STAFF
Laura Azzarello, Visitor Services Manager
Laura was raised in the Northern suburbs of Chicago and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois where she studied Natural Resources and Environmental Science. Throughout her studies she completed multiple internships around the world including in Hawaii and the Bahamas. Through these experiences, she learned the power of connecting people to nature and just how much she enjoyed doing so. In her new role as the Visitor Center Outreach and Education Coordinator, Laura hopes to continue her journey as an environmental educator. In her free time, Laura likes to do yoga, play with her cat Nina, paint, cook, and spend time in nature. Next time you're in the Visitor Center, don't forget to say hello!
Laura was raised in the Northern suburbs of Chicago and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois where she studied Natural Resources and Environmental Science. Throughout her studies she completed multiple internships around the world including in Hawaii and the Bahamas. Through these experiences, she learned the power of connecting people to nature and just how much she enjoyed doing so. In her new role as the Visitor Center Outreach and Education Coordinator, Laura hopes to continue her journey as an environmental educator. In her free time, Laura likes to do yoga, play with her cat Nina, paint, cook, and spend time in nature. Next time you're in the Visitor Center, don't forget to say hello!
Sam Bellis, Visitor Services Coordinator
Sam was raised in California where she was fortunate enough to explore the mountains, beaches, deserts, rivers, and forests. Deciding deserts were her favorite, Sam went to college in Arizona at Prescott College, where she was able to raft new rivers, backpack through canyons, and bask on the beaches of Sonora, Mexico. During all of this, she studied Environmental Science, learning about the birds, bugs, plants, and atmospheric processes that make a place a place. She also had the opportunity to work as an environmental educator at camps, schools, and afterschool programs. When she's not learning and teaching, Sam enjoys birding, painting, embroidering, and petting other people's dogs (with their permission of course). Sam is hoping to apply her experience and passion for environmental education to make your visitor center experience the best it can be!
Sam was raised in California where she was fortunate enough to explore the mountains, beaches, deserts, rivers, and forests. Deciding deserts were her favorite, Sam went to college in Arizona at Prescott College, where she was able to raft new rivers, backpack through canyons, and bask on the beaches of Sonora, Mexico. During all of this, she studied Environmental Science, learning about the birds, bugs, plants, and atmospheric processes that make a place a place. She also had the opportunity to work as an environmental educator at camps, schools, and afterschool programs. When she's not learning and teaching, Sam enjoys birding, painting, embroidering, and petting other people's dogs (with their permission of course). Sam is hoping to apply her experience and passion for environmental education to make your visitor center experience the best it can be!
Sam Orahood, Camp Coordinator and Environmental Educator
Sam was born in the country of Panamá then moved throughout the United States; Arizona, Kansas, Washington, Massachusetts, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and now Nevada. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Western Washington University where she studied Outdoor Recreation. Sam has spent most of her time as a wilderness guide in Alaska, teaching climbing to youth in Washington, and spreading her love for the natural world with others. In Sam’s free time she enjoys climbing, yoga, kayaking, backpacking, painting, and swimming. If you’re out on the trail and see Sam she always has a trash pocket for picking up litter, feel free to use it and say hi!
Sam was born in the country of Panamá then moved throughout the United States; Arizona, Kansas, Washington, Massachusetts, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and now Nevada. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Western Washington University where she studied Outdoor Recreation. Sam has spent most of her time as a wilderness guide in Alaska, teaching climbing to youth in Washington, and spreading her love for the natural world with others. In Sam’s free time she enjoys climbing, yoga, kayaking, backpacking, painting, and swimming. If you’re out on the trail and see Sam she always has a trash pocket for picking up litter, feel free to use it and say hi!
Zac Hummel, Camp Coordinator and Environmental Educator
Zac found his passion for the outdoors through backpacking in the Sierra Nevada range while growing up in California, and has since become an avid outdoor enthusiast. He spends his time rock climbing, playing music, reading, and exploring wilderness areas across the world. He is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Bioengineering, where he also played for the university soccer team. He since decided that he wanted to be part of the great movement to preserve the remaining wonders of our planet. By spreading personal interest and helping others find their place in nature, he wants to raise awareness about the importance to protect it. Everyone is drawn in different ways, and sometimes it just takes the right experience to spark eternal wonder!
