Dick is a professional biologist, creature teacher, and an unapologetic TREEhugger. After grad school at Texas A&M, he worked for LGL as an endangered species specialist but soon decided to become a biology teacher to have a greater impact on youth. He has taken his students on over 300 field trips, including dozens of multi-day whitewater rafting trips on the Salmon, Snake, Payette & Grande Ronde Rivers and fifteen 2-week TREE eco-expeditions to Belize & Ecuador to study biodiversity in neotropical rain & cloud forests, interact & learn from indigenous peoples, and scuba dive on coral reefs. In 2015, Dick retired from the classroom, after 35 years teaching, primarily, AP Biology & AP Environmental Science, to focus on his LifeOutdoors’ Dream, which began with TREE in 1990, Outside Day in 2009, and Finding Dragons in 2022 (co-founded with Dr. Tolman). He has won many awards, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math & Science Teaching, the Siemens International Advanced Placement Teacher Award, and the Defenders of Wildlife’s Environmental Hero Award.

Dick loves whitewater rafting (having guided for over 45 years), hiking, camping, mountain biking, scuba diving (w/ 200+ dives), nature photography, reading & writing, and making outrageously fun Outside Days with his wife, family, friends & students, past & present.

Ethan received his PhD through The City University of New York and Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History’s Partner Program. His research interests include: resolving the evolutionary history of dragonflies & damselflies (odonates), (specifically the genomic evolution of basal anisoptera and the genomic features of ancient lineages) and the distribution of odonates throughout urban aquatic & riparian environments. Ethan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in “Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology” from Brigham Young University.

Cindy is the Environmental Education Manager at the Boise WaterShed Education Center where she develops and teaches programs about climate change awareness, water protection and water conservation. Her team educates more than 25,000 children and adults annually about the value of individual and collective action to combat climate change. She is currently spear-heading exhibit development as the Boise WaterShed transitions into the first climate and water education center in the country. Cindy is the SW Idaho Project WET Coordinator in which she develops and leads teacher professional development courses. She is also the Boise Museum Association president. Her employment with Boise City Public Works began more than fourteen years ago with the Stormwater program, in which she coordinated education programs and occasionally moonlighted as the mascot Eddy Trout.

Cindy got her start in informal education at the University of Michigan Exhibit Museum where she coordinated science education programs. Her passion for the environment and conservation (and warm weather!) led her to the jungle of Los Angeles to coordinate science outreach programs at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. She’s thrilled that her journey brought her to Boise to share her love of the environment with the next generation of Idahoans. She resides in Boise with her husband, sons and chicken army.

James, (Nez Perce Tribe), has over 26 years of expertise in environmental sciences and tribal community engagement. Specializing in environmental law and environmental justice; public policy, including natural resources and water policy development; climate change planning; wilderness management; and utilities administration, James brings a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues at the intersection of environmental conservation and Indigenous rights. His adeptness in federal lands management and intergovernmental relationship building further enhances his capacity to foster collaborative partnerships that prioritize tribal interests while promoting sustainable environmental practices. Through his dedication and breadth of experience, James plays a crucial role in advancing tribal relations and environmental stewardship initiatives. 

Kristin Gnojewski is a Community Volunteer Specialist with Boise Parks and Recreation. She taught middle and high school science for fifteen years prior to transitioning out of the classroom and into parks. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography from University of Oregon and Master’s Degrees in Earth Science and Educational Leadership from Boise State University. In her free time, Kristin enjoys connecting with nature through hiking, gardening, observing insects, birding, and more. She has developed a particular fondness for dragonflies over the last few years. Kristin is passionate about engaging people of all ages in studying, exploring, and caring for the natural world around them.

Chris is an evolutionary ecologist who works with aquatic insects, mainly dragonflies and damselflies. His love of freshwater systems started as a child playing in the creeks and rivers of southern Illinois and the Missouri Ozarks. Chris has published approximately 40 research articles and several book chapters, and is an editor of the 2 nd edition of Dragonflies and Damselflies: Model Organisms for Ecological and Evolutionary Research with Oxford University Press. Throughout his career Chris has worked on science outreach through a number of programs such as Salmon Corps, Let’s Talk Science, Skype a Scientist and Nerd Nite in addition to instructing undergraduate courses on ecology, evolution and animal behavior. He lives in California with his wife Katie (a fellow naturalist and long-time collaborator) and their son Thomas, who likes insects very much, but is really into plants.

