Meet the Staff

Shaver’s Creek Nature Names

What’s with the “nature names” below? At Shaver’s Creek, many of our staff members adopt a secondary “nature name.” These monikers are meant to be fun and are usually used during programs with kids, such as during Summer Camp and Outdoor School.

Penn State College Affiliation

Shaver’s Creek is part of Penn State Outreach, but we have teaching agreements with many colleges and departments across Penn State. Some staff members also serve as faculty for the recreation, park, and tourism management program in the College of Health and Human Development or the School of Forest Resources in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Environmental Education Interns

Jamie Arnold (she/her)Jamie Arnold

Environmental Education Intern

Jamie graduated from Penn State in May 2023 with a degree in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and a minor in sustainability leadership. This past summer, she was a naturalist at Shaver’s Creek summer camp, teaching campers about the world of herbal remedies. She has moved on to being a fall environmental education intern, but has been involved with Shaver’s Creek through the Maple Harvest Festival, Outdoor School, and Enchanted Halloween Trail and was a SEED student this past spring. She attributes her connection to the Creek to her sister “Pine,” who introduced her to Shaver’s Creek in 2018. As a Pennsylvania native, she is grateful to her family who have fostered her connection with the natural world, allowing her to get muddy in the rain and look for fireflies in the summertime. Jamie loves live music, playing with her two kitties (Diego and Bo), hanging with friends, and enjoying a good bite and has been “converted to birds” through SEED.
Nature Name: Mud

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Jack Bond (he/him)Jack Bond with a spotting scope

Environmental Education Intern

Jack is a student at Penn State, and he plans to graduate in the summer of 2024 with a degree in recreation, park, and tourism management. He has a passion for nature and bringing balance to the environment, which he honed through a number of creative community service activities and recreation courses he has taken at University Park.

As Jack learned about the depletion and exploitation of Earth’s resources, and in turn its negative effects on every aspect of nature, he knew he had to be a part of the change. He fell in love with the process of rebuilding a natural forest or recovering an endangered nature preservation park and hopes to learn more about how he can work to save the planet. Jack strongly believes that the conjunction of human beings and nature is vital to achieving a thriving natural system, whether it be local or global. He aims to specialize in environmental education by blending two worlds that have become increasingly disconnected.

Outside of classes he enjoys long-boarding, listening to music, exploring the food and cultures in different cities, and spending time with friends.
Nature Name: Shagbark

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Brandon GeorgeBrandon George

Environmental Education Intern

Brandon recently completed his bachelor’s degree in recreation, park, and tourism management at Penn State. During his time at Penn State, he was involved in a multitude of programs and positions, including the SEED semester, Maple Harvest Festival, VUMS research assistant for the DCNR, Stone Valley facilitator/trail maintenance, and ODS.

Brandon brings a deep passion and commitment to global conservation efforts, having conducted undergraduate research in Mountain Gorilla Conservation at the Gorilla Guardians Village in Musanze, Rwanda. This experience has fueled his passion for interpretation and sharing successful conservation stories with the public.

Eager to continue his academic journey, Brandon is excited to pursue graduate school at Colorado State University for Conservation Leadership, emphasizing both domestic and international initiatives, especially having to do with human and wildlife coexistence and ecotourism.

He looks forward to contributing his dedication and unique perspective to the team and being a part of the rewarding experiences that come with a commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation.
Nature Name: Bear

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Molly Gulden (she/her)Molly Gulden

Environmental Education Intern

Molly’s love for nature was fostered by her parents and family members. While camping, hiking, and kayaking, her parents quizzed her about plant and animal species. She is excited that she can now share her knowledge with others!

Molly is one class away from earning a degree in Earth science and policy and a minor in sustainability leadership from Penn State. Her four semesters of Outdoor School inspired her to apply for this internship position. Last summer, Molly worked as an education intern at Paulus Farm Market where she practiced activity development and teaching. She eager to learn and grow alongside the other interns and staff members this semester!

Working at Shaver’s Creek brings Molly full circle, as she grew up admiring the SCEC animal ambassadors and staff at the annual PA Farm Show. Little Molly sought out the exhibit each year and attended each reptile and avian presentation she could.

You can find Molly playing board games, doing crafts like crocheting, putting treasures in her pockets, and telling jokes!
Nature Name: Ember

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Abigayle Hollibaugh (she/her)Abigayle Hollibaugh

Environmental Education Intern

Abigayle is a student at Shippensburg University with only one class separating her from her degree in biology concentrated in environment, ecology, and conservation (EEC). She’s still finding what career route she’d like to take, but she is confident she would like to work in animal conservation. Her career interests are grounded in her fascination with understanding animal behavior, human impacts on various species’ resources, and how species adapt to human development. When she’s not trying to figure out how to advance in her career with a variety of opportunities, you can find her in various places around the community. Abigayle is a local, born and raised in Huntingdon, PA, where she currently lives. She enjoys reading, painting, finding new music, spending time with friends, finding new plant and animal species, collecting crystals and minerals, learning herbal medicine, and going on random adventures in the Raystown Lake area (her absolute favorite place is Hawn’s Overlook by the Raystown Lake Dam). She is incredibly excited and grateful to be a part of the Shaver’s Creek team and can’t wait for all the growth and opportunities she’ll experience during her time here!
Nature Name: Firefly

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Lydia Neuhauser (she/her)Lydia Neuhauser

