Luanne has always been an avid outdoors enthusiast. In her past life, she was a Doctor of Dental Surgery. Currently, she's a potter and the coordinator for an environmental research/education program on the Caribbean island of Saba.
According to Luanne, "I have so much enjoyed both the kids and the staff at DNS; they have all helped me grow by helping them grow!"

In her role with DNS, Karen combines two of her favorite ways to spend her time - teaching children and being outdoors.  She started as a DNS volunteer naturalist in 1995 with her youngest in a backpack. She is now also a classroom contract educator with DNS as well.

Karen's love of nature and teaching comes from her time exploring the woods along Lake Michigan as a child. Those experiences have served Karen well and she is passionate that every child has an opportunity to connect with nature. "I feel privileged to share a special part of the Four Corners with our students," said Karen. "The best part about what I do is spending the whole day in wonder."

Karen has a background that includes camp counselor, teacher, ski instructor, river guide, and master gardener. She holds a Colorado teaching certificate and a Masters in Education.

Lori is a recent graduate of Fort Lewis College who has fallen in love with Durango.  She has been working with Durango Nature Studies as a volunteer for close to a year and has enjoyed working with the creativity of kids in nature.  
 
Her future plans are to receive a masters in education in order to enjoy teaching children.

Bio to Come

Rob was lucky enough to grow up in beautiful Durango, and he took advantage of everything that it has to offer. He graduated from Naropa University in 2010 with a degree in Psychology, and focused on psychology and education in his studies. He wants to eventually teach at the high school level, and hopes to be able to include outdoor education into his curricula in the future. Being part of Durango Nature Studies brings together all of the things that Rob finds meaningful: being in nature, educating, playing, helping youth grow and develop inter- and intra-personally, and geeking out about nature facts.

When he’s not working for DNS, Rob enjoys hiking, skiing, music, reading, wandering, drinking tea, travel, and riding his light blue bike Madeline around town. He also works as a substitute for the Durango school district.

Gail might say she is simply a retired educator with just a bit more than 25 years of experience in the education field, but that would hardly suffice. An active community volunteer, she is the co-founder of the Durango Early Learning Center as well as a member of the Durango Choral Society and Heartwood Co-Housing Community. Gail is a current DNS Classroom Contract Educator and certified Project WILD facilitator.

In January 2006, Gail retired from the DNS Board of Directors after serving more than six years. Her roles and responsibilities spanned the breadth of the organization including Board President. She continues to lend her expertise to DNS as as an educator and volunteer.

Linda has lived in the Durango area for over 30 years. She graduated from Fort Lewis College with a BS in General Biology and a Natural History endorsement. Linda also received an MA in Environmental Studies from Prescott College. She has been a middle school science teacher (Life and Earth Science) for Durango School District for over 20 years and a Project WILD Project/ Learning Tree facilitator for 12 years.

She helped coordinate the River Watch Network Program in the Durango Schools and worked in collaboration with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado Water Conservation Board to develop an interdisciplinary curriculum around the Animas River watershed, entitled Animas River Curriculum Project. She was awarded Project WILD Project Learning Tree Facilitator of the Year in 1995. Linda joined the volunteer team of naturalists at DNS in the fall of 2007.

Shirley was born in Durango. After many moves around the world she returned to the area 20 years ago and is here to stay. She enjoys the Durango Center and all that it has to offer and to teach. Her love of the outdoors and children makes the Durango Nature Center a perfect blend of learning and enchantment. Growing up in the the Four Corners made her realize what a special place in our country this area is and it is exciting to teach children and see them realize how special and beautiful the outdoors can be.

She volunteered at Delfin Amour, an Eco Lodge in Costa Rica and has a passion for the outdoors and wildlife. Majored in Wildlife Management and Biology. She loves to camp, especially with her family who all have a real love of the outdoors and wildlife as well. 

Native to Virginia, Ryan grew up hiking in the Shenandoah National Park and along the Appalachian Trail. After moving to Colorado in 2008, he fell in love with the high alpine scenery that is now his home. Ryan is currently a senior at Fort Lewis College, in Durango, and is working on undergrad degrees in Anthropology and Environmental Studies. He believes it is important for kids to experience the out of doors for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because people are more apt to protect the things they know and love. Ryan likes to spread his love of nature to others and teach the kids a few things along the way.

Orien moved to Durango in 2007.  Prior to that she lived in Flagstaff Arizona.  She loves hiking, skiing, biking, and being on the river with her family.  She holds an MBA and works in Institutional Research at Fort Lewis College.  She voulunteers at Durango Nature Studies because she wants to share her love of nature with the area children, and because her children are now thanking her for all the forced marches she took them on.  
 

Estella grew up with an appreciation of nature thanks to her father and has many fond memories of fishing, hiking and observing the outdoors with her family.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fort Lewis College with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry and has worked in aquatic ecology for over 5 years.  

She is passionate about sharing her love of nature with others and cherishes the sense of place that wilderness and roadless areas provide.  In addition to enjoying gardening, backpacking, rafting, telemark skiing, traveling and camping, Estella also plays fiddle in a local folkicanagrass band with her husband, Brad Bartlett, called Wild Mountain.