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Shawn Sears: Co-Founder, Executive
Director and Instructor
Shawn grew up in West St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended The Colorado
College for a degree in psychology. He then moved to the Mississippi
Delta to teach 4th grade for two years (1999-2001) in underfunded
public schools. Since then he’s been working with V.V. and living in
the country near Half Moon Bay, CA.
Shawn loves athletics, adventure in the outdoors, good food, working
hard, thinking and learning, and sharing all of this with friends,
family and his wife Laura. He also enjoys music with most things,
even if it’s just singing the only line of a song that he knows,
over and over again.
In Vida Verde Shawn has found a perfect
fit. It’s a job that suits him well, and is therefore the dream job.
There’s always plenty of work, and the tasks are varied and
challenging (from the business side: planning, troubleshooting,
budgeting, raising money, working with donors and running an office; to the program side: working with and exploring with children,
hiring managing and learning with the staff team; to the physical
and maintenance side: building projects, maintaining the vehicles,
landscaping, working with farm animals, etc. Finally, and perhaps
most importantly Shawn finds meaning in it, in that it’s exactly
what he feels is the best way that he can use his skills to help the
world be a better place.
Laura Sears, Co-Founder and Director of Development
Laura grew up in rural western Kentucky and graduated from The
Colorado College with a degree in Geology in 1999. She joined Teach
For America in ’99, and was a high school special education teacher
for two years. In 2001 she moved to California and co-founded Vida
Verde with Shawn Sears. She’s been working at Vida Verde ever since,
and has worn a variety of hats, from visioning and curriculum
planner, to naturalist instructor, to her current position of
Development Director.
Laura developed a deep appreciation for the importance of camp for
kids, and also
a lifelong love of the outdoors, as a camper and later counselor
(for 10 years of her childhood) at Camp Kanuga in North Carolina.
She feels privileged to now give lots of
children opportunities similar to those that changed her own life for the
better.
Laura is a runner, cyclist, soccer player, and all around lover of
competitive sports. She’s a voracious reader and knitter, and enjoys
cooking, spending time with friends, and finding good music to
listen to.
Jody Peterman, Administrative Associate
Jody grew up in Duluth, Minnesota near the shores of Lake
Superior, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a
degree in Psychology and Environmental Studies. She's had a passion
for being in the outdoors for as long as she can remember, starting
with family canoe trips to the Boundary Waters, and summers spent as
a camper at YMCA Camp Miller in Minnesota.
Jody started her work in summer camp in
1997 at Camp Miller and was excited to give back to the community
where she first realized the far-reaching impact that positive
outdoor programs can have on youth. Jody has worked in various
summer camp programs over the years, most recently directing Camp
Unique in Portola Valley. She has witnessed the sorts of amazing
transformations that can happen in children who have the opportunity
to try new activities, interact with their peers and positive adult
role models, and learn about the natural world around them. Jody
believes strongly in the Vida Verde program, and is excited to be
a part the Vida Verde team!
Jody gets the most
excited about camping, swimming, reading, hiking, cooking, sailing, knitting,
and sleeping outside.
Claire McMurtry "Luna"
Claire has always had a passion for
environmental education, and since
obtaining her BS in
Botany from Humboldt State
University, she has gained experience as an Instructor at three of
California's Outdoor Science Schools. She has also been involved
from camper to leadership at the same environmentally focused summer
program for 15 years.
Claire grew up in
Berkeley, California and early on in
her education recognized disparities in access to education. Having
been formatively affected by her own exposure to nature and
environmental education, she believes that all kids should get to
learn in, discover in, and develop a relationship with the
natural world. That's why she is so excited to be returning to Vida Verde for her
fourth year and to take on the role of Program Director.
Reggie Yemma "Redtail"
Reggie grew up in Westport, CT. She
graduated from The Colorado College in 2008 with a degree in History
and a minor in Education Studies. Colorado is where she really found
her true passions for wilderness, nature and education. Since then,
she has been working in the outdoor and environmental education
field in the Bay Area, teaching students on the tall ships of San
Francisco's Hyde St. Pier, working as a naturalist with The
Richardson Bay Audubon Center, and exciting kids about marine
mammals and ocean conservation as an AmeriCorps volunteer at The
Marine Mammal Center. Reggie is a huge lover of nature and strongly
believes in the power of environmental education and how it can
positively benefit the health of our environment, our communities,
and our selves.
When Reggie is not teaching kids about nature, she loves to spend
time outside, especially hiking and backpacking. She also loves
tidepooling, wildlife watching, cooking delicious whole foods, and
watching live music--especially if it is bluegrass music!
Sam Modest "Huckleberry"
Sam grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts. He graduated
from Bowdoin College in 2009 with a B.A. in South Asian Studies,
along with a passion for teaching and for the outdoors. Soon
after graduating, he spent the summer in Homer, Alaska running a
digital photography club for middle school students. In the
fall, he traveled to West Bengal, India to teach English and
photography at a small village school. Upon returning from
India, he worked with several friends to create the PhotoPals
program, which links young people around the world through
photography workshops and classes that enable students to
exchange images and share their culture, community, and
perspectives.
