2025 "Big Tent" Program Presenters
Friday Evening
Eli Knapp From Chicken Coop to Nature Snoop: How to see nature through the eyes of Aldo Leopold Eli J. Knapp, PhD, teaches in the Biology Department at Houghton University, in Houghton, NY. For fifteen years, he took students to East Africa where he directed the Houghton East Africa program. Like the birds that he loves, he continues to migrate with a flock each spring, taking students to various parts of the world as part of his annual Ornithology Course. He shares his three-acre yard with his lovely wife Linda, three (mostly) lovely children, and 109 species of birds. He has published two books with Torrey House Press, The Delightful Horror of Family Birding: Sharing Nature with the Next Generation (2018), Dead Serious: Wild Hope Amid the Sixth Extinction (2021). His third book, focusing on the importance of finding our place in nature, is titled: In the Crosswinds: Birds, Humans, and the Paradox of Place, hits bookstores on June 3rd |
Saturday Evening
Julie Lundgren Allegany's Natural Wonders Julie is an ecologist with the non-profit NY Natural Heritage Program. For the past 16 years she has worked under a partnership with NY State Parks conducting surveys of natural communities and advising on stewardship of parks’ natural areas. She has been a part of NatureServe’s international heritage network for 31 years. She has always had an interest in sharing insights into the wonders and beauty of nature. |
Leader Bios
Now accepting 2025 Program Proposals. Please complete the online form at the link above by April 15th.
View our 2024 leader bios below
Avery, Susan - Great Valley, NY - Trained in nature and her ways through years of scouting and the ever-restless need to explore the outdoors, Susan is a self-trained naturalist, licensed NYS Outdoor Guide, certified Florida Master Naturalist and National Park Services volunteer naturalist/docent. She is always looking for opportunities to share those marvelous moments in nature with fellow explorers of all ages. Her areas of interest are trees, old growth forests, spring ephemeral flowers, ferns, local historic geology, marine and freshwater invertebrates.
Bacho, Tamara - Jamestown, NY - Tamara works for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County as an office administrator. She is also a Master Gardener Volunteer since graduating from the course in 2020 and a Master Preserver since 2022. She has been gardening/farming for many years, worked in many greenhouses and is an avid hunter and outdoor enthusiast. She loves anything to do with gardening but must admit that her heart lies with our pollinators, especially the Monarch Butterflies. She has been helping her lil' friends since 2017, right here in Allegany State Park. She loves coming to the butterfly meadow or wherever she sees milkweed to look for eggs. She keeps the eggs and small caterpillars in containers until they are big enough to crawl around in the big cage. In the big cage they are free to eat as much as they want, explore and eventually form their chrysalis. Once they eclose and are ready to release, we take a ride to the butterfly meadow and she releases them with a prayer. This year Tamara will be tagging them when the migrator generation comes and hopes someone will report that her lil' friends made it south. She loves any chance to educate people about her lil' friends!
Baird, Tim - Salamanca, NY - Tim is a retired science teacher who lives in Salamanca, NY. He has an interest in nature study and nature photography. Tim has been involved with the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage for many years. Meeting people with similar interests has been a highlight for Tim through his participation at the Pilgrimage. Nature observation is always a learning activity. He enjoys sharing his experiences in the natural world and learning from participants, many who have become true friends.
Baker, Conrad - Mount Morris, NY - Conrad is a professional naturalist and content creator. Tragically, since birth, he has been pathologically obsessed with insects. You can join him in shamelessly feeding his joyful obsession with the scientific and cultural splendor of insects at his two insect pinning and specimen preservation demonstrations. He camps, he hunts, he fishes, he traps, he veggie gardens, he plants native and he manages for pollinators and dragonflies at a beautiful country estate in the Genesee Valley of New York.
Balisteri, Josh - East Aurora, NY - Josh is a multi-disciplinary ecologist and Stewardship Director at the Western New York Land Conservancy, where he leads the management of over 7,000 acres of conservation lands. Josh is a passionate wildlife enthusiast, as well as a trail designer and recreation manager. When he is not out working on trail projects, managing wildlife, or carrying out ecological surveys on land conservancy properties, he most enjoys exploring remote wilderness areas by backpack or canoe as far away from light and noise pollution as possible.
