OUR TEAM
Team
Having grown up in the metropolitan area of Chicago where nature and farming are scarce; Dan first came out west for undergrad at Pitzer College in Claremont, CA. He spent as much time as possible on the coast, in the mountains, and the desert; growing his appreciation for nature and environmental preservation. Taking a break from school at age 18, Dan lived in a small town in Nepal, where food came directly from shared community farming and this exposure changed the course of his life. He was drawn to the mission of Slide Ranch to promote similar, often transformative experiences, especially to those who would normally not have access.
He holds an MBA in Sustainable Enterprise from Dominican University of California and for the last 20 years has been waiting patiently (and sometimes impatiently) for the opportunity to combine his experience, skill set, and values in a career-defining position. Slide Ranch was worth the wait.
Dan Miller (Llama)
Director of Operations
Tony Roth is a long-time Marin County resident / native with a passion for the environment in which he grew up. His love of the area, food and cooking brought him to Slide Ranch as the Farm to Table and “Experience” Manager with the goal of contributing to and supporting the mission of Slide Ranch. When he isn’t at Slide he can be found providing custom west Marin tours to tourists and locals alike as he educates about the area's rich history and culture while providing knowledgeable access to the pristine scenery, activities and culinary delights the area has to offer.
Tony Roth (Tidepool)
Ranch Manager
Luke grew up in and around Marin county eventually ending up in Woodacre. His roots with Slide run deep as his earliest memory there was as a baby strapped to his mother’s back. That’s really where his love of good food and where it comes from began. He’s currently studying Agroecology at UC Santa Cruz, where he lives in eternal gratitude for the nature and community he’s found there. When his hands aren’t in the soil you can find him in the pottery studio, practicing yoga, or spending time in the ocean.
Luke Goodman
Outdoor Instructor
Emily was born and raised in New York State. After finishing her degree in outdoor education, she immediately moved to California. She has backpack guided and taught environmental-based curriculum all over the state of California for three years, including in Point Reyes! Her biggest passion is teaching & encouraging curiosity and excitement within her students. You’ll often find her climbing, wearing ridiculous costumes, or taking photos of the beauty around her.
Emily Rose (Snail)
Outdoor Instructor
Elly grew up in Mill Valley fortunate to visit Slide Ranch as a kid. She studies sustainable solutions and environmental communication at Duke University where she also works in outdoor ed leading trips and at the climbing wall. Elly brings a passion for creating meaningful outdoor experiences for people and views that as important to tackling the climate crisis. She is very excited to live, learn, and teach at Slide Ranch this summer.
Elly Ronald
Outdoor Instructor
I am soo excited for a beautiful summer of exploring, eating, farming, teaching, and learning at Slide Ranch! I am very passionate about interactive, outdoor education for kids (and everyone) and deeply respect Slide Ranch's mission.
I study Environmental Studies at Scripps College, and just got back from my semester abroad where I focused on sustainable food systems, both production and consumption. From WWOOFing to working at my school's organic farm, I strongly believe in the power of connecting with our food system. I've worked with children for my whole life, and always find myself grounded by their optimism and imagination---I have just as much to learn from them!
I am a lifetime lover of hiking, cooking, gardening, and creative writing, and am currently working on incorporating more yoga, meditation, crafting, and dance into my life. Also, my favorite thing in the world is listening to people play music, so hopefully we can do a bit of that!
Claire Kotapish
Outdoor Instructor
Nutmeg
Also The Goat
Wendy Dalia has over 30 years of experience developing and leading environmental education and leadership programs for children ages 2 through 102. A coastal marine ecologist by training, Wendy has worked with a diversity of great environmental organizations including the Marine Science Institute, Redwood City, CA, San Francisco State University, Surfrider Foundation – Boston Chapter, Massachusetts Audubon’s Blue Hills Reservation, HOBBES – Hands on Boat Based Education & Science, the New England Aquarium, The National Audubon Society, and Marin GreenPlay. Wendy is also an Advaced Team Leader and Technical Rope trainer with Marin County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Unit.
Wendy Dalia (Willow)
Director of Programs
Rochelle is an East Bay native with 14 years experience in the nonprofit sector. She is passionate about supporting youth, families and community and connecting people to nature. Rochelle is especially excited about the work Slide Ranch is doing to provide experiences to underserved communities through its scholarship programs and grants. She is also an avid fan of all things Disney and a true 49ers Faithful.
