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STAFF BIOS
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Sally graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a degree in English and Anthropology and holds an MA in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico. For six years, she was the development director and acting director of the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, an environmental law and policy nonprofit in Boulder, CO. She has a strong backround in environmental education, as an educator and as a consultant, with the Keystone Science School, Calwood Environmental Education Center, Colorado Youth Program, EarthWalk, Summit County, and the National Wildlife Federation. Sally has served on the board of directors for the Center for the American West and the Colorado Alliance of Environmental Education. She has also worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, and college instructor.
In addition to the above, Sally owns her own record company, Larkspur Records, and is a nationally recognized singer/songwriter with three CDs to her credit, Sally's recent release charted nationally on the folk charts (For more info about Sally's music life, visit www.sallyshuffield.com)
Outside of DNS, Sally and her husband, Mike Matz, along with their son Carson and daughter Celia, enjoy camping, rafting, and traveling. On her own, Sally spends time biking, skiing, doing yoga, and reading.
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Karen grew up in Littleton, Colorado and spent most of her time outdoors building tree houses and playing at the pool or lake. She came to Durango for college because it was a great place to get outside and go to school. She graduated from Fort Lewis College with a degree in Environmental Sociology and Elementary Education. Along with teaching Environmental Education Karen has taught children to swim, whitewater raft, rock climb, backpack and ski.
Karen has worked for DNS as a Volunteer and Contract Educator since 2008. She recently completed Kamana Naturalist Program, parts I and II, through Wilderness Awareness School. Karen’s interests include but are not limited to: being outside with her two boys and husband, skiing, gardening, hiking, birding, rafting and camping.
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Allison graduated from Fort Lewis College with honors in May 2010 with a degree in Adventure Education. She chose Adventure Education after attending three years of college at Western Michigan University studying elementary education. She felt more passionate about teaching children in a natural environment where they can explore and discover the world around them. After spending two weeks on Isle Royal with a Y.M.C.A camp backpacking when she was 12, Allison felt a deep connection to the outdoors and how powerful an experience being in nature can be, she felt it was important to help create an environment for others to have a similar experience.
Originally from Michigan, Allison moved to Durango in 2005. Since living in Durango Allison has had the opportunity to expand upon her passion of being in the outdoors; hiking the Colorado Trail in the summer of 2008, and spending numerous hours exploring the La Plata’s and the Weminuche Wilderness with her friends and dogs. In the summer of 2009 she spent time in Peru volunteering in an orphanage and working on her Spanish skills. Allison is excited to officially join the DNS team after volunteering and doing an internship. She is looking forward to sharing her passion of the outdoors with community members of all ages to help create a more defined sense of place and a greater appreciation and knowledge of the Durango and Four Corners region.
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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.
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.
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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 Volunteer Naturalist 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.
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