Outdoor Experiences Staff

A Cleveland Metroparks Naturalist is on-hand daily from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. to answer your questions. Call the Cleveland Metroparks Outdoor Experiences Facility closest to you to have your questions answered by a naturalist.

  • Joe King

    Joe King

    Recreation Specialist

    Joe began working with the Cleveland Metroparks the summer of 2022. In his...
  • Jody Oelbract

    Jody Oelbract

    Recreation Specialist

    Prior to joining the Outdoor Recreation team in 2021, Jody was a tour leade...
  • Jill Hauger

    Jill Hauger

    Jill became a Naturalist for Cleveland Metroparks in 2008. She loves being...
  • Jenny McClain

    Jenny McClain

    Naturalist

    Jenny joined the Outdoor Education staff permanently in 1996 and has worked...
  • Jennifer Daring

    Jennifer Daring

    Recreation Specialist

    Jennifer is an outdoor enthusiast who passionately advocates for people of...
  • Jen Lukacs

    Jen Lukacs

    Nature Preschool Teacher

    Jen joined the Cleveland Metroparks staff in June 2018.  She is a grad...
  • Jeff Riebe

    Jeff Riebe

    Naturalist

    Jeff began working with the North Chagrin Nature Center staff in 1999. He e...
  • Jake Kudrna

    Jake Kudrna

    Naturalist II

    Jake joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2014. He has a master's degree in Biolo...
  • Ezekiel Miller

    Ezekiel Miller

    Naturalist

    Ezekiel has been with the Cleveland Metroparks since 2024. He is working on...
  • Emma Strick

    Emma Strick

    Naturalist

    Emma started with Cleveland Metroparks as a Zoo Crew Teen Volunteer in 2010...
  • Emily Cremeans

    Emily Cremeans

    Naturalist

    Emily joined the Cleveland Metroparks in 2023. She attended Kent State Univ...
  • Jon Clark

    Jon Clark

    Nature Preschool Teacher

    Jon joined the Cleveland Metroparks in 2023. He has been working in early c...
  • Judy MacKeigan

    Judy MacKeigan

    Historian/Archivist

    Judy joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2010. She was the lead author and conte...
  • Justin Willard

    Justin Willard

    Naturalist

    Justin joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2022. He graduated from Cleveland Sta...
  • Karen Lakus

    Karen Lakus

    Naturalist II

    Karen Lakus has been with Cleveland Metroparks since 2010. She has worked a...
  • Kate McNeece

    Kate McNeece

    Naturalist

    Kate has been an informal science educator in Northeast Ohio for over twent...
  • Kelly McGinnis

    Kelly McGinnis

    Naturalist II

    Kelly has worked at Brecksville Nature Center since the fall of 2000. She e...
  • Kelsey Rogers

    Kelsey Rogers

    Naturalist

    Kelsey joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2021 as a seasonal before being hired...
  • Kristin Spindel

    Kristin Spindel

    Naturalist

    Kristin grew up playing in fields and forests in Northeast Ohio. She joined...
  • Elizabeth Durkalec

    Elizabeth Durkalec

    Recreation Specialist

    Prior to joining Cleveland Metroparks in 2020, Elizabeth was an Interpretiv...
  • Kyler Sonney

    Kyler Sonney

    Naturalist

    Kyler joined Cleveland Metroparks in October of 2022. He earned an associat...
  • Lys Ursem

    Lys Ursem

    Naturalist

    Due to her passion for all things fungi and plants, Lys graduated from The...
  • Doug Kusak

    Doug Kusak

    Historical Interpreter

    Doug has a lifelong love of learning and a desire to spread enthusiasm for...
  • Dan Jenkins

    Dan Jenkins

    Naturalist

    Dan grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania where his love of the outdoors sta...
  • Mario Jackson

    Mario Jackson

    Naturalist

    Mario has been with Cleveland Metroparks since January 2009. He began his j...
  • Caroline Huffman

    Caroline Huffman

    Recreation Specialist

    Caroline joined the Outdoor Recreation team in 2018. She has been lucky eno...
  • Mary Rouse

    Mary Rouse

    Director of Outdoor Experiences

    Mary joined the Cleveland Metroparks as the Director of Outdoor Experiences...
  • Matthew Knittel

    Matthew Knittel

    Naturalist

    Matt has enjoyed the outdoors (especially the Cleveland Metroparks) since h...
  • Mayim Hamblen

    Mayim Hamblen

    Naturalist

    Mayim joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2017. Prior to her current position, s...
  • Megan Nitzsche

