Hello! My name is Ben, and I love turnips. I quite enjoy a good meal and I am passionate about staying alive. I am always looking to cultivate new relationships and build/be a part of new communities that challenge me and give me the chance to experience life in new and interesting ways. I want to continue learning about the biodiversity of our planet, and about how Mycelium interacts with the world around us. I also like bugs, because I think they’re neat. I enjoy drawing, cooking, reading, gaming, paddleboarding, digging around in the mud, and lollygaggin’.

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. I'm especially interested with herpetology so any chance to learn or teach about reptiles and amphibians is super cool. When not outside, I enjoy movies, playing guitar, and reading. I'm very excited to start my first season at MEC and take on all kinds of outdoor experiences!

Hey y'all! My name is Bunni 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!

My name is Cecilia and I just graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South with a bachelor's degree in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Biodiversity. I was raised in northern Virginia right outside Washington, DC. I’m super excited to get to work outdoors and share what I know about ecosystems and the environment with students! In college, I helped teach beginner fencing lessons which made me realize I was interested in working as an educator. Outside of work, I love swimming, going to concerts, and looking for worms and bugs when I’m outdoors. My favorite insect is a cicada and my favorite mammal is a rat. I can’t wait to meet new people this season and explore Camp McDowell!

Charlie Hey Y’all! My name is Charlie, and I am from Philadelphia, Mississippi. I graduated from Ole Miss in 2022 and have been doing outdoor jobs ever since. I got my degree in psychology, and hope to apply the skills I’ve learned and will to continue to learn to provide the best experience for the students at Camp McDowell. During free time you can find me being social, reading, or just lollygagging in the woods. Can’t wait to meet everyone and have a great season!

Hey! My name is Claire and I am from Cullman, Alabama. I recently graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee with a degree in Ecology and Biodiversity Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies. Learning outdoors was the highlight of my education at Sewanee, from labs that took place throughout Tennessee to a sustainability and global environmental change seminar that allowed me to explore and travel to New Zealand. These opportunities helped foster my appreciation for environmental education. I am excited to explore camp with students through the Environmental Center! In my free time I enjoy hiking, running, looking for salamanders, and spending time with family and friends.

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 for 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, 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.

Howdy! My name is Eric, a native Alabamian who recently graduated from The University of Alabama (roll tide) where I focused my studies in Green Criminology. This will be my 3rd season here at the MEC, where I hope to continue developing my knowledge of the environment and the ever-changing world around us while honing my leadership and education skills. Looking towards the future, I hope to marry my passions for criminal justice and the environment by working in the national park systems in a ranger capacity. A fun fact about me is that I have never in my life lost a game of Mario Kart and you cannot prove otherwise.

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 practicum and student teaching experiences in New Orleans, LA, Salt Lake City, UT, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Prior to this job, Isabel was frolicking and teaching fifth graders in the redwoods of Northern California. In her free time, she enjoys reading, swimming and going to concerts.

Hello! My name is Jena and I was born and raised in Wisconsin. Growing up in Wisconsin I have always loved being outdoors and spent most of my time camping, swimming, and hiking. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay with my BA in History and a social science teaching license. During my time in college I realized my love for travel and new adventures. This is how I found myself working as a wrangler on a ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I have spent the last couple of summers there and winters in the classroom. Doing both made me realize I wanted to combine my love for the outdoors and education leading me to Camp McDowell. I am very excited for this new opportunity and look forward to this upcoming season!

Jesse hails from the vibrant landscape of New York City, which fostered her deep respect for all types of environments. While studying Environmental Conservation and Sustainability at the University of New Hampshire, she discovered the importance of hands-on learning. Foraging wild mushrooms and wading through streams became the most meaningful aspects of her education. Now, she’s excited to help others with their chance to engage with nature. In her downtime, Jesse enjoys cooking, knitting, and thrifting with friends.

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!

Hi there! My name is Kimberly and I am from the far-away desert of Arizona. I am graduating soon with my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and have discovered my love for the outdoors and traveling in between/during my studies. Being out in nature has taught me that not everything is as serious as we make it out to be, to slow down, and enjoy every precious moment we have on this Earth. We tend to take the beauty around us for granted, so it’s important to always take it in when you can. When I’m not going on long walks or searching for another cool place to explore, I also love to read, find new music to listen to, and journal. I’m so excited to spend some time in Alabama and start this season!

I’m from Massachusetts and went to college at the University of Vermont where I studied both Anthropology and Film. My love of nature began as a kid when I first started going to summer camp. Since then I've worked with my camp as a Counselor, as well as a Village Director. Going to school in Vermont gave me ample opportunity to explore the outdoors. I got experience climbing, hiking, skiing, and fishing. I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to work in the outdoors industry with programs that focused on campers from Child and Family Services and a residential school that was designed for students with developmental disabilities. As a teen I was fortunate enough to travel to Yellowstone National Park and its surrounding forests as part of a long term volunteer program. Here I learned to love our public lands and National Forests, so I'm particularly excited to explore the McDowell Environmental Center and the Bankhead National Forest. I try to spend as much free time as I can outdoors, whether I'm camping or winter hiking. I feel most myself when I'm in nature, and most connected to others while around a campfire. I'm excited to bring my varied skill set to McDowell and its students and explore such a lovely property.