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

 

Program Assistant

Jacqueline Ruggieri joined the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon staff in 2020.  Before making the move to Bend, she called Yosemite National Park home for 8 years. While in Yosemite she worked as a Wilderness Ranger for the National Park Service and as an Environmental Science Educator with NatureBridge.  She received her B.S. in Environmental Education and Interpretation from Humboldt State University. She loves adventuring with camera in hand, experiencing cultures through travel, and spending time with family and friends.

541-383-5761     jacqueline@childrensforestco.org

Latino Outdoor Engagement Coordinator

Zavier Borja is a first generation Mexican-American, born and raised in Central Oregon. His passions include serving our youth and communities, equity, and getting outside. Zavier has worked for various youth programs for the past eight years, including the Boys and Girls Club, Bend Parks and Recreation District, and Education Outside in San Francisco. Most recently, Zavier worked for Bend-La Pine School District, as a Mentor Specialist for at-risk youth at Summit High School. In 2019, Zavi founded the Central Oregon chapter of Latino Outdoors. Zavier is joining the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon in 2020 with a new position that works to increase access to the outdoors for our LatinX populations here in Central Oregon.  The position works on behalf of the Central Oregon Partnership for LatinX Outdoor Access.

zavier.borja@vamonosoutside.org

AmeriCorps Member – NatureHoods Coordinator

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

 

Committees

Equity Committee:  Committee Job Description

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, Sophia Anguilla, Karina Smith, Mary Bowker, Katie Chipko, Jacqueline Ruggieri

Program Committee:  Committee Job Description

Katie Chipko (chair), Alyssa Grove, Karen Gentry, Carolyn Nesbitt, Becca Gilbert, Kileen Mitchell, Jill Nishball, Jennifer Mickelson, Tyler McRae, Eric Denzler, Amanda Accamando, Cara Gates, Jacqueline Ruggieri

Marketing Committee:  Committee Job Description

Lauren Williams (chair), Kassidy Kern, Amy Jensen, Becca Burda, Katie Chipko, Jacqueline Ruggieri

Fundraising Committee:  Committee Job Description

Kolleen Miller (chair), Bruce Abernethy, Rika Ayotte, Dana Whitelaw, Lynnanne Hayes, Lauren Williams

Health Committee:  Committee Job Description

Tamarra Harris (chair), Dr. Rebecca Hicks, Dr. Leslie Rust, Dr. Kristi Nix, Gwen Jones, Sue Boettner, Rebekah Berry, 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.