Sue Anderson has been involved with just about every natural history happening in Central Oregon for many years. She specializes in butterflies and has been conducting the Ochoco and Metolius annual counts for more than 20 years. She also has done butterfly inventories for several regional National Monuments. She is happiest when in the field introducing adults and children to nature’s art on the wing and using her macro camera lens. Sue leads butterfly walks for the Land Trust.

 

Rika Ayotte (pronouns: she/her/hers) is the Deschutes Land Trust's Executive Director. She is responsible for managing and administering the work of the Land Trust, supervising staff, and overseeing the financial and operational performance of the organization. She lives and works from Terrebonne and in our Bend office.

Rika was born and raised in Southern Oregon and has lived in Central Oregon since 2015. She holds a B.A. in history and American Indian studies from the University of Washington and an M.A. in museum administration and MBA in nonprofit management from John F. Kennedy University. She serves on the Boards of Discover Your Northwest, Deschutes Trails Coalition, and the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation, and sits on the Deschutes and Ochoco Resource Advisory Committee. When she’s not working or volunteering, you will find her hiking and camping with her family.

 

Rod Bonacker is a retired special projects coordinator for Deschutes and Ochoco National Forest. He began his Forest Service career in 1974 as a firefighter, and continues to work in fire suppression as Operations Section Chief for the Central Oregon Incident Management Team. When he is not volunteering for the Land Trust, Rod fishes, skis, rides his bike, and manages his rare book business, Black Butte Books.

Becky Burchell is a native Oregonian, born and raised and currently living in Madras, Oregon. She received a B.S. in Zoology from Portland State University and immediately moved back home to Madras. She worked as an experimental biological aide for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for three years, before landing a permanent role as a fisheries biologist for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. For nearly nine years, she worked as their bull trout biologist, spending much of her work time snorkeling and conducting redd surveys in some of the most beautiful and pristine areas. She learned about some of the new work Portland General Electric (PGE) was undertaking and wanted to be a part of it. When she started with PGE, she was a biologist working on the new fish collection facility called the Selective Water Withdrawal. She has been with PGE for 15 years and currently leads biologists and technicians in both adult and juvenile migration studies. When she’s not working, you can find her hiking around Central Oregon with her Belgian Malinois or traveling around the world.


Peter Cooper (pronouns: he/him/his) is the Deschutes Land Trust's Stewardship Manager. Peter leads the Land Trust's monitoring program, ensuring conservation values are upheld on all our protected lands. In addition, Peter is responsible for developing and implementing forestry projects, leading volunteer work parties and tours, and using drones and wildlife cameras to acquire imagery. Peter earned his B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon. After graduating, Peter worked as a seasonal restoration and stewardship associate for the Eugene-based McKenzie River Trust, where he helped with various floodplain restoration projects. Peter has lived in Oregon his entire life and enjoys the variety of climates, landscapes, and people that make this state great. His favorite activities are whatever gets his family outside and engaged with the natural world.

Amanda Egertson (pronouns: she/her/hers) is the Deschutes Land Trust’s Stewardship Director.  She manages the Land Trust’s Preserves and monitors our other conservation projects. Amanda and her husband Chris moved to Bend in 2003 and spend as much of their free time as possible outside—hiking and skiing the Cascades, tidepooling along the coast, and exploring the Oregon deserts. Amanda has an M.S. in Animal Ecology (with a research focus on songbirds and butterflies), and extensive experience in outreach and interpretation.

Stacey Forson grew up on her father’s working cattle ranch, east of Bend, Oregon, developing a deep appreciation and connection to public lands and their resources, shaping her passion for the outdoors, as well as her career and academic goals. In 2018, Stacey retired from a rich, diverse, and fulfilling 38 years with the Forest Service. She lived and worked in Prineville during her most recent post as the Forest Supervisor for the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland. She and her husband Ray live on their small, forested property near La Pine, close to all the outdoor activities they love: hiking, camping, backcountry skiing, paddling, boating, and fly fishing. Stacey serves on the Land Trust's Board of Directors.