    Megan Nitzsche

    Nature Preschool Lead Teacher

    Megan joined the Cleveland Metroparks staff in August 2020. She is a gradua...
  • Carly Martin

    Carly Martin

    Naturalist

    Carly has been a naturalist with Cleveland Metroparks since 1998. She has v...
  • Megan Shumaker

    Megan Shumaker

    Recreation Specialist

     With a background as an occupational therapist for over 20 years comb...
  • Melissa Gottron

    Melissa Gottron

    Naturalist

    Melissa has been with Cleveland Metroparks since June 2018 and has a degree...
  • Melissa Ricther

    Melissa Ricther

    Naturalist

    Melissa joined the Cleveland Metroparks as a naturalist in 2022. Melissa st...
  • Min-Sui Keung

    Min-Sui Keung

    Nature Center Manager

    Min has worked with Cleveland Metroparks since 1998. Min is interested in s...
  • Olivia Drabiak

    Olivia Drabiak

    Not Set

    Olivia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology from the Colleg...
  • Pamela Taylor

    Pamela Taylor

    Naturalist

    Pam joined Cleveland Metroparks in July 2001 as an interpreter/education in...
  • Beth Whiteley

    Beth Whiteley

    Naturalist

    Beth has been an educator for over 25 years. She has worked for Cleveland M...
  • Beth Kivela

    Beth Kivela

    Center Manager

    Beth has been a professional interpreter for the past fifteen years and has...
  • Peter Frank

    Peter Frank

    Naturalist

    Peter Joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2020. Prior to his current position Pe...
  • Bethany Majeski

    Bethany Majeski

    Senior Manager of Center Operations

    Bethany has worked as a naturalist and manager with Cleveland Metroparks si...
  • Rachel Nagle

    Rachel Nagle

    Outdoor Recreation Manager

    Rachel enjoys connecting people to nature through outdoor recreation activi...
  • Ben Gero

    Ben Gero

    Recreation Specialist

    Ben joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2023. He is a graduate from Kent State U...
  • Sebastian Stefanoff

    Sebastian Stefanoff

    Naturalist

    Sebastian first joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2022 as a seasonal for Mobil...
  • Shani Stokes

    Shani Stokes

    Fellowship Coordinator

    Shani joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Mas...
  • Shannon Hammer

    Shannon Hammer

    Naturalist

    Shannon is a northeast Ohio native who grew up with a love for all things n...
  • Ashley Rossetti

    Ashley Rossetti

    Recreation Specialist

    Ashley spends her time playing outside and enjoys teaching others different...
  • Suzy Rowe

    Suzy Rowe

    Nature Preschool Teacher

    Suzy started working for the Cleveland Metroparks in 2023. She graduated fr...
  • Terry Joyce

    Terry Joyce

    Center Manager

    With over 20 years in the interpretive field, Terry Joyce spent nearly all...
  • Valerie Fetzer

    Valerie Fetzer

    Manager, Rocky River Nature Center

    Valerie has been with Cleveland Metroparks since 2001. She began her journe...
  • Angelec Hillsman

    Angelec Hillsman

    Manager, Mobile Outreach

    Angelec began her journey with Cleveland Metroparks in 2003. As a naturalis...
  • Amber Walden

    Amber Walden

    Naturalist

    Amber joined Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in 2022 as an Education Specialist be...
  • Amber Buesch

    Amber Buesch

    Naturalist

    Amber joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2023. She loves science and is thrille...
  • Adriana Fant

    Adriana Fant

    Naturalist

    Adriana attended Kent State University where she completed a bachelors degr...
  • Abbey Collins

    Abbey Collins

    Assistant Teacher

    Abbey has been with Cleveland Metroparks since February 2022. Prior to join...
  • Wei Wang

    Web Developer

  • Erica Anton

    Erica Anton

    Nature Preschool Program Administrator

    Erica joined the team in March 2020 as Cleveland Metroparks Nature Preschoo...
  • Phoebe Atkinson

    Phoebe Atkinson

    Naturalist-Eco Explorers

    Phoebe joined Cleveland Metroparks as a naturalist in 2014, after more than...
  • Foster Brown

    Foster Brown

    Naturalist

    Foster has been with Cleveland Metroparks since 1996. He combines the arts...
  • Amber Buesh

    Amber Buesh

    Naturalist

    Amber joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2023. She loves science and is thrille...
  • Lisa Casteele

    Lisa Casteele

    Recreation Specialist

    Lisa joined Cleveland Metroparks in 2024. She always loved playing outside...