Tyrese Mitchem Program Staff / Personal de programas Tyrese grew up in Southern California, but was originally born in Oahu, Hawaii. Having spent a considerable amount of time in and around the water, Tyrese enjoys aquatic activities such as freediving, water polo, tide-pooling, and floating. In the past, Tyrese has worked as an informal science …
Brienna Bates (can be addressed by any pronoun/puede ser dirigida por cualquier pronombre) Lead Program Staff/Personal líder del programa oevr@jlc.bet Brieanna’s connection with nature began before her ability to walk, strapped to her mom’s back while hiking through magical mountains. Yet what truly tipped the scales for her to become a lifelong friend, lover, student, …
Jaimee Simundson (she/her/ella) Program Staff / Personal del programa wnvzrrfvzhaqfba@tznvy.pbz Jaimee Simundson is a herbalist, songwriter and medicine maker living on unceded Chumash land in the Santa Barbara area. She is guided by the belief that everyone deserves safety and comfort in their body and she believes that a relationship to place and plants can …
Ashley Parrilla (she/her/ella) Program Staff / Personal del programa Ashley is a mother, maker, mentor, lover of beauty and ground kisser. She was raised on Chumash land, became an adult in Italy and has since vacillated, sometimes gracefully, between her two homes. As a mother she has raised her two children in deep connection with …
Tahis Alcantar (she/her/ella) Receptionist/Registrar Coordinator gnuvf@jlc.bet Tahis was born and raised in Santa Barbara county. She grew up traveling throughout the area for her parents’ work in agriculture. She is very in touch with nature and prefers the quiet of the mountains rather than cities. Tahis has two bachelor degrees from the University of California, …
Luisangel Cardenas (he/him/el) Program Staff and Volunteer Coordinator / Personal del programa y coordinador de voluntarios yhvfnatry@jlc.bet Born and raised in Goleta, Luisangel has always worked and played outside. As a child he treasured yearly camping trips up to the San Ynez river and grilling with his family at Goleta beach. Luisangel has worked at …
Clay Sipiora, M.S. (he/him/el) Program Staff/ Personal del programa pynl@jlc.bet Clay grew up in Western Pennsylvania and attended undergrad in Western New York, earning a B.A. in fine arts and finishing a master’s in Youth Development Leadership at Clemson University. Clay has lived in California for 10+ years and worked with youth from Los Angeles …
Dra. Xochitl Clare (she/ella) Interim Family & Community Engagement Coordinator / Coordinadora Interina de Participación Familiar y Comunitaria kpyner@jlc.bet As a long-time advocate for diversifying outdoors, I am honored to be able to devote my skills to WYP’s mission as a guest member of the team this Summer. As an Interim Family & Community Engagement …
Program Staff / Personal del programa yhxnpvryb@vpybhq.pbz I grew up in Topanga Canyon, about an hour south of Santa Barbara. I spent most of my childhood immersed in the outdoors, surfing, skateboarding, and exploring the beautiful nature of Southern California. My family always cultivated and encouraged a love of the outdoors, and it has shaped …
Program Staff / Personal del programa (he/him/el) oenaqba@jlc.bet Brandon’s roots lie in Santa Barbara, where he was born and raised. His formative years were enriched by his participation in Wilderness Youth Project, REACH, and Deer Hill Expeditions, which exposed him to the wonders of the natural world. These programs provided him with opportunities to explore the …
