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McDowell Environmental Center

MEC Staff

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MEREDITH DONALDSON, DIRECTOR

Meredith grew up in Central Virginia, and from a young age, has always been happiest when she is outside. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a BS in Environmental Science, Meredith came to Camp McDowell to share this love for the outdoors with others. Here she worked as a seasonal instructor, and eventually as the Operations Manager. Before returning to camp in 2021, Meredith worked as the Hawaii/International Regional Director, and the Director of Logistics for Wilderness Adventures, an outdoor leadership organization in Jackson, Wyoming. Meredith loved expanding her knowledge of outdoor education and getting to explore a new part of the country. She returned to camp to work as the Program Coordinator for the McDowell Farm School, and now could not be happier to be back at the Environmental Center as the Director. As Director, Meredith is excited to continue to share her passion for environmental education, and her love for nature with the many visitors that come to Camp McDowell. In her free time, Meredith loves to try new recipes in the kitchen, take long hikes with her dog Maple, and enjoy a quiet cup of coffee in a rocking chair.

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KIM CORSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & ROPES DIRECTOR

Kim hails from the great corn state of Iowa. She studied Elementary Education but fell in love with teaching outdoors, not in the classroom. Kim worked for two years as a Naturalist in Minnesota where she perfected her Minnesotan accent. She’s also taught environmental education in the Adirondack State Park in New York and in the mountains of Utah. Kim started at MEC as an instructor in 2017, planning on being here just one season…and hasn’t left since! She loves her McDowell home and the wonderful community here. Kim has a Masters in Natural Science & Environmental Education through Hamline University in St. Paul, MN and is on the Environmental Education Association of Alabama board. In her free time, you'll find her outside somewhere hiking, rock climbing, roller skating, or admiring lichen. She also plays roller derby with Birminghams Tragic City Rollers.

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BRITTANY ROHR, OPERATIONS MANAGER

Hi! I’m Brittany! I am from a little bitty town in Pennsylvania called Mars- just a bit north of Pittsburgh. Throughout my life I have always loved to be outdoors, playing games like “crocodile hunter” with my siblings and cousins. As I grew older, and it became slightly less acceptable to play those sorts of games with friends, I found myself drawn to outdoor adventure style recreation. Those experiences lead to an increased interest in the natural world, and my choice to earn a degree in Parks and Resource Management, Conservation, and Sustainability. I have since spent multiple seasons working for MEC, a summer as an interpretive intern for the National Park Service, as well as time as a behavioral therapist and preschool teacher. In my free time I enjoy spending time with people I love, camping, reading, running, yoga and taking great naps. As I have learned through leaving and returning to camp (like, a lot of times), nothing beats the magic that this space has to offer. I look forward to the opportunity to share that with as many people as will let me.

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MOLLY KELLY, DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Molly comes from the frozen tundra, Minnesota. After 4 years of studying biology and anthropology in college, her anthropology professor suggested being a naturalist for a year until she knew what she wanted to do next. 8 years later, Molly is still working in Environmental Education and has spent most of her career working with raptors, herps, and an education skunk. After visiting camp for the first time in January of 2021 she fell in love and was excited when the opportunity arose to come back as a staff member. In her free time Molly enjoys spending time outdoors, especially if it involves being in and around the water with her pups Fox and Chaco. When not playing outside you can find Molly listening to true crime podcasts, crocheting, or cooking up a delicious meal to share with friends. Molly still doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up, but dreams of having too many pets and a hobby farm where she can play outside with her dogs, and grow wildflowers.

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STACEY GLENN, ON-SITE REGISTERED NURSE

Stacey graduated from Wallace State with her nursing degree in 2006 and her BSN from The University Alabama in 2022. She has previous nursing experience in the hospital, nursing home, and home health areas. The summer of 2015 she took the awesome opportunity to work with children here at Camp McDowell for the Environmental Center and Clear Creek Summer Camp. Stacey has lived in the Winston County area her whole life. She now calls Camp McDowell home along with her wonderful husband Brian. She adores her granddaughter Lainey, daughter Alexzandra and son-in-love Austin. Stacey is an animal lover, she has a spunky dog Tucker and two crazy kittens Mao and Miu. Stacey's favorite pastime is traveling, fishing with her husband, canoeing, and anything to do with crafts including pottery and stained glass. She loves spending time with her sister and family, especially her niece and nephews.

