OUR TEAM
L to R: Patrick, Xiomara, Carolyn, Jenny, Dani, Olivia, Samaya, Scott
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Scott started his career at Unilever and later worked at Activision, Mediacentrix and a start-up or two. A self-proclaimed "intrepreneur," he has experience working in finance, brand management, and entertainment.
But it was his passion for children and education, as well as the environment, science and technology that led him to working with nonprofits. It was at the Los Angeles inner-city agency A Place Called Home where, for more than 10 years, Culbertson was dedicated to supporting and helping provide opportunities for youth living and growing up in one of the most challenging zip codes in Los Angeles.
"I am honored to serve this remarkable organization that changed the fate of an environmental gem. Today more than ever, the Ballona Wetlands, like so many other important ecological sites, faces many challenges and an uncertain future. I strongly believe we have an obligation to continue the important work that was started 40 years ago at Friends of Ballona Wetlands. With a dedicated and knowledgeable staff, an engaged and supportive board, steadfast partners, and the community’s support, I look forward to helping sustain this urban oasis."
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Carolyn oversees school field trips for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade along with Explore Ballona! Nature Camp.
When not in the field leading tours, she is working to create school tours to support state standards, including Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Having worked locally in the Santa Monica Mountains before joining the Friends of Ballona Wetlands team, Carolyn enjoys seeing how the mountains are tied to the wetlands and ocean through the watershed.
Carolyn is a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) through the National Association for Interpretation, a Project WET and Project Learning Tree trainer and facilitator, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
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While studying cellular biology at Cal State University Long Beach, her love for numbers and spreadsheets drew her to bookkeeping and accounting. After nearly a decade in the private sector, she joined the Friends in 2017, intent on working with passionate people dedicated to creating more opportunities for the community to connect with nature.
In her free time, Dani enjoys hiking, camping, and rock climbing. She frequently volunteers for local causes and also raises and trains service dogs for the blind.
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Olivia's role is as multifaceted as the wetland ecosystem she helps preserve. Her work encompasses scientific research, restoration monitoring, and community education.
Olivia's journey with the Friends began in 2021 when she interned in our science and restoration programs. It was during this time that her passion for birds took flight. One special moment was spotting a juvenile Least Bittern camouflaged in the reeds after a week of surveys, that discovery deepened her appreciation for the intricate beauty of wetland life.
She has hands-on experience monitoring at-risk species on the Southern California coast, including the El Segundo Blue Butterfly, California Gnatcatcher, Western Snowy Plover, and Least Tern. Olivia believes community involvement is critical to the success of research and conservation efforts, and is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the Friends’ staff, interns, volunteers, and partners who share her dedication.
Her educational includes a BA in Geography/Environmental Studies and Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) from UCLA. After a career in urban planning, she returned to graduate school, receiving an MS in Conservation and Restoration Science from UC Irvine.
Olivia is thrilled to learn from the land and its many advocates and caretakers, especially the Tongva, the original stewards.
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Xiomara has always loved the outdoors but her passion for nature blossomed while working at a conservation corps where she learned about conservation and the importance of protecting our natural spaces. She learned about native fauna and flora, became a UC Certified Naturalist, and used her skills to protect and conserve wildlife all around the San Bernardino Mountains.
She then took her skills and worked as an outdoor guide for schools where they took students all around California, doing recreational activities like hiking, kayaking and rock climbing. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of nature with students and creating fun and engaging educational material for them. At Ballona Wetlands, she strives to teach students about the importance of wetlands, and hopes to encourage them to become future stewards of the land.
In her free time she enjoys hiking, crocheting, and visiting national parks. She also volunteers at local clean ups and tree planting events in her community.
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As a child, Jenny heard a unique “tee-hee tee-hoo” call around her childhood home that sparked her curiosity for the environment and intensified her love for nature. Eventually, she found that the call she had been hearing was from the Black Phoebe. Ever since, identifying animals and plants became a hobby that shaped her eagerness to understand the world around her.
Jenny earned her B.S in geology at UCLA, where she was able to further understand the planet she so deeply loves. During her time there, she worked as a geology specialist for a non-profit organization dedicated to providing schools with laboratory equipment.
Growing up in South Central LA, Jenny did not have much access to nature. Her undergraduate courses, consisting of camping trips, were her first real exposure to the wilderness. Her studies inspired her to share the joy her new-found knowledge bestowed her with others, especially those from underserved backgrounds. At Friends of Ballona Wetlands, Jenny hopes to instill students with a passion for conservation and nurture a growth mindset.
In her free time, Jenny enjoys running, hiking, and collecting rocks.
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Growing up in the South Bay area of Los Angeles and constantly going to the beach and local parks with her family, Samaya developed a strong connection to the natural world.
She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with minors in Sustainable Environments and Ethnic Studies and Master's degree in Public Policy from the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO). While there she taught environmental education programs to local elementary school students, interned for a local elected official, and generally kept very busy! After graduation, Samaya has worked for Restore America's Estuaries, a nationwide nonprofit, and interned at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum through an internship with the Hispanic Access Foundation.
