Erika Weikel: Outdoor Education Program Specialist in San diego, CA

Provide customers with knowledge of outdoor areas, use of gear, determine the customer's wants and provide equipment to fit their ability all to increase their experience in the out of doors.

School site is visited each year by around 12,000 students from all over Southern CA. I helped raise staffs ability to understand students with special needs and ways for staff to accommodate and adapt their teaching and hikes to include students with various abilities. Each week I taught a new group of 25 students hands-on science in the 25,000 acre Cuyamaca State Park. Extensive knowledge in natural sciences and outdoor ethics. Curriculum aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards. Involved in several Citizen Science Projects with students, from plant phenology to Monarch health. Teach wilderness classes in rock climbing, hiking, archery and team building. With co-workers started a campus greenhouse, composting program, and habitat restoration/ fire recovery on campus .

Began changing the PE department to include nontraditional sports and started introducing outdoor environmental education to 350, K-5th grade students. Lead a classroom of 25, 4th graders and parents on a week long National Park camping trip to Joshua Tree NP. Lead hikes, scavenger hunts, night sky talks, bouldering and citizen science projects. Organized beach clean ups with 4th and 5th graders, students learned about life in tidal zones as well as human impact on the environment.

Safely lead groups of 10+ novice adults and kids on outdoor rock climbing trips. Encourage new experiences, share nature appreciation, park history and stewardship with clients while hiking through regional park and National Parks.

Advertised classes, lesson and tours on social media using Facebook, instagram, twitter as well as local magazines. . Taught classes on self-rescues, intro to kayaking, trip planning, manage retail shop purchases, sales and inventory, oversee employees, schedule employees, schedule classes, tours and rentals, & co-lead tours. Co-lead multi-day expeditions throughout the San Juan Islands with individuals of various abilities (eg. blind, CP, CF, MD, Spina Bifida, burn survivors).Responsible for keeping groups of kayakers together during open water and hazardous conditions, first-aid, safety, site and meal prep., take action when crises and emergency events arise.

Lead guided nature hikes and gave presentations to visiting school groups. Helped design and construct first ADA trail, native plant restoration, worked with the state entomologist on bark beetle research and removal. Trail patrol and interfacing with the public. Crises and emergency intervention, first aid.

Conduct workshops that help train Environmental Educators in how to adapt teachings to students with Special Needs. Train educators in various techniques from understanding students who have autism, group integration, and empower educators to have students who use wheelchairs to leave campus and hit the trails.