STORIES FROM THE WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY

Meet Carolina Ruiz, Naturalist and Nature’s Advocate
Shanna Kesler Shanna Kesler

Meet Carolina Ruiz, Naturalist and Nature’s Advocate

Carolina Ruiz, Outdoor Education Coordinator for The Wildlands Conservancy believes that personal experiences in nature are crucial for fostering environmental stewardship. Hands-on learning is a cornerstone of Wildlands’ outdoor education philosophy. By engaging children in direct experiences — such as guided hikes and interactions with local wildlife — Carolina helps them form lasting connections to the natural world.

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North Coast Ranger Spotlight, Catsey Heath
Shanna Kesler Shanna Kesler

North Coast Ranger Spotlight, Catsey Heath

Originally from Vermont, Catsey Heath joined the Wildlands team as a ranger in June 2024 at the Eel River Estuary Preserve. Catsey came to Wildlands after spending several years working for Humboldt County Parks where she led several beach cleanups throughout the region.

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Meet Wildlands Eastern Sierra Nevada Team: Dave Herrero
Shanna Kesler Shanna Kesler

Meet Wildlands Eastern Sierra Nevada Team: Dave Herrero

Native to California, Dave Herrero grew up in the San Bernardino National Forest in a small community known as Mountain Home Village, which is a stone’s throw away from The Wildlands Conservancy’s Bearpaw Reserve. Dave currently works as preserve manager for the Eastern Sierra Nevada region, and also leads our conservation and advocacy efforts in southeast Utah as the Four Corners regional director.

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Meet The Eastern Sierra Nevada Team: John Trammell
Shanna Kesler Shanna Kesler

Meet The Eastern Sierra Nevada Team: John Trammell

John Trammell joined Wildlands in 2014 as a naturalist, with his role evolving over the years, mirroring his dynamic skills and interests. He 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.

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Meet South Coast’s Regional Director, Zach Kantor-Anaya
Shanna Kesler Shanna Kesler

Meet South Coast’s Regional Director, Zach Kantor-Anaya

Zach Kantor-Anaya joined The Wildlands Conservancy in 2010 and worked as a ranger at our North Coast preserves and preserve manager in Sonoma County at Jenner Headlands Preserve prior to becoming the regional director for Wildlands South Coast region in 2018.

Born in Flagstaff, Arizona Zach Kantor-Anaya was raised by parents who worked for the National Park Service at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon — instilling a love of nature in Zach at a very young age.

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Trail Steward Spotlight: Glen Alpert
Shanna Kesler Shanna Kesler

Trail Steward Spotlight: Glen Alpert

Glen's love of nature and Sonoma Coast knowledge is something he gets to share with our visitors as a trail steward for The Wildlands Conservancy. Glen says that working at Jenner Headlands Preserve these past few years has been a life-affirming experience. The beauty of the land has had a profound effect on his life, as well as the joyful exchanges with visitors on the trails, and the deep connections made with people he works with.

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