WHO WE ARE
BAWT staff, interns, and instructors all work together to support more youth leaders every year. For any questions or inquiries for staff, feel free to reach out through our Contact page or email us at info@bawt.org.
staff
Sydnie Kleiva, Programming & Operations Associate
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Planted and grown in the rural north end of Kitsap County in Washington State, this outdoor enthusiast had the luxury of growing up surrounded by the Suquamish tribe, a relative of the Seattle Duwamish tribe. Their humanitarian drive comes not only from the support of family but also from seeing the displacement of native people dressed up as historic towns like Port Gamble on the Hood Canal. Port Gamble was the starting point for a decade of work in the service industry where they learned a unique set of skills that are helping BAWT with its unique set of obstacles. In their free time, they prioritize fitness to stay agile enough for any of the adventures waiting in the wilderness, or in the metropolis. With a particular love for backpacking, they hope to complete the PCT before kicking the bucket.
Erika Bruno, Program Coordinator
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Erika was born and raised in the South Bay (Area) but has spent time living on the North Coast and overseas. As a young child, she was introduced to nature through hiking and camping at various regional and state parks around California through her schooling. After a few years of disconnect during her high school years, Erika relocated to the land of old-growth redwoods as a student of Humboldt State University. Living in this region caused her to reconnect with nature through hiking and backpacking. She also gained more awareness of the area’s indigenous communities, encouraging her to better understand those who historically have been stuck in the periphery.
During her pursuit of a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Global Cultural concentration, she explored different parts of the world. Such travels continued post-undergrad, in which she became exposed to varying groups of people and their relationship with flora and fauna in their regions. Such an experience taught her how to become a member of distinct communities across age groups, interests, and cultures.
Also, during this time, she became engrossed in the world of rock climbing. She heavily pursued the sport to the point where she attended many technically focused courses in conjunction with classes on movement. She even obtained a Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI) certification to teach peers and mentees some basic yet necessary skills. One day, her goal is to become certified as a Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) and teach valuable life lessons on the rock.
After returning to the U.S., Erika started to notice the inequities experienced within the world of the outdoor industry. While working in outdoor gear rentals and sales, she began to reflect upon outdoor recreation’s demographic dynamic. Wanting to see changes, this led her to search for affinity groups starting with rock climbing. Such groups further emphasized discussing topics, such as accessibility and inclusion, from an intersectional standpoint. These connections partly influenced her to obtain some Restorative Justice (RJ) and Non-Violent Communication (NVC) training.
Fast forwarding, Erika is looking to continue her education outside of being knowledgeable about gear and its uses. In the Fall of 2020, she began her MA in Human Rights Education at the University of San Francisco with the hopes of creating a positive impact and systemic change. Additionally, she is looking to learn further about guiding larger groups. In short, Erika hopes to build a strong sense of community by fostering a safe place for dialogue, conversation, and growth. After all, nature is both a nurturing and healing space. Everyone deserves the right to feel a connection to the earth beneath their feet.
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Lindsay Zapata, Development Manager
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Lindsay is a true desert dweller coming from the high temperatures of Phoenix, Arizona. Graduating from Arizona State University with her degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Lindsay has dedicated her career to learning the ins and outs of fundraising. Outside of work, Lindsay has spent countless hours exploring her favorite Arizona trails around the Sedona Red Rocks and kayaking on the desert’s many lakes. Inspired by the wonder of Grand Canyon National Park – her favorite spot in the West, Lindsay believes every child deserves the opportunity to connect with wild sceneries that awes and empowers them. Understanding the system of oppression that prevents youth of color from exploring the outdoors, Lindsay is motivated for her start at BAWT!
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Zulma Terrones, Executive Director
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Growing up in Chicago Zulma had minimal interaction with nature and outdoor adventure. Her first in-depth engagement opportunities came as a young adult as she traveled across Europe, Latin America and Oceania for over four years. During her travels she experienced the rebalancing power of nature and witnessed positive transformational changes in diverse populations after engagement with the outdoors. This inspired Zulma to work with youth in a variety of outdoor nonprofits to help promote healthy relationships with nature at a young age. She was also prompted to enhance her own relationship to nature and its wide benefits by engaging in novel outdoor sports. This included competing as a dragon boat paddler for a local team in Melbourne, Australia and an eights rower for Wolfson College at the University of Cambridge as Zulma completed her master’s in Psychology and Education. Since returning to the States in early 2019 Zulma has ventured into mountaineering and cross-country skiing, and she continues to explore new outdoor activities to integrate into her regular practice of trail running, cycling, hiking and yoga. Zulma is excited to join BAWT and synthesize her knowledge in outdoor education research, nonprofit programming/organization and holistic health with her passion for outdoor adventure to support the development of healthy, inclusive and sustainable connections to the outdoors for local youth, community leaders, educators and other Bay Area members.
Aurora La Brenz, Intern
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Aurora grew up in Southern California where she spent her summers in various national parks, camping with her family. Her introduction to the outdoors at a young age fed her passion for wilderness experiences and desire to explore.
