Rachel is a passionate conservationist and wildlife enthusiast with a deep-rooted connection to nature. Originally from the Traverse City area, Rachel has been lucky to have been surrounded by Nature for the majority of her life so far. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Michigan Technological University and speaks fondly of her time in the Copper Country. Over the past six years, she has worked in Environmental and Outdoor Education at GTCD. Starting as the Education Specialist and now as the Education and Camp Director she has fostered a true love for the outdoors in people of all ages. Her career also includes valuable experience with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, first as an Explorer Guide, and later as an Education Specialist through an AmeriCorps service position.
Growing up in northern Michigan, Rachel developed her lifelong love of nature through hunting and fishing with her dad and spending summers on her family's sesquicentennial farm, where she learned the value of hard work and environmental stewardship. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her husband and their two golden retrievers, Rosco and Duke. She is also a professional wedding photographer and strives for personal connections with those around her and living by the idea of, “lets go for a walk”! With a commitment to preserving the natural world, Rachel continues to inspire others to connect with and care for the environment.
