Hey, y’all! My name is Ashley Payne or as students like to refer to me as, “Artichoke Ashley”. I am originally a small-town girl from Prescott Wisconsin who decided to move to the big Redwood forests of California in order to pursue my passion for teaching middle school-aged students about nature, stewardship, and science. I went to college at Winona State University in Minnesota where I studied Communications with an emphasis on leadership and advocacy. I am excited to further develop my leadership skills here at Mission Springs and I hope to be able to inspire awe and passion in students through teaching. Just in case you needed to know, I absolutely love eating whole apples and I am terrified of Ladybugs. 🙂
Steve Buffington
My name is Steve Buffington and I’m originally from Sugar Hill, GA. Went to school at Toccoa Falls College. I’m stoked to be a naturalist because I love teaching and experiential learning. A few fun facts about me: I Used to bench 425 lbs; I love surfing and running.
Michelle Garcia
My name is Michelle and I was born and raised in sunny San Diego, California. In college, I studied Environmental Science and fell in love with exploring the local wilderness. When I’m not hiking, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, playing board games, collecting rocks, and eating as much food as I possibly can. I am so excited to be a naturalist at Mission Springs so I can get to know some redwood trees and pass on my love for the outdoors. See ya’ on the trails!