Read Oak’s history

Lauren (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne team years ago after finishing her major in Recreation Outdoor Education with an emphasis in outdoor leadership and youth education. Lauren also has an ECE certification through Front Range Community College and over six years of experience working with outdoor youth education programs. During her first four years at Thorne Nature Preschool, Lauren has had the joy of growing within this special community, as a lead teacher, Preschool Coordinator, and a float and support during many meaningful transitions, before becoming the Preschool Director in 2025. These experiences have deepened her appreciation for the magic that happens when children are given the space to connect with nature, follow their curiosities, and learn through wonder and exploration.

Lauren believes that the connection to nature at an early age is not only developmentally beneficial in the experience of free exploration, but it also helps build a connection to the spaces around us as stewards, leading to a better environmental future. In Lauren’s free time, she can be found making jewelry out of retired skis, rafting, climbing, biking, running, and hiking with her dog Peri.

Natalie (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne team in late 2022. She has ten years of experience as the executive director of a residential summer camp in Oregon. She is a professional educator and holds a PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Natalie believes deeply in the summer camp experience as a means to connect young people with themselves, others and the rest of the natural world.

Rachel (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne team in late 2022. She has a B.A. in History from Brown University and an M.S. in Environmental Education from Antioch University New England. Her experience includes leading backpacking and sea kayaking expeditions and teaching in informal and formal classroom settings; she also spent six years as the Youth and Inclusiveness Director for Wildlands Restoration Volunteers. Rachel is especially passionate about ensuring that all youth and families have equitable access to nature. When she’s not working, Rachel spends her time hiking, trail running, gardening, eating hummus, and playing with her two young children.

Erica (she/her/hers) joined Thorne as a Summer Camp Instructor in 2024 and now works as a preschool educator. Erica grew up in Connecticut and spent her childhood catching frogs, playing amongst the trees, and ice-skating on frozen ponds. After receiving her B.S. in Forestry from the University of Maine, she moved out to Colorado to work for the U.S. Forest Service as a Forest Ranger at the Maroon Bells. Erica began her childcare career in November of 2023 at a daycare and transitioned to nature-based education at the start of the following summer. Erica has a deep passion for finding the magic in nature and instilling the importance of caring for our Mother Earth within our future land stewards. Erica currently enjoys camping, crocheting, and hiking.

Christian (he/him) joined the Thorne team in the summer of 2024. Originally from New Mexico, he has spent enough time in Colorado to consider it his second home. His motivation for working in environmental education stems from his summers spent on the Navajo Nation (Diné Bikeyah) during high school and college. During those summers, he spent a great deal of time outdoors and traveling, which deepened his connection to his homeland. He also engaged Native youth in activities such as running, games, and discussions about the cultural significance of health and wellness. This experience ignited his passion for environmental education, where he aims to help others connect with the Land, their communities, and themselves in meaningful ways.

With over five years of experience in the field, Christian holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a master’s degree in education from Colorado College. He has also worked with various organizations focused on bringing a nature connection into classrooms and taking students outside to explore, learn, and love the Land.

Hannah (she/they) joined the preschool team in March of 2025. and worked as a summer camp instructor in between school years.

Hannah grew up on a cow and chicken farm in Alabama and was raised by winding streams, wild honeysuckle and old-growth forests. She graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Liberal Studies. Their research, focused on environmental classism/racism in the deep South, fostered a passion to bring justice to the marginalized communities back home. She worked as an environmental educator at a camp in Alabama, where she not only developed a love for snakes and herptiles but also discovered the method of nature education as a tool for bringing justice to communities in need. She moved to Colorado in January of 2025 to gain the experience needed from established organizations doing just that.

Chuy Gallegos (el/he/him), originally from Gomez Palacio Durango, Mexico, has always had a deep appreciation for nature. Growing up in the deserts of Mexico and spending time near the Sonoran border, he developed a strong connection to the landscape. After moving to Colorado in 2007, he fell in love with the mountains, particularly the rock formations at Flagstaff.

With a background in Physical Education, Chuy has dedicated his career to working with youth. As a trip leader, he educated others on border issues, including migration, economics, and humanitarian concerns in Nogales, Mexico, and Tucson, Arizona. He spent 14 years at Tru Community Care and most recently served as the Junior Ranger Program Coordinator for the City of Boulder. Deeply involved in the Boulder and Longmont communities, he is excited to begin a new chapter with Thorne and the NKJN programs. Chuy lives in Longmont with his wife and their two children, ages 15 and 12.

