Becky Collier, Program Coordinator

Becky is originally from Decatur, AL. She spent her youth in Minnesota and Illinois before returning to Athens, AL for high school. Her undergraduate degree is in Wildlife Management from Auburn University and she earned a M. Ed. in Secondary Science Education from North Georgia College in 2004. She taught high school Biology, Environmental Science and Meteorology in Georgia for four and a half years before entering the Environmental Education field with McDowell Environmental Center as their Program Coordinator. She has worked for the Raptor Center in Auburn, Zoo Atlanta, the Kelley Bartlett Conservancy, and Cowboy Conservation Consulting for bird of prey programs across the United States. Her favorite pastimes include hiking with her pups (Sydney and Penny), reading, bird training and spending time with her nephews.

“To accept the hard truths above one's comfortable illusions is at the heart of science..” - Carl Sagan

Allison "Al" Pickel, Interim Assistant Coordinator of Programming

Al is originally from Goodville, PA, though for the past eight years she has called Alabama home. She went to Judson College in Marion, AL working toward degrees in both History and Art. She has worked in the Environmental Education field for the last 5 years teaching, developing curriculum and using her art skills to help create murals and decorate nature centers. In the rare moments she is not immersed in her work, she enjoys wandering around Alabama, painting in the great outdoors, getting in pools or large bodies of water and reading. She is the proud owner of Chahaba, one of the crankiest rabbits in all of the south and a cat, Ellie, who you've probably heard because she meows so loudly!

“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present .” - Albert Camus

Scottie Jackson, Interim Assistant Coordinator of Animal Care

Following her graduation from Hewitt-Trussville High School in 2005, Scottie pursued her interest in the natural sciences, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Samford University in December 2008.  She then earned her master’s degree in Environmental Management in August 2011.  While at Samford, she studied water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate populations in a Birmingham creek, as well as participating in the biological honor society, Beta Beta Beta.   Scottie has worked as a consulting biologist for Conservation Easement Consultants.  She also held the positions of songbird intern and wildlife rehabilitator at the Alabama Wildlife Center.  In addition, during her time there, Scottie had the privilege of working with the education program.  She assisted with training of their four birds of prey as well as presenting programs to the public.  In her spare time, Scottie enjoys birding, hiking, swimming, and spending time with her family, which includes five cats, two dogs, and five horses.

“Our task must be to free ourselves...widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”  -Albert Einstein

Christine Devito, CRSS Instructor

Christine is originally from Windsor, CT. In the Spring of 2011, she graduated from Green Mountain College located in Poultney, Vermont earning her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in education and recreation. She has been teaching in the field of environmental education for the last 5 years. More recently, she graduated from the National Park Service, Seasonal Law Enforcement Training program at Southwestern Community College in Franklin, NC. In her spare time, Christine wears a third hat as a certified firefighter in her hometown and has a passion for helping people.

“I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.” Walt Disney

Katherine Linnemanstons, CRSS Instructor

Katherine is originally from Mequon, WI. She spent her college years in northern Indiana at the University of Notre Dame, earning a degree in Science-Business and Spanish. She also represented the university for four years as a member of the varsity women's rowing team. Since graduating in May, Katherine has worked as an environmental educator in coastal North Carolina. In her free time, Katherine loves eating her mom's baked goods, cheering on her beloved Fighting Irish, and debating which sport to pursue next!

Rich Krudner, CRSS Instructor

Rich is from New York City, but he spent a great deal of time growing up in the Catskill Mountains.  Rich graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Biology, a minor in Chemistry, and a NY State Teaching Certificate.  Rich fell in love with teaching in the outdoors during the fall of 2011 at Frost Valley YMCA.  Rich enjoys backpacking, anything competitive, and being a dork. 

“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.”  ― Charles Darwin

Eli Rolli, CRSS Instructor

Eli is from Mineral Point, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Wildlife Ecology. After graduating from college Eli worked with a grad student on a Wild Turkey research project in Central Wisconsin. For the past year he has served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Massachusetts and Utah. As an AmeriCorps volunteer he taught environmental education programs to elementary school students both indoors and out of doors. In his free time, Eli enjoys fishing, hiking, watching movies and reading.

Christopher Whitaker, CRSS Instructor

Chris is originally from Doylestown, PA. He completed his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in May 2011 with a B.S. in Wildlife Science and Biology minor. One of Chris’s main passions in life is traveling the world to experience difference cultures and wildlife. He was fortunate enough to study abroad in two of his favorite countries. In 2009 he spend 3.5 weeks in Queensland, Australia, studying “Sustainability of Humans and the Environment” taking him to the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, and the Daintree Rainforest.  In 2011 he spend 3 weeks in South Africa studying “Ecosystems, Wildlife Management, and Nature Conservation” taking him to Kruger National Park as well as remote bush camps and game reserves.  During the summer of 2010, Chris completed an internship in Alaska estimating Kenai Brown Bear populations through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Chris hopes to take what he has learned over the past years and educate others on the importance of sustaining natural resources and the environment.

“Happiness is only real when shared”   -Christopher McCandless

Dana Henry, CRSS Instructor

Being a "Navy brat" and service member, Dana has lived all over the world, but in July of 2005, she decided to make Clanton, Alabama her home. Dana enrolled in the University of Montevallo and graduated with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. Since then, she has been a substitute teacher for Clanton and Jemison Schools and a science instructor at the 4-H Center. Dana's favorite past times are gardening, bird watching and hanging out with her three sons: James, Elijah and Noah.

Carion Neal, CRSS Instructor

Carion is originally from Clinton, MS.  He moved to Alabama in 2006 to attend Birmingham-Southern College where he earned a BS in Biology with a minor in Urban Environmental Studies.  He loves watching and playing basketball, spending time outdoors, interacting with animals, learning, and sharing knowledge with others.

“…The saddest thing in life is wasted talent, and the choices that you make will shape your life forever…” – Calogero “C” Anello

Megan Vanderkooi, CRSS Instructor

Megan is from Zeeland, Michigan. She graduated from the Alma College with a degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies. After graduating from college Megan taught as an environmental education instructor in Texas. In her free time, Megan enjoys hiking, mountain biking and reading.

"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ashton Haislip, CRSS Intern / University of Montevallo

Ashton is originally from Huntsville, AL. She spent her high school years inthe small, tourist town of Hannibal, MOalong the Mississippi River. Knowing since her youth she wanted to attend the University of Montevallo, Ashton moved back to Alabama after graduation. She is currently working towards her degree in Child and Family Studies. Ashton has a deep passion for traveling,and will always find the time to read a good book.

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." --Albus Dumbledore

Jonathan Harrison,

CRSS Intern / Summer Camp Head Counselor

Jonathan is from Columbiana, Alabama. He is a graduate of Shelby County High School and is currently attending Jefferson State Community College majoring in Mass Communications and Public Relations. He enjoys being outside, singing and being on the water.

“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart...I'll always be with you." - Winnie the Pooh