As a young adult, Aurora decided to step back from academia and pursue her dreams of backpacking abroad, as well as completing long-distance backpacking trails in the U.S. The years she spent walking and wandering exposed her to new cultures and world views. These experiences deeply influenced Aurora’s relationship with nature and her desire to pursue a philanthropic career.
Now, Aurora finds herself back in the university system as she pursues a degree in Community Studies at UC Santa Cruz. She hopes her next adventure will be a career that combines women and girls’ rights with environmental justice.
Faculty Instructors
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Aaron Byrd
Aaron grew up in Highland Park, IL where he explored ravines and swam in Lake Michigan. Most of his outdoor recreation during childhood was on baseball diamonds in Northern Illinois. His first time sleeping under the stars was at age 19 in the Mojave dessert, and his first backpacking trip was that same year in Yosemite. Since moving to California for college, Aaron has traded his bat and glove for hiking boots and a backpack. In 2006 he reluctantly participated in BAWT’s Wilderness Leadership Training so that he could get free gear for his San Francisco-based youth program. But he got hooked. In 2007 he became and instructor and from 2011 to 2018 he was the program director at BAWT. He is proud to have been of the staff and board team that worked with the BAWT community to increase the organization’s commitment to championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice. Aaron, lives in Oakland with his partner and youth child, and he is studying to become a nurse.
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Andrea Fraume
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Chris Hawthorne
Chris grew up on the East coast and now resides in the Monterey area. Chris has been working in public education for the greater part of a decade, and now runs the Makerspace at Seaside High School. In his role there he encourages youth to explore their creativity in the classroom and to explore the wilds of the central coast. He serves on the board of The Outdoor Collective, a project of the Children Are Our Future Foundation that like BAWT, works to train youth workers and leaders to get young people outdoors. He is honored to be a part of this outstanding community of leaders, and looks forward to continuing to run trips with BAWT.
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Christian Lamonea
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Freddy Mesa
Frederick Douglass Mesa has worked in the field of youth development and education for 18 years. Frederick is passionately dedicated to youth empowerment and leadership, cultural awareness and appreciation, and social justice and change. The multiculturalism and commitment to community that Frederick brings supports his community to feel respected and valued. As a father of five, Frederick understands the importance of positive male role models of color for all youth despite race, ethnicity, gender or social status. As an inner-city urban youth of color raised by a single mother, he brings experience and insight to the issues facing the young people he serves.
Javier Meléndez
Javier Meléndez graduated from Andrews University in 2015 with both a Master of Social Work and Master of Arts in Youth and Young Adult Ministry. He now works as a Behavioral Health Clinician serving mainly high school aged youth who have emigrated from various Central American countries. Javier’s therapeutic philosophy and practice aims to reconnect client’s to their Emotions, to their Body, to Others, to Nature, and to the Divine. As a result, he has an affinity towards Nature-based therapies, where Nature becomes a co-facilitator for the therapeutic process and allows clients to experience a more holistic sense of healing and well-being. Because Javier believes reconnection to nature can bring emotional, physical, and spiritual healing, he aims to incorporate outdoor experiences in both his professional and personal life every chance he gets.
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Jen Antonuccio
Jen is a Middle School counselor at Willard in Berkeley. She loves combining outdoor education with her work as a school counselor where she prioritizes getting kids outdoors whenever possible. She has been on the BAWT Faculty since 2002 and has experience instructing all of BAWT’s courses. Jen is Wilderness First Aid certified. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, backpacking, camping, kite boarding, and climbing.
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Jenna Topper
Jenna graduated from Sonoma State in 2016 with a degree in Environmental Studies. She began facilitating youth in the outdoors as a young teen, and over the years she has developed a strong skill set and comprehensive understanding of what it takes to ensure a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for participants in the outdoors. Jenna has expertise in environmental education using informal learning settings and immersive experiences. She coordinates kayaking, rafting, backpacking, hiking, zip lining, and camping trips for high school youth. Jenna is Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder Certified and has been a participant in all of BAWT’s educator trainings. Jenna is constantly seeking adventure, new experiences, and new relationships. She looks forward to exploring the outdoors and learning together with you!
Jill Greenblatt
Jill has traveled several interconnected pathways in the world of nonprofits, following her passion for building more sustainable, connected, and just communities. Much of her work has focused on equitable access to higher education and experiences in nature. She has taught wilderness leadership, skills, and awareness for youth and adults for more than 20 years. On the BAWT faculty since 2001, she has also served as a previous Program Director and Advisor, and helped to launch the Outdoors Empowered Network as Program Director there. She loves facilitating learning for groups with a wide range of knowledge and experience, teaching across multiple levels to help each person grow and succeed. These days she works as a grants, data, and project management consultant, and loves to explore wild places.
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Kyle Macdonald
Kyle grew up in Somerville, MA and Ann Arbor, MI where he kindled a love of the outdoors. His favorite activities include hiking, camping, skateboarding, tele- and cross- country skiing, and snowshoeing. He is currently the Founder and CEO of Outdoors Empowered Network (OEN) after having served as Founder and CEO of Bay Area Wilderness Training for more than 13 years. Kyle has instructed over 30 WLT and FLT training courses with BAWT and continues to be involved as a Faculty member. His passions include sharing the BAWT model (train and support) with the world and watching his kids Sofia and Miles learn and grow.
