Meet The Eastern Sierra Nevada Team: John Trammell

John Trammell at Badwater Basin, Death Valley

John Trammell, project manager and Eastern Sierra Nevada regional director, joined the Wildlands team in 2014. John first started working for Wildlands as a naturalist, teaching kids about the outdoors in the San Bernardino mountains at Oak Glen Preserve. John brings nearly two decades of experience leading youth programs, having been involved with the California 4-H Youth Development Program since he was a youth member himself. 

Dedicated to sharing his knowledge and love for the outdoors, John averages 400 hours a year volunteering with the 4-H Youth Development Program. He focuses his volunteerism on educating youth about nature, photography, citizenship, leadership and technology. Over the years, John’s volunteer work has impacted the lives of thousands of youth and adult volunteers throughout California and beyond.

“I enjoy bringing people together to explore natural places and to have a shared experience in nature and building community. In the 4-H world, the youth call me ‘Nature John’ and are always asking me to take them on a hike,” says John.

John’s experience at Wildlands began in outdoor education but has evolved over the years, mirroring his dynamic skills and interests. John worked as a ranger at Bluff Lake Reserve in the San Bernardino Mountains in 2015, and in 2016, began working as a conservation advocate focusing on the conservation easement project in Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierra. Currently, John works as a project manager at Wildlands headquarters and spends several weeks throughout the year in the Eastern Sierra, serving as the regional director.

John received his bachelor’s degree in public administration from California State University, San Bernardino and later graduated from the University of Redlands with a master’s degree in organizational leadership. Speaking with John about what guided him towards conservation work, he says that growing up spending ample time outdoors naturally fostered an interest in conservation. He recalls taking an environmental science class in high school where he was able to get hands-on experience doing field work. One particular project involved testing water and soil quality at The Wildlands Conservancy’s Oak Glen Preserve after Wildlands banned harsh chemicals and pesticide use at the Los Rios Apple Orchards on the preserve.

“That class exposed me to the world of environmental science, which I originally intended to pursue in college. However, I ended up changing my major due to a fear of job scarcity during the recession of 2008. After graduation, I was fortunate to remember The Wildlands Conservancy from my project in high school and was hired on in 2014,” says John.

“[Working at Wildlands] our leaders and staff are so knowledgeable and passionate about the work, and I feel fortunate to be a part of a team working to preserve beautiful landscapes and inspiring others to support conservation efforts as well,” says John.

John grew up with a heavy dose of time spent outdoors. Throughout childhood, his family frequented the San Bernardino Mountains, the southern and central coast, and June Lake in the Eastern Sierras.

“My sister and I grew up traveling across the west camping, fishing, exploring, and learning photography. A decent amount of our free time was spent at zoos, aquariums, and attending hands-on science education programs and ranger talks,” John says.

From a young age, John learned that nature can be a refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

“Spending time in nature allows me to experience a slower, more relaxed pace of life. It quiets my mind, sparks my curiosity and sense of adventure, and allows me to build a deeper connection to myself and the world around me,” John says.

John loves spending time in the Eastern Sierra Nevada region, and considers this region to be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring landscapes in California. He says that no matter which direction you turn, you are treated with jaw-dropping views, be it the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada, large green meadows, sagebrush valleys, or juniper-pinyon covered hills.

“One of my favorite things is to offer tours of our preserves, especially at sunset, sharing the magic and beauty of the landscape with others. It is my hope to ignite a sense of wonder, curiosity, and adventure in others like I had growing up visiting the Eastern Sierra every summer,” says John.

Some of John’s favorite spots to explore in the Eastern Sierra is Devil’s Postpile National Monument and the surrounding areas including Reds Meadow and the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

“It’s a wonderful place for geology and nature nerds like me to explore,” says John. 

In John’s free time, when he’s not volunteering, he enjoys photography, video games, geocaching, traveling, camping, rock and money collecting, going to Disneyland, and tending to his plants. He also loves anything Star Wars related.

John’s first trip to Yosemite, 1994