 

 Jason Grant (pronouns: he/him/his) is the Deschutes Land Trust's Restoration Specialist. His work is focused on aquatic restoration project planning and implementation. He lives and works from Redmond.

Jason attended Oregon State University, where he received his B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Science. He has worked as a Fisheries Biologist and Project Manager in the aquatic restoration field in the private sector and for two tribal agencies in Oregon--the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Jason brings nearly two decades of experience in project management, design review, document quality control, interdisciplinary team participation, building and maintaining partnerships, and participation in technical review teams. He is a native Oregonian with a deep passion for land conservation and restoration in the state. Away from work, you might find Jason fly fishing, gardening, or attending his kids’ sporting events.

Gary "Gus" Gustafson is a senior environmental and regulatory consultant living in Camp Sherman. A native Oregonian, Gus is a certified Oregon Master Naturalist who enjoys beginning each day at home with a walk along the nearby Metolius River. A former state agency director and elected city mayor, Gus now volunteers time as a hike leader for the Deschutes Land Trust and serves on several boards and commissions. Gus is particularly interested in identifying, observing and photographing the wide variety of fish and wildlife species found in central Oregon.

 

Jim Hammond moved to central Oregon in 2004 and has since been involved with the Land Trust as a volunteer and supporter. Participating in star parties at the Sisters High School, Jim has joined other amateur astronomers in providing opportunities for the community to learn about the night sky and the wonders of our galaxy and solar system. Jim is a retired physicist and has been interested in astronomy since he watched, at a very young age, his father build a telescope. Jim leads the Land Trust's star parties which currently take place at Rimrock Ranch--a private ranch with dark skies and open views in all directions.

 

Megan Hill has been studying Central Oregon fisheries since 2007, currently working as the fisheries manager for Portland General Electric’s Deschutes Hydroelectric Project. Throughout her career at PGE, Megan has had the opportunity to snorkel, conduct juvenile fish surveys, and locate spawning salmon and steelhead in the Metolius River and Whychus Creek.  When not at work, Megan also enjoys spending time outside and exploring natural areas with her family.

 

Kara Jakse leads bird walks for the Land Trust and volunteers surveying birds at Land Trust protected lands. She has worked on many bird-related projects for East Cascades Audubon Society including capping outhouse vents to prevent birds from falling into the vault, collecting mosquitoes to test for West Nile Virus as part of a Sage Grouse study, and helping to build a bird blind at Cabin Lake. Kara also enjoys hiking and kayaking (with her binoculars, of course).

 

Aaron Jenkins has resided in Central Oregon since 2018 and has enjoyed volunteering with great local organizations Deschutes Land Trust and East Cascades Bird Alliance. In recent years, he worked seasonal positions conducting avian point count surveys in the U.S. West. Prior, he was the economist for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. In addition to birding, he loves learning about flora and other fauna, cross-country skiing, hiking/backpacking, and gravel biking. Aaron leads bird walks for the Land Trust.





Gabriel Juarez (pronouns: he/him/his) is the Deschutes Land Trust's Stewardship Associate. Gabriel works with our stewardship team, maintaining and improving the infrastructure and trails at all of your favorite Deschutes Land Trust Community Preserves, keeping his eye on pesky weeds, and working with volunteers to help restore habitat for our community, as well as for fish and wildlife. Gabriel has a decade's worth of experience in residential and agricultural land care. He also has an extensive background in the fly fishing industry. Gabriel was born and raised in Bend. During his free time, Gabriel enjoys playing the classical guitar, gardening, foraging, and spending time with his wife and rescue dogs. 

 

Kolby Kirk is a writer, artist, photographer, and outdoorsman. His passion for the outdoors inspired him to become an Oregon Master Naturalist in 2012. He never hikes without carrying a journal to record both personal reflections as well as the natural wonders encountered along the trail. In 2011, he hiked for five months on the Pacific Crest Trail covering most of California by foot. h her binoculars, of course).

 

Mindy Lockhart (pronouns: they/them) is a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Practicing mindfulness in nature has been integral to their own healing journey and experiencing firsthand the benefits of a forest bathing practice inspired them to become a guide and help others. Mindy is also a nature and landscape photographer and enjoys exploring Central Oregon with a camera in hand.

