Meet the Outdoor Educators Behind the Adventures
At Outdoor Education Adventures, our passionate team of naturalists and outdoor educators are the heart of everything we do. They’re not just experts in nature, but also caring mentors guiding your children through unforgettable outdoor adventures. From exploring creeks to identifying local wildlife, these educators help foster a love for the natural world in every young explorer.
In this post, we’re excited to introduce you to the incredible individuals who lead our programs. Get to know the faces behind the adventures, learn about their backgrounds, their favorite outdoor spots, and why they love sharing the wonders of nature with kids. Let’s meet the team!
Neyssa Hays – Financial Director, Program Director & Co-Founder
Neyssa holds a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences from Oregon State University and a degree in Russian from Portland State University. She has worked in the natural resources field since 2004 as a park ranger, naturalist, and fisheries biologist assistant as well as an educator for the Oregon Zoo and Portland Public Schools.
Neyssa grew up in various small towns in north Oregon, from Baker City to Carlton, running around in the woods getting muddy and eating wild plants. She lived in Portland for most of her adult life before returning to Carlton with her husband and two children in 2014. Her time in Portland solidified her love of the outdoors and convictions that time in nature is healing. She believes firmly that all people should have lots of wilderness time in their lives.
Which OEA programs are you involved in? 
All of them, though some more directly than others. I really appreciate that we have such great staff running our programs. While I still teach field trips and camps, I am growing more and more involved in running the administrative side of the non-profit, including applying for and administering grants and looking for other fundraising opportunities.
Why did you get involved in outdoor education?
I’ve always LOVED spending time outside, exploring and hiking, but I didn’t know that “outdoor educator” was a job until I was looking for something I could do with my daughter, who was 12 years old at the time. I found the Volunteer Naturalist training at METRO and signed up. While I was volunteering, I realized how good I felt while I was teaching outside and decided I wanted to make a career of it. That was 20 years ago, though it doesn’t feel like it. Along the way, I’ve worked as a park ranger, biologist, tour guide, and legal secretary, among other things.
What’s your favorite local hiking spot? Why?
As you know, Yamhill County doesn’t have much in the way of hiking options. For walks in the woods, I like to go to Miller Woods, of course … or to Chehalem Ridge above Gaston. These are nice places if I want just an easy walk in the woods. I love hiking the Oregon Coast trails, though, because I enjoy listening to and smelling the ocean while I’m hiking. I also enjoy it because the plants and animals are just enough different from the ones we have in the Willamette Valley that I find myself asking lots of questions again.
How do you personally connect with nature?
Whenever possible, I like to take walks by myself and will find a place to just sit quietly for a while and make observations.
What’s the most important lesson you hope kids take away from their outdoor experiences with our organization?
Kids are so hyper aware of the ills of the world these days, but they rarely get to experience time in nature to build connections and aren’t given very good tools to help heal those ills. I hope that in their time with us, they will develop their own personal reasons for wanting to care for nature as well as concrete actions they can take to protect the natural world without it feeling overwhelming.
What is your favorite part of the work you do?
I love it when there is an epiphany for a child, a moment when they make a connection or have a realization about an organism or parts of a natural system. I especially love it when I hear them teaching someone else about it later. That’s when I know the idea is concrete in their mind.
Theresa Crain – Executive Director, Program Director, & Co-Founder
With a degree in Natural Resource Interpretation from Humboldt State University and professional background as a state parks interpreter, Theresa brings over twenty years’ experience in informal education. She has also worked extensively with formal classroom educators and has a full understanding of current curriculum requirements. Theresa helps coordinate and teaches for McMinnville SD’s Science Explorations.
Which OEA programs are you involved in?
I am a co-founder of OEA and have worked at every level of the organization at one point. At the moment, my primary areas of focus are managing the business aspects of the nonprofit; organizing, planning and facilitating school field trips and summer camps.
Why did you get involved in outdoor education?
I grew up in a remote mountain area of Southern California and was able to roam a whole canyon. I remember as a teenager, dealing with the usual teen angst, intentionally retreating to the
natural world around me for comfort. As a college student, I had the opportunity to work with kids leading outdoor recreation programs. While doing this work I became aware of the impact nature had on the kids. I want everyone to feel connected to the natural world and to be able to find solace among the plants and the animals we share this world with.
What’s your favorite local hiking spot? Why?
My favorite hiking spot is the North Trail out of Cape Lookout State Park. This is a section of the Oregon Coast Trail that moves above the ocean through a beautiful Sitka Spruce and Hemlock forest. The trees are big and fill me with a sense of calm, wonder, and love.