Environmental Education Intern

Lydia is from “chocolatetown,” PA, (Hershey) and is excited to be one of the environmental interns this spring. She will graduate this May with a B.S. in global and international studies with a focus in health and environment, with minors in sustainability leadership, environmental inquiry, and Spanish, along with a master’s in international studies with a focus in environment and resources. Lydia enjoys exploring the outdoors; she has traveled to visit the Amazon Rainforest, interned in the protected Choco Andino region of Ecuador, frequents the waterfalls in upstate New York, and has camped and hiked throughout many of the natural sites of Pennsylvania. In her free time, Lydia plays instruments or spends time with friends and family.
Nature Name: Bean

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Graduate Assistants

Madison BotchMadison Botch

Graduate Assistant

Past SEED student, intern, and seasonal educator, Madison is no stranger to Shaver’s Creek! Having meandered her way through many different roles for the past few years, she landed in her current graduate assistant position in August 2019. Madison is a Ph.D. candidate in the curriculum and instruction program, with a focus in science education. She graduated from Penn State in 2018 with her bachelor’s degree in recreation, park, and tourism management under the environmental interpretation option. Outside of Shaver’s Creek, Madison has previously worked with some of Central Pennsylvania’s other environmental education entities, such as Millbrook Marsh Nature Center and The Arboretum at Penn State. Madison loves to continually learn and grow as an educator and is excited to begin this new graduate-school journey with a place that is near and dear to her heart. In whatever free time she is able to find, Madison enjoys drinking coffee, birding with great friends, and fostering her 4-year-old daughter’s love of the natural world.
Nature Name: Kestrel

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Amy EldredgeImage of Amy Eldredge

Graduate Assistant

As a kid, Amy grew to love the great outdoors through exploring the woods of Pennsylvania. A native of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, she participated as a camper in Shaver’s Creek Outdoor School, which helped guide her on a career path in environmental stewardship and education. After graduating from Franklin & Marshall College in 2014 with majors in animal behavior and studio art, she interned at Bald Head Island Conservancy in North Carolina where she became the director of education. In 2018 she moved to Maui to work for the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary as the volunteer coordinator to promote ocean conservation and awareness of the impacts of how we interact with our environment. These experiences have confirmed her desire to pursue higher education to connect people more effectively to nature. Amy is excited to be back in her home state to pursue both a master’s and Ph.D. in recreation, park, and tourism management under the guidance of Dr. Danielle Lawson, exploring the indirect impacts of environmental programs, including intergenerational learning and the influence of a program over multiple years. She will also be a member of the Shaver’s Creek team, working with Ellen Will and Jennifer Emigh, where her primary focus will be assisting with the Shaver’s Creek Outdoor School. In her free time, Amy enjoys taking nature walks with a camera and binoculars in hand, reading on rainy days, and painting landscapes from her travels.

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Emily HayneEmily Hayne

Graduate Assistant

While teaching a community garden education program in her Minnesota hometown, Emily observed then held onto the joy that emerges when young people engage with nature. Since then, Emily has taught children of all ages in the prairies and oak savannahs of northern Indiana as well as the lakes, bogs, and hemlock forests of northern Wisconsin. Emily earned her B.A. in environmental studies in 2014 and her M.A. in environmental education in 2019. As a third year Ph.D. student, Emily is pursuing the recreation, park, and tourism management and human dimensions of natural resources and the environment (RPTM-HDNRE) dual-degree. Emily is in the Nature Connections Lab led by Dr. Danielle Lawson and studies how adults develop relationships with other people, nature, and place, and the impact those relationships have on individual and community well-being.

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Ezra Houston

Graduate Assistant

Ezra grew up in State College and received his bachelor’s degree in forest resource management from Penn State. During his time as an undergraduate student, Ezra took courses such as agroforestry, which spurred his interest in non-timber forest products. He also had the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research on Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis), which is a native plant and non-timber forest product. After graduating in 2020, he worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as part of the inventory and monitoring section, where he gained field experience identifying native plants and collecting data.

Now, he is excited to start his master’s degree studying non-timber forest products under the guidance of Eric Burkhart. While he is especially interested in plants, Ezra’s other interests include camping, hiking, gardening, cooking, and weightlifting.

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Kirk Lawson headshot of kirk lawson

Graduate Assistant 

Kirk earned his B.S. in biology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a focus on pre-med studies. Then, he earned his M.S. in biology with a focus on physiology and psychopharmacology. He conducted clinical research for his master’s thesis examining the effects of ADHD pharmaceuticals on bone density. After this, he took the MCAT and interviewed for medical school, but decided he was more interested in traditional plant medicine. Kirk then earned a graduate certificate in pharmaceutical chemistry, with a focus on natural product research/drug discovery, from the University of Florida. Now, he is very excited to start his Ph.D. at Penn State in the College of Agricultural Sciences with advisers Dr. Eric Burkhart (Forest Resources) and Dr. Josh Lambert (Food Science). Kirk is part of the newly formed SNIPS cohort — Soils, Plants, and Consumers Network (SPCN) — involved with studying the intersection of medicinal and food crops with human consumers. He will initially be studying ramps and ginseng and other Appalachian/New England medicinal/food plants. He hopes to carry out his dissertation research on the medicinal plants of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, which he has been studying independently for the past 3 years.