 

Derek Loeb is a retired geophysicist with 26 years of experience in petroleum exploration and production. After moving to Bend in 2011, he is now enjoying learning more about the geology of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the local geology, he is also fascinated by the history, archeology, flora and fauna of Central Oregon and how they are all related. Volunteering with the Land Trust gives Derek an opportunity to enjoy, share, and help preserve the many natural wonders that make Central Oregon such a great place to live or visit.

 

Martha Lussenhop moved to Sisters in 2005 after dreaming of living in the mountains of the West for decades. Martha has a diverse background that includes a master's in zoology, teaching middle school, taking school groups on tours of prairies and woodlands, and leading workshops for children and adults at the Field Museum in Chicago. Martha's home overlooks Indian Ford Meadow Preserve and she is becoming well acquainted with the birds along Indian Ford Creek. Martha leads a variety of walks and hikes for the Land Trust.

Daniele McKay is a geologist who studies recent volcanic activity in Central Oregon and teaches at the University of Oregon. She has lived in Bend for over 20 years, during which she worked for several conservation groups and as an interpretative ranger. She grew up hiking and skiing in the Cascades, which inspired a life-long passion for exploring wild areas. This prompted her to travel the world extensively and ultimately to examine natural processes in detail by studying geology. In addition to contributing to the scientific understanding of volcanoes in Central Oregon, Daniele also enjoys sharing her interest in science with people of all ages. She has taught classes and led field trips for children and adults, including geology hikes for the Land Trust. Daniele serves on the Land Trust's Board of Directors.

 

Michelle McSwain graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Geology and holds a Master’s degree in Hydrology from the Forest Engineering Department at OSU. Her 30-year career with federal land management agencies began in Vale, Oregon. She moved to Prineville more than 25 years ago to work for the BLM and finished her career as an Assistant Field Manager for the BLM, leading the programs of Range, Fisheries, Hydrology, Wild Horse and Burros, Burned Area Rehab, and GIS. She serves on the Land Trust's Board of Directors.

 

David Miller is a retired electrician whose hobbies include classic guitar, writing fiction, and the study of native plants. He was a docent for six years at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden and more recently at the Audubon Canyon Ranch in California. Since moving to Sisters he has been fascinated by the flora on both sides of the Cascades. He likes to enliven his wild plant tours with stories, history, Native American uses, principles of botany, and even some evolutionary theory. He is currently working on a novel called The First Bird.

 

Carol Moorehead (pronouns: she/her/hers) has felt a sense of place in central Oregon since moving here in 1976. Her love of the natural world began with a college Alpine Biology class set in the Washington Cascades. Although her career in education, spanning over 30 years, kept her inside classrooms, offices or meeting rooms, she always sought solace in nature. Exploring the Cascades and surrounding areas through self-study until 2013 when she participated in the Volunteer Master Naturalist program, broadening and deepening her appreciation of our natural world. When not hiking among wild flowers, you will often find her on her bicycle or traveling the world. Her most recent adventure was hiking over 100 miles on a walking Safari through Tsavo National Park, Kenya.

 

Leslie Olson has lived in Bend for more than 45 years, has been a leader for Bend Parks and Recreation since 2003, and loves joining folks outside. Leslie is an Oregon Master Naturalist and loves to share her natural history knowledge during hikes, and snowshoe outings. All of that face time with flowers and birds has stimulated her ongoing enjoyment of all things natural.

 

Coleen Pidgeon is a birder and an outdoor enthusiast with a background in biology. She has lived in Central Oregon for 10+ years and continues to enjoy learning about the natural world in this region. With experience that includes some teaching, Coleen enjoys sharing her passion of nature with everyone who is interested.

 

Amy Sanchez (pronouns: she/her/hers) is an avid bird watcher and loves being outdoors. She’s even raised pet chickens most of her life and could identify each hen by its voice. Today, she can identify 80 birds by sound alone, and loves sharing her knowledge of birds with others. Amy leads bird walks for the Land Trust.