Sam moved to California in the fall of
2010 to teach as a naturalist at San Mateo Outdoor Education,
where he realized the sheer awesomeness of outdoor science
education as a means to open students’ minds to the amazingly
intriguing world in which we live. He is a firm believer in
education through experience.
Sam loves to swim, bicycle, run, surf,
ski, backpack, travel, and play Ultimate. He bakes, ferments,
and eats. He takes photographs, writes, and reads. He is
fascinated by foreign languages, fungi, and funk music.
Emma Jones “Persimmon”
Emma grew up in Buena Vista, Virginia. She attended Hampshire
College where she was able to travel and study in Tanzania,
India, New Zealand, and Mexico, and graduated in 2009 with an
interdisciplinary degree in Environmental Studies with a
concentration in agricultural ecosystems. She has worked 7
summers at Shiloh Quaker Camp, a community-based summer camp in
Virginia, which she attended as a kid and acquired her love for
being outside. At Shiloh she has taken on the role of
counselor, administrative staff, and assistant director. Through
each of these jobs she gained valuable experience in working
with youth and a deeper appreciation for the positivity that
outdoor adventures can bring to the lives of young people.
Emma moved to California in the fall of 2010 to teach at San
Mateo Outdoor Education where she expanded her teaching skills
and enjoyed exploring in the redwood forests and tide pools with
her students. She believes in the power of observation, sharing
excitement with children, and the value of experience-based
learning.
When she is not teaching, Emma loves to cook, explore, read, and
craft. She is passionate about conversation, community, plants,
and art.
Former Staff See photos, lower right
Substitute Staff See photos, bottom right
Board Members
Scott Bryan
Scott credits his interest in agriculture and sustainability to his
upbringing in Montana and experiences at the Mountain School of
Milton Academy in Vermont. Scott is a financial consultant at RBC
Wealth Management where he focuses on sustainable investment
strategies for foundations, families and non-profit organizations.
He is also actively involved in advancing RBC's (Royal Bank of
Canada) global sustainable investment initiatives. A graduate of The
Colorado College, Scott holds a BA in Economics and minors in Latin
American Studies and Natural Resource Systems in the American West.
He is a member of Full Circle Fund's Environment Circle and co-chair
of New Voice of Business' San Francisco Chapter. Scott is also a
competitive cyclist and enjoys his precious moments in the mountains
either telemark skiing or fly fishing.
Karen Harwell
Karen Harwell is Director of Exploring a Sense of Place—which is “a
project, a course, and a guidebook” to help people reconnect to the
natural world where they live. Following scientific studies
resulting in a B.S. degree, she did graduate study in philosophy,
cosmology and consciousness at the California Institute of Integral
Studies in San Francisco, completed a six-week Earth Literacy
program at Genesis Farm in New Jersey, and became certified in the
study of permaculture at Occidental Arts and Ecology in Northern
California. Through these programs, she became interested in
bioregionalism and wanted to create the opportunity for people to
experience their lives as part of an Earth community.
Paul and Steph Pfluke
Stephanie Jennings and Paul Pfluke are currently the co-owners and
co-founders of Green Oaks Creek Farm and Retreat, which is an
organic, educational farm and retreat center that has been in
operation for 10 years. The farm offers a subscription program, an
apprenticeship program, farm tours, and Slow Food dinners. The
retreat center offers rental facilities for families, groups, and
weddings. Prior to starting Green Oaks, Stephanie and Paul earned
Masters degrees in Plant and Soil Science. In the five years between
college and graduate school, Stephanie and Paul taught environmental
education and worked as wildlife biology field technicians. Paul
also taught biology in the classroom for a year in Jamaica. In
college, Stephanie earned a B.S. in Biology/Geology and Paul earned
a B.S. in chemistry. Stephanie also taught environmental education
throughout high school and college.
Harn Soper
Harn has been an entrepreneur in the music and media industry in the
Bay Area for 30 years recording and producing music with artists
like George Winston & Will Ackerman, marketing broadcast news
production systems worldwide for Avid Technology, Internet video
piracy business development for Vobile, and currently is a partner
directing sales & marketing for nNovia, a video capture technology
company. In the background, Harn runs Soper Farms in Iowa,
implementing sustainable farming practices. Volunteering and song
writing are Harn’s passions. He is former president for the Friends
of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Foundation.
Andrew Usher
Andrew Usher,
a native
Oregonian and
lifelong outdoor enthusiast, is a Financial Representative at the
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
He has been a long time
friend of the founders Shawn & Laura Sears. In his undergrad at
Colorado College, he was involved with Shawn in an after school
sports mentorship program for underserved youth.
He became involved with Vida
Verde during its inception and even had the opportunity to teach
programs in those early days. Andrew’s background in
community service, event production, and real estate bring a
diversity of expertise to the board.
Laura Sears
See bio above
Shawn Sears
See bio above
What’s the History of
Vida Verde?
Who works at Vida Verde?
Can I work at Vida Verde?
What are the trips all about?
Who are Vida Verde trips for?
How can I support Vida Verde?
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Shawn Sears
Laura Sears
Jody Peterman
Claire McMurtry
Reggie Yemma
Sam Modest
Emma Jones
Vida Verde Former Staff
 
Tim Ward "Mapache"
Alex Keilty "Fungi" Katie Khoury "Reed"
Vida Verde Substitute
Naturalists
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