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Megan Martin

Graduate Assistant

Megan is an M.Ed. student studying curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on science education at Penn State. Originally from Michigan, Megan grew up collecting rocks on the shore of Lake Huron. Naturally, she completed her bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from Michigan State University in 2015. She worked as an environmental geologist in Colorado and as a technician in a certified groundwater testing laboratory. After finishing her first year of graduate study at Penn State with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, she is excited to transition into education to learn how to share her enthusiasm for science and nature with others. In her free time, Megan enjoys running, reading science fiction novels, going to the local farmers market, and traveling. She has even taken a one-year trip around the US in a travel trailer with her husband and two cats.
Nature Name: Copper

Emily Olsenheadshot of emily olsen

Graduate Assistant

Emily is a Ph.D. candidate at Penn State, studying curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in science education. Her research interests are at the intersection of climate anxiety and environmental education. Emily is an adventurous, friendly, outgoing person who grew up in the Pacific Northwest, spending her childhood around Puget Sound in Washington and her young adulthood in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. She holds a B.S. in biology from Portland State University and an M.S. in environmental education and an M.A. in teaching, both from Southern Oregon University. She loves to share her passions with others and to help foster connections between the people and the world around them. She has held environmental education positions with Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District, Crater Lake National Park, and the Multnomah Education Service Districts Outdoor School Program among others in Oregon. Most recently, she has held an environmental education position with The Arboretum at Penn State in addition to her work as a Ph.D. candidate. Hiking and anything involving the water are her favorite outdoor activities, as well as reading and watching movies when indoors.
Nature Name: Sequoia

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Will RobertsonWill Robertson

Graduate Assistant

Growing up, Will spent every ounce of his free time in the local woodlots, catching frogs, snakes, turtles, and salamanders. Over the years, his passion for wildlife has grown and his explorations have become more ambitious. Will graduated from Middlebury College in May of 2021 with a degree in conservation biology and is excited to be pursuing a master’s in wildlife and fisheries science here at Penn State. At Middlebury, he was an athlete on the track team, specializing in the 400m dash. In the fall of 2019, Will spent a semester abroad in South Africa, where he got to see elephants, black mambas, lions, and more! For many years, he spent his summers working as the nature director at Buck Hill Falls Camp Club, teaching kids ages 3–12 about the local flora and fauna. In his free time, Will pursues, photographs, and films wildlife and enjoys making educational videos. Will is passionate about the role of media in conservation and hopes to inspire an audience through his videography.

Faculty and Staff

Jennifer Anderson (she/her)Jennifer Anderson

Program Director

Jen coordinates the public workshops and OLLI programs at Shaver’s Creek. In addition, she teaches BiSci003, an environmental science class at Penn State. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science from Westminster College in 1996 and a master’s degree in environment and community from Antioch University Seattle in 2001. She is originally from Port Allegany, in north-central Pennsylvania. She and her sons (Isaac, Henry, and Luke) and dogs (Tioga and Penny) now make their home in Pine Grove Mills. Her interests include exploring, reading, bike riding, kayaking, making jewelry, and spending time with friends and family.
Nature Name: Prism

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Lexi Arnold (she/her)Lexi Arnold smiling among green tree leaves

Outdoor School Program Assistant 

Lexi is the program assistant for outdoor school. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania and completed her bachelor’s degree in recreation, park, and tourism management at Penn State in 2019. As a student, Lexi was very involved at the Center. From Outdoor School to festivals, to summer camp, to SEED semester, to summer camp; she took any opportunity she could to be at Shaver’s Creek. After college, she lived in Colorado and California for a few years working in outdoor education and the service industry. She is stoked to be back at Shaver’s Creek and is passionate about creating a safe, inclusive community for all people to learn, grow, and connect with each other and the outdoors. In her free time, she loves all things outdoor recreation, cooking, watching live music, and spending time with loved ones.
Nature Name: Pine

Andrew BechdelAndrew Bechdel wearing a beanie and a puffy jacket and standing in the forest with a spotting scope.

Tussey Mountain Spring Hawk Watch Counter

This is Andrew’s second season at Tussey Mountain as he continues pursuing his passion for hawk-watching and connecting the local birding community with the Golden Eagle migration. A central Pennsylvania native, Andrew grew up only a couple miles from the Tussey Mountain hawk watch. He first developed an interest in birds of prey as an animal care volunteer at Shaver’s Creek. As an undergraduate, he earned his B.S. in recreation management with a minor in environmental studies from Lock Haven University. Following school, he has worked in the outdoor education field with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, and Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper. In his work, Andrew has had the opportunity to share the world of birds with others and spread the message of avian conservation to the public. In addition to his experience counting at Tussey, he has experience volunteering with Braddock’s Bay Raptor Research, counting the juvenile dispersal of Red-tailed Hawks, and with Hawk Watch International, counting at Yaki Point in the Grand Canyon, AZ. Andrew is excited to experience the full spring migration season at Tussey Mountain again in 2024 and share his passion for raptors with others! Read more about our participation with the Hawk Migration Association of North America on our Citizen Science Projects page.
Nature Name: Aquila

Stacey Budd (she/her)Stacey Budd

Program Coordinator, Team Development Center 

As the program coordinator for the Team Development Center, Stacey designs and facilitates experiences that foster meaningful connections and enhance group dynamics. Stacey delights in creating space for the “a-ha” moments and developing more human-centric work environments where everyone flourishes.