Working with Life Outdoors is an opportunity for Chris to share his passion for the natural world with others.

Manpreet is an Evolutionary Biologist and an Entomologist at the City University of New York and the American Museum of Natural History. Her research focuses on insect evolution. She is particularly interested in evolution of insect communities in the Arctic habitats with a special focus on dragonflies and damselflies. Her research helps understand how insects in Arctic habitats have been influenced by the glaciation cycles of the past and how climate change will affect them in the future.

Eizaak’s career and education have focused on building fund development strategies that connect people to natural spaces. Being raised in rural Idaho, he spent most of his childhood exploring the rugged landscapes of Central Idaho, which instilled a deep connection with the diverse flora and fauna of the American West. Eizaak’s life outside put him on an academic and career path aimed at protecting our ecosystems and rekindling people’s connection with the natural world. He brings to this position a wide range of fund development skills to help propel LifeOutdoors’ mission and programming forward.

Eizaak received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Idaho State University. Since then, he has worked with various organizations that protect and conserve nature across the American West. His work has also centered around helping address historic barriers communities face in accessing green spaces through an environmental justice lens. Eizaak is thrilled to support LifeOutdoors as a grant writer because the organization shares his passion for environmental education, advocacy, and hands-on programming.

In his free time, Eizaak enjoys reading, hiking, camping, and discovering new music. Contact him if you have questions related to partnerships or funding.

Anna is a naturalist and aquatic entomologist. Monitoring the restoration of a canyon after wildfires, flash floods, and debris flows bolstered her knowledge of the resilience of native flora and fauna to historical natural disaster regimes. Now Anna gets to connect to the parks and people within NYC, as well as challenge herself through a doctoral program studying the evolutionary history of stoneflies. These insects are fundamental to maintaining the health and balance of freshwater ecosystems, but many populations around the globe are experiencing substantial declines due to human interference and climate change. Anna hopes to increase public knowledge on aquatic insects throughout her career and continually advocate for their conservation through research and collaboration.

Lauren is a restoration ecologist with experience in field-based ecosystem restoration, research, monitoring, and community engagement. While working as an Environmental Specialist in Florida, she implemented large-scale grant-funded (NRDA and RESTORE) restoration projects and developed monitoring plans for seagrasses, oyster reefs, salt marshes, and living shorelines. She has also worked with coral reefs and mangroves in Indonesia and Malaysia, and sagebrush-steppe in Idaho. Lauren specializes in creative solutions to ecological problems that advance science while benefitting both local ecosystems and local communities. She utilizes her background in tutoring, mentoring, and teaching to effectively train community members in science-based solutions and applies her background in project management to facilitate hands-on, direct-action volunteer engagement.

Lauren enjoys creating, reading, traveling, learning, connecting, and observing and enjoying nature. She loves adventure on any scale and explores the great outdoors through hiking, running, swimming, skiing, SCUBA diving, biking, gardening, camping, and more. In addition to her primary focus on community-based ecological restoration, Lauren has a particular interest in environmental justice, sustainable systems, communicating science through art, and in early childhood education. One of her greatest joys is introducing the natural world to the next generation!

Allyson is a Gifted and Talented Facilitator at Riverside Elementary in the Boise School District. She taught middle school science and computer science prior to GATE. Outside the classroom, she coaches rock climbing. Allyson holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology from UC Santa Barbara, a Master's in Teaching from Boise State University and is writing a thesis researching science identity development in K-8 students towards a second Master's degree at Boise State. She has extensive field geology experience and has traveled as far as the Naukluft Nappes in Namibia studying geology! In her free time, Allyson loves rock climbing, backpacking, paddleboarding, cross country skiing, and reading.   

