Meet Nature for All’s Second Outdoor Education Apprentices

Anthony is an Outdoor Education Apprentice in Nature for All’s Environmental Pathways program. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Anthony grew up in a position simultaneously near and far from nature but due to his passion, he noticed how it was able to permeate into the city. After a brief hiatus getting his Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, Anthony has returned to his home city to reconnect with life there. A fan of birds and other native wildlife, Anthony plans to not only increase his knowledge in such matters, but also learn ways to spread this knowledge to his community. He hopes he can help people understand that nature is actually super close and despite all the gatekeeping, it is something that everyone should have the right to enjoy.

Brianna was born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She is an avid lover of nature, with her favorite pastimes including hiking, running, and learning about native flora and fauna. She is a first generation alumnus of UC Riverside, with a major in Sustainability Studies. She understands the importance of approaching environmental issues and their solutions through an intersectional lens. She plans to use the knowledge and experience she gains as an Outdoor Education Apprentice to help marginalized communities have equitable access to Mother Nature. She wants to help people appreciate the world around them and promote the importance of environmental stewardship.

Celine is an Outdoor Education Apprentice in the second cohort of Nature for All’s Environmental Pathways program. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Environmental Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. Her favorite southern Californian plant is ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), which she tried to hug once while strolling through the desert. Growing up, she did not have many opportunities to explore outside of her backyard, so she is very excited to venture through Los Angeles’ green spaces through this program! She hopes that everyone can have a chance to connect with the land because there are so many lessons to be learned from Mother Earth. In her free time, she can be found scavenging for spiders among foliage, running into the ocean, or painting at home with her cat.

Christian is an Outdoor Education Apprentice of Nature for All’s Environmental Pathways program. Although new to non-profit organizations, Christian has dedicated themselves to grassroots activism and building community wherever possible. Growing up in the outdoors, places such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and many others sites where adventures were regularly had, became critical elements in shaping the course of their lives. Though they spent years studying and exploring different career paths; they could never give up their passion for the nature they grew so fond of, and often disappeared into the mountains whenever possible. “It’s very healing to know I can always count on (the mountains) to remind me of how small we all really are. They’ve never let me down, and I can’t imagine myself ever turning my back on something so beautiful worth fighting for. It’s devastating to know that so many people have been deprived of the privilege to experience that.” Currently, Christian is involved with grassroots efforts to shut down a lead smelting plant that continues to operate illegally, poisoning the surrounding communities, organizing and taking part in efforts to aid unhoused neighbors and enforce rent control, confronting corruption within local school systems and related institutions, as well as efforts in various intersectional issues. Read More

María is a queer, first-generation Central American, residing on Tongva territory (Hawthorne, CA). After graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and specializing in Archaeology, María sought a path for how to intersect their interest outside of academia and shifted their focus to protecting and preserving cultural and natural environments through land stewardship. They have an interest in native plants and community gardening, seeking ways to support food sovereignty and incorporate ancestral crops and attracting more native species. As an Outdoor Education Apprentice, María hopes to expand their knowledge on plant and animal species, as well as how to bridge opportunities for underserved communities and share the same passion I have for the natural world in all its beauty. María’s intentions are grounded in honoring sacred homelands by engaging in collaborative, hands-on work. They strongly believe transformation changes are rooted in community and connecting our communities to the past, present, and future. Outside of Nature For All, María competes in Olympic weightlifting, attends live music scenes, and enjoys collecting oddities and vintage trinkets.

Melissa, alongside being an Outdoor Education Apprentice, is also a student working towards their Associate’s Degree at Mt. San Antonio College.  Their education at Mt. SAC has given them an understanding and appreciation of native flora and fauna in California’s ecosystem.  In her free time Melissa likes birdwatching, hiking, and going to the beach.  Having grown up in the San Gabriel Valley, their favorite green spaces were her Abuelita’s garden and Peter F. Schabarum Regional Park.  Spending time outdoors with her neighbors and family members heavily inspired her interest in environmental justice and community based sustainability.  Joining Nature For All’s team as an Outdoor Education Apprentice is an exciting opportunity for Melissa to further their knowledge of California’s ecosystem and give back to her community. Melissa is most excited to uphold Nature For All’s mission statement to Protect, Create, and Connect a sustainable future for communities in Los Angeles.