A Midwest native, Stacey earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Grinnell College. When not immersed in organizational culture literature, you can find her out on the hiking trails and waterways of Central Pennsylvania or in the thrift store aisles searching for her next restoration project.
Nature Name: Betula

Eric Burkhart, Ph.D.Eric Burkhart

Associate Teaching Professor
Appalachian Botany and Ethnobotany
Program Director

Dr. Eric Burkhart is a botanist who specializes in ethnobotany, non-timber forest products, and plant conservation in his teaching, research, and educational outreach endeavors. He holds degrees in ethnobotany (B.A., Idaho State University), horticulture (M.S., Penn State), and forest resources (Ph.D., Penn State) and is currently Appalachian Botany and Ethnobotany program director for Shaver’s Creek and faculty instructor for the Penn State Ecosystem Science and Management Department. His research program in Pennsylvania is focused on developing sustainable wild stewardship and agroforestry production systems for specialty forest products, including American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), and ramps (Allium tricoccum).
Nature Name: Panax

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More about Eric and his work 

Ellie Chapman

Administrative Assistant

Ellie has worked at Penn State for 19 years. Her first five years were with Cooperative Extension, where she worked in grant and contract accounting. She then moved to the Paul Robeson Cultural Center in the role of office manager. Before working at Penn State, she worked for Easter Seals of Central Pennsylvania. Ellie has four children, three of whom are Penn State graduates! In her free time, she enjoys gardening and all crafts and loves to re-upholster furniture.
Nature Name: Sunflower

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Rachel Cole (she/her)Rachel Cole

AURORA Program Coordinator

Rachel graduated from Penn State in May 2023 with degrees in secondary education and mathematics. She has worked with AURORA since 2019 in various roles. Rachel believes strongly in the impact outdoor orientation programs like AURORA have on students’ personal growth and academic achievement and is beyond grateful to further this impact in her position as the AURORA program coordinator. She loves spending time outside — hiking, biking, caving, and more. When she has to be inside, Rachel enjoys discovering new Rubik’s cube algorithms and learning to play different instruments. Rachel would describe herself as a glass-half-full kind of person, a lifelong learner, and a storyteller. 
Nature Name: Sprout

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Shannan Davidow (she/her)Shannan Davidow

Wildlife Programs 

As Shaver’s Creek’s herpetarium coordinator, Shannan ensures a high quality of daily care for the reptiles and amphibians who call Shaver’s Creek home. Shannan’s passion for wildlife started when she enrolled in Juniata College’s wildlife conservation program and conducted research on map turtles of the Juniata River. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2018, Shannan joined the wildlife education team as a lead animal ambassador, where she developed a love for mentoring emerging professionals in their journey to an animal care career. After earning her Professional Animal Trainer certification in 2021, her passion for animal training grew — she particularly appreciates the daily opportunity to give the animals a voice through training sessions.

In her current position, Shannan loves taking the time to connect people to the animals at Shaver’s Creek. Her favorite moments include helping visitors to overcome their fears of snakes and invertebrates. She also has a particularly close bond with Matilda, the Black Vulture, who reveals her alluring personality alongside Shannan during training sessions.

Shannan loves to spend time hiking, herping, and walking her dogs. As an avid reptile and invertebrate enthusiast, she cares for 4 snakes and 3 tarantulas of her own at home!
Nature Name: Firefly

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Chris DiehlChris Diehl

Grounds and Facilities Technician

Chris came to Shaver’s Creek in 2018 after working for Penn State for over ten years. He assists with all things grounds and facilities related. When he’s not working, you might find Chris riding motorcycles and enjoying the outdoors!
Nature Name: Mephitus

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Jennifer Emigh (she/her)Jennifer Emigh

Assistant Teaching Professor, AURORA Director

Jen is an assistant teaching professor in the College of Health and Human Development and teaches courses in outdoor leadership for the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (RPTM) and Kinesiology departments while also overseeing the adventure recreation pathway within the RPTM outdoor recreation option. She is also the director of the AURORA Outdoor Orientation Programs at Penn State, which aid students with their transition to college through backpacking expeditions before the semester starts.

Jen earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation and park management from Penn State in 2001 and a master’s degree in environmental studies from Antioch University New England in 2007. She honed her skills as director of corporate leadership trainings at University of New Hampshire’s Browne Center prior to returning to Penn State in 2010 for what she calls her “dream job.”

Jen’s passion in life has become helping people live an authentic life by learning more about themselves and how to lead in all walks of life. While she focuses her time mainly with student leaders, she is passionate about supporting anyone as they find their inner leader. She also enjoys spending time pursuing outdoor adventures with her son, road tripping in their camper van, and waiting for snow to fly so they can hit the slopes.
Nature Name: Samara

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Dom Feola (he/him)Dom Feola

Marketing and Engagement Program Assistant

Dom graduated from Penn State in 2022 with a degree in advertising and public relations. His passion for the natural world was sparked by his service with AmeriCorps, where he spent summers rebuilding trails in Oregon, backpacking the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and planting trees in Washington. Through it all, he’s loved learning how deeply and emotionally people connect with the outdoors. He’s excited to return home and help Shaver’s Creek foster deep and meaningful relationships with our community. You can find him taking photos, writing blog posts, developing social content, and helping to promote all that Shaver’s Creek has to offer. Outside of work, he enjoys camping, hiking, going for runs, and making art.
Nature Name: Ridge

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Siara Glenny (she/her)Siara Glenny

Program Registration Coordinator

Siara joined Shaver’s Creek in her current role in March 2023. She provides support to Shaver’s Creek programs by coordinating and facilitating program registration, manages membership and donor databases, and provides general support to operations. She enjoys working with the diverse programs Shaver’s Creek offers throughout the year! Previously, she worked in the bookstore/gift shop and provided visitor services for 4 years. She graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology with an associates degree in business management in 2017, later obtaining an undergraduate certificate in fish and wildlife management. She grew up locally in Petersburg, enjoying the beautiful woodlands and mountains of Rothrock. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside, reading, getting coffee at a local shop, and spending time with her niece and nephew and the many animals in her life!
Nature Name: Dogwood

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Autumn Graham (she/her)Autumn Graham