Sneha is following the pre-medical track under the Eugene McDermott Scholarship at the University of Texas at Dallas. She was President of TREE in the 2021-2022 academic year and spearheaded the Boise River Biodiversity Project, led local climate rallies, was a high school mentor for the Boise Online School Virtual Sustainability Club, and worked on Finding Dragons Research. She was also a student leader in the Idaho Climate Justice League and pushed for the Boise School District to pass the Collective Commitment on Clean Energy in November 2021. In April 2023, her team placed first in UTD’s JSOM Sustainability Business Case Competition. Currently, she is a student research assistant in the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab of Memory and Language under Dr. John Hart. Sneha hopes to work in public health as a physician and work with children in the future, encouraging them to preserve the world's natural beauty. In her free time, Sneha loves to read, do her own gel nails, or play the piano.

Ella is a first-year student at the University of Montana, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology with a minor in Political Science. Passionate for conservation, she aims to influence policy by working with lawmakers to promote the protection of keystone species. With a focus on fostering collaborative solutions, she intends to continue working with all sides of the wolf discussion and outreach for non-lethal population control. 

As a collaborator with Finding Dragon's scientific article and featured in the documentary Children of the Wolves, she is committed to working in diverse environments and different species.  She is also establishing the Montana chapter of Life Outdoors, a program designed to engage college students in science education and environmental advocacy.

As 2024 Timberline High School graduate and former, co-president of TREE Club 2024 she was awarded the YMCA Civic Engagement Scholarship. Currently serving as a University of Montana Advocate, she is dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive campus environment. With aspirations to lead a conservation-focused nonprofit and continue working in Washington D.C. through public speaking, her vision is shaped by a passion for scientific research, public policy, and environmental stewardship.

Harrison grew up chasing lizards and catching insects in the vast natural landscape of the mountains and rivers in Idaho. This foundational love of wildlife and the outdoors was later translated into real-world research at the College of Idaho in the labs of Dr. Ron Bitner, Dr. Chris Walser, and Dr. Anna Himler. In these labs he worked with various systems in connection to conservation including native pollinators, shark species in the Sea of Cortez, the Rocky Mountain tailed frog, and Redband Trout. Harrison graduated from the College of Idaho with his bachelor’s degree in biology in May 2025 and continued to work with Dr. Chris Walser and Dr. Anna Himler afterwards. Looking forward, he plans to pursue doctoral training in biology at the City University of New York Graduate Center and will be working with Dr. Manpreet Kohli. His research interests focus on understanding how urbanization impacts biodiversity across ecological and evolutionary scales, specifically through its effects on species interactions, physiological stress, and genetic adaptations in macroinvertebrates. Through his connection with LifeOutdoors, Harrison hopes to bridge his research at CUNY with local communities in southwest Idaho to educate them about the importance of biodiversity and conservation.

Maleahi is an environmental science student at the University of California, Berkeley and a research intern with the Life Outdoors Biodiversity Program. Her work focuses on how dragonflies adapt to human-altered environments, combining field sampling, genomic analysis, and community science. She is a co-author on multiple studies of urban Odonata diversity and has presented her research at the International Dragonfly Society’s International Conference in 2025. Maleah is passionate about connecting scientific research with community outreach and inspiring others to care for local ecosystems

Outside of research, Maleah is active in the Berkeley Student Food Collective and the Berkeley Swim Club. She enjoys reading, hiking, composting, and exploring ways to make everyday life more sustainable.

Ethan is an undergraduate at Brigham Young University studying biology. Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, he enjoys running, playing basketball, skiing, rock climbing, and spending time outdoors. After graduating from BYU, Ethan plans to attend medical school and become a cardiologist. Through his Lifeoutdoors internship, Ethan studied the importance of Boise’s biodiversity, with a particular focus on the essential role of blue dasher dragonflies. Building on this experience at BYU, he currently works under Dr. Paul Frandsen researching aquatic insects. He has gained experience in RNA and DNA extractions, DNA purification, and scanning electron microscope imaging of caddisfly silk. Additionally, Ethan recently received a BYU grant to sequence and annotate the genome of the native Penstemon leonardii using Oxford Nanopore technology. He hopes to continue making discoveries that support conservation efforts and advance our understanding of the life sciences.

Jiawei is a junior at Timberline High School with a strong passion for business, science, and education. Since joining LifeOutdoors in early 2025, he has been deeply grateful for the wide range of initiatives he has had the opportunity to support and contribute to. Through his experience conducting genomic research alongside highly knowledgeable experts, as well as engaging with members of the public whose perspectives have left a lasting impression, Jiawei has developed an even stronger commitment to learning and sharing meaningful scientific knowledge. He hopes to continue his work with LifeOutdoors by advancing research efforts and helping make valuable information more accessible to others. Outside of research, Jiawei is actively involved in student organizations such as DECA and HOSA, and he enjoys playing tennis in his free time.

