People

At Deer Hill, our mission is to empower individuals to create an authentic connection to self and community through wilderness and service experiences. We have been operating in the Southwest since 1984, rafting, canoeing, backpacking, and otherwise exploring. But what truly sets us apart is our element of cross-cultural service.
Over the past 30 years, we have been building relationships with families on the Navajo Nation and in Hopi and Zuni Pueblos. We believe that connecting our students with the folks whose land they're traversing is an incredible and necessary part of building a relationship with the land. Deer Hill's programs are built on the kind of intimate relationship with people and places that takes time and dedication to create.

Alexis Meza de Los Santos is the Spanish Language Immersion Educator with Live Green Lexington. Alexis holds an MSLS from the University of Kentucky (UK) and has spent over a decade working to engage members of the Spanish-speaking community. You have seen her face working at the Village Branch of the Lexington Public Library or at UK in their office of student services. Alexis is excited to pull from her experience to connect the Ed Team’s efforts to the Spanish Immersion programs of Fayette County Public Schools.

Wildlife scientist, educator, and program coordinator with an M.S. in Wildlife Science (UGA) and more than five years of experience in wildlife ecology, field research, biological data management, youth education, and program coordination. Experienced in capturing and handling wildlife, managing spatial and biological datasets (R, ArcGIS Pro, QGIS), supervising field technicians, and publishing peer-reviewed research. Currently coordinates county-wide 4-H programming for K-12 youth with UGA Extension, delivering STEM enrichment lessons and building partnerships with schools, families, and community organizations. Seeking mission-driven work in conservation, natural resources, environmental education, or program coordination.

Sydney spent the bulk of her childhood learning and growing under the canopy of the southeastern deciduous forests that make up her home state of Virginia. She earned her B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Following her undergraduate schooling, she began working as a youth environmental educator, leading her to eventually pursue her M.A. in the University of Utah's Environmental Humanities Program to study how nature-based programs can better support nature-connections across diverse groups. While in Utah, she also co-founded Camping in Color, an overnight program designed for black youth and their families in the Salt Lake Valley area to enhance a sense of belonging, appreciation, and engagement in the outdoors. She joins the Natural Start Alliance team excited to further her work in making quality early childhood environmental education more accessible to all.

I am a Master's researcher specializing in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and sustainable nutrient recovery. My work uses environmental modeling tools like SimaPro to evaluate ammonia recovery pathways from agricultural waste streams. Holding a B.Sc. in Environmental Education, I am passionate about combining systems-level environmental research with science communication and education.

I was an informal environmental educator for 30 years and now I am looking for a formal teaching position

Hey! My name is Christina Ferrari. I graduated from Duke in 2024 with a Bachelors in Linguistics, Journalism, and French. While studying at Duke, I led climbing, surfing, and hiking trips with the Outdoor Adventures program and interned at the New Orleans' Times Picayune in the features department. After graduating, I worked as the Sloss Fellow at the one-acre Duke Campus Farm, where I stewarded all communications and events. I currently work as a part-time Community Outreach and Events Coordinator at the Piedmont Feed and Garden Center. I have an interest in sustainable agriculture, environmental justice, and all creatures on this earth, and I love sharing what I learn with others! You can find me exploring the outdoors with all my senses through rock climbing, trail running, foraging, and backpacking. 

I have been teaching for 27 years. I've taught in both Maryland and Pennsylvania. I have a B.S. in Biology from Penn State University and a M.Ed. in Secondary Education from East Stroudsburg University.

I was born and raised in the Hazleton area.  I have been teaching for over 30 years in the district I attended - Hazleton Area School District.  I started out as a middle school science teacher and then switch to middle school ESL, I am currently a High School Biology teacher.