Carra, Mark - West Valley, NY - Mark started as a wildlife educator in 1989 and has spoken to more than 800,000 people since then. He was the naturalist in residence for Beaver Meadow Audubon Center in North Java, NY and has worked as a representative and presenter for Animal Planet, National Geographic Channel, and Public Television and handled animals for many of their celebrities. His passion for learning and obsession to communicate what he has learned has kept him going all these years and loving the entire journey.
Carrier, Katy - West Valley, NY - Katy enjoys the outdoors and nature with her golden retriever in a variety of ways, including K9 therapy for 20 years. Also past involvement with search and rescue and emergency response. She has also taught orienteering with Women in the Outdoors and setting up map hike courses and fall meets at Erie County Forestry with the Buffalo Orienteering Club. She enjoys recreational orienteering in WNY, Pa. and Ohio. Recently retired allows more time for hiking, bicycling and Finger Lakes Trail maintenance.
Contrino, Kathleen - Akron, NY - Kathy promotes the use of native plants in residential gardens in order to improve ecological diversity. She has been growing native plants and designing native plant gardens since 1997. An avid birder, Kathy participates in Cornell Cooperative's FeederWatch program/Habitat Network as well as volunteers for Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and the Buffalo Audubon Society leading tours. Currently Kathy is recreating the Great Lakes ecosystem on her 10 acres in Akron, NY where she participates in the open gardens section of the Gardens Buffalo Niagara. Kathy is a member of the Western New York Plant Collaborative. Kathy also owns and operates the CW Native Plant Farm.
Corrigan, Peter - Buffalo, NY - Peter is an amateur naturalist who has been interested in birds and birding for over 30 years. He is a member of the Buffalo Audubon and Buffalo Ornithological Societies.
Corrigan, Teresa - Buffalo, NY - Teresa is avid hiker and enthusiastic amateur naturalist. She also loves yoga and teaches yoga at Power Yoga Buffalo and for Yogis in Service. She is thrilled to share both of her passions at the Pilgrimage.
Crafts, George - Manakin Sabot, VA - Dee Kysor and George Crafts have been presenting together stories from around the world and popular and original songs since 1995. They have entertained children and adults in a number of settings, including schools, libraries, and camps. For the last two summers they were asked to share songs and stories at Hog Island Audubon camp. Spooky material has been one of their specialties. Last year they gave a ghost story program at ANP, and for years they performed for Halloween at Park School in Buffalo, New York.
Crawford, Paul - Lockport, NY - Paul is a founding member of the Friends of Allegany State Park, a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization within Allegany State Park. The organization is in its twelfth year and tenth year as a Corporation. Paul has recently rejoined the ASP Historical Society where is is a lifetime member and board member. Please visit Paul’s YouTube Channel that has over 450 informational videos of Allegany State Park.
Crombe, Frank - Scottsville, NY - As a youth, Frank learned a lot of nature by being in constant contact with it as a caddy and landscaper. He is an accountant, currently consulting, is a Certified Management Accountant and has a Master’s Degree in Education. He belongs to the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club, The Nature Conservancy, The International Oak Society and is on the Committee for the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage. Frank has explored many places in the Northeast, Northern Europe and Honduras. He really enjoys being able to share with others as a hike leader. Come and enjoy the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage!
Crossley, Elaine - Frewsburg, NY - "The Bluebird Lady" Elaine Crossley has been an eastern bluebird conservationist & bluebird educator since 1968 (five years before the founding of the NYSBS.) She has built, placed and monitored bluebird nest boxes in her area in the Town of Carroll. She belongs to NABS & NYSBS, and since 1978 has held federal & NYS permits to salvage and possess birds, nests and eggs of native birds for education. This allows her to provide wildlife programs about the eastern bluebird, our NY State bird. She has assisted Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, students and interested individuals in building nest boxes and setting up trails in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. She is well known in Chautauqua County as the Bluebird Lady and our local Audubon Community Nature Center often refers people who have questions or problems with their bluebird trails to her. Elaine is currently NYSBS Chautauqua County Coordinator. She plans to continue to pursue her passion for the “Bluebird of Happiness” for her entire life!