Hattie (she/her/hers) graduated from CSU in 2023 with a bachelor’s in Human Dimensions in Natural Resources. Since then, she’s worked for the forest service and been an outdoor educator for Thorne during the summer. She’s proud to be a part of the Thorne team as one of the preschool educators. Her love for the outdoors and her passion for teaching young children go hand in hand at Thorne.

Kalei Gopar-Martinez (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne team full-time in 2025. She has over 7 years of experience working in/with the Nature Kids/Jóvenes de la Naturaleza program, where she started as a Summer Environmental Education Intern in high school. She recently graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Leadership. Kalei is from Lafayette, CO and is dedicated to making the community more accessible for all. In her free time you can find her paddleboarding, fishing, and having picnics outside.

Silje Hayes, pronounced Sil-yuh or Sil for short, (she/her/hers) is a graduate of Colorado State University with a BS in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. She has worked with children in many different capacities over the years, starting as a summer day camp volunteer at 17. Since graduating from CSU, Silje worked with children at outdoor summer day camps, as an EcoWeek Instructor at the CSU mountain campus, as a paraprofessional in Poudre School District, and most recently by guiding outdoor field trips for students in the Denver Metro area. She is beyond excited to be working with Thorne Nature Preschool. It is her belief that children who develop a love of nature will become lifelong stewards of the earth and Thorne Nature Preschool helps children to love the outdoors.

Danielle (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne team in 2021 and uses her 20+ year background as a human resources leader to support Thorne Nature Experience. Danielle specializes in organizational development, employee relations, and recruiting. In addition to an HR background, Danielle was a Summer Camp Director, Outward Bound Instructor, Case Manager, and Medical Technician. Being outdoors and connecting with nature has been a lifelong passion and now Danielle enjoys hiking, camping, boating, and backpacking with her family. Her kids LOVE the Thorne summer camp program!

Kayli (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne Team in June 2025 as a Preschool Educator and is excited to combine her passions for early childhood education and the wonders of nature. She began her career working with children and families at a nonprofit serving individuals experiencing domestic violence. Kayli spent five years as a child and family advocate and case manager, but the part of the job that inspired her most was running playgroups that gave children the space to be children, to play and to heal.

In 2018, Kayli moved to Colorado from the Los Angeles area and shifted her career path to pursue teaching. She spent one year as an ECSE paraprofessional in SVVUSD before joining a school in Boulder, where she taught preschool and toddlers for five years. Kayli saw firsthand how the power of nature allows children to connect more deeply with themselves, their community, and the earth—and how, through those deep connections, they grow into wonderful human beings.

In her free time, Kayli enjoys hiking with friends, swimming, practicing yoga, and spending time with her partner, her dogs (Daisy and Boots), and her family.

Anthony “Andy” Maeding (he/him/his) joined the Thorne team in 2016. He has a B.S. in Recreation Resources Management from Colorado State University and a Montessori Lower Elementary Teaching Credential from Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. Andy has extensive experience cultivating nature connection with children of all ages, having led students on extended wilderness expeditions, sea kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, backcountry skiing, fly fishing and international travel experiences for more than two decades.

Gabriela (she/her/ella) began working at Thorne in 2022 after serving as vice president of the Promotores group for Nature Kids Lafayette. Before this, she worked for over seven years at the City of Juarez Police Department as a Detective specializing in homicide and human trafficking, then later as an Intern Detective at the Longmont Police Department in 2018. Gabriela was also a Community Liaison at Pioneer Bilingual School, supporting underserved Latinx families. Born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, Gabriela has always had a strong connection to nature, especially hiking and rappelling. She is passionate about connecting underrepresented families to the outdoors. Gabriela has two children who have participated in Thorne and Lafayette Nature Kids programs. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities and oil painting. Gabriela holds a degree in criminology and a master’s focused on indigenous crime studies from the University of Chihuahua. Gabriela identifies as an indigenous woman with a deeply rooted culture of the Rarámuri or Tarahumara ethnic group from Chihuahua, Mexico.

