Education Director

Katelyn Kyle

Katelyn graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in European History and Classical Studies. Previously Katelyn has taught outdoor environmental education at the Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center. In her free time Katelyn enjoys reading, yoga, watching “The Office” and boxing.

Teaching Staff

David Oyama

Dave Oyama has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Carleton College in Minnesota.  Before coming to NC, Dave worked for Project Common Ground that strived to build connections between students of different economic and ethnic groups.  He also spent a few years leading wilderness trips, teaching both rock-climbing and technical tree climbing, as well as facilitating students on low and high rope-courses.  Dave enjoys kayaking, inline skating, and reading.

BryanAnderson

Bryan graduated from Carthage College in May 2008 with a BA in Biology.  While in college, Bryan had a six-month internship with the Racine Zoo in Racine, WI.  Here he worked in the conservation education department giving daily animal programs to children and adults of all ages.  Bryan also spent 5 months abroad in Australia during which his love of the environment and conservation came alive.  He takes this with his multiple years of childcare experience to Nature’s Classroom where he hopes to get kids excited about and loving nature!

Charles J. Respondi III

Charles Respondi III graduated from University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point with a BS in Biology and Natural Science. Through his travels, he has visited all of the U.S. deserts in the Southwest, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and the Appalachian Mountains in Maryland. He also worked, in the mountains of San Bernardino National Forest, California, teaching outdoor education, and teamwork (high ropes courses) to school groups from southern California, Las Vegas, NV, and Arizona.

Nicole Kohn

Nicole received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Science emphasizing in Natural Resource conservation from Carroll College in 2007. While in collage, she interned as an assistant naturalist at Retzer Nature Center. She was a visitor’s service associate for a while at Point Beach State Forest and led a few nature programs there. She loves to be outside swimming, ice-skating, or just relaxing and is an avid reader.

Corinne Palmer

Corinne just graduated in 2008 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Aspects of Conservation with an emphasis on Environmental Studies.  While living in Madison, she volunteered at the Dane County Humane society as a Wildlife Caretaker, helping to rehabilitate abandoned and injured animals. She also worked as a Guest Service Agent at the Crowne Plaza Hotel where she served as a member on the "green committee", thinking of ways to diminish the hotel's impact on the environment.  Corinne enjoys live music, bird-watching, reading, cooking, and traveling.

Kelly Voigt

Kelly graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May of 2008 with a BA in Geology.  During school she participated in several field studies located in Co. Clare Ireland, Curacao,  Park City, Utah, and the Big Island of Hawaii.  She loves to travel, especially to see geology.  She also enjoys many outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and kayaking, as well as reading and doing various crafts.

Derek Brownlee

Derek Brownlee graduated in 2009 from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Geography, with an emphasis on Urban and Regional Planning. Derek has worked with Students for a Sustainable Earth at WMU. He has also worked with the Downtown Historic District of Kalamazoo, MI in revising the community’s comprehensive plan. He enjoys reading, fishing, movies, traveling and sports.