Seasonal Environmental Education Instructors

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Hunter: Program Specialist: Adventure & Projects

Hey! I'm Hunter! Since I can remember, I've always had a great love for nature. It began while I was in boy scouts and only became stronger as I grew older. I had the opportunity in college to make something more concrete out of that love, so I pursued a degree in Environmental Studies and graduated in 2020. While in college, I became an environmental docent for the university and it made me realize how much I love teaching others about the natural world. Along with my love for nature, in my free time I enjoy rock climbing, going to the gym, playing video games, and going to concerts. I'm excited to connect with so many like-minded people and learn more about the world around us! around us!

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Sarah: Program Specialist: Curriculum & Class Materials

Sarah grew up way out west in Washington State, where she acquired her BA in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She’s been around the country using her degree in different ways, but she’s always come back to Camp McDowell. She strongly believes in the power of education and the power of the outdoors - put those two things together and BAM, what an impact Outdoor Ed can make! When it comes time to relax, you'll find Sarah tinkering with music, staring up at the stars, reading a good book, or enjoying her goofy friends.

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Aech

Hey y'all! My name is Aech and I'm from Grayson, Georgia. I grew up playing in the woods a lot and got to college and realized I wanted to do that as a job in whatever form that took-- in walked environmental education! I am so grateful to have this opportunity to share all of the amazing mini worlds in the ecosystems around us. My hobbies include drawing/painting and going to thrift stores :)

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Amanda

Meet Amanda, a dedicated environmental enthusiast with a deep love for the outdoors. She received her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Management at Humboldt State University, CA, home of the Lost Coast. Amanda combines her love of nature with an interest in travel and backpacking, having explored domestic and international landscapes. She grew up in Los Angeles, CA, and developed a love for learning and science as a child while going to museums. Now, Amanda is excited to channel her passion into environmental education and is eager to inspire others to appreciate the natural world.

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Callie

Callie grew up on a farm in rural southwestern Washington where she spent her childhood exploring its vast woods, rivers, and fields. From a young age she's had a love for the outdoors and environmental sciences. When she got to college, she knew she wanted to continue to pursue this passion. She moved to southeast Idaho where she studied Biology and Earth Science Education. Some of her favorite memories she made there were studying glaciation in Montana/Wyoming and working as a teaching assistant for the biology department. She lived very close to the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and spent many months exploring and learning everything she could about them. She is the happiest when she is outside, sharing her love of nature and its sciences with others. In her downtime, she loves to play guitar, write, watercolor paint, and try out new recipes in her kitchen.

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Eden

Eden is a born-and-raised Alabamian who loves traveling, teaching, and sharing her passion for the great outdoors. Her favorite subject to teach is herpetology! When she’s not teaching, you can find her hiking, writing, or making art out of found materials.

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Elizabeth

Hi! I’m Elizabeth, but I also go by Liz or lizard. I grew up in Pensacola Florida and spent most of my younger years catching lizards and frogs, watching Steve Irwin, and reading. As I grew older, I fell more and more in love with animals and the natural world, knowing I would go to college to get a degree in zoology but not sure exactly what I’d do with it. I got my degree in Biology with a focus in zoology from the University of Central Florida, and while I was in Orlando I volunteered at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, spending most of my time around the giraffes. While I was in college, I realized that teaching others, especially kids, about the world they live in and their impact on our planet is something I want to be involved in, and Camp McDowell seems like a great place to start! In my free time I like to watch movies, scrapbook, go thrift shopping, and as of very recently, cross-stitch. I love to cook and play video games and talk about starting a podcast. Some of my favorite things to do outside are walking trails, boating, and horse back riding. I’m very excited to meet and work with everyone!

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Ethan

Hey y'all, my name is Ethan, and I am from the now largest city in Alabama, Huntsville. I am thrilled to be back for my fourth season at the McDowell Environmental Center. Things I can’t get enough of are cool rocks, birds, books, movies, and road trips. I love going out and exploring the wonderful world that is the Bankhead National Forest to gain a deeper understanding of the things that make Alabama one of the coolest places on the planet!

