Amelia has lived in Birmingham, Alabama her whole life and grew up building forts and getting muddy in the green spaces all around the city. When it was time to go to college, she decided to stay in town and keep learning about the local environment! She built a custom degree in Natural Resources and Interpretation at UAB (go Blazers!) that allowed her to spend time in the classrooms and outside. She just graduated and is super excited to jump into Environmental Education this season at Camp McDowell! Amelia has been telling people about animals and the outdoors as long as she's been able to talk, but in recent years has been a camp counselor at Camp Westminster GA, a conservation gardener at the Birmingham Zoo, and a science presenter with the McWane Science Center and Jefferson County Greenways. When she's not up and about, she's reading, drawing, or learning something new. She loves bugs, Jesus, and Alabama's biodiversity!

Hey! My name is Brady. I grew up in Alabama and graduated from Jacksonville State University where I studied marine biology. I love being outdoors and enjoying the beautiful locations and vast biodiversity this state has to offer. It was an amazing experience working at Camp McDowell for the first time in the spring and I am very excited to return this fall! When not outside, I enjoy movies, playing guitar, reading, and gaming.

Hey y'all! My name is Bunni (she/her) and I am so excited to be working as an environmental education instructor for Camp McDowell this spring! I have called Alabama my home for most of my life, growing up on the gulf coast. I moved to Birmingham in 2020 after getting accepted into UAB. I am very proud to say I earned my degree in 2024, having studied both Anthropology and Theatre! Since graduating, I have become more and more passionate about my combined love for teaching, the outdoors, and anthropology and have used it to pursue a career in outdoor education! I spent my past summer in Maine, working as a camp/trip counselor at the Chewonki Foundation. I also spend my time in Birmingham working with kids through UAB Artplay. I love Jesus, being outside, going swimming, creating, and thrifting. If you ever want a fun fact or learn about a random event in pop culture/history, you know where to find me!

Hey, I'm Emerson. I grew up in Birmingham and have always had an interest in the outdoors! I studied geosciences and history at Skidmore College in New York where I discovered my interest in geology. I have had various jobs before around the US, but my time with Cahaba Riverkeeper here in Alabama has been my favorite thus far. I have been going to camp my whole life, so I'm really excited to come back as an Environmental Center staff member. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outside, reading, playing my guitar and video games. A fun fact about me is that I love tiramisu and arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.

Hi, I’m Greta! I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, where I was introduced to an incredible community and all sorts of music. I’m passionate about the intersections between history and culture, conservation, and ecology, and just graduated in May from Sewanee: The University of the South with a B.A. in Environmental Arts & Humanities. In my free time, I love to hike and be outside, explore new places, play the guitar and mandolin, and take photos! I’m so excited to be working for McDowell Environmental Center this fall and can’t wait to meet everyone!

Isabel grew up on a small farm in Iowa, and spent most of her childhood outdoors. She remained in Iowa for her schooling and went to Iowa State University for her Elementary Education degree. During her time in college, Isabel has traveled for teaching experiences in New Orleans, Salt Lake City, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Prior to this job, Isabel was frolicking and teaching kids in the forests of Alaska. In her free time, she enjoys reading, swimming and going to concerts.

Born and raised in NE Texas, I was homeschooled and running around barefoot and climbing trees in the Post Oak Savannah for most of my early youth. I used to teach public school Science and Social Studies indoors, and now I'm happy to lend that passion and curiosity to the outdoors!

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 studying Wildlife Ecology up at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and working at a summer camp in the Ozarks teaching freshwater ecology and herpetology. Since graduation I’ve spent the last 5 years traveling the country visiting the entirety of the lower 48 states. During that time I worked as a fire lookout out west, taught history on a boat in the Chesapeake, and taught at some summer camps, but mostly I worked in environmental education, getting to share the wonder of the natural world with others. I’ve returned to work at the McDowell Environmental Center multiple times during those five years and this will be my third full season! I’m extremely excited to be back in Alabama and learning about the area more! Outside of work I enjoy camping, landscape painting, and costume and prop making. I also collect insects and I’m always happy to hear about any cool bugs people find!

Hi! I’m Sarah. I was born and raised in Albion, Indiana. A small town in the heart of America where I spent most of my time outside, exploring woods, fields, and the quiet spaces in between. Growing up close to nature shaped a lot of who I am. It taught me how to slow down, pay attention, and feel connected to something real. That connection has followed me throughout my life, from the forests of New England to the mountains of the Rockies. Through conservation work and trail building, I’ve learned how much I enjoy working with people outdoors, creating experiences that help others feel more at home in nature, and more confident in themselves. I care deeply about making the outdoors more accessible and welcoming. Whether I’m leading a hike, sharing skills, or just sitting around a campfire with others, I try to show up with patience, curiosity, and respect for both the land and the people around me. I'm beyond excited for this season and to learn with the amazing people surrounding me!

Sumaiyah grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and recently graduated from Samford University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and Dance. She has been visiting Camp McDowell since she was eight years old and is ecstatic to join the Environmental Center as an educator this fall! She enjoys hiking, board games, good food, and good company. Growing up outdoors has fostered her love for nature advocacy and spending time outside.

Heyo, I’m Tyler! I grew up in the suburban sprawl south of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. My upbringing was a healthy dose of camping trips, Boy Scouts, horseback riding, bike rides, gardening with my grandparents, and plenty of family road trips around the country. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2023 with a BFA in Graphic Design and Interactive Media. After college I pivoted to seasonal outdoor work and haven’t looked back since. I served in the Conservation Corps in Wisconsin and the Rocky Mountains. I've worked in camp and environmental education for four different YMCA programs across four states, as well as a non-profit outdoor youth program in Denali, Alaska. This Fall at McDowell will be my 10th season of environmental education and youth programming. I’ve been to 12 National Parks and half of the United States. I love telling stories, spending time in the great outdoors, and teaching others.