Meet Our Staff

Eagle Bluff is what brought Colleen to Minnesota almost 10 years ago after growing up in Ohio. Being outside with her two dogs and husband, Tony, is just about her favorite thing to do! She enjoys cooking and eating (especially the wild game they hunt), playing yard games, and spending time on the Root and Mississippi Rivers.

Fun Fact: Colleen once spent 26 nights during the winter sleeping outside in a quinzee.

Doc came to Eagle Bluff back in the days when it was called the Forest Resource Center!  After growing up in northern IL and spending a few years in WI (UWSP, WI-DNR, and Fort McCoy) he arrived here, working with his future wife Maggie and about 6 other staff.  Doc enjoys hunting, fishing, sports of all kinds, and coaches baseball for Fillmore Central.  Maggie and Doc have 3 children, 3 dogs and 3 horses…. not a lot of time for many other adventures!

Fun Fact: Doc was part of the staff that got to shovel snow out of the dorm when it was being constructed.

Erinn trekked across the vast state of Wisconsin to join the Eagle Bluff staff. Most recently, she has worked for the WI DNR and a couple non-profits in Oregon. Off the bluff, she can be spotted exploring the driftless region via kayak, hiking boot, or binocular with her two dogs.

Fun Fact: Her favorite camping spot lies within Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Lakeview, Oregon.

After graduating from Macalester College, Henry first came to Eagle Bluff in 2017 as a member of the E.E. Fellowship program, before transitioning to E.E. Mentor and now Adult Education Manager. Hailing from Wisconsin, Henry enjoys canoeing, bird watching, watching sports (including his beloved Packers), and socializing with friends.

Fun Fact: Henry has seen the hit NBC show The Office more than any human on Earth.

Whether it was visiting Eagle Bluff as a 5th grader, being an E.E. Fellow in 2011, or working in her current role as a permanent education staff member, Jenna has always enjoyed every facet of Eagle Bluff! Outside of work, Jenna can often be found reading, relaxing, snacking, and drinking her beloved Diet Pepsi. She also greatly enjoys Minnesota’s summer lake culture to the fullest and is an avid slalom water skier.

Fun fact: Jenna’s outfits are ALWAYS colorfully coordinated.

Jeremiah went to school in Preston Minnesota and is planning to get trained in wood carving and carpentry. He also plans to learn some blacksmithing it the future.

Fun Fact: He loves to read, cook and play most types of board and video games. 

Joe is a crotchety old fart whose best times are spent out in the woods and restored prairies at The Point. His other favorite activities are plowing snow and mowing lawn. In his spare time his favorite activities are brushing his German Shepard named Sunny who constantly sheds and reading about Teslas on Reddit Tesla related communities.

Fun Fact: Joe has been employed at Eagle Bluff longer than anyone else.

Joe has worked in nonprofits for almost a decade, most recently in sales/marketing/development for housing and animal rescue organizations. Joe and his wife have two dogs, two cats, three chickens, and two human children. Joe and his wife moved to Lanesboro from St. Paul in the fall of 2018 and they love living in Bluff Country!

Fun fact: Joe is the tallest staff member at Eagle Bluff.

Marty was born and raised in the area. He started at Eagle Bluff in 2016. For fun he likes spending time on dirt paths, either in a pair of hiking boots or on a mountain bike. Fly fishing, the mountains, fly fishing in the mountains. Also riding and working on motorcycles, especially vintage Hondas.

Fun Fact: 149, the combined age of his three vintage motorcycles.

Nate grew up on a farm in SE MN where he spent a lot of his youth bunting and fishing. He has a wife and three kids. He has an AS in Law Enforcement.

After graduating from Winona State University, Sheila started at Eagle Bluff as part of a position through the Americorps program in the Fall of 1995. In her spare time she enjoys biking, reading, and yard work.

Fun fact: One day when Sheila was in kindergarten she got off the school bus and her stocking cap blew from MN into IA.

Sue has lived in Southeastern Minnesota her entire life.  Sue graduated from Winona State University and after 30 years in Human Resources at a local medical facility, retired and found a great home here.  She loves all sorts of nature-y things and feels right at home. When she’s not working, Sue loves hunting morel mushrooms, raising Australian Shepherd puppies, kayaking, working in her flower beds, crafting, cooking/baking and laughing with her kiddos.

Fun fact: Sue completed the ropes course (once) ten years ago….with much needed encouragement along the way:)

Mason spent his childhood living around the globe and in various states in the US but now considers Minnesota his home. Following his graduation from Lafayette College in Easton, PA in 2018, his acceptance into the Fellowship Program at Eagle Bluff is what ultimately led him to the beautiful Driftless Region. A summer spent working for the Conservation Corps in the Northwoods also contributed to his desire to return to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. You’ll most likely find Mason playing pickle ball in Lanesboro on warmer days or scaling  EB’s climbing wall on colder ones.

