Analiese Walker

Ingrid (she/her) grew up in Los Angeles and fell in love with nature during her frequent hikes with family. Ingrid loves the beauty and the feeling of peace that nature provides. She is excited to help explorers make a connection with nature by encouraging curiosity through exploration. In her free time, she likes running, listening to music, and playing catch.

Sami is an outdoor educator with over a decade of experience guiding curious minds through forests, gardens, and classrooms. With a background as a park ranger and regenerative farmer, Sami teaches with empathy, playfulness, and deep care for both kids and the Earth. Sami believes nature is our greatest teacher, and I’m here to nurture wonder, resilience, and connection, one outdoor adventure at a time.

I am from Santa Ana and I fell in love with nature because of my moms passion for taking care of our land! I love everything about nature but I have always had a special connection with birds. I am excited to teach kids about the important relationships between birds, plants and us! I studied Wildlife Conservation and Ethnic Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt. On my free time I enjoy sewing, birding and cooking.

Liam (he/him) grew up in Southern Los Angeles County and developed a love of nature from a very young age by camping all throughout California with his family. He is passionate and excited to teach about how interconnected everything in nature is. He has a degree in Forest and Fire Sciences and minor in Watershed Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In his free time he enjoys playing bass guitar.

Kalyb’s lifelong love for nature began while exploring the coast and freshwater springs of her home state of Florida. She’s especially passionate about animal rights and enjoys helping kids connect with the natural world by nurturing empathy for all beings with whom we share the planet. Kalyb holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and spends her free time at the beach, hiking with her senior dog Shady, and trying every plant-based restaurant in LA.

Hi! I’m Jennifer, and I am stoked to join HAWKS. Growing up on the gorgeous beaches of San Diego gave me a deep connection to all the beautiful living things around us, so I am grateful for the opportunity to instill my love for Mother Nature on to a new generation of humans!! I bring a fun-loving, curious, and playful energy to all of my endeavors with children. I have received my Nature-Based Teaching Certification, and have worked with kids as a summer camp counselor, theatre director, and after school mentor. When I am not tree-hugging, I perform improv and sketch comedy all around LA! If you see me, say hi, I’m nice! :)

Hello! My name is Jayden—and I am excited to be an educator for HAWKSLA! I love the outdoors, specifically backpacking, cycling, and doing wildlife photography in my free time. I am currently studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, with the goal of becoming a conservation focused ornithologist. I care deeply about representation and equity in outdoor spaces, and my goal is to create comfortable spaces for these conversations in my prospective field.

Ella (she/her) grew up traversing Oregon’s misty woodlands and coastlines. She moved to Los Angeles to earn a degree in environmental studies from USC. As a scientific scuba diver, Ella has helped protect the kelp forests of the Channel Islands. She’s passionate about sharing her naturalist knowledge with future environmentalists. Outside of HAWKs, Ella runs Fortune Fish Vintage, a pop-up shop supporting the circular economy. She enjoys yoga, surfing, camping, and gardening.

Amanda grew up in Riverside, CA, fostering an early love of the outdoors staring up at the peaks of the San Bernardino mountains. She graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from UCLA, and is excited to share her passion and knowledge of California’s rich geography and geology with students. Amanda also holds a deep respect for fire ecology as a former park ranger with the U.S. Forest Service and when not enjoying the outdoors she likes to sit quietly playing card games, puzzles, and reading!

As a kid growing up around Mulholland chaparral, Alea discovered a proclivity for climbing trees, bird watching, bug finding, and, much to her parent’s chagrin, getting as muddy as possible. Alea’s passion for natural history and exploring the outdoors followed her through university at UCSC where she studied ecology and took part in elephant seal research at Año Nuevo. Alea has worked in outdoor education with students ranging from kindergarteners to college students and particularly enjoys teaching herpetology. With an emphasis on environmental stewardship and conservation, Alea is excited to perpetuate her enthusiasm towards nature (and getting muddy!) to HAWKs students. When she’s not teaching, Alea finds great joy in drawing, climbing and finding any excuse to go adventure outside.

Kaitlin (she/her/hers) grew up in Virginia, where the Atlantic Ocean and the changing seasons sparked her love for the outdoors. She is passionate about teaching kids how teamwork and curiosity can deepen their connection to each other and the environment, and always strives to show the calming and transformative powers of nature. In her free time, Kaitlin enjoys hiking with her dog, volunteering in gardens, and catching live music around Los Angeles.

