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Blue Sky Meadow Staff Biographies

Shaun Hawke loves working at beautiful Blue Sky Meadow as the lead teacher and site director. Shaun grew up in west Los Angeles , but earned her Bachelor's degree, as well as a graduate certificate in education, from the University of California , Santa Cruz . She also has training as an Emergency Medical Technician. She taught for Santa Clara County 's outdoor science program and for National Audubon’s Camp in the Rockies . She has been with L.A. County Outdoor Science Schools for 16 years. Shaun is also in charge of the facility for Blue Sky Meadow, which means she can drive the snow plow whenever she wants. Shaun likes riddles, looking at the stars and kids who remember to be kind to others .

RT Hawke is the preserve manager at Blue Sky Meadow. He graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Natural History. RT has taught for the L.A. County Outdoor Science School for 20 years. He migrated to Blue Sky Meadow from the LACOSS Wrightwood site, where he spent 15 years. He has also taught for Santa Clara and Monterey counties’ programs, National Audubon’s Camp in the Rockies , as well as Victor Valley College . He loves plants, birds, rocks, traveling and playing bridge.

Denis Pertuis loves being outside and learning science. He has a degree in Chemistry from a small school in Clarksville , Tennessee – as well as his teaching credentials. Having worked in a factory, a hotel, a bookstore, a library, and several restaurants, Denis knows for sure this is where he should be at this point in his career – spending time with curious students out in the wilderness. Some of his fondest outdoor memories – gazing at the stars while a friend told him stories, chasing a bear, catching snakes, seeing a momma quail followed by her little babies, seeing a coyote pounce on a squirrel hole. Interesting little tidbits: Denis speaks French and Spanish (having lived in Belgium , France , and Ecuador ), likes jumping off cliffs (into rivers or lakes preferably) and playing soccer. This is the best life Denis has ever lived.

Abbey Kostura blessed Blue Sky Meadow with her presence after growing up just outside of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania and moving to California in 2005. She has been teaching Environmental Education for about three years. This will be her second year here at Blue Sky Meadow. Abbey graduated from Chatham College in Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and also studied psychology while in attendance. In her spare time, Abbey loves to hike, climb, travel and learn!

Tom Forquer's career as a naturalist began at an early age in the hills surrounding his Northern California home. There he discovered the majority of poison oak, ticks, rattlesnakes and mud puddles of the area. Since then his explorations have broadened in scope—from beaches in Bali , to peaks in the Sierras, to canyons in Utah , to volcanoes in Ecuador . He graduated in 2004 with Bachelor of Art in Communications from Santa Clara University . He soon discovered that he much preferred communicating outdoors with children to indoors with computers. Tom is in his 3rd year as a naturalist in the San Bernardino Mountains . His middle name is Rush(named after his grandpa, not the band).

Ally Amavisca is from North Carolina where she grew up playing in the beautiful beaches of the Outer Banks, the lush forests of the Central Piedmont and the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. She has a long history with outdoor science, participating in programs such as Duke Action, Wilderness Southeast, the Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium and many others. She got a Bachelor of Science in Marine & Coastal Resources from North Carolina State University in 2004 with minors in Political Science, Environmental Studies, and Biological Sciences, and has used her knowledge and love of the environment in many scientific settings including jobs with the prestigious Hines Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and the Eggleston Benthic Ecology Laboratory of NCSU’s School of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. She moved to California in August of 2007 and was employed with Arrowhead Ranch Outdoor Science School prior to her employment here at Blue Sky Meadow.

Tim Parker has been goofing off in the educative woods of learning since 1995. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Asbury College and a Master’s in Science in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University . His studies have focused on practical implementation of educational theory as relevant to the fields of adventure, outdoor and spiritual education. He has worked as a middle school teacher and a naturalist for several years. He is also editor for Experiential Educators.com. When not teaching he can be found playing in the snow or rappelling into CO2 filled caves.

Ginneh Lewis hails from New York and has been in California for about one year. This is her second season at Blue Sky Meadow. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hartwick College in NY and really like amphibians. She has worked and explored much of NY, the city and not-so-city, the water and mountains. She has snorkeled her way through the Bahamian Islands and swam with barracudas, sharks and sea turtles. She has also tromped through the moist Costa Rican rainforests and swamps with the pelicans and spoonbills. She loves the summertime and in her spare time she likes to swim, go to the beach and find sea creatures, play basketball, draw, take pictures and visit our chickens (The Ladies).

Luis Armendariz was born in El Paso , Texas , but was raised in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico . He graduated from Texas A&M University earning a degree in Environmental Studies. His first language is Spanish but is fluent in English as well and he is interested in learning French. Luis loves all outdoor activities including climbing, backpacking, fishing and hiking. He has traveled all throughout North America and has camped out in every western state. His experience with children is about 10 years and enjoys playing and teaching them about the environment.

Rob Greene is a simple guy. He was born and raised in Cleveland , Ohio for the majority of his life. However, like most Ohioans, left for more interesting places. Rob has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Miami University of Ohio and has studied with the National Outdoor Leadership School in the Pacific Northwest . Rob has worked for several Environmental Education programs, a zoo, and even his own show on his college radio station. He enjoys photography, hiking, traveling and following the turbulent times of his Cleveland sports teams. Recently, Rob just returned from traveling around Europe , Asia , Australia and New Zealand and considers that his experience to be highlight of his life. He also loves working with tarantulas, snakes and other critters whenever he can.

Gus Rodriquez (Maintenance) grew up in Guatemala City and enjoyed traveling throughout the Central American and South Mexican rainforests. After earning a degree at Mexico State University , he moved back to Central America to work for Schlumberger Oil Exploration participating in several oil engineering projects. Then, he moved to Southern California to work for several building maintenance companies. For the past three years, Gus has been working for Blue Sky Meadow as the most wonderful maintenance man ever! He keeps the site running by using his abilities – that surpass most – in regard to generators, snow plows, water pumps and much more. When away from Blue Sky Meadow, Gus enjoys spending time with his family, playing soccer and racquetball as well as listening to music. If you see Gus around campus, make sure to give him a huge “thank you” for all of his hard work.

Woodsy, a great horned owl, is often asked, are you real? Well, yes...he is real, but no longer alive. He was fatally injured by a car, found, and with the help of the Audubon Society's Vivian Null Fund and the San Bernardino County Museum, was taxidermied. Now he resides with us at Blue Sky Meadow. He loves to help teach students about nocturnal animals. He has family living out in the forest. You may hear them hunting and hooting around the meadow on your night hike. (Woodsy would love to answer emails and letters, but can really only respond, "Who?")

Mail a letter to anyone at Blue Sky Meadow:

L.A. County Outdoor Science School at Blue Sky Meadow
P.O. Box 2860
Big Bear City, CA 92314

Email:
(put the person's name you are emailing in the subject line)