Daniel, Steven - Pittsford, NY - Steven has spent most of his adult life immersed in natural history including formal and informal teaching, including a field natural history class he developed and has taught at local colleges for since the early 80's. An early retirement from teaching offered the opportunity to develop Nature Discoveries, an ecotour company he co-founded, and led over 140 trips to special natural areas around the world. Current interests include botany, dragonflies and butterflies. Semi-retired, he spends much of his time exploring the ecological treasures of New York’s North Country. He is Board Secretary of the New York Flora Association and Curator of the Rochester Academy of Science Herbarium. He has an M.S. in Science and Environmental education from Cornell University.
Deck, Brian - Java Center, NY - Brian is a self taught naturalist, familiar with edible plants, flora, fauna, geology, hydrology, and history. Brian leads tours at Niagara Falls in the summer and on the Rio Grande in the winter. Personal experiences include hiking the 100 mile wilderness on the Appalachian trail, backpacking over Mt Marcy, numerous backpacking, hiking, canoe and kayak trips, as well as traveling through the Australian outback.
DiMaio, Andrea - Falconer, NY - Andrea is a plus-size hiker, backpacker, traveler, cyclist, adventurer, yoga teacher, and speaker. Andrea leads inclusive hikes and other outdoor adventures in western New York with her group, Ample Movement. She is employed by adventure travel company, Whoa Travel and has led two trips to hike the Salkantay trail in the Andes Mountains of Peru, led adventures in Iceland and most recently in the Galapagos islands. In 2019 Andrea climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the seven summits, in Tanzania, Africa with the Curvy Kili Crew. She also has her 500-hour yoga teacher certification and Wilderness First Aid certification. Andrea’s passion is sharing joyful movement through yoga and outdoor activities for all, with an emphasis on making space for people who aren’t used to seeing themselves represented in those spaces. Andrea believes in truly living in the bodies we have right now and in finding freedom knowing we all have intrinsic worth no matter our body type or identity.
Driscoll, Angela - Hamburg, NY - Angela has a bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies from SUNY Geneseo, and got her masters in Botany at Miami University of Ohio, conducting spatial studies on invasive plants for my thesis. While at Miami, she taught a field botany course. After grad school, she worked at WNY Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management, primarily conducting surveys and managing invasive plants. Angela also taught a Great Lakes Education Program through Cradle Beach in various Buffalo schools. She currently works as a Wetlands & Waters Ecologist at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, focusing on wetland delineations, stream and wetland permitting and enforcement. She has two toddlers and loves to spend as much time as she can with them and her husband outdoors, sharing her love of all things nature!
Duckett, Chris - Jamestown, NY - Chris is a self-taught naturalist and animal enthusiast with a passion for wildlife education and conservation. He is the founder and educator at WILD Creatures, where he takes in unwanted exotic and native animals and gives them a purpose through education. Chris visits local elementary schools, colleges, nature centers, libraries and festivals educating the public about wildlife conservation and proper pet husbundry with the help of his animal ambassadors. Lastly, he enjoys leading local nature walks throughout the year and encourages adults and children alike to get out and explore the natural world around them!
Dustin, Laura - Orchard Park, NY - Laura has always considered Allegany State Park part of her back yard. So in 1976, when asked, Laura lead her first general nature hike for the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage. While continuing to be part of the Pilgrimage, she completed a vascular plant taxonomy of Cattaraugus County, NY, a second Masters in Chemistry, countless hours of physics and 30 years as a science instructor. As a retiree she continues her involvement with the Pilgrimage, hanging out with her dog, participating in various science activities and helping out at the Botanical Gardens in Buffalo.
Fabritius, Randal - Sinclairville, NY - Randal is the current president of the Allegany State Park Historical Society and has been camping and exploring the park for over 65 years.
Fendya, Jennifer - Buffalo, NY - Jennifer is certified by the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT) and has led forest bathing walks in and beyond Western NY since 2017. She is a Psychologist, Sandplay therapist, practitioner of Miksang ("Good Eye") contemplative photography, and facilitator of climate-informed therapeutic listening circles for both Healing Circles Global and Climate Psychology Alliance. Recently in Japan for the 1st international gathering of Shinrin Yoku/Forest Therapy guides, Jennifer will bring fresh teachings to her Pilgrimage walks this (her 5th) year.