Zac found his passion for the outdoors through backpacking in the Sierra Nevada range while growing up in California, and has since become an avid outdoor enthusiast. He spends his time rock climbing, playing music, reading, and exploring wilderness areas across the world. He is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Bioengineering, where he also played for the university soccer team. He since decided that he wanted to be part of the great movement to preserve the remaining wonders of our planet. By spreading personal interest and helping others find their place in nature, he wants to raise awareness about the importance to protect it. Everyone is drawn in different ways, and sometimes it just takes the right experience to spark eternal wonder!
Jake Weinberger, Naturalist and Environmental Educator
Jake was born in New York and grew up in Pennsylvania. He went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Conservation Biology and a Certificate in Environmental Studies. After graduating from college he moved down to south Florida and worked as a lab technician for a year. He went on to graduate school at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and received his Master of Professional Science degree in Marine Conservation in December of 2019. He has volunteered and worked at various wildlife and environmental programs, including the Museum Volunteer for the Environment (MUVE) group at a local museum in Miami, where he helped plant native plant species in the sand dunes to limit sea level rise and erosion and made a movie about it. He loves spending the time outdoors, educating the public about environmental awareness, and photography and videography. Jake is very excited about instilling environmental stewardship into the future generations.
Jake was born in New York and grew up in Pennsylvania. He went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Conservation Biology and a Certificate in Environmental Studies. After graduating from college he moved down to south Florida and worked as a lab technician for a year. He went on to graduate school at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and received his Master of Professional Science degree in Marine Conservation in December of 2019. He has volunteered and worked at various wildlife and environmental programs, including the Museum Volunteer for the Environment (MUVE) group at a local museum in Miami, where he helped plant native plant species in the sand dunes to limit sea level rise and erosion and made a movie about it. He loves spending the time outdoors, educating the public about environmental awareness, and photography and videography. Jake is very excited about instilling environmental stewardship into the future generations.
Patti Littell, Naturalist and Environmental Educator
Patti is originally from Illinois and that is where she found her passion for the environment. She continued her education at Northern Michigan University where she graduated this past December, with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. During her time there she spent two summers as a kayak guide for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. She also participated in EcoReps, where she was able to share sustainable information to her peers. Some of Patti’s background is in education where she spent a year as a student teacher. She is excited to combine her education and environmental background at Galena Creek. In her free time Patti enjoys slacklining, hammocking, kayaking and hiking.
Patti is originally from Illinois and that is where she found her passion for the environment. She continued her education at Northern Michigan University where she graduated this past December, with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. During her time there she spent two summers as a kayak guide for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. She also participated in EcoReps, where she was able to share sustainable information to her peers. Some of Patti’s background is in education where she spent a year as a student teacher. She is excited to combine her education and environmental background at Galena Creek. In her free time Patti enjoys slacklining, hammocking, kayaking and hiking.
VOLUNTEERS
Ed DeCarlo puts his 30-year Forest Service career to good use with the Great Basin Naturalists at Galena school field study program. He has a BS in Forest Management Science and a Secondary Teaching Certificate. Ed is passionate about the environment, is an avid skier, hiker, and paddle boarder. His expertise is in forestry, lands and water, wildlife habitat and winter recreation, and he enjoys living in Carson with his wife.
John Farley is a native of the Midwest. He spent his career at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he worked on many projects including the Hubble Space Telescope. Upon retiring in 2011, he moved to Washoe Valley. John enjoys spending time with his daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren, hiking with his dog, home remodeling, and winter sports. John manages the weekly guided hikes, either leading the hikes himself and sharing his extensive knowledge of the local area, or scheduling guest leaders with expertise in local history, animals or plants.
Jack Marsh hails from a small farming town in Southeastern Ohio. He graduated in 1958 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an electrical engineer and immediately went on active duty in the Navy. After a few years stationed on the East Coast, he returned to RPI and obtained a Masters and a PhD in physics working in magnetic resonance. The US Government employed him for roughly nine years primarily as a project manager for R&D. In 1975 he moved to Silicon Valley and founded a small electronics company specializing in equipment for the oil and gas industry where he served as president until his retirement in 1997. He and his wife, Becky, moved to Reno in 1999 where both are strong volunteers in our community.
Emma Wynn is a native of the United Kingdom. She lived in Indiana and Japan before moving to Reno with her husband in 2016. Emma has a BSc in Botany and a postgraduate teaching certificate; she has been involved in science and environmental education at a variety of levels and in a variety of roles during her adult life. She is excited to learn about this area and is thrilled to be able to share her passion for nature and the environment via volunteering at the Visitor Center.
