Our Team

Staff

Executive Director

Katie Chipko has been with the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon since 2012.  Previously, she has worked as an educator and Program Coordinator at North Cascades Institute in northern Washington, and Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center in Oregon.  She received her B.A. in Biology and Geography from the University of Colorado.  In her spare time, Katie can be found chasing around her two young children, hiking on local public lands, cooking, or enjoying a good book.

541-383-5592     katie@childrensforestco.org

Administrative Assistant

Kelly Sullins joined the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon staff in 2016.  Previously, she worked as the outreach and follow up specialist at Healthy Beginnings in Oregon, coordinating development and wellness screenings for children 0-5 years of age. Also, she teaches dance to children of all ages and has been doing so in Bend since 2007. She received her B.A. in Human Development and Family Sciences from Oregon State University, and is very excited to be a part of the team!

541-383-5761     kelly@childrensforestco.org

AmeriCorps Member – NatureHoods Coordinator

Cara Gates is an AmeriCorps Volunteer serving with the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon as the NatureHoods Coordinator for the 2019-2020 school year.  She received her B.S. from Humboldt State University in Zoology. Cara’s work experience includes wildlife rehabilitation and informal education.

naturehoods@childrensforestco.org

Board of Directors

Rika Ayotte (President)

Executive Director, Discover Your Forest

Robi Phinney (Vice President)

Vice Principal, La Pine Middle School

Gwen Jones (Secretary)

Project Manager, Central Oregon Health Council

Kevin Cole (Treasurer)

Chief Financial Officer, Mid-Oregon Credit Union

Sue Boettner

Recreation Services Manager, Bend Park and Recreation District

Linda Bonotto

Retired School Teacher

Zavier Borja

Central Oregon Ambassador, Latino Outdoors; Mentor, Bend-La Pine School District

Hayley Etnier

Behavior Program Administrator, Bend-La Pine Schools

Tamarra Harris

System Pediatrics Clinics Manager, Mosaic Medical

Lynnanne Hayes

Vice President, Visionary Homes

Anna Higgins (Ex officio)

Director of Innovation, High Desert Education Service District

Kolleen Miller

Education Director, Upper Deschutes Watershed Council

Kileen Mitchell (Ex officio)

Partnerships and Conservation Education Program Manager, Deschutes National Fore

Tory Kurtz

Rangeland Management Specialist, Ochoco National Forest

Kinsey Martin

Dual Immersion Program Director, Bend-La Pine Schools

Jill Nishball

Visitor Experiences Coordinator, Oregon State Parks

Lauren Williams

Communications Manager, The Environmental Center

Committee Members

Equity Committee:  Laura Handy (co-chair), Zavier Borja (co-chair), Kathya Avila Choquez, Priscilla Calleros, Karen Gentry, Becca Gilbert, Alyssa Grove, Amanda Jamison, Kecia Kubota, Kinsey Martin, Tyler McRae, Kileen Mitchell, Carolyn Nesbitt, Jill Nishball, Sasha Sulia

Program Committee:  Alyssa Grove, Karen Gentry, Carolyn Nesbitt, Becca Gilbert, Kileen Mitchell, Jill Nishball, Jennifer Mickelson, Tyler McRae, Eric Denzler, Amanda Accamando

Marketing Committee:  Rika Ayotte, Lauren Williams, Kassidy Kern, Suzanne Johnson, Amy Jensen

Fundraising Committee:  Bruce Abernethy, Kolleen Miller, Rika Ayotte, Dana Whitelaw, Lynnanne Hayes

Health Committee:  Dr. Rebecca Hicks, Dr. Leslie Rust, Dr. Kristi Nix, Tamarra Harris, Gwen Jones, Sue Boettner, Rebekah Berry, Lynnanne Hayes, Tory Kurtz, Nicole Lex, Anna Morris

Committees are open to community members.  Please contact katie@childrensforestco.org if you have an interest in joining a committee.

Inclusiveness

The Children’s Forest of Central Oregon welcomes students and participants of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military or marital status, age, sensory, physical or mental disability to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students and participants of our programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The Children’s Forest of Central Oregon does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies or programs.