Feura, Jared - Voorheesville, NY - Jared is the assistant coordinator for the Third Breeding Bird Atlas of New York as a member of the New York Natural Heritage Program. He spent his childhood visiting ANP often, and eventually began a career as an ornithologist working with a wide range of species from warblers to rails across the U.S.
The Field Guides - The Field Guides is a podcast that brings you out on the trail, sharing the science of our North American wildlife. With Steve Fleck, Daniel Mlodozeniec and Bill Michalek, three natives of WNY with diverse experience in environmental education, botany, birding and all things outdoors. Check them out wherever you get your podcasts.
Gall, Wayne - Lancaster NY - The 2024 ANP will be Wayne’s 39th as a leader. He served on the staff of the Buffalo Museum of Science 1983-2001, initially as the BMS’ first Administrator-Naturalist of Tifft Nature Preserve, then Curator of Entomology. From 2001-2016 Wayne was Western Regional Entomologist for the NYS Dept of Health. From 2016-2023 he was Entomologist (Identifier) for the US Dept of Agriculture. Wayne earned BA in Biology at SUNY Buffalo; MS in Entomology at University Wisconsin-Madison; and PhD in Zoology at University Toronto. Wayne and his wife, Susan, have three children and seven grandchildren.
Gallineau, Kevin - Lake View, NY - Kevin is a retired auto technician/mechanic of 46 years. He has been going to ASP for 69 years. In his time in the ASP he has hiked, biked, hunted, fished and camped. In recent years he became a member of the Allegany State Park Historical Society he later got involved in volunteer services. He is a co-founder of Friends of Allegany State Park, past vice president, lifetime member and historian of the group. Volunteer work has gone from simple trash pickup to restoration of cabins and all aspects in between . He has also worked with ASP management during National Public Lands Day, First Day Hike, I Love My Park Day, Third Saturday Interpretive Hikes, Fire Tower and Stone Tower tours. This year proves to be very exciting for FOASP's culmination of an 8-year endeavor of restoring Allegany State Park Sawmill for tours. With Kevin's vast knowledge and history of Allegany State Park it should be a captivating and interesting presentation and tour of ASP fire towers.
Gardner, Frank - Bedford, MA - Frank has been an amateur birder for over 50 years and has been coming to the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage since the late 1960s. Allegany State Park is among his favorite places to go birding, and he likes to focus on birding by ear. In his professional life he works at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Gardner, Meghan - Bedford, MA - Meghan is a professional speaker with a decades of experience in both wilderness survival and living off-grid. Having spent a month by herself in a small cabin in NH with no running water and electricity in the winter, she has wonderful stories to share.
Hoag, Jonathan - Blasdell, NY - Jonathan is the site manager of Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve, where he has been part of the organization for 15 years. His major projects include the restoration of the site’s wetland, invasive species removal, and rehabilitation of the site’s native pollinator garden. Jonathan is an avid outdoorsman with a degree in conservation biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. After graduating in 2019, Jonathan worked at The NY DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Unit as a Fish & Wildlife Technician 1. He now works on multiple environmental projects at Penn Dixie.
Hoffman, Nan - Grand Island, NY - The acoustic music duo Nan Hoffman and Joe Tumino present concerts for audiences of all ages. Their rich blend of vocal harmonies and guitars accompany a repertoire that covers a wide range of folk songs and ballads, both contemporary and traditional, including topical, spiritual, and humorous songs. Joe and Nan are both from the Buffalo, NY area, and have performed for many years, separately and together, in coffeehouses and festivals, schools and churches, parks and community centers, and anywhere people gather to enjoy good music. Their programs are full and varied, fun and informative, and often encourage audience participation. Nan's and Joe's music is also available on CDs. These include collections of folk and contemporary acoustic music, children's music, and holiday music.
