January 13, 2006

Our Volunteers

Molly Breslin

Molly Breslin helps WCO in many capacities, but her main focus is writing grants for WCO. Molly has contacted dozens of foundations, and helped us obtain our largest grant to date, a $10,000 grant which we co-wrote with the Shedd Aquarium.

Adam Hansen

Started volunteering for WCO in the Fall of 2004 when he was in charge of state side logistics and webmaster for the Rainforest Project. Then he joined us as a learning adventure guide for two adventures, the Boreal Forest Project, and Project Peru: 2005. Now Adam is in Law School at the University of Minnesota, and volunteers as much as his busy schedule allows. He is currently helping us develop a video, which will be used to help market our program in new schools.

Peter Metcalf

Peter Metcalf is preparing for WCO’s winter Yellowstone online expedition. Peter graduated from Whitworth College with a B.A. in English Literature before moving to Montana to work as a wilderness backpacking guide at a summer youth camp. His love for the outdoors has taken him as far as Alaska where he guided fly fishing, kayak and rafting trips near Denali National Park. He is currently finishing a master’s degree at the University of Montana in Environmental Studies and guides whitewater rafting trips in western Montana in the summer. An avid runner and former collegiate athlete, Peter coached high school track and cross country for five years. He has taught classes at both the high school and college level and worked on public education campaigns around the Endangered Species Act. He also works as a freelance writer covering environmental issues, particularly around climate change, land use planning and endangered species conservation—such as gray wolves in the northern Rockies.

Josh Olsen

Josh Olsen is also preparing for WCO’s winter Yellowstone online expedition. He is a native Montanan who has been an educator in many capacities from instructing kayaking and climbing to teaching English in Tanzania, East Africa. Josh is a graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield MN, with a degree in Art and African History, which set him up nicely to be a backcountry guide. During the winter season, Josh is a Professional Ski Patroller at Silver Mountain Ski Area in Kellogg ID. The rest of the year he teaches Wilderness Medicine courses for Aerie Backcountry Medicine and works with at-risk youth in the backcountry in Montana. Josh has worked for a rural ambulance company servicing a wilderness area and has also worked as a professional sea kayak/climbing guide. He has been involved with numerous environmental and conservation organizations, teaching the importance of preservation of wilderness. Josh has a strange passion for snow science and spends unhealthy amount of time staring at snowflakes.

Ashley Pfannenstiel

Ashley Pfannenstiel is involved with marketing and public education for WCO. When she is not working for WCO, Ashley is managing the Nau store in Chicago. With Nau, she strives for environmental sustainability and giving back to the community. Ashley holds a degree in art and education and maintains an active outdoor lifestyle in her hometown of Chicago. She takes her camera and her passion for the outdoors with her wherever she travels. Ashley loves to share her knowledge of the outdoors with others.

John Thompson

John Thompson is preparing for WCO’s fall Yellowstone online expedition. He graduated from the Bradley University and the University of Chicago where he studied Ecology and Education. John has taught in Chicago, and the suburbs, many of the area museums and recently retired from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. As a teacher he lead over 500 field trips with his students to more than twenty states and four different countries. Currently he teaches with the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University. As a scientist and teacher, John has worked in the tropics, prairies and mountains. His work has been featured in books, videos, magazines and television in the United States, Korea and France. He has made over 40 presentations at conferences on teaching and learning and the use of technology in classrooms. John’s work as been recognized by several groups including as the Environmental Educator of the Year and Sigma Xi Outstanding Teacher.

Jessica Wallendal

Jessa has worked with WCO in a variety of capacities. During the Trans-Amazon Expedition, she coordinates communication between the team, teachers and students. She also helps to create and edit curriculum materials. Jessa teaches Early Childhood in Tofte, MN, and lives in the Superior National Forest. When not in the classroom, she can be found in a canoe, in the garden, or playing fiddle.

Andrew Wyer

Andrew volunteers his time acting as our webmaster, and main website developer. Andrew is in charge of adding all of the new content to our website while we are in South America, and he is constantly looking over the website and finding ways to fine tune it and make it better. Andrew works as an electrical engineer for International, designing wiring systems for large trucks. When he is not working he enjoys spending time with his wife Sara, and he also enjoys computers, sailing, watching movies, and working on his car.

Updated by dfreeman at January 13, 2006 9:14 AM