Fun fact: at 6’5″ tall, Mason is the 2nd tallest staff member at Eagle Bluff.

After growing up in the Twin Cities, Luke spent over a decade working as an environmental educator in six other states around the country before relocating to southeast Minnesota. Off the bluff, Luke may be found gravel biking, cross-country skiing, eating baked goods, or hanging out with his dog Gettah.

Fun fact: Luke learned how to whistle at age 26 while trying to imitate the song of a northern cardinal.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Brent went to Wolf Ridge ELC in 2015 as a member of the Naturalist Training Program.  After spending the last three years in Seattle, WA he joins Eagle Bluff as a Fellowship & Camp Manager. Hailing from Wisconsin, Brent enjoys reading, running, playing board games, yard games, gardening, curling, practicing the mini accordion, watching sports (including his beloved Packers), and socializing with friends.

Fun Fact: Brent has never broken 200 in bowling.

Alayna was born and raised on Lake Minnetonka Minnesota, attended college on the shores of Lake Superior at Northern Michigan University, and now lives just a couple blocks from the Root River. She loves fresh water! Her passion in life is introducing young children to the outdoors. She has her degree in Early Childhood Development and has taught in various settings for the last 15 years. She loves to spend time with her family, traveling, practicing and teaching yoga, fly fishing, hiking and cooking local, fresh foods! 

Fun Fact: Alayna’s family owns a fly fishing shop, Root River Rod Co, in Lanesboro, MN.

Mary has always had a love for animals and the outdoors, she grew up running through the woods and reading field guides for fun. Mary has a B.S. in Biology from the University of Minnesota and a certificate in Environmental Education from Antioch University. She worked as a member of the Naturalist Training Program at Wolf Ridge ELC in 2019. Mary enjoys being outside and relaxing with her dogs.

Fun fact: Mary accidentally taught her dogs the mushing commands for “left” and “right” backwards.

OW OW! After graduating from Luther College in 2017, Andy immediately began adventuring. He moved to Utah to work for the Conservation Corp, then became an educator living aboard the schooner Roseway in the Virgin Islands and New England, then moved to the Southeast to return to working in environmental conservation, and now has found his way to Eagle Bluff. Hailing from Goodhue, MN, Andy enjoys playing and watching sports, reading, listening to music, hiking, canoeing, and anything else that gets him outside.

Fun Fact: Andy does not eat condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, dressing, etc). Go team.

Mary grew up in Iowa and after graduating from Iowa State University with a major in Animal Ecology, Mary came to Eagle Bluff as one of the new Environmental Education Fellows. Mary enjoys hiking, reading, playing cards, traveling, being a plant mom, and cooking delicious (and sometimes suspicious looking) meals. Ow Ow.

Fun Fact: Wombat poops are cube shaped. While this is technically not a fun fact about Mary, it is something she thinks everyone ought to know.

After graduating from Coe College, Hailing from Bailey, Colorado, Ryley finds satisfaction in canoeing, running, pulverizing clay targets, hunting, fishing, and reading. Ow Ow

FUN FACT: Ow Ow is my life mantra.

GG grew up in Central New York and went to college on Keuka Lake. One of her favorite outdoor activities is running. She is also very crafty and enjoys painting different types of birds. GG’s favorite bird is the green heron because of its unique call. 

Interesting Fact: GG can lick her elbow.  OW OW!

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Alex spent a year at the Aldo Leopold Foundation as a Land Steward fellow learning to restore and manage natural ecosystems. After spending the last three years between Beloit/Baraboo/and Platteville, WI  working in land management, he joins Eagle Bluff as a Environmental Education Fellow excited to share his passion and knowledge of the environment with others. Hailing from the dark depths of the ocean, Alex enjoys reading, hammocking, playing board games, archery, long walks in the woods, cooking, playing video games, camping, and not getting caught in the rain. Ow-ow. 

Fun Fact: Alex is slower then a bear. 

Gretchen grew up in Woodbury, MN and is a huge fan of the Minnesota State Fair. Gretchen graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in biology. She enjoys hanging with the other fellows and loves a spontaneous dance party. Gretchen is a huge fan of cute animals, sunsets and quoting movies.

Fun Fact: Gretchen leads the Eagle Bluff staff in the number of sloth items she owns.

OW OW!

Ana (with one n) is a proud East Coaster, growing up in New Jersey and graduating from Franklin and Marshall College in 2020. She enjoys reading, hanging, and hiking all around the bluff, playing games with friends (not particularly long ones), pestering her roommate about how many automatic light timers she buys, asking her family for pictures of her dog, and rivaling Louisa for the best breakfast burritos on Eagle Bluffs’ campus. Fun

Fact: She was once knocked briefly unconscious by a flying fish (ow ow)