Howard, Andrew - Wildlife Technician Andrew Howard started out his career with the Seneca Nation Conservation Department as a youth, summertime employee. He has been full time with the department for 8 years. Andrew spent time as a patrol officer and worked his way up the ranks to being promoted as a wildlife technician. He has been working with the hatchery staff and crew since his youth employment days.
Jacobs, Marvin - Cheektowaga, NY - Marvin is a member of the Wolf Clan of the Seneca Nation and an Elder. He is a storyteller and root healer. He has given Native American talks to Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Beaver Meadow Audubon Center and Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve. He is a Board Member of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
Jager, Nancy - Dunkirk, NY - Nancy is a nature enthusiast who enjoys nature photography and learning about plants, local native, edible weeds, invasive species and garden herbs. Nancy is a Chautauqua Master Gardener and a Master Naturalist of Cornell Cooperative Extension. She holds a M.S. in Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia. She has NYS teacher certification in four areas: TESOL, Spanish, Home Economics, and Elementary Education. She is presently teaching international students at Fredonia State University. She has been a participant of Allegany Nature Pilgrimage since 2009, and leader since 2014. Nancy has given talks about Wild and Wonderful Weeds at Chautauqua Institution, has given a presentation on deer and voles in your garden at the annual ‘Grow Jamestown”. Nancy was a participant in the Wildflower Pilgrimage at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Gatlinburg, TN) (April 2014). Nancy is also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Paraguay. Bilingual English/Spanish.
Kerr, Tom - Tonawanda, NY - A Graduate of SUNY ESF, Tom has worked for the Buffalo Audubon Society since 2011 and has been Leading birding tours for the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage for over 10 years. He also enjoys getting in the water and looking for aquatic insects and other creatures. Tom and his family look forward to the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage every year!
Kysor, Dee - Manakin Sabot, VA - Dee Kysor and George Crafts have been presenting together stories from around the world and popular and original songs since 1995. They have entertained children and adults in a number of settings, including schools, libraries, and camps. For the last two summers they were asked to share songs and stories at Hog Island Audubon camp. Spooky material has been one of their specialties. Last year they gave a ghost story program at ANP, and for years they performed for Halloween at Park School in Buffalo, New York.
Lalomio, Giulianna - Gowanda, NY - Giulianna has been a nature lover since day one. Volunteering at Beaver Meadow Audobon and attending programs with many environmental organizations across New York, and everywhere from here to Florida, she soon began to realize that a future that wasn’t outdoor-based would be her worst nightmare. Recently spending 10 months as a resident of Allegany State Park, she was a Student Conservation Member Environmental Education Steward. Shortly after, Giulianna began her BA in writing and environmental studies minor at SUNY Fredonia. A long-time lover of the ANP, she continues to deepen her knowledge and add to her education.
LeBlanc, Thomas - Frewsburg, NY - Tom is a naturalist at Allegany State Park with over 20 years of experience in Environmental Education and as a field biologist. He spent four years studying bird communities in the tornado blowdown area at the park.
Leenders, Twan - Jamestown, NY - Twan is a biologist from The Netherlands with a degree in animal ecology and life-long experience in conservation management. For more than twenty years his work with birds, mammals, plants and especially tropical amphibians and reptiles has taken him to various places on the planet. As a former researcher at Yale University’s Peabody Museum and other institutions he participated in many international expeditions that helped gather data to better understand and protect biologically important areas and their unique species and habitats. Before coming to western NY, Twan taught biology at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, and went back into the ‘trenches’ of hands-on conservation research and education while leading the Science and Conservation Office of the Connecticut Audubon Society. After ten years at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Jamestown, serving as RTPI’s President and Senior Director of Science & Conservation, he now works as the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s Director of Conservation. Twan is also the author of several books on the amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica.
Light, Garner - Gasport, NY - Long time ANP participant and leader. Current President of Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Inc, Co-compiler for the Wilson-Lake Plains Christmas Bird Count and Coordinator for the Len Anderson Memorial Bluebird Trail.
Light, Judy - Gasport, NY - A retired art educator and ANP attendee/leader for 30+ years, Judy is always busy capturing nature through art by photographing, stamping, journaling, folding and tangling. At Pilgrimage she is either leading, wandering off seeking salamanders, photographing bits of nature, birding or siting off by herself drawing. Judy grew up on a small farm in Cattaraugus county and attending the Pilgrimage always feels like coming home!