 

Michele Sims is a retired land surveyor who lives in Sisters. She plays flute and button accordion in a local Irish band, rides bikes, and takes every opportunity to prowl around looking at plants, birds, mushrooms and bees. In 2018, she began volunteering with the Oregon Bee Atlas, which turned out to be a great excuse to mess around outside and to hang out with people who are curious about the world. Michele leads native bee walks for the Land Trust.

 

Tom Wainwright has a life-long passion for nature and conservation that began during his formative years in Prineville and continued throughout his migrations around the West. He is a retired research ecologist, and has done field work with both plants and animals in montane forests, deserts, estuaries, and coastal waters. Since returning to Central Oregon, he is rediscovering his first love of arid lands botany and general natural history. Tom volunteers with the Land Trust, the Oregon Citizen's Rare Plant Watch, and the Native Plant Society of Oregon, and is an Oregon Master Naturalist. He also enjoys gardening, tinkering, and hiking as much as old rusty knees allow.

 

 

Melinda Walker (pronouns: she/her/hers) first started volunteering with the Land Trust in 2012. As a volunteer hike shepherd she helped expert leaders on walks and hikes, learning about the management of Land Trust protected lands, birds, wildflowers, and local history. Today, Melinda is excited to be back as a volunteer leader, sharing the knowledge she has collected over the years, supporting the mission of the organization.

A long-time local hobby naturalist, Melinda enjoys spending time botanizing (a leisurely version we usually just call “wildflowering”), birding (this always includes non-bird wildlife and anything else of interest), hiking, going for leisurely drives, learning about wildlife, local history, geology, reading, baseball, a couple of good shows, baking, and sometimes cooking. Melinda graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in Liberal Studies, and is currently working as a Recreation Technician for the U.S. Forest Service. She and her husband garden, have two amazing dogs, and about twenty chickens.

 

Karen Oonagh Walsh (pronouns: she/her/hers) develops and delivers conservation education programs for families and youth for the Land Trust. Karen holds degrees in Botany and Soil Science from Southern Illinois University and completed graduate studies in the Botany Department at the University of Tennessee. After graduating, Karen taught at Michigan State University and spent the first part of her career as Director of Education. Later, moving to Oregon, she continued her teaching career with OSU-Extension and is currently Executive Director at Discover Your Forest. When not teaching or volunteering, she enjoys being outside paddleboarding, hiking, gardening with native plants, and recreating in the mountains with her two sons.

 

David Weilmuenster has lived in Bend for four years, though he and his wife, Connie, have been Deschutes Land Trust supporters for 20 years. During his nearly 30 years of living in northern California, David developed an avid interest in wildflowers and plants of the chaparral and sequoia groves, and led numerous hikes for groups from 5 to 50 to explore the hills above the Bay Area. Now retired from consulting in business development in Silicon Valley, he is expanding his knowledge of the Central Oregon landscape, and looks forward to sharing and learning with you on Land Trust outings.

 

Mary Yanalcanlin is a Montessori teacher with more than 30 years of experience. Mary loves leading educational programs that are nature-based and that get kids outside exploring. In her spare time Mary enjoys birding, exploring nature herself, and taking photos. Mary has lived in Bend form 15+ years and thoroughly enjoys our rivers and streams. Mary has completed her Oregon Master Naturalist coursework.

 

Jen Zalewski (pronouns: she/her/hers) is the Deschutes Land Trust's Stewardship Manager. She is responsible for assisting with conservation and restoration at Land Trust protected lands. She lives and works in Bend. Jen has a B.S. in conservation biology and an M.S. in wildlife biology from Humboldt State University where her Master's thesis focused on river otter ecology. Prior to joining the Land Trust as a staff member, Jen led mountain bike and birding tours for our Walks + Hikes Program. In her spare time, Jen enjoys crafting, skiing, biking, and getting out on the water with her family. (Photo by Jay Mather).

 

 

Join the Deschutes Land Trust on one of our free, guided Walks and Hikes from April-November.

Interested in Volunteering? Learn more about how you can get involved.