Dominic Kyle Ypil (he/him) has a deep-rooted connection to Los Angeles and extensive outdoor experience. His lifelong curiosity about the natural world was sparked at 7 years old when he first laid eyes on the ocean, setting him on a path of exploration and understanding. Dominic holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California Santa Barbara and is currently a graduate student at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in the Biological Oceanography lab.

Jacob (he/him/his) grew up just north of Los Angeles and developed a love of nature by hiking in the Santa Monica mountains and gardening with his family. Jacob has a passion for native plants and storytelling and is excited to help connect HAWKs Explorers to the magic of the natural world through guided exploration and imagination games. In his free time, Jacob likes watching documentaries, writing fiction, and camping!

Colette grew up hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains, and it was her love of animals that first drove her passion for the environment. Colette knows that nature is full of wonder and healing, and is excited to prioritize environmental justice, equity, individualism, and FUN in every lesson and hike. When she’s not on the trails, she is creating art, hanging out with her guinea pigs, and jamming to music.

Arianna grew up in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties where she fell in love with nature during weekends exploring the local hiking trails and camping up north in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She has a passion for animals and crafting and is excited to spend time with HAWKs Explorers bird watching and making fun nature art projects. Arianna is a UC Certified California Naturalist and during her free time she enjoys reading and backpacking.

William has been fascinated by nature since his childhood, spent hiking and camping among the diverse landscapes of the Southwest. Now, he is thrilled and grateful to have the opportunity to inspire this love of nature in every student he meets. He is particularly interested in reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids, and enjoys both teaching and learning about them. Exploring and observing native biodiversity is William’s primary pastime, but he also loves storytelling, literature and writing.

Analiese (she/her) grew up in Northern California and spent as much time outside as possible; searching for bugs in the backyard, hiking, biking, climbing trees, rocks, exploring caves, family camping trips, and many hours on the beach. Analiese loves learning about native plants and their roles in our Los Angeles ecosystem. Analiese has spent over 10 years working with kids and loves traveling, camping, skiing, hiking, drawing, and crafting.

Kayla (she/her/hers) grew up in Culver City, and her love for the outdoors began early, as her family loved hiking, beach days, and camping trips. Kayla loves seeing animals in their natural habitats and is excited to help HAWKs explorers connect and learn about the wildlife we encounter on the trails. When she is not out exploring with HAWKs, she is practicing yoga, surfing, doing a puzzle or jamming out to live music.

A fourth-generation Angeleno, I fell in love with nature camping and hiking in our local San Gabriel mountains. I now share this passion with students through hands-on experiences that highlight our region’s rich ecosystems and sustainable outdoor practices. I am certified in NOLS Wilderness First Aid, have an MA Ed, and am currently working on a single-subject teaching credential in history. I enjoy rock climbing, backpacking, fly fishing, and learning from the world around me.

Love being in the outdoors, whether it's hiking, kayaking, fishing. Or just connecting with my native garden. Favorite thing to do is share history of the land with students, so they get a better understanding of where they live. Like learning about many different species of wildlife.

As a kid, I had always loved bugs. I'd search under rocks, logs, wooden boards, and anywhere else I'd suspect they'd live! As I spent more time with the land, I discovered how much I loved the relationships all beings share with each other, such as Tarantula Hawks and Tarantulas. I feel it's important to teach kids about the importance of those relationships! I'm a California Naturalist, Wildlife Photographer, Community Scientist, Artist, and Associate of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Jordan is from a small farm town in Vermont and fell in love with nature by exploring the endless deciduous forests behind his house. Since moving to Los Angeles, he has fallen in love with the beauty and resilience of the local chaparral ecosystems and loves teaching students about the amazing properties of native plants. A fun fact about Jordan is that he is certified as an AAUS Scientific Scuba Diver and spends almost all of his free time in the Pacific Ocean diving and surfing.

Lauren is from Los Angeles, and grew up camping, hiking, exploring museums, zoos and aquariums in the area! She is a lifelong bug lover and loves to share her enthusiasm for her favorite insects, moths! She enjoys using puppets, like her pet caterpillar Jasper, to entertain and educate her students! In her free time she enjoys dancing, going to concerts, and making art!

Bradley grew up in Northern Illinois where he fell in love with the forest and prairie ecosystems of the Midwest. He loves animals and has had many non-human companions. He loves to teach about all of the common species that are all around us but are much less appreciated like the humble pigeon and the wily coyote. Bradley holds a master's degree in outdoor education and loves to share his passion for the wild with others.