Lundgren, Julie - Albany, NY - Julie is an ecologist with the non-profit NY Natural Heritage Program (nynhp.org) in Albany NY. For the past 15 years, she has worked under a partnership with NY State Parks, conducting surveys and advising on stewardship of Parks’ natural areas. She has been a part of NatureServe’s international Heritage network for 30 years. She has always had an interest in sharing insights into the wonders and beauty of nature.
Maliki, Andy - Ellicottville, NY - Andy is a lifelong lover of Allegany State Park. At the age of seven he knew that he wanted a career working in the park from a young age. He started researching/studying areas of the park. From 2002 to 2014 he served as president and acting president of the Allegany State Park Historical Society. He has also volunteered on the summit fire tower restoration committee. In 2014, he became employed by New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historical Preservation. Andy has lifelong experience working in the outdoor/camping industry.
Masso-Welch, Patricia - Clarence Center, NY - Patricia is a retired UB professor who has been drawing and painting wildlife and landscapes for 40 years. Since retirement, she has focused on guiding adult learners to successfully create beautiful impressionistic acrylic paintings from photos of natural settings and wildlife. Every learner has a different painting style, and the focus is always on individualized styles of expression, while relaxing and enjoying the process of artistic creation.
McCormac, Jim - Worthington, OH - Jim is a former botanist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and is into nearly all facets of nature, including a major interest in birds. He is a coauthor of the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, the guide Birds of Ohio and has authored or coauthored five other books.
Miller. William - Officer Will Miller has been with the Seneca Nation Conservation Department for 18+ years and was responsible for initiating the Seneca Nation's hellbender research program. He has held many positions with the department, including the directorship.
Megan Mills Hoffman - Derby, NY - Megan, herself home- and un-schooled in southcentral Alaska from fifth grade to university admissions to an out-of-state four year honors program with a full tuition scholarship. She now homeschools her daughter after being a longtime board member for Mandala School, Buffalo’s only independent, democratic, free school.
Myers, Chris - Landenberg, PA - Chris is a Professional Geologist with the Delaware Geological Survey. Chris studied geology at the University of Delaware. He was previously an environmental geologist in the northeast. He first attended the ANP in 1992 when he was 6 months old. His hobbies include outdoor activities, astronomy, photography and rock and mineral collecting.
Myers, Lon - West Chester, PA - Lon is an avid self-taught naturalist with a lifelong passion for nature. He has led walks at the Pilgrimage for 45 years including Beginning Birds, Sharing Nature with Children, Family Nature, The Splash Hike, Stream Adventure, Night Hike and Adults Only. Lon currently serves as the Chairman of the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage.
Myers, Maggie - Landenberg, PA - Maggie is a professional geologist and currently works in Delaware as a technical manager for an environmental consulting firm. Her hobbies include various outdoor activities, cooking and home improvement/DIY projects. She frequently gives presentations to staff as well as school groups and young children. This is her third year as a leader at ANP.
Musall, Lisa - West Valley, NY - Lisa is a retired occupational therapist and an author of four children's books. She resides in Western New York and has always enjoyed spending time in the outdoors.
Nobles, Emilie - Salamanca, NY - Emilie has nearly 20 years of experience in the field of water quality. From the National Parks Service in Everglades National Park, to the US Geological Survey's New England Water Science Center, and now the Natural Resource Department of New York State Parks at Allegany. She's currently continuing her studies at SUNY Fredonia.
Nusstein, Matt - Warsaw, NY - A student of the nature, Matt is interested in every aspect of the natural world. His goal is to learn about the incredible diversity of life that surrounds us and share it with others. Matt currently works at the Humphrey Nature Center at Letchworth State Park as an environmental educator. Previously, he spent 9 years in the Niagara Region of the New York State Parks, also serving as an environmental educator. Matt has also worked at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, Rogers Environmental Educator Center and was the teaching assistant for SUNY Buffalo State's ornithology class.