Kiichi is a junior at Timberline High School with a passion for environmental conservation and science. As Vice President of Timberline’s TREE Club, he helps lead sustainability initiatives and foster environmental awareness within his school community. Through his work with LifeOutdoors, he has contributed to research projects while engaging with scientists and community members whose perspectives have deepened his understanding of environmental challenges. His favorite part of the experience has been speaking with experts and feeling the power of collaboration and shared curiosity.

Kiichi hopes to continue expanding LifeOutdoors’ impact through video projects and community outreach, helping make meaningful environmental knowledge more accessible and personal to a broader community.

Ben is a senior at Timberline High School, where he serves as Vice President of the Tree Club, fostering environmental awareness and sustainability. Alongside his academic and extracurricular pursuits, Ben is an intern at Life Outdoors, contributing to cutting-edge dragonfly genomic research. His primary area of scientific knowledge lies in physics and biophysics, where he has taken three years of in depth physics and calculus classes throughout high school.  A skilled cellist and pianist, Ben has a deep passion for music, performing with precision and expression. He is also an accomplished athlete, competing in both basketball and track. With a well-rounded portfolio of interests and achievements, Ben hopes to pursue a career in medical research. 

Towako a senior at Timberline High School, is dedicated to environmental sustainability and cultural exchange. As a member of the Life Outdoors Research Team and TREE Club, she leads conservation efforts, including genome research on several aquatic insects, reusable bag initiatives, and teaching sustainability to local elementary students, inspiring others to protect the natural world. Through the Idaho Japanese Association, Towako fosters connections between Japanese and American communities, organizing events that enrich Boise’s cultural landscape. Motivated by a commitment to sustainability and a desire to help others, she aims to become a physician who integrates cultural acceptance and eco-friendly practices, contributing to a future where compassion and conservation efforts are intertwined. In her free time, Towako enjoys community service, camping with family, and playing the piano.

Michel was a part of TREE leadership from 2021-2023, leading Timberline High School's wolf advocacy movement. He testified at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, USFWS, USDA, and IDFG on the issues of Idaho's Space-to-Event Model used for estimating its wolf population. Michel was also quoted in many national articles for his advocacy and worked as the International Wildlife Coexistence Network's first intern. Now, Michel is a computer science student at Princeton University researching computer vision.

Isabella is currently a second year Masters student at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. She grew up in Boise, Idaho surrounded by the outdoors whether it was in the mountains, kayaking on the river, or working in her family’s modest vineyard. In high school, while attending Alzar she created EmpowerOut, a program aiming to empower Idaho youth who are new to America through the outdoors. She attended the College of Idaho where she earned degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies. She worked as an Outdoor Trip Leader in the College of Idaho Outdoor Program, earning the Integrity, Leadership, and Service Award as well as the Environmental Leadership Initiative Award due to her continued work in the College of Idaho community. After graduating with her bachelor’s, Isabella decided to take on the opportunity of moving abroad to deepen her knowledge in environmental sciences at Wageningen University and Research. At Wageningen, Isabella has had the opportunity to learn to incorporate her social and scientific backgrounds through working with interdisciplinary teams on projects such as the PATHS project in Prague and later consulting the city of Nijmegen for a climate-resistant future. Her current thesis research involves looking into climate-resilient policies and implementations in Utrecht. Aside from her time spent in academics, Isabella likes to read, write poetry, go hiking, spend a day fly fishing, and explore new landscapes.

Bella is a sophomore at Cornell University. She is double majoring in History and Environment and Sustainability, with a focus and senior honors thesis concerning the intersection of religious studies and entomology. Bella was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, and returns to live with her family each summer and enjoy the beautiful outdoor features that Idaho offers. Bella has participated in Boise City’s dragonfly monitoring program and enjoys observing insects in their natural habitats. In her downtime, Bella enjoys crocheting and knitting, and she also works as a referee for collegiate flag football when she is away at school.