"You need to surround yourself with quality human beings that are intelligent and have a vision." ~Vince McMahon
The California Nature Treks team consists of dedicated, experienced, outdoor professionals, who are patient, friendly and passionate about their areas of expertise. All of us, from office staff, naturalist-guides to instructors and facilitators, take pride in the safe and fun adventures we design and run. We hope you'll join us and find out why!
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Alvin Kernan is the Founder and Director of California Nature Treks. Besides being a mountain climber, orienteer and wilderness skills expert, he is an avid outdoors person and naturalist who loves backpacking, climbing and exploring his home state from the deserts to the high peaks of the Sierras. In addition to working for California State Parks in natural history interpretation, he also has worked for several large corporations for over 10 years and is very familiar with corporate cultures. This combination of professional experience and love and appreciation for the outdoors, has helped him design, organize and oversee effective programs for all of our clientele.
Steven Cochrane, Field Guide and TeamAdventure Facilitator. Steven received his Bachelor's of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley and has a diverse background which includes working as a Forest Service Ranger in the Trinity Alps and as a director of several Bay Area environmental non-profits. Besides his friendly, outgoing personality, Steven is incredibly knowledgeable about California’s special outdoor places, the plants and animals that one can find there as well as the skills one might want to have when going out into some of these places. He’s also an avid extreme, long distance runner who thinks nothing of getting up in the morning for a 26-mile "jog" before most people have left for their jobs! Sarah Heath, TeamAdventure Facilitator. We are fortunate to have in Sarah a strong teambuilding facilitator with a great sense of humor and an exuberant outgoing personality. She has led outdoor trips all over the country from Vermont ropes courses to sea kayaking on the west coast. Sarah also works with GirlVentures, a San Francisco based non-profit organization which helps girls find their strengths through a variety of activities, including rock climbing and multi-week outdoor adventures. She has a BA from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters from the University of Vermont in Educational Studies. |
Bong MacDoran is Managing Director specializing in all aspects of program design and facilitation. Bong studied botany and ecology at UC Berkeley and went on to work in the biological sciences including a stint with the US Forest Service. She is an experienced guide and naturalist who loves sharing her knowledge and appreciation of California's flora and fauna with our clientele. She also has experience in the corporate world after working in the banking industry as a top finance executive. She's now back working in the areas she is passionate about and her experience and understanding of the corporate world helps us ensure that we provide the types of effective, expertly run programs that our clients are looking for.
Dave Grunat is a TeamAdventure Facilitator who also works as a Project Manager/Environmental Scientist at one of the Bay Area’s leading environmental consulting companies. Dave earned not one, but two, bachelor degrees from Indiana University both in the Environmental Sciences. His experience and smarts have earned him a reputation as a brilliant outdoor skills facilitator whose group or team always (well, almost always) wins if it’s a competition! Dave is a Master Diver and is trained in all manner of map/compass and GPS skills – both underwater and above. His quick wit and ability to instruct participants in the skills he loves in a succinct and entertaining manner are additional assets. Go Dave's Team! Michelle Lovejoy, TeamAdventure Facilitator, has a Masters degree in Recreation Administration from San Francisco State University and a BA in physical education. Blessed with an abundance of energy and sense of adventure, Michelle is an avid rock climber, skier and snowboarder. She has worked as a climbing instructor and program leader for outdoor leadership schools and also works for GirlVentures. Michelle is a dedicated and enthusiastic professional who is passionate about sharing her outdoor skills and knowledge with our guests. Rachel Parry, Office & Operations Manager extraordinaire. Rachel runs all the behind the scenes ordering and organizing and handles most, if not all, of the logistical planning of our programs. Now in her sixth year with Nature Treks, we would be lost without her!! |
