Veronica Vega, Vámonos Outside Program Specialist
Veronica Vega (she,/her) is a first generation Mexican-American and has always made her mami wonder why she is forever drawn to the woods and can’t sit still. She is a […]
Eduardo Romero, Vámonos Outside Program Specialist
My name is Eduardo Romero and I was born in Bend, Oregon. Unlike many other Latinx I was fortunate enough to get into the outdoors. I participate in most of the major […]
Molly Alles, NatureHoods Coordinator and Camp Chica Instructor
Molly Alles (she/her) was born and raised among the mountains, forests, and rivers of Trinity County; schooled, trained, and refined as an educator among the Redwood forests and rugged […]
Wesley Heredia, Vámonos Outside Program Manager
Wesley Heredia (he, him) serves as the Vámonos Outside Program Manager. Wes, an avid snowboarder and rock climber, was born in Los Angeles, California. He has been a field instructor […]
Katie Chipko, Executive Director
Katie Chipko (she, her) has been with NatureConnect Central Oregon since 2012. She holds a deep belief in the many positive benefits that time outdoors provides for individuals, families, and […]
Board of Directors
Jocelyn Blevins
STEAM teacher, Sisters Elementary
Monica Bergmann Perez
Bilingual Speech Language Pathologist, High Desert ESD
Kathya Avila Choquez
Latino Community Specialist, Bend Park and Recreation District
Gwen Jones (Past President)
Program Manager, Central Oregon Health Council
Lauren Williams (President)
Associate Director, The Environmental Center
Kecia Kubota
Executive Director, Camp Fire Central Oregon
Pat Addabbo
Executive Director, Oregon Adaptive Sports
Christina Cid (Vice President)
Director of Special Projects, High Desert Museum
Presley Quon (Secretary)
Communications and Community Relations Manager, Mt. Bachelor
Katie Ryan (Treasurer)
Executive Director, Wetlands Conservancy
Priscilla Calleros
Events and Outreach Manager , The Environmental Center
Anastasia Lugo Mendez
Forest Archeologist, Deschutes National Forest
Alex Enna (ex officio)
Partnerships Program Manager, Deschutes National Forest
Rochelle Williams (ex officio)
Regional Director of School Improvement, High Desert ESD
Inclusiveness
NatureConnect Central Oregon welcomes students and participants of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military or marital status, age, sensory, physical or mental disability to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students and participants of our programs.
Equal Employment Opportunity: NatureConnect Central Oregon does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies or programs.