BISCI Educational Coordinator

Autumn graduated from Penn State in the spring of 2022 with a B.A. in journalism. She was a teaching assistant for biological sciences, wilderness literature, and introductory chemistry at Penn State. Additionally, she served as a camp counselor for Shaver’s Creek Outdoor School, where she enjoyed seeing the eyes of the young explorers light up as they participated in outdoor programming centered around developing ecological consciousness. Through these various experiences, Autumn developed a passion for mentorship. This year, Autumn is working under the guidance of Jen Anderson (Shaver’s Creek program director and biology instructor). In this position, she looks forward to continuing to expand her knowledge of environmental science to expand environmental awareness to people of all ages through reflection and mindfulness. In her free time, you can find Autumn singing, reading, writing, caring for her plants, and wandering around Shaver’s Creek. If you see her, feel free to say hello!
Nature Name: Breeze

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Patti GrayPatti Gray standing at the front door of the Shaver's Creek visitor center

Visitor Services Program Coordinator

Patti can be found welcoming visitors, both first timers and frequent guests, to the Shaver’s Creek Visitor Center. She is also the manager of the Weidemann Bookstore. Patti enjoys chatting with visitors and sharing her growing knowledge of the resident animals, particularly the snakes.

Patti and her husband Brian have lived in the State College area for over thirty years. They have three children, Hannah, Lucas, and Nicholas, with whom they enjoy spending time outdoors and kayaking. Patti enjoys bird watching in the backyard, riding her bike, traveling, and spending time walking her dogs, Firkin and Finley.
Nature Name: Heron

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Lisa Hayes (she/her)

Marketing and Engagement Program Director 

Lisa Hayes enjoying a hot beverage at a table with a view of mountains in the distance.

Lisa’s love of nature began from a very early age; she spent countless hours of her childhood running through the woods, creating forts from fallen branches, wreaths of monkey vines, and daisy chains. A previous Outdoor School camper — tents not cabins — Lisa has long held Shaver’s Creek in special regard. She is thrilled and honored to be entrusted to share the stories and amplify all Shaver’s Creek offers at our beautiful location in Stone Valley. Through photography, videography, and content creation, she provides strategic support to the various programs and events that Shaver’s Creek offers. Bringing a diverse set of skills and experience gleaned from living and traveling all around the country, she works to ensure strong connections and engagement with the University community, surrounding communities, and beyond. 

Lisa enjoys traveling and exploring, spending time outdoors, live music, various artistic endeavors, gardening, reading, spending time with family, a good cup of coffee, and learning new things.
Nature Name: Meadow Lark

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Nikki HouckNikki Houck

Office Manager

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Jon KauffmanJon Kauffman

Assistant Program Director

Jon promotes conservation through citizen science projects such as Project Nestwatch, Monarch Watch, Winter Raptor Surveys, and seasonal hawk watches. In the spring, Jon partners with the State College Bird Club to help coordinate the Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch, a major flyway for Golden Eagles. While majoring in wildlife and fisheries science at Penn State, he became aware of the great volunteer opportunities Shaver’s Creek has to offer. Since then, he has been a work-study student and raptor center intern, and has assisted with public programs at Shaver’s Creek. He has served as a hawk-watcher for nearby Tussey Mountain and has also traveled and worked with other organizations such as Cape May Bird Observatory and Intermountain Bird Observatory in Idaho. Jon has a passion for canoeing the Juniata River, native plants, exploring new habitats, and connecting people to the avian world.
Nature Name: Timberdoodle

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Mary Krupa (she/her)

Conservation Interpreter

A self-proclaimed “bird nerd,” Mary has been involved with Shaver’s Creek since 2008, when she attended a day camp and fell in love with the place and its resident wildlife. She has volunteered in the Klingsberg Aviary for 15 years and counting, helping to train and care for its wide variety of feathered friends (she loves all of them, but feels a particular affinity with the owls). In 2023, Mary was hired as a conservation interpreter and may be seen delivering impromptu tours of the aviary and herpetarium, presenting “Meet the Creek” programs, or providing a welcoming face at the front desk.

Mary graduated from Penn State in 2016 with a degree in English, a minor in wildlife and fisheries sciences, and a reputation as the campus squirrel whisperer. She has a lifelong passion for all things avian and is thrilled to be able to share her knowledge and excitement for birds and nature with Shaver’s Creek visitors. When not working, Mary enjoys nature photography, birdwatching, and video games.
Nature Name: Plumicorn

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Drew Lehnerd (he/him)Drew Lehnerd

AURORA Assistant Program Director

Drew works to ensure that AURORA’s operations and staff development run smoothly. He believes strongly in the power of outdoor recreation as a community-building and leadership-development tool and makes that belief a reality each day with AURORA. Drew also instructs wilderness medicine and CPR courses in the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management Department. He earned a B.S. in Human Geography from Penn State in 2012. Drew is a Leave No Trace Master Educator, SOLO Wilderness First Responder, and an AASI certified snowboard instructor. He also enjoys riding bicycles, reading, and learning new things.
Nature Name: Larkspur

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Matt MarsdenMatt Marsden

Outdoor School and Discovery Camp Assistant Director

Matt has been helping to direct Outdoor SchoolDiscovery Camp, and Kids Corner. He graduated in 2006 from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in environmental interpretation and in 2016 from Slippery Rock University with an M.S. in park and resource management. He likes all things outdoors and enjoys living in Alexandria, PA.
Nature Name: Cardinal

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Lucy R. McClain, Ph.D. (she/her)Lucy R. McClain

Associate Teaching Professor

Lucy is an associate teaching professor and the graduate assistant program director at Shaver’s Creek. She teaches environmental education and sustainability courses in both Penn State’s Curriculum and Instruction (Science Education) department and Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (RPTM) department. She also co-chairs the Outreach Sustainability Council, which consists of a team of 16 council members representing each Outreach working unit.

