Nick's life timeline (I'm sure you want to know it all:)
Age 0 - 7 yrs: born in Forest Grove, Oregon.
7 - 18 yrs: raised in Ashland, Oregon. I went to Ashland High School, played baseball and basketball, skied, worked at a local hotel for four years, and grew up exploring the surrounding mountains and coastline. Thank you Mom (Jill), Dad (Ken), and Sister (Cherie) for all your continued support.
18 - 22 yrs: I attended Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) knowing I would graduate with a biology degree. I loved my college experience for many reasons, but a few highlights include: earning my Dive Masters in SCUBA, assisting with marine research in Bocas del Toro, Panama and the Bahamas; attending OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Oregon Coast; and joining Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity (Balanced Man Program - Sound Mind Sound Body).
22 - 25 yrs: after graduating from OSU I spent my first summer in Florida teaching SCUBA diving. I drove back across country and accepted a position working at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California (a non-profit experiential educational facility). This is where I met my wife Libby! She is an outgoing, outdoorsy, amazing woman whose interests in terrestrial (land-based) predator-prey wildlife biology took us on our next few adventures in the Rocky Mountains!
25 - 28 yrs: Libby and I worked on the Yellowstone Wolf Project. We backpacked, flew (in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters), and skied all over Yellowstone in pursuit of observing wolves and in search of wolf-killed carcasses. When located, we would observe, record, and analyze wolf behavior, including predation. I had three very important life realizations during my time on the wolf project: 1) I love Libby for being a passionate person and for all our shared interests, 2) I am a Wildlife Ecologist, including interests in the roles of humans in nature, 3) being outdoors is who I am -- my physical movements (e.g. walking, hiking) and the mental stimulation of exploration and discovery feeds my everything.
28 - 30 yrs: Libby and I attended the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). We took on two separate Master's Projects, however we assisted with each others' research. Libby's research took us (by foot and helicopter) all over the Northern Rockies researching how large industry (e.g. oil/gas exploration) is impacting wolves, caribou, and their interactions. I proposed to Libby during her field research -- our helicopter pilot was in on it with me (too much fun, thank you Greg!). My research took us (by motorboat, canoe, kayak, and foot) to Tortuguero, Costa Rica to research how boat traffic is impacting local peoples, wildlife, and the environment. Libby and I were then married September 24, 2011 in Jasper National Park.
30 - 34 yrs: I have had the amazing opportunity to bring my experiences and passions into (and out of!) the classroom to share with High School students. To be completely honest, I may not be teaching without the unique opportunity that a project-based charter school like High Tech High provides teachers and students. With extremely enthusiastic and supportive administration and staff, I am able to create real-world meaningful projects that throw students into the shoes of biological and ecological scientists!! They are NOT simply reading about science, the students are the scientists doing science. With my passion for wildlife ecology and the outdoors, my classes spend a great deal of time outside exploring, researching, and staying healthy through hands-on minds-on local data collection and analysis. I love working with the community here at High Tech High Chula Vista, including our beautiful facility that overlooks miles of trails throughout the Otay River Valley. At 32 and at 36 yrs: Libby and I had our first baby boy Bechler and then our girl Taela! What an adventure it is to continue to see the world through new eyes.
34-40 yrs: As of the end of July 2017, our family moved to Missoula MT. Libby began her PhD with Dr. Mark Hebblewhite at the University of Montana. Our whole family assisted her in research on Caribou ecology in AK! She graduated in May of 2022 and started her position as the Director of Conservation Science with Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) - Go Libby Go!! I have been flexible for our family needs during COVID and worked with Montana Conservation Corps (MCC), Missoula Online Academy (MOA), and now as the Director of Project-Based Learning (PBL). My Driving Question in life: How do we further engage people through meaningful relevant projects that encourage the innovative curiosity necessary to better people, wildlife, and the environment? Oh yes, AND, my mission continues to be to get people of all ages outdoors early and often!
"Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction". - E.O. Wilson
Age 0 - 7 yrs: born in Forest Grove, Oregon.
7 - 18 yrs: raised in Ashland, Oregon. I went to Ashland High School, played baseball and basketball, skied, worked at a local hotel for four years, and grew up exploring the surrounding mountains and coastline. Thank you Mom (Jill), Dad (Ken), and Sister (Cherie) for all your continued support.
18 - 22 yrs: I attended Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) knowing I would graduate with a biology degree. I loved my college experience for many reasons, but a few highlights include: earning my Dive Masters in SCUBA, assisting with marine research in Bocas del Toro, Panama and the Bahamas; attending OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center on the Oregon Coast; and joining Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity (Balanced Man Program - Sound Mind Sound Body).
22 - 25 yrs: after graduating from OSU I spent my first summer in Florida teaching SCUBA diving. I drove back across country and accepted a position working at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California (a non-profit experiential educational facility). This is where I met my wife Libby! She is an outgoing, outdoorsy, amazing woman whose interests in terrestrial (land-based) predator-prey wildlife biology took us on our next few adventures in the Rocky Mountains!
25 - 28 yrs: Libby and I worked on the Yellowstone Wolf Project. We backpacked, flew (in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters), and skied all over Yellowstone in pursuit of observing wolves and in search of wolf-killed carcasses. When located, we would observe, record, and analyze wolf behavior, including predation. I had three very important life realizations during my time on the wolf project: 1) I love Libby for being a passionate person and for all our shared interests, 2) I am a Wildlife Ecologist, including interests in the roles of humans in nature, 3) being outdoors is who I am -- my physical movements (e.g. walking, hiking) and the mental stimulation of exploration and discovery feeds my everything.
28 - 30 yrs: Libby and I attended the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). We took on two separate Master's Projects, however we assisted with each others' research. Libby's research took us (by foot and helicopter) all over the Northern Rockies researching how large industry (e.g. oil/gas exploration) is impacting wolves, caribou, and their interactions. I proposed to Libby during her field research -- our helicopter pilot was in on it with me (too much fun, thank you Greg!). My research took us (by motorboat, canoe, kayak, and foot) to Tortuguero, Costa Rica to research how boat traffic is impacting local peoples, wildlife, and the environment. Libby and I were then married September 24, 2011 in Jasper National Park.
30 - 34 yrs: I have had the amazing opportunity to bring my experiences and passions into (and out of!) the classroom to share with High School students. To be completely honest, I may not be teaching without the unique opportunity that a project-based charter school like High Tech High provides teachers and students. With extremely enthusiastic and supportive administration and staff, I am able to create real-world meaningful projects that throw students into the shoes of biological and ecological scientists!! They are NOT simply reading about science, the students are the scientists doing science. With my passion for wildlife ecology and the outdoors, my classes spend a great deal of time outside exploring, researching, and staying healthy through hands-on minds-on local data collection and analysis. I love working with the community here at High Tech High Chula Vista, including our beautiful facility that overlooks miles of trails throughout the Otay River Valley. At 32 and at 36 yrs: Libby and I had our first baby boy Bechler and then our girl Taela! What an adventure it is to continue to see the world through new eyes.
34-40 yrs: As of the end of July 2017, our family moved to Missoula MT. Libby began her PhD with Dr. Mark Hebblewhite at the University of Montana. Our whole family assisted her in research on Caribou ecology in AK! She graduated in May of 2022 and started her position as the Director of Conservation Science with Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) - Go Libby Go!! I have been flexible for our family needs during COVID and worked with Montana Conservation Corps (MCC), Missoula Online Academy (MOA), and now as the Director of Project-Based Learning (PBL). My Driving Question in life: How do we further engage people through meaningful relevant projects that encourage the innovative curiosity necessary to better people, wildlife, and the environment? Oh yes, AND, my mission continues to be to get people of all ages outdoors early and often!
"Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction". - E.O. Wilson