With the Friends, she intends to create positive connections to the outdoors for fellow Angelenos. Samaya wants to continue working toward a world that she would want to see, one where there is equitable access to nature, opportunity, and exciting experiences!
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Patrick grew up in Playa del Rey, CA, with the Ballona Wetlands right in his backyard, inspiring a life-long appreciation of and passion for wetlands and wildlife. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, a city where the natural and built environments blend and merge almost seamlessly.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, Patrick began his career working in the environmental non-profit world with Heal the Bay, where he was the Coastal Cleanup Day coordinator, successfully implementing over 50 clean-up sites throughout Los Angeles County for the annual Coastal Cleanup Day volunteer event.
Since joining Friends of Ballona Wetlands, Patrick has continued the Friend’s critical work to restore Ballona's coastal sand dunes while managing and growing the educational programs for high school, university, and the general public. From the tiny El Segundo Blue Butterflies to the majestic Great Blue Herons, the rich diversity of wildlife at Ballona never ceases to amaze Patrick.
California Climate Action Corps Fellows
L to R: Ngoc, Gicela, Erin, Ruben
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Ruben is a visual artist, born and raised in Los Angeles, a concrete jungle with green spaces few and far between. Among his favorite memories growing up in LA are travelling with family and friends to new cities, national parks, trails, and exploring the many free museums across the city. As a Latino from a low-income family, attending Title-1 schools allowed Ruben the opportunity to participate in several week-long camping trips and workshops he otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to. Through these various different programs, he was able to interact with the environment and learn the importance of various native plants and animals. As a result, his appreciation and respect for the environment grew into a passion, and he began volunteering at local community events, including beach clean-ups and habitat restoration events.
These interests led Ruben to a Spring-Summer Environmental Education internship with Friends of Ballona Wetlands. Working alongside FBW staff allowed him to gain hands-on experience with restoration efforts, getting local communities involved, and individually reducing our carbon footprints. Ruben enjoyed the experience immensely, which led him to apply for the California Climate Action Corps fellowship.
Ruben is beyond excited to be a CCAC Fellow at his local wetland, putting good work towards restoration efforts, and expanding his knowledge with a great team to spread appreciation for our beautiful and diverse habitats to communities across LA.
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Erin was born and raised in Los Angeles where they developed a passion for protecting the environment after they took AP Environmental Science. They went to college at UC Santa Cruz where they double majored in Environmental Studies and Literature, along with a minor in Anthropology. Throughout college, Erin participated in environmental internships, doing things like habitat restoration at the Younger Lagoon Reserve, or bird taxidermy at the Norris Center for Natural History.
While in school, Erin also developed a deep understanding of the importance of community and mutual aid, volunteering with the student group Community Aid and Resources (CARe) where they helped provide healthcare supplies and other services for the unhoused population in Santa Cruz.
Their experiences with environmental stewardship and community involvement have inspired Erin to look for ways to combine these passions. When they relocated back to Los Angeles the Ballona Wetlands were the perfect crossroads of both community and environment. After interning/volunteering for a few years, Erin was able to become a full time California Climate Action Corps Fellow at the Ballona Wetlands, where they will spend this year participating in outreach, education, and restoration projects.
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Gicela is a dedicated restoration ecologist-in-the-making deeply passionate about bridging traditional ecological knowledge and community science. Her passion stems from her upbringing as a diasporic Indigenous Oaxacan, who struggled to access science education and natural spaces in her community. Despite the challenges, Gicela persevered and earned her B.A. in Geography/Environmental Studies with a minor in Environmental Systems & Society from UCLA.
At Friends of Ballona Wetlands, Gicela joins us with comprehensive experience in outdoor education and interpretive programming as a certified California Naturalist. She also graduated from Audubon’s Coastal Leadership Program, where she was introduced to coastal conservation and birthed her birding practice.
In her free time, she is strengthening her skills as an urban nature photographer.
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Ngoc's connection to nature began in their early childhood in Vietnam, where they were raised by grandparents who worked as cattle ranchers and farmers. This formative experience instilled in them a deep understanding of the interdependence between people and the environment. After immigrating to Southern California, Ngoc had limited access to green spaces until attending university, where they reconnected with nature through coursework and campus organizations.
Ngoc earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and a minor in South and Southeast Asian Studies from UC Berkeley. During their time at the university, they worked on projects exploring the intersections of environmentalism, race, and labor. They also bring experience from working with nonprofit organizations focused on Indigenous-led climate solutions, where they advocated for decolonial approaches to climate mitigation. Ngoc uses creative tools such as videography, photography, and graphic design to communicate stories around environmental justice.
As a California Climate Action Fellow at Friends of Ballona Wetlands, Ngoc looks forward to learning how environmental education curricula are developed and deepening their understanding of the Gabrielino-Tongva people’s relationship to the wetlands.