Lucy is also involved with several grant-funded research projects with Penn State’s College of Education. Trained in the learning sciences, she studies how families learn in non-formal educational settings — including outdoor spaces and nature centers — using both non-mobile and mobile devices as learning tools.

She enjoys spending time in the outdoors with her two sons, Conary and Eamon, her husband, Casey, and their dog, Scout. Lucy is also an avid sports fan and jumps at the chance to knock around a soccer ball.
Nature Name: Malachite

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More about Lucy and her work

Laurie McLaughlin (she/her)Laurie McLaughlin

Program Director; Instructor

Laurie works to support the people and community at Shaver’s Creek through connection and growth opportunities. Her role as a program director is to coordinate the SEED Semester, oversee and direct the Maple Harvest Festival, and teach Penn State courses that support these efforts. Laurie’s classes include RPTM 230: Teambuilding Facilitation, AEE 297: Interpreting Maple Sugaring for Families, and PSU 14: First Year Seminar. Laurie has a passion for teaching experientially, working with interns and students and helping them to learn about how they can make a positive impact on our planet.

Laurie has been affiliated with Shaver’s Creek since 1993. She earned her bachelor’s degree in outdoor and environmental education from Penn State in 1988, and her master’s degree in experiential education from the University of Colorado in 1992. Before returning to Shaver’s Creek, Laurie spent time in Vermont, Maine, Ohio and Colorado working for outdoor education programs, facilitating teambuilding and ropes course adventures, and helping people to learn about themselves and others.

Laurie lives in the woods of central Pennsylvania and loves to spend time exploring, hiking, birding, biking, and canoeing with her family and friends. Baking pies and cookies is high on the interest list as well ,and Laurie will never turn down a game night with friends. Laurie is also passionate about travel, which includes adventures with her husband Mark to see their grown boys, Brian and Sean, in cool places around the country!
Nature Name: Loon

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Mark McLaughlin (he/him)Mark McLaughlin

Director

Mark teaches First Aid and Safety courses and the Discovery Trip class and is a member of multiple Penn State Outreach committees. He is responsible for cultivating the resources necessary to make Shaver’s Creek successful. Mark received a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, with a minor in forestry, from the University of Vermont in 1985 and a master’s degree in environmental education from Montclair State University in 1988. Mark likes birding, baseball, fishing, reading, and spending lots of time with his family — Laurie, Brian, and Sean.
Nature Name: Goshawk

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Tesha Omeis (she/her)Tesha Omeis

Summer Camp Program Director

Tesha is the program director for all things summer camp related.

Tesha earned her bachelor’s degree in recreation, park, and tourism management from Penn State in 2005 while being a part of the Shaver’s Creek community in a variety of ways. After graduating she lived and worked in seven different states. From the coastal barrier islands in Georgia to the canyons of Alabama and up into the forests of Connecticut, she enjoyed being immersed in the communities of so many different places while educating youth. She then served two years as a district executive for the Boy Scouts of America in the Philadelphia area.

During her off time, Tesha enjoys spending time with plants, exploring new places, and journaling. She values a balance of work that contributes to a healthy planet with invested caretakers and time to explore opportunities to grow as an individual. If she had a bumper sticker physically attached to her that conveyed a message about who she is and what she stands for, it would read “reach your potential and help others to do the same.”
Nature Name: Skye

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Chris OrtizChris Ortiz

Associate Director; Program Director, Team Development Center

Chris is the associate director for the Conservation Interpretation team at Shaver’s Creek. He is also the program director for Team Development at Shaver’s Creek and is an instructor for the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management department at Penn State.  Chris facilitates and teaches team development, leadership, and group dynamics experiences with schools and university groups, corporations, and sports teams that strengthen relationships, motivate growth, and develop leaders. He regularly presents internationally at conferences where he shares innovative programming and activity ideas. Chris co-authored the second edition of the High 5 Guide: Challenge Course Operating Procedures for the Thinking Practitioner as well as the Ubuntu Activity Guide. He has held leadership roles in both the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) and the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT).

You can usually find Chris at the local climbing gym or exploring trails by bike or boot. Oh… and he loves chocolate.
Nature Name: Mongoose

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Skylar PetersSkylar sitting under a rock arch

Academic Advisor

Skylar is the Academic Advisor serving Penn State students interested in the Sustainability Leadership Minor, the Outdoor Recreation Management option within the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management, and all the many classes that Shaver’s Creek delivers for the University. Skylar is a 2014 graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Extension and Education. During her time as an undergraduate she participated in various Shaver’s Creek classes, including as a Learning Group Leader for Outdoor School. In 2016 Skylar graduated from the University of Illinois with a Master of Science Degree in Parks and Recreation Management. She spent 8 years working with Penn State Extension as a 4-H/Youth Development Educator before transitioning into her advising role with RPTM/Shaver’s Creek.