OBara, Marcia - Tuscon, AZ - Marcia is a leader for Tucson Audubon’s Birding for EveryBODY program. Trips are designed to accommodate all birders regardless of need for wheelchairs, walkers or other equipment or no equipment at all. Slow paced and lots of time to ID birds. Marcia has been a birder since 1984, and has led trips at ANP in the past.
Parsons, William - East Aurora, NY - Over the past 29 years, Bill and Kris Parsons have conducted a survey of the dinosaurs, pterosaurs, mammals and other extinct creatures found within 106-to-108-million-year-old sites in central Montana. Currently they are studying the fossil eggs and embryos they have discovered.
Radomski, Mike - Hamburg, NY - The founder Outside Chronicles, Mike is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, climbing mountains, paddling whitewater, fly fishing and mountain biking. Mike became an Adirondack 46ers in 2020 and completed the Winter 46er in 2022. He is a licensed NYS Guide and a whitewater raft guide through Zoar Valley, Letchworth State Park and the Black River. Mike earned a Master’s Degree in Great Lakes Environmental Science and is trained in Wilderness First Aid, CPR/AED, and Swiftwater Rescue L4.
Rinow, Shannon - Jamestown, NY - Shannon is a Master Gardener program coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension. She recruits and trains master gardener volunteers to become peer educators sharing knowledge and information about landscape, fruit, vegetables, herbs, beneficial and harmful insects, plant diseases, integrated pest management, wildlife, soils, composting and much more. Shannon and her family live in Ashville, NY and operate a small honeybee and cut flower farm. She and her husband specialize in the removal of honeybee colonies from residential homes, barns and buildings and relocate them to their apiary.
Rosenburg, Charles - Elma, NY - Chuck has a B.S. in wildlife management from Purdue University and an M.S. in biology from the College of William and Mary. His master’s thesis focused on barn owl habitat use, as determined using radio-telemetry. Since 2006, he has served as a Wetlands Ecologist and Habitat Protection Manager with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Chuck is an avid birder and has led numerous Owl Prowls for Buffalo Audubon Society and other groups.
Rosenburg, Kristen - Elma, NY - Kristen has always enjoyed spending time outdoors, nurtured by family camping trips to the Adirondacks, Algonquin Provincial Park and Yellowstone National Park. As a child, she attended her very first beaver colony tour and owl prowl at Allegany State Park. While attending graduate school at SUNY-ESF, Kristen returned to Allegany State Park to conduct field research studying beaver behavior. After completing a master's degree in wildlife biology, she has been employed since 2000 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as an Environmental Educator at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in Depew, NY.
Rosten, Marcus - Tonawanda, NY - Marcus Rosten is a naturalist working to protect, connect, and restore the largest remaining tracts of wildlife habitat in Western New York. As the Director of the WNY Wildway with the Western New York Land Conservancy, he is leading a landscape-scale conservation initiative to create a network of protected and connected lands that will allow wildlife to safely travel from Allegany State Park up to Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Marcus is a 30 Under 30 Awardee from the North American Association for Environmental Education and has been featured nationally in Scholastic News, Nike Journal, BirdNote, and on PBS Nature. Marcus is passionate about fungi, fish, ferns, birds, and land conservation!
Ruffino, Charles - Fredonia, NY - Charles is a mixed-media artist, K-5th Grade educator with nearly 25 years of teaching experience, and co-founder of the non-profit "Great Lake FX:" a youth program that explores nature through artmaking. Charles and his daughter Erin co-painted the Roger Tory Peterson Institute mural in 2021.
Ruffino, Erin - Fredonia, NY - Erin draws for art galleries and paints murals across the WNY region. She designed the last three shirts for ANP and the mural at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI) in Jamestown, NY. Erin and her dad Charles co-painted the RTPI mural in 2021.
Rutherford, Heather - Medina, NY - Heather earned her NC Environmental Education Certification and MEd in Science Education while teaching fourth and second grades in North Carolina. Back in NY, she is on a quest to become a better naturalist by learning from others and taking time to observe changes and animal behaviors through her photography.
Smolarek, Linda - Boston Valley, NY - Tour guide and leader of “Babes in the Woods“ at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center. Author of Nature’s Corner column in WNY Family magazine. Office Manager and nature educator for Earthspirit, a not-for-profit environmental education organization. Author of Adirondack Audacity book series.