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Logan Falley
Since a young age, Logan has romped around seeking adventure and connection. Growing up in the Midwest fostered good family values, but also encouraged him to branch out and explore abroad.
With lessons learned and degrees earned, Logan found himself teaching in Peru and developing experiential learning curriculum for high school students. His far-reaching involvement in the community was stimulated by his growing passion to help youth discover their true potential both in and out of the classroom. He found that hiking with students, taking them out onto the land, and giving them the space they needed was wonderful medicine.
Eventually, Logan left the classroom and moved to California where he continues to work with youth across the Americas working for a cultural exchange non-profit. Logan enjoys connecting with educators who are making an impact in their students’ lives and feels inspired by them. Collaboration, shared visions, and beautiful stories all mixed together in the raw vessel of nature is his fuel.
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Mayra Vega
Mayra currently works as a Student Advisor and Associate Director of High School Programs at Peninsula Bridge. Her favorite activities include hiking, kayaking, camping, and dancing. She grew up in the Bay Area frequently traveling to the Central Valley and small towns in Mexico to visit her family. These visits were often filled with beautiful hikes and camping trips with family. Attending a High School that invested in having their youth explore the outdoors served as a formative experience for her and she is now passionate about helping other youth leaders alike provide those experiences for youth in their communities.
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Miranda Fry
Miranda is a Sierra Foothills native who came across BAWT just after her graduation from San Jose State in 2012. After reaching the summit of Mt. Shasta (a gift for fundraising +$4,000 in Climbing For Kids) in June 2012, her outdoor leadership path began. “I have become so empowered by my own experiences outdoors that I have to give it back to all communities. There’s no reason why such beauty and power should be kept from anyone, especially young people. I can be a catalyst for thousands to find themselves in the outdoors.” She has led outdoor adventures for multiple organizations in the Bay Area including honorable mentions REI Outdoor School and Blue Water Foundation nonprofit. She has also been a youth worker and teacher in the Bay area for multiple school districts, serving all youth K-21. Some highlights of her adventures in educating youth and adults in the outdoors were: teaching kids how to surf for the first time in a hail storm (no one wanted to stop they just paddled harder) and utilizing games to let adults play, have fun and learn. On her days off, you can find her SUP-ing, backpacking with her dog Argo or in the studio drawing. She is a Wilderness First Responder and active Instructor on all courses with a knack for WLT’s and Instructor Retreat curriculum.
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Terry Williams
Terry integrates a wealth of experience in adventure-based learning, leadership and organizational development in her work with people from diverse backgrounds within schools, non-profit organizations, and corporations throughout the U.S. and internationally. Her work focused on strength-based experiential curriculum and facilitated programs emphasizing participatory processes, performance, and teamwork. She has a PhD with a specialization in Leadership. Her doctoral studies began with several intensive international community studies and service projects with the Mayan people and their villages including a 40-mile trek through the backcountry of western Guatemala and climbing the highest peak in Central America. Terry has also traveled over 15,000 miles on a bicycle, including a solo 8,000 cross-country journey for a national youth advocacy project, meeting with the President, representatives, U.S. senators, governors, mayors, and community leaders of over 24 states and 150 communities.
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Tony Passantino
Tony has been involved in watershed conservation and environmental education for the last decade all over the West. An AmeriCorps alumni, California Naturalist instructor, youth backpacking guide for Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and most recently a volunteer trekking guide serving youth in a non-profit based in Western Guatemala. He is an excited gear junkie and addicted to the Sierra Nevada. He currently manages the Education program for Sonoma Ecology Center teaching in classrooms and at varied field sites, and oversees a teen “Enviroleader” program.
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Will Hubert
Will has over a decade of experience as an outdoor leader, youth mentor, and community organizer. He earned a B.A. in Outdoor Education & Environmental Studies from California State University, Chico, and is currently pursuing a M.S. in Recreation, Parks, & Tourism at San Francisco State University. Will is passionate about supporting people in their search for meaning, connection, and empowerment. Above all, Will believes that creativity and imagination are essential practices for supporting individual and group transformation in the outdoors. Opportunities to work as an environmental education naturalist, wilderness therapy guide, river guide, backpacking guide, youth mentor, and non-profit program coordinator have been essential to his growth. Will’s recreational hobbies include skateboarding, surfing, and trail running. Will loves old-time music and is currently learning to play the fiddle!
Zotunde Morton
Zotunde Morton was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He received an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Laney College, and after working in various public schools throughout the Bay Area, he co-founded Ujimaa Foundation. He currently works as the Secretary and a Program Coordinator for Ujimaa Foundation. His interest of nature and human rights led to his involvement in community activism and outdoor education. In 2012 and 2013 Zotunde completed the Triple Crown of Bay Area Wilderness Training courses by participating in the Frontcountry Leadership Training, Wilderness Leadership Training, and the Camping at the Presidio Training in one 12 month period. Now, Zotunde is one of our top instructors with experience leading all of our courses. Zotunde is a Wilderness First Aider.