Krista (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne team in 2024. A self-proclaimed “creek kid”, she is a Colorado native born and raised in Littleton. Krista attended Metropolitan State University of Denver where she completed her BA in Fundraising and Promotional Strategy while supporting the University Advancement team as a Development Assistant and briefly supporting the Alumni Relations and Development team at the University of Chicago. Since then, Krista has worked with several Colorado nonprofits in a professional and volunteer capacity, including Wings Over the Rockies, Invest in Kids, Special Olympics Colorado, and the Colorado Symphony. She has a passion for early childhood education, social-emotional learning, and equity in all things, and loves the ways Thorne’s mission and programs weave these together by connecting kids with nature. Outside of work, Krista enjoys live music, reading, and exploring our beautiful state with her partner.

Molly (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne team in 2023 as a Summer Camp Instructor and now works as an Environmental Educator. Molly grew up in San Antonio going to camp in West Texas and has experience at an adventure camp in Ward, Colorado during the summer while pursuing her B.S. in Environmental Studies at Texas A&M. Molly feels at peace in nature while backpacking, hiking, swimming or looking at the wildflowers each season.

Carrie Riesberg (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne team as a Summer Camp Instructor in 2010 and worked in seasonal camp leadership until she joined Thorne’s year-round team in 2016. Carrie became the Summer Camp Manager in 2018 and ran the camp until 2021 when she shifted into her current role as Thorne’s Marketing Manager. She has a BS in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She also has extensive training and experience in special education and school-based mental health services, including eight years of experience as a behavioral specialist in elementary special education. In her free time, Carrie continues to nurture her connection to nature through shared adventures outdoors with her young daughter and through time spent paddling, hiking, and frolicking in beautiful wild places.

Erin (she/her/hers) joined the Thorne team in 2004 and has a B.S. in Zoology and Botany from the University of Washington. Erin has created curricula for many Thorne programs, written grants, and worked exhaustively with teachers, science coordinators, and district administrators as well as parents to ensure quality nature science programming for our community. Erin is a certified Project Wild facilitator and is conversant in Spanish.

Brian (he/him/his) joined the Thorne team in early 2025. He is a fierce advocate for youth and the necessity of nature and the natural world in their development and growth. He has spent years in the field leading trips, directing camps, and leadership roles in impact-focused organizations. When not at work, he is spending as much time as possible with his family, out snowboarding, camping, or working on some sort of home improvement project.

Hailee (she/her/hers) originally joined Thorne in 2021 as a Spring Field Trip Volunteer. In 2023, Hailee worked as an Assistant Extended Care Instructor, and provided assistance to Summer Camp admin. She now works as Development Associate. Hailee grew up in a little town south of Saint Louis, Missouri, where she fell in love with Earth stewardship. As a first-generation student herself, Hailee is deeply passionate about equitable access to education. She graduated from CU Boulder in May 2024, with a BBA in Management with a double emphasis in Social Responsibility and Sustainability, and Leadership. She also holds a Certificate in Social Responsibility and Ethics.

Growing up in Texas, Chris’s (he/him/his) love for nature led him to catch Horny Toads, snakes, and get stung by scorpions. He initially pursued a major in wildlife biology before switching to receive a B.S. in photography. He enjoyed a forty-year career in commercial photography, capturing the everyday lives of people in their environment. In 2025, he earned his PDIS Level II credential through Early Childhood Service Corps. Chris started at Thorne as an intern, a substitute, and part-time assistant educator, and is excited to now be a full-time preschool educator. Children learning in the outdoors provides a unique opportunity to develop a sense of wonder and accomplishment. The Thorne community of teachers, kids, and parents is truly inspiring. He feels at home.

Christian (he/him/his) started working for Thorne in the end of 2022. He had previously volunteered on the board for Thorne and as president of the Promotores for Nature Kids Lafayette, before transitioning into a full-time employee. Christian comes from working over 16 years at Boulder County HHS supporting underserved families, especially the Latinx community. Born and raised in Costa Rica, Christian has always had a connection to the outdoors. He also has a passion for connecting kids to the outdoors. Christian has two sons who have participated in Thorne Nature and Lafayette Nature Kids programs for several years. During his free time Christian enjoys camping, mountain biking, skiing, hiking, paddle boarding and multiple sports with his family and two dogs. In 2001, he moved to Boulder with his wife and graduated from CU Boulder with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with an emphasis in International Trade and a Minor in Business.