The Outdoor School at Rancho Alegre

Blue Jay was reared in southern California but spent many years in Northern California. His education at Humboldt State and in the redwoods surrounding Arcata led him to become a naturalist. Blue Jay loves learning about the Chumash Indians. His other passions is birds – hence his name. Blue Jay can be often found standing still listening to the birds talking in the trees.

Rain grew up in one of the upstate New York counties where cows outnumber people 3-1. He worked as a naturalist in seven different states and earned a Masters in Environmental Education from Prescott College before signing on at The Outdoor School in 2003. Favorite activities at the Outdoor School include rock hopping and teaching the science of hot air balloons. On his off-hours, Rain indulges in the fine art of tree climbing and plays flute music on the Santa Barbara County open mic circuit.

Aloe grew up in Santa Barbara in the beautiful foothills. Since her early childhood, she spent much of her time in the outdoors, going on hikes, chasing butterflies, collecting rocks, stargazing, and exploring all that nature had to offer. In 2002 Aloe moved to Santa Cruz and attended the UC, where she studied Literature and Theater Arts. Aloe also spent much of her time in magical redwood forests and walking on the infinite beaches along the northern coastline. In January of 2008 Aloe moved back to Santa Barbara to do her first internship as a Naturalist at Rancho Alegre, and has been working here ever since. Aloe loves the many sounds, smells, and colors of the natural world and looks forward to expanding and sharing her knowledge.

Owl grew up in San Diego and has since had many amazing outdoor adventures all over the southwestern states. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder, has a degree in Philosophy, and loves to spread the joy and wisdom that the natural world has to offer.

Ibis has his Bachelors of Science in Natural Resources Interpretation and is a certified interpretive guide. Ibis has worked as a ranger for both California State Parks and the National Park Service. He has ten years of experience working with children, including two years as a mental health worker for the emotionally disturbed and four years as a naturalist at outdoor science schools across California.

Web grew up catching frogs and snakes in the sandy pine forests of South Carolina.  She also spent a lot of time fishing and digging for clams at the beach.  She spent so much time doing this that she decided that she wanted to be a marine biologist when she grew up.  During college she found herself clinging to rocks counting sea stars as the tide tried to sweep her away and tracking radio collared rattlesnakes.  She decided that teaching people how to have crazy but informative nature adventures was much more fun than writing lab reports.  Now 10 years later, she has taught preschoolers, middle and high school students, and adults about the natural world from Massachusetts to California and from New Zealand to Peru.  She is excited to return to The Outdoor School after getting her Masters of Education in Learning and Teaching from Harvard University because searching for horned back lizards and watching the moon rise over East Ridge are two of her favorite things to do in the whole wide world.

Fern: Long ago, Fern came from the faraway land of Virginia to the beautiful and mysterious Bellingham, Washington. There she went to college and discovered the magic of the temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest where the water-loving fern thrives. After graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in Outdoor Education, Fern took off for sunny California to work as a naturalist intern at Walker Creek Ranch. Fern is happy to have found a new habitat at The Outdoor School at Rancho Alegre as a naturalist.