The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute has an AmeriCorps program that currently serves communities in the Moscow and Southern Idaho areas as well as the greater Portland region. Through 30 partnerships with schools, community-based organizations and government agencies, PCEI addresses critical environmental and equity issues in the areas of healthy watersheds, energy and resource conservation, environmental education and outreach, as well as sustainable community development.
National and Community Service programs meet critical needs in areas such as education, public safety, health and the environment through partnerships with public agencies, non-profits, faith-based and other local organizations.
Welcome our 2017-2018 Members!
Please come back and visit soon as we are in the process of adding our new members!
Nathan Horwood
Nathan spent the first 18 years of his life in Salt Lake City, Utah and moved to Nampa, Idaho in 2013 to attend Northwest Nazarene University. He graduated in May of 2017 with a double major in biology and education and is serving this year at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge as an Environmental Educator. Nathan has always had a passion for animals, and first began to explore the field of biology during his high school years as a summer educational volunteer at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Nathan loves being a teacher and working with people and spent a semester as a 10th grade biology teacher at Skyview High School as part of his education degree. He has worked on a research team studying the Idaho giant salamander in northern Idaho and loves traveling around the U.S. and around the world to experience new environments and diverse cultures. Nathan hopes to learn Spanish someday and to further explore whatever opportunities may come his way in the realms of biology and education!
Rhian Smith
Rhian spent most of her life in Florida, with her younger years spent living in California and Hawaii. Having grown up near the coast her entire life, she is excited to explore the unique beauty of Idaho while she serves as an Environmental Educator at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge in Nampa. She graduated with a B.S in Coastal Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of North Florida where she studied sharks and rays and assisted with research on corals and sea turtles. Her experience working as a Camp Counselor and an Education Park Ranger has allowed her to follow her passion for the environment through the education of future conservationists. She hopes to continue down this path and eventually land a job as an Interpretive Park Ranger for the National Park Service and spend time working in various parks throughout Alaska and the rest of the country. In her free time she enjoys hiking, backpacking, kayaking and generally just exploring nature.
Jordan Wrigley
Raised in the Lewis-Clark Valley, Clearwater Canyon, and on the Palouse, Jordan has a deep affinity for the wild beauty of North Idaho. She enjoys camping, fly fishing, skiing, hiking and other outdoor pursuits with her husband, Scott, and doggo Chai. She has also travelled in Eastern Europe and Asia with multiple trips into the Indian Himalayas with medical aid missions. In 2010, Jordan completed a B.A. in International Studies at the University of Idaho focusing on economic development, health, and disease response in South-East Asia. In 2017, she completed a M.A. in Environmental Studies at Western Washington University with a thesis based on conflict reduction in relation to fish farming in the Salish Sea. Professionally, Jordan has a range of experience and training in aquatic invertebrates, environmental impact assessment, policy, law, landscaping, mediation, and outreach. She enjoys using these skills to contribute to and serve the communities of the Palouse-Clearwater Region through AmeriCorps and PCEI programs as well as through volunteering with local organizations.
Nic Carlson
Nic grew up in the small town of Clayton, Idaho and moved to Boise, Idaho in 2012 after multiple expeditions to Antarctica as a field assistant. After deciding to go back to school, he received his B.S. in Biology from Boise State University in May of 2017. As an undergraduate, Nic worked as a research assistant in Dr. Jesse Barber’s Lab where he studied pallid bat behavior. It was working in the lab as well as participating in the McNair Scholars Program that he became interested in working on conservation/restoration projects as well as ecological field work. In his spare time, Nic enjoys playing guitar, backpacking the Idaho backcountry, and looking for bats!
2016-2017 AmeriCorps members
Delaney Piper
Delaney recently moved to the Palouse from Seattle in order to farm after graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. With roots in Denver, CO & New York City, NY she hopes to feel at home in Moscow, ID. Serving in her first AmeriCorps year as an Environmental Educator at the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) has provided the opportunity for her to do what she loves! Exploring both human & non-human ecology, as well as giving her a chance to spark this exploration in others! She enjoys cooking with vegetable from the garden, reading library books, drinking lots of coffee, & making art with her friends!
Marie Wagner
Marie was born in Peoria, Illinois, but grew up north of Seattle in Woodinville, Washington. She has always loved being outside in the woods and would make “study areas” with her family in the greenbelt behind their house to study the changes brought on by animals and the seasons. She loves being outdoors and sharing her passion for nature with an enthusiastic audience. Marie has a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University in Wildlife Ecology and is finishing her master’s degree in Environmental Science from University of Idaho. She has an extensive background with wildlife work including working with fawns and pygmy rabbits at WSU. Her experience with wildlife has led her to conclude that birds can only fly because they believe in themselves more than any other animal. Marie speaks French and is learning Hungarian. In her free time, she enjoys reading, swimming, traveling, and British television.
