Meet Nature for All’s Third Outdoor Education Apprentices

Charlotte was born and raised in Los Angeles, they spent much of their childhood outdoors birding and developing a deep appreciation for wildlife, even in the city and around their apartment. Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife with a concentration in Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Management, and a minor in Studio Art from Cal Poly Humboldt. Their experiences studying wildlife strengthened their passion for conservation and inspired them to connect others with the natural world. Charlotte believes conserving nature should not be separate from people, as humans are an integral part of the Earth and our well-being is tied to the health of the planet. As an Outdoor Education Apprentice, they are excited to learn more about Southern California’s diverse flora and fauna and to build the skills to help others find wonder in nature. Their favorite animal groups are waterfowl and rodents, and in their free time, they enjoy birding, hiking, rock climbing, playing guitar, and spending time with their guinea pigs.

Dylan was born in Pasadena and raised in Temple City within the San Gabriel Valley. After a childhood spent gardening and collecting bugs in empty water bottles with his grandma, he developed a deep passion for nature and the intricacies it holds between people. He then went on to pursue and graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Environmental Biology at UC Berkeley, and there, his love for the conservation of the natural world skyrocketed. At Berkeley, he took classes that brought him out into the field, which allowed him to appreciate and gain a deeper understanding of the ecosystems within and outside our cities, further cementing his future in providing for nature and making it accessible and known to everyone. This prompted him to start expanding his knowledge in the environmental sphere to help others learn about how amazing these spaces are and how we could help our wild neighbors thrive. In his free time, he takes care of his menagerie of fish, “Fish” the lizard, and an army of plants, in addition to going outside and flipping rocks for bugs and herps.

Fairuza was born and raised in East Los Angeles.  She was constantly surrounded by various bird calls and sightings, and also local parks that gave her access to nature that would eventually become her calling. Growing up around her Grandpa who loved nature and wildlife, her Grandma who loved plants and used them for medicinal purposes, and childhood family trips to Big Bear mountain, her eventual passion for advocacy and empathy for the natural world was bound to happen. Fairuza’s time in grade school and high school was not the best situation, she knows many others in her community had the same situation due to issues like, poverty, undiagnosed neurodivergence, family issues, and the school system in general. Fairuza hopes that others in her community who never had access to nature due to those circumstances, will learn that nature is everywhere, and it is something everyone should have access to. Finally, she hopes to find ways to give back to her community some day with nature knowledge programs.

Isabella is proudly Mexican American, Pasadena raised and has been a passionate protector and observer of nature since she can remember. She is currently attending Pasadena City College on the path to transfer to UCD for her undergrad in Environmental Policy Analysis and Management. She has had an interest in conservation since high school, after a positive experience with an outdoor youth program, and with this inspiration, decided they’d like to explore and pursue careers that advocate for communities having clean air, water, and equitable access to green spaces. Her hobbies currently include hiking with her dogs, camping, and turning her grass lawn into a native pollinator garden. Being surrounded by likeminded individuals and environmental enthusiasts coming from a variety of cultural upbringings has been affirming and empowering. She hopes to one day become a strong standing community resource and advocate for environmental justice.

Jonathan was born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles. He received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science & Resource Management from California State University Channel Islands. Jonathan grew up somewhat disconnected from nature with the closest green spaces more often than not being city parks. It wasn’t until graduating high school, and pursuing an Environmental science degree, that the intrinsic value and significance of nature made itself apparent. While at CI, Jonathan became involved with a student organization called Green Generation which focused on connecting the student body to nature and teaching about the environment. Not only was Green Gen a great source of friends and fun, it also served as a prelude to Jonathan’s current status as an Outdoor Education Apprentice to be able to continue the wonderful work of teaching others and connecting them to nature.

Nico was born and raised in Greater Los Angeles. They struggled to reconcile stories of nature with the concrete jungle around them. Nico graduated from UC Irvine with degrees in Political Science, Criminology, and History, where they were able to connect their education in social justice and passion for environmental issues. Understanding that outdoor education is lacking within the environmental humanities, Nico plans to use their experience in the program to increase their own awareness of the environment and encourage their peers to explore their own relationship with the world around them. They hope to use their newfound knowledge to supplement their educational pursuits, using academic research to better understand human-animal relations and how they shine new light on better understanding the various social and environmental issues of our lifetimes.