(she/her) Originally from Wisconsin, Leah is raising her two children in the hills of Echo Park. She loves being outside and when she's not hiking with HawksLA she's teaching gardening to kids throughout North East LA. Leah weaves together her love of science and the natural world with her love of storytelling - nature always has a story to tell.

Amanda is an LA-native and big fan of plants, birds, bugs, and more! An avid gardener and hiker, she loves connecting her interests in science, music, and the performing arts to nature-based learning. Besides HAWKs, Amanda teaches garden science in LAUSD schools with EnrichLA, in addition to directing youth musical theatre around the LA area. During the summers she teaches singing at Act One Theatre Camp, and is also a professional actress and singer.

Mikayla (she/her/hers) is from the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawai’i. It was there that she developed her love for nature, whether that was exploring the ocean or hiking through the Ko’olau mountain range. Her eye for the beauty and grounding that nature offered is ultimately what she hopes to share with the HAWKS explorers. Sharing ways that we can stop, slow down, and be more mindful of all that’s going on around us. Mikayla’s favorite animal is one that we on the mainland might know as the Green Sea Turtle, but on the Hawaiian islands is referred to as the “Honu”. A symbol of protection, good luck, and wisdom!

I'm Nina, an independent artist and arts educator who loves sharing my creative passion with others. I love having the privilege to guide young minds on their artistic journeys in nature. I hope to inspire and empower our explorers to embrace their creativity and find joy in the process! I find so much joy in teaching, creating art, and exploring the outdoors. In my free time, you'll find me hiking and camping with my wife and two chihuahuas.

While studying Environmental Biology at CPP, Kelly worked at an ethnobotanical education center on campus and absolutely fell in love with helping people build meaningful connections with the natural world. She especially loves sharing the wonders of California native plants. In her free time she loves camping and hiking, reading good books, drinking tea, and playing with her pet bunny, Beanie Weenie. She is so excited for the adventures with the HAWKs students!

Mak grew up exploring the outdoors in and around Los Angeles, but it was the magical old-growth forests in Oregon that deepened her love for nature. Mak is passionate about fostering children's connection to the natural world through curiosity and creativity, inspiring them to discover how art and the environment intertwine. She also encourages cultivating a deep and personal bond with nature through practices like nature journaling and sit spots, helping children build mindfulness and appreciation for the world around them. Mak has experience in place-based learning and volunteer work in horticulture and climate justice. In her free time, she loves to listen to music, watch movies, craft with friends, and stay active through practicing yoga, swimming, hiking, pilates, HIIT workouts, or dancing in her living room.

Brenton (He/Him) is a certified California naturalist, photographer, and aspiring botanist with a love for California ecosystems. During the pandemic he discovered his profound love for being outside and began photographing wildflowers, trees, and bugs to pass the time. He realized he should focus his attention to helping others discover the wonders of outdoor recreation! He spends his off hours hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, going to the cinema, and seeing live music! He loves teaching at Hawks and is so grateful to be part this wonderful team of educators!

Rachel (she/her/hers) grew up on Balboa Island. The life she came across in and around the ocean helped form the curiosity and fascination she has with nature to this day. Rachel is creative, and loves creating art with discoveries from her hikes, most notably through photography and bug pinning. Rachel also loves working with kids, and has years of experience as a mentor and Outdoor Educator.

Jessica Jimenez is delighted to be part of the HAWKs LA family, sparking curiosity and excitement in students to explore nature's wonders. A Physics graduate from Cal State Dominguez Hills, Jessica’s love for teaching began at a non-profit organization called Alexandria House, where she led engaging science activities. Her love for the outdoors ignited during unforgettable middle school camping trips in Malibu. Now a special education aide, she continues exploring trails, fostering environmental stewardship, and sharing her enthusiasm for nature, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Alana grew up in Wisconsin. Part of her childhood was spent on her grandparents’ farm where she learned a love of the outdoors. Once she moved to Los Angeles, she developed a love for hiking and being in nature, her happy place Alana has a passion for hiking and helping kids foster a love for being in nature through games and activities. In her free time, Alana loves watching movies, spending time with loved ones, and hiking with her dog, Oso.

Julia grew up on the beach in Orange County and she cultivated her love of nature at sleep-away camp in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She has a passion for native plants and habitat restoration and is excited to foster explorers connection to nature through hiking, plant identification and song. When she's not at Hawks, Julia loves to crochet, rock climb and perform with her band!