Mia Callahan
Mia is currently serving a third AmeriCorps term, this time as the Environmental Educator on the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge (for the 2nd time!) From the mountains of New Mexico (and the shores of the Monterey Bay in California before that, earning a bachelor’s in astrophysics), Idaho is a big change! Mia is thrilled to get to share a passion for science and a love of the outdoors with students and the community, to learn as a teacher. On days off, Mia enjoys hiking, reading, stargazing, and the occasional attempt at computer programming. Please visit Mia’s blog here.
Brian Lawless
Brian is serving his second term as an Idaho AmeriCorps member. His first term was at the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center in Boise and now he is at the MK Nature Center in Boise. Brian loves teaching outdoors and recently completed the outdoor education program at the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS). He was born and raised in the Redwoods of northern California and moved to Boise in 1991. His education includes degrees in biology and geosciences from Boise State and a master’s in Natural Resources from University of Idaho (December 2016). He loves being outside and loves teaching, and is looking forward to working with others around Idaho to improve our community. You can follow his adventures from this year and last on his EcoCation blog at http://ecocation.blogspot.com/
Kenny Zamecnik
Kenny grew up in southeastern Idaho and made his way to Moscow in 2011 to start college at the University of Idaho. He received his B.S. Degree in Geography with an emphasis in Geographic Information Systems in 2016. Following his graduation, Kenny spent the first half of summer backpacking all throughout Idaho and Washington, a time in which his interest in environmental stewardship took root. He fell in love with the rolling hills of the Palouse during his time in college and could not be happier to return to Moscow as an AmeriCorps Restoration Technician for PCEI. In his free time, Kenny enjoys hiking, backpacking, golfing, working out, watching Quentin Tarantino films, reading, and obsessing over his favorite football team the San Francisco 49ers. Go Niners!
Kyle O’Keefe
Growing up riding the subway in New York City, Kyle found himself eager to explore the West. Since then, he has graduated with a B.S. in Geology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and most recently lived in Idaho Falls. He is an avid backpacker, weather enthusiast and lover of nature. Now a resident of Albion, Washington, he is excited to get to work with PCEI helping young people experience and appreciate the values of nature, wilderness and the environment. He hopes to learn about the Northwest with his girlfriend Olivia and their two dogs Simba and Nala.
Dirk Anderson
Dirk is an Idaho native who grew up in the small town of Idaho City. Upon graduating high school, he attended Montana Tech where he played basketball and earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Organismal Biology. For the next couple winters Dirk worked at a ski hill outside of Phillipsburg, MT as a ski and snowboard instructor as well as a rental technician. It was on the ski hill where he found his passion for working with kids. In 2013 he took his passion further by attending the graduate program at the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) where he earned a graduate teaching certificate in Environmental Education as well as a M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho. Dirk then moved back to his hometown to give back to his community by acting as the assistant high school girls’ basketball coach, Parks & Rec. Board member and Idaho Center for Outdoor Education team member. His free time is usually filled with camping, hiking, hunting and fishing. Dirk will be serving his first AmeriCorps term at the Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS).
Melissa Murillo
Melissa was born in San Diego, CA, but was raised on a small hobby farm in Emmett, ID. She decided to leave her trusty pack goats with her family after she fell in love with the coastal redwoods and received a track and field scholarship to Humboldt State University. During her final semester through the HSU Wildlife program, she conducted behavioral research on captive Caribbean Flamingos at the WWT in Slimbridge, England. Since then, her nomadic life as a wildlife field technician has taken flight, and her avian jobs have taken her to North Dakota, Arizona, Montana, and Puerto Rico. Melissa is excited that her adventures have returned her back to Idaho, and looks forward to meeting locals involved with conservation projects at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge.”
Rose Chism
Rose is a small town girl from Arkansas. Having had the great fortune of growing up in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, she spent most of her childhood hiking, caving, kayaking, and exploring the great outdoors! In an effort to continue to learn more about the beauty and biology of the natural world she loved, she attained Bachelors’ degrees in Biology and English from the University of Arkansas. She has previously worked on environmental studies involving migratory bird species, stream ecology, and macroinvertebrates. She has also volunteered her time to be involved in oral history interviews, historical record preservation, and environmental restoration. Most recently she was employed as a naturalist in Stanley, ID, the heart of the spectacular Sawtooth Mountains! In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, playing nerdy games, and being outside.
Nick Schwaberow
Nick was born in Fort Wayne, IN and lived for short stints in Indianapolis, IN and Tampa, FL. He received his B.S. Degree in Environmental Management from Indiana University. A diehard Chicago Cubs fan, Nick was ecstatic when they won the World Series at the end of the 2016 MLB season. Conversational in Spanish and Turkish, with interests in hiking, camping, gardening and all things outdoorsy, Nick is just like every other sensible individual living in the Northwest. Eclectic and weird. He will be working as a Natural Resource Technician with the Latah Soil and Water Conservation District through his term of service as an AmeriCorps. Nick is enthusiastic to do his part to help preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Palouse for future generations of humans and wildlife alike.