Rochelle Tolbert (Quail)
Office Manager
Hogan Kinder (Morning Dew)
Ranch Hand
Myla grew up in Southern Marin County but has spent considerable time between Marin and the Boston area. She has spent considerable time exploring the outdoors, backpacking since she was 6 and raising chickens since age 10. She’s happy to share her love of the ranch with visiting groups!
Myla Dalia (Robin)
Outdoor Instructor
Jordan grew up surrounded by nature and nature-lovers in San Rafael, learning to love and care for the land through scouting and her school mountain biking team. She ventured down to San Diego for a degree in engineering and geology at UCSD and Scripps Institute of Oceanography, where she found joy in the outdoors through both a scientific and personal lens. Outside of class, she was able to foster her passion for outdoor education and empowerment through her weekends and summers spent as a kayak tour guide, and enjoyed forging connections with friends and landscapes through backpacking, snorkeling, kayaking, and biking. This will be her first summer at Slide Ranch, and she couldn't be more excited!
Jordan Locke
Outdoor Instructor
My name is Farah! I grew up in Marin County, going to Slide Ranch as a teen. I love backpacking and anything in nature. Right now, I am going into my sophomore year at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. My field of study is organic agriculture and environmental science. Recently, I took a Wilderness First Responder course, which has opened up a whole new world for me! I think providing kids with an education on farming and the environment is so important, and I am glad to be a part of such a great community.
Farah Loll
Extended Care Counselor
Ava Lovelace is native to the central coast of California and has always been drawn towards nature. She is passionate about connecting kids to the environment, and is always ready and willing to learn more herself. She grew up frequently visiting her grandparents ranch where she was always seen with a chicken on her hip and a corn snake in her hand. She is so excited to be apart of the Slide Ranch family!
Ava Lovelace
Outdoor Instructor
Myla has known the magic of Slide Ranch since first kneading, baking, and then tasting warm bread overlooking the ocean as a child during a program on site. Myla brings over two decades of experience in environmental education, transformative outdoor experiences, and nonprofit leadership. Prior to joining Slide as Executive Director, she led the wilderness and environmental education programs as Senior Director at Camp Tawonga near Yosemite National Park and served as Director of Training at Playworks, a national youth development nonprofit based in Oakland. She also worked with Sierra Club’s Inspiring Connections Outdoors, serving people historically underrepresented in outdoor spaces, and guided youth on outdoor trips across the country. Myla earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Vassar College and a Master of Public Administration with a focus in Nonprofit Management from the University of Oregon. She loves hiking in towering redwood forests and swimming in California’s waters with her community of friends and family.
Myla Marks
Executive Director
Jack has an interest in the connections between natural and human history sparked by the glacial-industrial landscape of their native Cleveland, Ohio, and experience doing geological research throughout the American West. More recently, they have led outdoor environmental programs for public and Montessori schools, and adults with intellectual disabilities, and led environmentally-focused tours for private clients. Their love of teaching began as a college student, where they taught classes on building giant puppets. When not working, they enjoy opera, collecting vintage perfume, and karaoke.
Jack Hoehn (Vulture)
Program Coordinator
Nikos Kuimelis (Tuna)
Ranch Hand
Hi, I'm Gabby! I'm from Nashville, Tennessee and I recently graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S. in environmental science. Since graduating, I've been working at a nonprofit urban garden and as an after school teacher. I love the combination of working in agriculture and with kids, which is what drew me to Slide Ranch (along with my adoration of the SF Bay Area). In my free time, I enjoy biking, hiking, gardening, fishing, camping-- anything that gets me outside. I also love to read, cook, and play guitar & bass!
Gabby Wakefield
Outdoor Instructor
41!
41
The Goat
Cristina Sanchez (she/her) was born and raised in South Carolina and recently graduated from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC. She pursued a degree in business, while working on her college farm for 4 years, where she fell in love with growing vegetables, driving tractors, and teaching others about land stewardship. She can’t wait to spend the summer at beautiful Slide Ranch and share the joy of the land with everyone she can!
Cristina Sanchez
Outdoor Instructor
Jezra (he/they) loves to be in community in nature. They are currently an environmental educator in Yosemite and in the past have worked as an agroecology researcher. Jezra is a lover of all things water and is excited to trade dips in mountain streams for jumps in the ocean.
Jezra Epstein
Outdoor Instructor