How do you personally connect with nature?
Sitting in my backyard listening to and watching the birds and the insects is the activity I do most frequently. When I can, I enjoy camping, hiking, and sitting on the beach or next to a river.
What’s the most important lesson you hope kids take away from their outdoor experiences with our organization?
I hope that kids take away a love and appreciation for our nature neighbors and an understanding that we are not separate from nature but part of the same world. Our actions have a huge impact on the well being of our neighbors and it’s imperative that we are mindful of our agency and make responsible choices that support healthy ecosystems.
What’s your favorite part of the work you do?
I love sharing space with kids where we are immersed in a natural setting, making observations and connections, where curiosity and feelings of compassion are ignited and drive their questions and actions. I am reminded of why I do this work when I see kids intently watching bees visit flowers; when they come running to me brimming with excitement, to share that they witnessed something they have never seen before; when a child overcomes a fear or accomplishes a task that was hard for them; when the “problem child”, who can’t sit still in class for 2 minutes and is constantly in trouble asked the most insightful questions and is fully engaged in the outdoor activities and lessons.
Amy Nelson – Program Director
Amy grew up playing and exploring the woods of northeast Texas. Those long days spent building forts, fishing, and climbing trees fostered a deep love of the natural world. A trained ecologist, Amy earned a B.S. in Agroecology and Environmental Quality from the University Hawaii at Hilo. Much of her life has been spent working in and exploring the outdoors. She was the founder, director, and facilitator of the Yamhill County Free Forest School. Amy believes all children are inherently curious, innately connected to the natural world, and benefit from lots of unstructured outdoor play.
Which OEA programs are you involved in?
I’m the program director for the Homeschool enrichment program, Wednesday after school at Maple Grove and the Nature Play class for toddlers and caregivers. I work Summer Camps and Spring Break Camp and I also substitute at Nature School when needed and sometimes help out on school field trips. A bit of everything!
Why did you get involved in outdoor education?
I grew up as a latch key kid playing in the woods and eventually went on to study Sustainable Agriculture and Ecology. When I became a parent it was important for me to share my love of the natural world with my son which led me to start the free forest school meet-up years ago. That experience really showed me the value and importance of child-led outdoor play and inspired me to co-found Maple Grove Nature School.
What’s your favorite local hiking spot? Why?
Galen McBee Airport Park is my favorite local hiking spot. When my son was a toddler I started a Free Forest school meet-up there. We spent every Monday morning at Airport Park for about 3 years. Visiting the park regularly and really slowing down to my toddler’s pace helped me to witness the subtle seasonal shifts and to notice the small things that I would otherwise pass over. The act of slowing down and noticing really helped me to feel connected to Airport Park.
How do you personally connect with nature?
I enjoy going to wild places; camping with my family; foraging for food, medicine and basket making materials; bird watching and reading books about the natural world. Anything that helps me to slow down and feel in rhythm with the seasons and cycles of earth.
What’s the most important lesson you hope kids take away from their outdoor experiences with our organization?
I hope kids that leave our programs realize that everything in the natural world is interconnected, and that they are a part of nature.
What’s your favorite thing about the work you do?
I love getting to witness those magical firsts – watching a child catch a garter snake or rough-skinned newt for the first time. The grit and resilience to keep trying to do this hard thing and then the pride at finally catching the animal! Followed quickly by the awe and connection to this wild creature they are holding. These small moments are laying the foundation of our future environmental stewards and I’m fortunate to get to witness them. And, I love being surrounded by the kids’ openness and playfulness, it helps me to stay in touch with my own playfulness.
Heidi Hoskins – Early Childhood Education Director
Heidi Hoskins grew up in the Rocky Mountains in Utah, where she fell in love with playing and learning outdoors. Spending time between both the high desert and the mountainous terrain, Heidi was able to acquire an appreciation for nature’s offering of abundance. In Utah, she studied teaching at the University of Utah and got her Bachelors of Science in Family and Human Development with many opportunities to study outdoor education through her degree. She also got her Masters in Early Childhood Education and acquired a Utah teaching license. Here in Oregon she holds an Oregon teaching license and continues to develop her knowledge of social-emotional learning, empathy, outdoor learning, mindfulness and whole-child development through continuing education. She has worked with children from preschool through third grade in various capacities for the last fifteen years and is thrilled to take the knowledge she has on early
childhood education outside.