Rebecca Honsinger
Rebecca was born in Seattle but moved to Idaho when she was two, and was able to grow-up in this great state. Numerous camping trips and educational drives with her family filled her early years where she was able to explore much that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. She returned to Washington where received her B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. To avoid going insane from math homework, she would explore the Olympic Peninsula and Mt. Rainier area. She then went on to receive her Professional Science Master’s in Natural Resources & Environmental Science, tucked away in the rolling hills of the Palouse, at the University of Idaho. She enjoys swimming and reading books about aliens in her free time… The Truth is Out There. Rebecca currently serves with the Foothills Learning Center, teaching Environmental Education in Boise and hopes she can embody one of her heroes: Ms. Frizzle.
Danielle Alba
I grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, just 20 miles south of Green Bay (Go, Pack, Go!). I earned my B.S. from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in Biology with an emphasis on Ecology, along with a secondary major in Spanish. During this time, I worked as a Student Academic Apprentice, Academic Skills Center Tutor, and Undergraduate Researcher. I was also a McNair Scholar.
I went to graduate school at Oklahoma State University and earned my M.S. in Zoology. I researched the evolutionary ecology of a group of extremophile fish in Mexico, were I did my field research. I was four years into my PhD program, when I decided that research was not my passion, and to focus on science education. At the time, I was teaching Evolution, Animal Biology, and Introductory Biology.
In 2015 my husband, Blake, and I moved to the Treasure Valley, ID. Blake grew up in Boise, so I was very familiar with the area, and was particularly excited to have access to all the outdoor recreation Idaho’s public lands have to offer. I began working as an Instructor for the College of Western Idaho. I teach two courses – one with a general biology (everything from DNA to Ecology) to non-major students, and the other a cellular biology type course for majors. It was during my revisions of my non-majors course that I realized I had strong passion for environmental education.
In February, 2017, I began a position with AmeriCorps as an Environmental Educator at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge. My focus is on developing an environmental education partnership with the Caldwell School District’s 4th grade classes. I also help run various other environmental education programs previously instated by the refuge. I believe this position will help broaden my experience in education, specifically outside of academia.
In 2017, I also officially joined Soroptimist International of Boise, a women’s education and advocacy group. Women’s education and rights have been long-standing passions of mine, and I felt I needed an outlet to express this specific facet of my personality, along with making some like-minded friends. I am excited to contribute to the work of this important group.
I also enjoy spending time with my family and dogs. We like going on adventures, whether they be to new cities or new landscapes. Camping and fishing seem to be our latest adventures. I also like to read, learn about history, watch drama, garden, cook, embroider, and various other “homestead” type activities such as canning, and practicing shooting my rifle. My long term goal is to one day have a hobby farm somewhere in rural Idaho.
Katherine Walton
Katherine joined the Boise Urban Garden School in March 2017 as an AmeriCorps member from the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with an emphasis in Human rights from the University of Washington in 2013 and has a passion for food security, youth development, and immigrant rights. Prior to joining BUGS, she completed an AmeriCorps term at the YMCA of Greater Seattle and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail.
Joe Snapp
Joseph Snapp is from Blackfoot, ID and came to the University of Idaho to study fish and wildlife. He is serving his first term as an AmeriCorps member helping with the restoration of Tammany Cr. located in Hells Gate State Park. He hopes his work will provide an opportunity for children to learn how to appreciate the environment by learning in a living classroom. On his free time he enjoys hiking and fishing. He hopes to explore the wilderness that is Idaho and make life a little simpler.
Lisa Barry
I grew up in Sonoma, California, amongst the vineyards and close to the coast. My family fostered a love of exploring the outdoors in me through countless roadtrips and camping trips. In 2014, I moved up to Boise to attend Boise State University where I am pursuing a BA in Environmental Studies with minors in NonProfit Management and Sustainability. I will be completing my schooling this summer and then hope to find a job with the Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service. Ideally, I will find a career in land and wild mustang management.
Through my experiences as a volunteer and intern, I have discovered that I have a passion for working with youth and spreading environmental education. Some of my other passions include horseback riding, hiking, camping, and baking. Since moving to Boise, I have fallen in love with the area because of the wonderful community atmosphere and the abundance of nearby outdoor activities like Bogus Basin and Lucky Peak.
Madi Thurston
As an Idaho native, Madi has always been inspired by beautiful surroundings in a state full of hidden gems. Madi just graduated high school as an avid athlete in both volleyball and basketball, as well as with highest honors. She is excited to continue her education at the University of Idaho this fall studying biological environmental science. She loves to hike, paddle board, run, eat popcorn, and go on road trips. Madi is always up for an adventure and is excited to serve with AmeriCorps and Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute to help inform and educate people about the environment and all it has to offer.