Stokes, Phil - Blasdell, NY - Dr. Stokes is the Executive Director of Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve in Hamburg, NY. In 2021 Dr. Stokes was honored as a 40 Under 40 Awardee by Buffalo Business First. Prior to working for Big Fossil, Dr. Stokes served as instructor, research associate, academic advisor, and community outreach coordinator in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona — a top 5 Geology program — while pursuing his PhD. His 2016 dissertation, Diversity in Geoscience: Critical Incidents and Factors Affecting Choice of Major, used social and behavioral science to look at the factors behind underrepresentation in STEM fields.
Taylor, Garrett - Bradford, PA - Garrett has a project studying the mushrooms of Allegany State Park, photographing and sampling for iNaturalist.org, DNA barcoding, and fungarium specimens since 2018. He has discovered over 100 species whose barcode was not in any publicly available repository including GenBank. He is a member of the Rochester Area Mycological Association, the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club, Western NY Mycology Club and the Central PA Mushroom Club.
Thompson, Craig - Falconer, NY - Craig is a long time beekeeper and member of the Chautauqua County Beekeepers Association. He was a teacher/naturalist at Jamestown’s Audubon Community Nature Center and thereafter worked for 34 years with NYS DEC in Albany. He has served as the President of the Capital Region Audubon Society and Vice Chair of the Audubon Council of New York State.
Tumino, Joe - The acoustic music duo Nan Hoffman and Joe Tumino present concerts for audiences of all ages. Their rich blend of vocal harmonies and guitars accompany a repertoire that covers a wide range of folk songs and ballads, both contemporary and traditional, including topical, spiritual, and humorous songs. Joe and Nan are both from the Buffalo, NY area, and have performed for many years, separately and together, in coffeehouses and festivals, schools and churches, parks and community centers, and anywhere people gather to enjoy good music. Their programs are full and varied, fun and informative, and often encourage audience participation. Nan's and Joe's music is also available on CDs. These include collections of folk and contemporary acoustic music, children's music, and holiday music.
Tuttle, Siegrid - Erie, PA - Siegrid is an avid hiker and mountain biker who attended and interned at a survival camp called Coyote Tracks in high school. She now serves as an AmeriCorps at a leadership academy in West Virginia focused on outdoor education and youth empowerment.
Victor, Jeffrey - Jamestown, NY - Dr. Victor first learned how to hunt for wild edible mushrooms in France, with his French wife. He has been gathering and photographing wild mushrooms around Jamestown, New York, for 58 years. He is the author, with his wife, of an article about hunting and cooking local wild mushrooms, published in Edibles, Western New York magazine. Dr. Victor is a retired Professor of Sociology who taught at Jamestown Community College.
Wahl, Glenn - Little Valley, NY - Glenn teaches physical geology at Jamestown Community College and has degrees in geology and biology. He's given talks about local geology and natural history at venues ranging from Chautauqua Institution to out in the woods at Little Rock City. He owns the Sawmill Run Wildlife Sanctuary, is active in area environmental groups and loves to spend time in Allegany State Park hiking, biking and paddling.
Wellman, Adele - Salamanca, NY - Adele's job and goal in life is to connect people with the outdoors. As an environmental educator at Allegany State Park since 2000, she gets to do that every day. Her degree is in Biology and minor in Horticulture. She also has taught skiing for almost 40 years at the local ski areas. Adele is passionate about biking, fireflies, taking photos of tiny things and telemark skiing. She truly feel at home in the woods and enjoys seeing the seasonal shifts and all the treasure out there in nature.
Wopperer, Jay - Williamsville, NY - Jay has been birding for many years. He learned bird identification from the best teachers at the Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo Audubon and East Aurora Birding Club. Birding has been a life long hobby that brings him much joy. Jay enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others.
Wymer, David - Portville, NY - David has found ways to immerse himself in nature his entire life. Becoming involved in astronomy seemed a natural extension. He did astrophotography for many years beginning in the 90's. Never really about the images but about getting to those quiet, out of the way, dark sky places to experience the natural world as so few seem to do anymore.
