City and immediately knew that education was the direction she wanted to go. Kristen recently graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and made the trek to the Pacific Northwest. She has taught and led many overnight summer camps and first joined the Mercer Slough team last summer for camps. She has loved hiking and learning more about the natural history and wildlife found in scenic Washington State as a school programs teacher this past year. She has a wide range of education experience, varying from behind-the-scenes curriculum and education outreach planning to collegiate tutoring and pre-school childcare. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys reading, exploring, baking and travelling.

Siri Nelson - Teen & Family Programs Supervisor - Siri Nelson grew up in Seattle, and has a B.S. from The Evergreen State College and a M.S. in Biology from the University of Washington. Siri has a unique background as both an educator and scientist. Prior to becoming a teacher at MSEEC, she conducted research in the fields of ecology, conservation biology and biomedical genomics. She has extensive knowledge of scientific research methods, and knows her way around a laboratory. During her time as a biology research graduate student at the UW, she was also a science educator; teaching, leading field trips, and creating and evaluating curriculum at both the high school and college level. At the UW she was awarded a two year NSF GK-12 OACIS fellowship and co-taught high school ecology and biology classes, bringing novel research to local high school students. It was during this time that she developed a passion for teaching and mentoring. She is looking forward to developing inquiry-based environmental science programs through WetLab Academy, mentoring high school interns interested in environmental science careers, and building new partnerships between the scientific community and Mercer Slough programs. Siri loves nature, getting outside anyway she can and making all manner of stuff.

Leilani Nussman - PreK-8 Programs Coordinator - Leilani loves water and loves spending time sharing her love of water and nature with kids of all ages. After a childhood in Colorado, Leilani earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Portland, a certificate in Education, Environment, and Community from IslandWood, and a Master's degree in Science Education from UW. She believes that all students have a scientist inside them, and hands-on learning and exploration is the best way to draw that scientist out. Her favorite part of her job is taking children on their first camping or canoeing trip and hearing their stories about their favorite part of their day at camp. She hopes all campers leave Mercer Slough with a new appreciation for the natural world of the Puget Sound watershed.

Hilary Poore - AmeriCorps Member/Polliwog Preschool Program Assistant - Hilary moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest from sunny California, and is not quite sure she is ready for the rain. She has joined Mercer Slough for a year of AmeriCorps , serving as the Polliwog Preschool Program Assistant. She graduated from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor's degree in Biology, and a concentration in Marine Science. Her passions include all things science, teaching early learners and informal education, so she is thrilled there is a place like Mercer Slough that fulfills all three! Her broad experience working with preschoolers includes being a swimming instructor, leading science camps, volunteering at an ocean-side aquarium and most recently working in her hometown as education specialist at a non-profit that emphasizes art and conservation. In her spare time she loves arts and crafts, music, swimming, reading and being outdoors. Hilary is thrilled to be a part of Polliwog Preschool and Mercer Slough.

Melanie Preston - Teacher - Growing up in Michigan, Melanie grew to love the natural world while walking the garden with her mother and grandmothers, exploring the woods and river near her home, and finding inspiration in school.  She earned a degree in biology from Cedarville University in Ohio and finished her teaching program in Michigan.  While in college, she spent her first summer in Grand Teton National Park, where she later worked several seasons as a park ranger.  From Wyoming, Melanie made her way to the beautiful Pacific Northwest where she taught high school science and worked as a park ranger in Olympic National Park.   She particularly enjoyed teaching environmental science and leading a local park restoration project.   When she is not sharing her love for the outdoors at the Mercer Slough, Melanie enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, alpine climbing, reading, and playing guitar.

Ian Schooley - Teacher - Ian grew up in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains where the Platte River cuts through the Colorado plateau, but the lack of salt water drove him to trade the Rockies for the Cascades and the plains for the Puget Sound. After a brief ten-year stint at the Seattle Art Museum his love of nature, being in the outdoors, and desire to help people connect with each other and with the life around them lead him to pursue a certificate in Environment, Education and Community from Islandwood and earn a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from UW. He is excited to ply his new trade at Mercer Slough and looks forward to connecting with a new community of dedicated educators.

Jackie Wilson - Site Supervisor - Growing up in the Seattle area, Jackie fell in love with our local forests, waterways and wildlife. She earned a B.S. Biology and B.A. Environmental Studies from the University of Washington, applying her education through academic research on the native Olympia oyster. Drawn to informal science education, Jackie joined the staff of Pacific Science Center, including teaching at the Mercer Slough. She went on to serve as the Environmental Steward for the Seattle Art Museum based at the beautiful Olympic Sculpture Park. Jackie returned to the UW and earned a Master's in Education: Curriculum and Instruction while teaching with the Program on the Environment, Pipeline Project and Washington Sea Grant. It is now Jackie's pleasure to be back at the Mercer Slough overseeing Wetland Field Studies, developing van outreach classroom lessons and supporting teaching staff and site operations. Jackie loves seeing students get excited about science and make connections to their classroom learning.

Katie Woolsey - Teacher - Having grown up in North Bend, nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Katie learned at a young age not to take the breathtaking landscapes around her for granted. Volunteering with many local environmental and restoration organizations led her to feel especially attached to Washington State. A graduate of Western Washington University with a degree in planning and environmental policy, Katie discovered her passion for environmental law, community outreach and watershed management. She has been involved in teaching summer camps for many years with Encompass and loves working with students at the Mercer Slough.