Skylar enjoys everything the natural world has to offer, from hiking, hunting, and fishing to exploring with her family. Anytime she can be traveling to new and diverse outdoor spaces, she will!
Nature Name: Doe

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Joshua Potter (he/him)Joshua Potter

Associate Director, Operations and Communications

Joshua works to keep Shaver’s Creek a vibrant educational facility to support the Center’s wide range of credit, noncredit, outreach, and research programming. Joshua is responsible for managing strategic communications to support Shaver’s Creek programs, for developing interpretive materials throughout the facility to support the Center’s educational mission, and for overseeing management of facility and grounds. He also manages our bookstore and membership program. Joshua received a bachelor’s degree in integrative arts from Penn State, focusing on multimedia and environmental education. After seven years working as a naturalist and outreach coordinator for Tin Mountain Conservation Center in Conway, New Hampshire, Joshua returned to his native Pennsylvania to join Shaver’s Creek in 2010. He grew up just over the mountain in Pine Grove Mills and has a long association with Shaver’s Creek — as a summer camper from ages 5 to 18, as a volunteer in high school, as a student and teaching assistant while at Penn State, and now as staff! Joshua also enjoys birding, hiking, and spending time outdoors with his wife Sarah, son, Ellory, and daughter, Lucy.
Nature Name: Otus (Megascops)

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Kimberly Russell

Conservation Interpreter

Kim has a degree in agriculture from the University of Delaware. Her focus was redirected in 2012 when she moved to south Florida and worked as the education director at Busch Wildlife in Jupiter. This is where she really fell in love with the work of educating the public about native wildlife. Kim moved to the State College area in the winter of 2022 to live closer to her amazing family. Some of her favorite things to do include collecting things from the natural world, listening to heavy metal, gardening, going for a run, and playing cards with her family. She is super excited to be a part of Shaver’s Creek, where there is something new to be learned every single day. She lives by her favorite message which says, “What you are not changing, you are choosing.”
Nature Name: Possum

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Alexa Sarussi (she/her)

School Programs Director

Alexa directs the programs that enhance and engage school children’s learning at Shaver’s Creek. She grew up in Arizona and earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Pomona College in Southern California, before moving east and discovering the forest. She has returned to Shaver’s Creek several times since 2014, working as an intern and with summer camp programming. Between her stints at Shaver’s Creek, Alexa led adventure trips for youth in New Hampshire, worked for a study abroad organization in Panama, and taught environmental science at Conserve School in Wisconsin. Alexa loves exploring Central Pennsylvania and beyond, birding, watercoloring, being active outdoors, and learning new skills, like playing the guitar!
Nature Name: Vireo

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Brian SedgwickBrian Sedgwick

Grounds and Facilities Coordinator

Brian is responsible for maintaining the facilities and grounds at Shaver’s Creek and coordinating volunteer groups and work-study students. Brian also assists with a wide variety of programming — from school and youth programs to team building and bird of prey shows. Brian graduated from Penn State in December 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation and park management. For twenty-five years he has been involved in Scouting — becoming a Tiger Cub at age 5, working on staff at Camp Mountain Run, sitting on the Bucktail Council Camping Committee, and being an adviser of Venture Crew 509. His twelve years of summer camp experience includes archery range instructor, director of camp program, and director of the first-year-camper program, before being appointed camp director in 2005. Brian has an uncanny knack for pop culture and historical trivia and enjoys model rocketry, paintball, and hockey. Brian, his wife, Johanna, and son, Logan, enjoy cooking, camping, and hiking whenever possible.
Nature Name: Draco

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Elana Slaveter (she/her)Elana Slaveter

Wildlife Program Assistant

Elana graduated from Penn State in 2022 with a degree in biology and is so excited to continue spreading her love of all things nature to the community! Her passion for teaching others about wildlife and natural history has brought her back to the place where she first felt that spark. She began at Shaver’s Creek working with the summer camps and from there, took every opportunity to learn and spend time at the Center. Most recently, she was an environmental education intern for 3 seasons and loved getting to work with the resident wildlife and educate with them. This inspired her to work with the Wildlife Education and Engagement team to care for the animals on site. Elana is excited to keep growing and learning new ways to connect people of all ages to the natural world and wildlife conservation. She has a passion for being outdoors with others, finding mushrooms, baking and eating sweets, crocheting, and learning how to sustainably live with nature.
Nature Name: Lavender

Alex Suleski (he/him)Alex pointing to something

Wildlife Programs

Alex has worked at Shaver’s Creek since 2021 but transitioned to his role as wildlife program coordinator in 2023. He spends his time organizing and delivering educational programs relating to Shaver’s Creek’s wildlife and conservation messaging. He also works with the ambassador animals and helps students develop skills in program development and delivery. As an educator, Alex strives to provide impactful programming that helps people make connections with our native wildlife and conservation efforts. When he’s not running a program or working with Shaver’s Creek’s ambassador animals, Alex can often be found exploring the trails, fishing, or birding in the area.
Nature Name: Prickly Pear

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Paige Sutherland (she/her)Paige holding Lenny the American Crow

Director of Wildlife Programs

Paige cares for the resident wildlife who call Shaver’s Creek home. She enjoys preparing the ambassador animals for engaging with and educating the Shaver’s Creek community, as well as preparing emerging professionals for impactful careers in wildlife conservation and environmental education. She is passionate about conserving wild beings and places while learning about their unique traits and functions.
Nature Name: Talon

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Brady Thomas (he/him)Brady Thomas standing at a cave entrance

Education Program Coordinator

Brady supports our school programs and summer camps to ensure that children coming through Shaver’s Creek have engaging and meaningful experiences. Brady’s love of the natural world began at an early age — going on camping trips with family and scouts, where he became all too familiar with the native plant poison ivy. He worked for many years at a scouting summer camp where he learned two things: that he loves teaching (especially outdoors) and the importance of camp songs. Brady graduated from Penn State in 2020 with a degree in secondary education social studies. Able to turn even the most mundane subjects into exciting adventures, Brady’s favorite words to hear while teaching are, “I can’t believe I’m actually having fun while learning!” With a pack-basket full of enthusiasm, wisdom, and the world’s best puns, Brady is excited to make the school programs and summer camps unforgettable experiences for all involved. In his free time, you can find Brady reading, exploring, creating all sorts of crafts, or practicing his bird call techniques — trust us, they’re a hoot.
Nature Name: Harrier

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Mike Toolan (he/him)Mike Toolan

Musser Gap Conservation Director

Mike manages the day-to-day activities and coordinates projects at Shaver’s Creek’s Musser Gap Greenway property. In this role, he works with volunteers, neighboring landowners, community organizations, local and state agencies, and university faculty, staff, and students to manage the site for recreation, water conservation, interdisciplinary research, education, and ecological resilience. He is passionate about protecting our regional ecology and connecting the community to our many unique natural spaces.

Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and studied forest resource management at Penn State. His work experience includes stints on several farms, habitat restoration projects, and ecological research teams. Mike and his wife live in northern Huntingdon County and enjoy hiking, biking, birdwatching, reading, and countless other hobbies.
Nature Name: Bud

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Doug Wentzel (he/him)Doug Wentzel

Naturalist and Program Director

Doug coordinates the environmental education internship and birding programs and serves as instructor of Principles of Environmental Interpretation (RPTM 325) and Natural History Interpretation (RPTM 326). Doug received his bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology from Penn State in 1989 and has served four years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He is sanctioned by the National Association for Interpretation as a trainer of Certified Interpretive Guides and is the current president of the State College Bird Club. Doug also serves on the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center advisory committee, the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology advisory board, and The Arboretum at Penn State’s avian outreach committee. He is married to Susan and they have two sons, Dylan and Duncan. His ongoing interest is fostering the awareness of the diversity of life in our own backyards.
Nature Name: Merlin

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Joe WhiteheadJoe Whitehead

Wildlife Programs

A Penn State graduate and former Shaver’s Creek animal care volunteer, Joe spent 11 months as an educator with Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium before returning to Shaver’s Creek as the amphibian and reptile coordinator. While Joe’s primary focus is on caring for and educating about the center’s resident amphibians and reptiles, he is also the primary or assistant trainer for many of the Center’s resident raptors. Most recently, Joe has begun training our resident turtles and snakes to help enrich their lives while showing another side of these animals to our visitors.
Nature Name: Goshawk

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Ellen Will (she/her)Ellen Will

Associate Director; Program Director

Ellen manages the residential Outdoor School program, teaches its companion courses, and assists with the internship program. She believes that camp can change lives and enjoys seeing the interrelationships between the Penn State student leaders and the elementary-aged participants at Outdoor School. Ellen earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies — environmental education from Appalachian State University in 1995, and her master’s degree in environmental education at Slippery Rock University. Her thesis topic was a study of the long-term impact of the Shaver’s Creek internship program (which, by the way, 97% of former interns report was a positive experience and would recommend to a friend). Ellen is a member of the American Camp Association and serves on the PSU Youth Programs Council. Ellen lives in State College with her husband, Thad, and their two sons, Jacob and Nate.
Nature Name: Xylem

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Nolan WilsonNolan Wilson

Wildlife Programs 

Nolan was born in Minneapolis, MN, and eventually moved to State College where they visited Shaver’s Creek often on field trips, finding a deep appreciation for wildlife. Attending Penn State to pursue biology, focusing on ecology, Nolan fully intends to continue their career in environmental education after graduation. When Nolan is not training animals, they’re often found teaching animal care volunteers or giving impromptu snake programs to visitors. If you ever find Nolan during one of your Shaver’s Creek visits, you’re encouraged to ask them any questions you might have about the animals!
Nature Name: Moth

Will WiseWill Wise

Program Director and Instructor

Will’s profile is left as a memorial to our beloved friend and colleague of 15 years. Watch a video meditation and read a tribute in celebration of Will’s memory in a special post.

Will co-directed the Shaver’s Creek Team Development Center. Will was also the director of facilitator development for World in Conversation at Penn State’s University Park campus, where he taught people how to talk about taboo subjects such as race, gender, and long-term conflicts. With more than two decades of experience facilitating team development and group dynamics, Will earned a reputation as a first-rate instructor. Working with groups ranging from corporate entities to adjudicated youth, school students to senior programs, Will helped thousands of people to foster positive communication and self-actualization. He especially loved empowering participants with social skills that can be applied both to within-the-group training and to everyday life. He was certified by the American Canoe Association to teach canoeing and kayaking, and he loved using the outdoors to encourage people to know themselves. He had a degree in forest management from Michigan Technological University, a master’s degree in workforce education from Penn State, and spent five years as the director of Nature’s Classroom, a nontraditional school in New England.
Nature Name: Whip-poor-will

Faculty and Staff Affiliates

Ian MarshallIan Marshall

Faculty Affiliate

A Penn State Altoona professor emeritus of English and environmental studies, Ian is the founder of the Shaver’s Creek Long-term Ecological Reflections Project and editor of Reading Shaver’s Creek: Ecological Reflections from an Appalachian Forest (Penn State University Press, 2018), a collection of essays from the first ten years of the project. Ian co-founded the environmental studies program at Penn State Altoona and is a past president of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment. He is the author of four books of literary ecocriticism, among them Story Line: Exploring the Literature of the Appalachian Trail (University Press of Virginia, 1998) and Walden by Haiku (University of Georgia Press, 2009), as well as a collection of poems called Circumambulations (Foot Hills Press, 2018). Since retiring from teaching in 2020, Ian keeps busy hiking, biking, paddling, reading, playing tennis, and writing songs.
Nature Name: Hemlock Stones