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 love animals and have two dogs, three cats, three chickens, and as of November 2019 a human baby. The whole gang 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 graduating from St. Olaf College in 2020, Jill wanted to combine her love for the environment and education to become an Environmental Education Fellow, and now a Curriculum Assistant for Eagle Bluff!  Her favorite things to do are baking banana bread and beer bread at any time of day, and constantly checking that her 20+ houseplants are still alive.

Fun Fact: Jill’s favorite species of bird is the pigeon (and will talk your ear off about why, if given the chance).

Zoe grew up in the Twin Cities and after graduating from Coe College in the spring of 2020, she came to Eagle Bluff as an environmental education fellow and is now a curriculum assistant. Some things Zoe enjoys when she is not working are board games, playing DnD, reading, writing, crafting, and playing ultimate frisbee.

Fun Fact: Zoe was voted prom queen senior year of high school (somehow).

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.

After graduating from the College of Charleston in 2017 with a degree in Marine Biology, Shannon started her environmental education journey at a camp on the beach in South Carolina. She then joined the Naturalist Training Program at Wolf Ridge ELC in 2019 and continued her studies in Environmental Education. Now, she is excited that she has found herself a new home here at Eagle Bluff as the Seasonal Educator and Events Coordinator. In her free time Shannon enjoys reading, binging her favorite TV shows, and spending time with friends and family.

Fun Fact: Shannon has played the flute for 17 years.

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.

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!

Louisa grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Macalester College in 2020 with a degree in Geology and American Studies. That fall, Louisa came to Eagle Bluff for the Environmental Education Fellowship program. This is Louisa’s second year at the Bluff now as the Fellowship Mentor. She enjoys bike rides, kitchen dance parties, and games (especially if they involve ultimate frisbee). One of her favorite places to be is the Boundary Waters in northern MN where she spent a lot of time growing up with her family and through YMCA Camp Menogyn as both a camper and a canoe guide.

Fun Fact: Louisa has perfected the art of the breakfast burrito.

Rachel trekked across the Midwest from Indiana to join the fellowship program. She received a Sustainable Development degree from Taylor University. Rachel loves going going on walks, hanging out with friends, and giving out random trivia facts. She also strives to be the best mini golfer in any group. She’s also a fish babysitter for when her roommate goes out of town.

Fun Fact: Rachel has been to Malawi, Zambia, and almost Mozambique in Southern Africa.

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.

Anna (with 2 N’s) grew up in the Missouri Ozarks and graduated from Macalester College in 2021. She is the proud mother of two goldfish. In her free time, Anna enjoys birdwatching, baking, hiking, kayaking, gardening, reading, and nature journaling.

Fun fact: Anna plays the clarinet!

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!

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.

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)

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.

Emily grew up in the wet, rainy, wonderful Pacific Northwest and misses her mountains terribly. However! She is delighted to explore all that SE Minnesota has to offer and can’t wait to experience a “real” winter. When she isn’t baking pancakes down at the Settler Life cabin, Emily likes to revel in the magic of automatic light timers and thinks that her roommate would have an easier time remembering to turn off the lights if she made a similar investment. Ow Ow!

Fun Fact: Emily is a wizard at wristwatches. Problem with yours? She can figure it out.

I spent the Summer and Fall of 2021 in Bozeman, MT teaching at Montana Outdoor Science School. I have worked as a kayak guide on Madeline Island, and spent summers doing construction and maintenance in McGregor Bay, ON. I have a strong interest in the arts, and am always thinking of ways that I can meld my naturalist interests with drawing, painting, sculpting, music, etc..