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Eric

Howdy! I’m Eric, and I am a native Alabamian who very recently graduated from The University of Alabama. When I was a kid, I was convinced that when I grew up I was going to be a genuine cowboy from the Old West, knowing even back then that a traditional job just wasn’t something that I was looking for. A couple of childhood summers spent at Glacier National Park in Montana solidified that dream for me, and gave me a deep respect and love for the natural wonders of our world. Once I got to college and learned there wasn’t exactly a degree they could offer me in cowboy-ism, I figured I’d marry my passions for nature, law, and conservation by pursuing a career in Green Criminology. McDowell is the first opportunity I’ve found that allows me to chase this dream and hopefully make some new friends along the way! In my free time you can either find me exploring outside, in the kitchen mastering my amateur-chef skills, or at my computer creating/editing short films and videos. I can’t wait to begin a brand new chapter of my life at the MEC!

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Graham

Hi Y'all, I'm back in Alabama! During the spring semester I was in the Blue Ridge mountains exploring the Pisgah National Forest with North Carolina outward bound school. Then my summer began with Wilderness Adventures who sent me to Driggs, Idaho and Jackson, Wyoming to train for the White mountains trip in New Hampshire and Maine. Spent some time in Missoula, Montana with Montana Outdoor Learning Adventures traveling all around the western Montana mountains. Can't wait to be in the Bankhead National Forest again, this forest has inspired me to keep exploring, take chances on life, and bring community wherever I go.

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Joseph

Joseph is coming from the East Tennessee side of Appalachia with a huge passion for outdoor education. He recently finished his studies in environmental arts and humanities at Sewanee, where he was able to dive into the outdoor skills that he had always wanted to pursue. He loves exploring and finding new things in his natural environment by running, biking, hiking, caving, creek stomping, and tree climbing. He also loves practicing traditional crafts and bushcraft skills sustainably with whatever he can find. But what Joseph enjoys best about playing outside and practicing cool life skills is sharing that experience with others. He has worked as summer camp staff and a leader for outdoor expeditions and for the last 6 summers and is super excited to come back to McDowell!

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Mace

Hello! My name is Mace, I’m originally from Missouri where I spent a lot of my childhood birdwatching, following animal tracks, and looking for insects in the woods and waterways of my home. This lifelong interest led me to Wisconsin where I got a degree in Wildlife Ecology. After graduation I briefly went on to work as a fire lookout in the Black Hills of South Dakota, but since then I’ve returned to environmental education, living and traveling across the country. Some of the places I’ve lived and worked in the meantime include the Carolinas, Northern California, and Oregon. Outside of work I enjoy camping, hiking, landscape painting, costume and prop making, tabletop roleplaying games, and collecting insects. Last spring I worked at McDowell but left to spend the summer and fall working on an old oyster boat in the Chesapeake teaching history. However, I am back and extremely excited to return to McDowell for another season!

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Nate

Nate grew up in the Birmingham area. I am a recent graduate from the University of Montevallo with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. I have always loved the outdoors, hiking, and fishing. I spent many weeks attending, planning and coordinating activities for retreats at Living River Retreat on the Cahaba in Montevallo, Alabama and at Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina. I also attended Camp McDowell in middle school and had a great time, of course! I look forward to exploring the outdoors and teaching students about our environment this Spring!

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Robert

Hey everyone! My name is Robert, I'm an Alabama native with a deep love for everything outdoors and a long lasting connection to the forests of Bankhead. After graduating from The University of the South with a degree in Environmental Arts and Humanities I have traveled the country working in environmental education and I am so thankful to return to Alabama to continue to learn and teach in such a wonderful place. In my down time I love to read, write, canoe, and explore.

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Tohmi

Hi everyone! I grew up in the foothills of Colorado, exploring the giant wild playground of the Mountain West. I have studied and identified spider species at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, worked in educational farms and food access nonprofits, did plant collection and community engagement for the Denver Botanic Gardens, led students through the redwood forest as a Naturalist at Santa Cruz Outdoor Science School, and most recently moved to New York City to work on an urban ecology project with the New York Botanical Gardens. I am an environmental optimist, and I strongly believe that if we deepen our connection to the Earth, we will be able to build a beautiful and sustainable future rich with biodiversity and interdependence. In my freetime I love to explore new places, climb rocks, camp, watch old movies, and make dinner with my friends!