Which OEA programs are you involved in?
I am the director and lead early childhood teacher at our Preschool/Kindergarten here in McMinnville. I also sometimes do summer sessions for caregivers/children toddlers.
Why did you get involved in outdoor education?
I got involved with OEA because I see the joy, inspiration and full heart engagement my children have had in OEA’s programs. They went to summer camps for years before I was hired and they have had nothing but wonderful things to say about the programming. Nothing like hearing it right from the source.
What’s your favorite local hiking spot? Why?
My favorite hiking spot is Miller Woods. I love the large oak right at the start, the bubbling stream and the quiet. I also love how if you want to spend the day there are a lot of places to explore, or if you only have a little time you can get out of your car and you are in beauty all around you.
How do you personally connect with nature?
In my free time I love to garden, hike, play in snow (as much as possible), camp with my family, read nature inspired literature and am always drawn to doing ephemeral earth art out of whatever is around me.
What’s the most important lesson you hope kids take away from their outdoor experiences with our organization?
The most important thing I would like my students and families to take away is connection. Connection to themselves and their inner nature – to help them get back to the source of the earth that not only holds them but grows them.
What’s your favorite thing about the work you do?
My favorite part of the work I do is the absolute joy and wonder that seeps out of the children every day. Not all day but in precious timeless experiences that make up their time out in nature. I love watching them grow and explore, wonder and connect.
Claudia Gabriela Gonzalez Davila – Early Childhood Educator
As an Early Childhood educator, Claudia holds a degree in Education from La Salle University in Mexico City. Born and raised in different cities of Mexico, she’s been surrounded by the mountains in northern Mexico, lived an amazing life by the Caribbean Sea, and studied in the vibrant Mexico City. Being bilingual and bicultural, allows her to bring a rich perspective to her work. She has always been deeply connected to nature and its wonders, every place she’s lived has taught her about different lifestyles, communities and families.
Which OEA programs are you involved in?
Currently I am working as a bilingual educator at Nature School, the preschool /kindergarten program at Maple Grove.
Why did you get involved in outdoor education?
Because I believe that nature is the best place where we can truly be ourselves and is the greatest teacher.
What’s your favorite local hiking spot? Why?
My Favorite hiking spot is Miller Woods because every time I go, I see different animals in their natural habitat, and I really feel at peace there.
How do you personally connect with nature?
I like taking long walks in nature. I also enjoy sitting in silence listening to the birds and looking up to the sky and noticing how everything is in constant change.
What’s the most important lesson you hope kids take away from their outdoor experiences with our organization?
To develop a sense of self and community with others and Nature.
What’s your favorite thing about the work you do?
Being outdoors throughout the whole year and during all the seasons.
Alexis Bergman – Assistant Outdoor Science Educator
Alexis grew up in McMinnville spending much of her time hiking and exploring Oregon’s great outdoors, which sparked her interest in nature. In the summer of 2023, she began working for OEA with their summer camp program and has continued to work with other programs OEA facilitates, while also working towards her degree in natural resources. She wholeheartedly believes
everyone should be given the opportunity to explore and experience the nature around them.
Which OEA programs are you involved in?
I am involved with OEA’s outdoor science explorers (OSE) programs during the fall, winter, and spring.
Why did you get involved in outdoor education?
As I grew up in Oregon, I spent much of my time outdoors with my family and found happiness while exploring and playing in nature. I was given an extraordinary opportunity to work with OEA’s summer camps in 2023. That summer opened my eyes to what outdoor education is all about and the benefits kids gain from exploring and learning about the nature around them.
What is your favorite local hiking spot?
My favorite local hiking spot is Multnomah Falls. My family and I have been hiking there since I was little and I enjoy exploring the adventurous trails that lead to beautiful scenic areas. One of the most known features of Multnomah Falls is its waterfall, which I look forward to seeing each time I go.
How do you personally connect with nature?
I personally connect with nature by observing and interacting with it. Connecting with nature has benefited my life in many ways, such as reducing my stress and increasing my happiness.
What’s the most important lesson you hope kids take away from their outdoor experiences with our organization?
After kids attend OEA camps and/or programs, I hope kids take away the importance of taking care of nature and wildlife, as well as skills on how to explore and play in nature safely.
What’s your favorite thing about the work you do?
My favorite part of my job is learning how paramount it is for children to learn through play. I have observed children learn crucial life skills from playing with their peers, such as problem solving, effective communication with one another, and understanding their boundaries as they play outdoors with each other.
