Front left going clockwise: Mackenzie, Andre, Matt, Kris our crew supervisor, Reece and Carlos
2023-2024 Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) Members
Our WCC members are the on-the-ground brains and muscles around many of our education, outreach, and restoration projects. They are out in the field working hard whether it’s icy and cold or just rainy and cold.
Rebecca Benjamin, Executive Director
Rebecca grew up exploring the lakes, beaches and rivers of the Northeast. Some of her fondest memories are of rock-hopping up rivers for hours on end exploring with her friends and resting in the sun by the roar of the water. Childhood curiosities about birds, bugs, trees and wildflowers led her to pursue a degree in Environmental Conservation from the University of New Hampshire. Armed with the skills to interpret the ecosystems around her, and the passion for sharing her enthusiastic understanding of nature with anyone who would listen, Rebecca moved to Orcas Island, WA to be a kayak guide and naturalist. There have been many personal and professional adventures that finally landed Rebecca in Port Townsend, WA as Executive Director at the Salmon Coalition. Rebecca brings skills in interpersonal communication, project development and management, environmental education, complex problem solving and working with non-profit boards. Under her leadership NOSC has strengthened the fabric of the staff and board and has increased the scope and scale of restoration projects being completed through collaborative partnerships in the community.
Kevin Long, Senior Project Manager
Kevin has been working in the field of biology since graduating from Oregon State in 1993. Before coming to NOSC in 2002 Kevin worked on various biological studies on everything from legless lizards to bald eagles (legged). Kevin is responsible for project development, permitting, implementation, and contracting required to implement NOSC’s large scale salmon habitat restoration projects. He thinks of himself as an interpreter between the ecosystems we are restoring and the stakeholders, funders, designers, regulatory agencies, and construction contractors involved in getting restoration projects on the ground. An avid SUP surfer, forager, and backpacker, Kevin is most at home in the woods, on the water, or in his expansive garden.
Libby Pratt,
Development Manager
Libby grew up in Sequim and Seattle, WA, and spent the majority of her youth exploring the Pacific Northwest with her family, which in turn instilled a deep love for the region and the natural environment. She received her BA in International Studies from Vassar College, which, somehow, helped her both during her time living abroad post-college and while building houses in Quilcene with her father for two years. She then received her MFA in Advanced Photographic Studies from Bard College in New York and worked for many years as an exhibiting and teaching artist. In addition to her artistic practice, Libby co-founded the project-based publishing entity, Secretary Press. Before moving back to the Olympic Peninsula, Libby was the director of one of New York City’s oldest nonprofit arts organizations, The Camera Club of New York, a member based organization that supports emerging photographers through exhibitions and an artist residency program. As the new Development Manager, she’s looking forward to connecting with both new and long term NOSC members and volunteers and helping to strengthen the greater NOSC community.
Sarah Doyle, Program and Partnership Manager
Sarah grew up in Baltimore, Maryland where she would often end up playing with the frogs and turtles in her local wetland. She followed her passions to college, where she received a B.A. in Environmental Studies and spent a semester abroad, studying at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. After college, she interned with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to study the ongoing human conflict with Asian Elephants and teach GIS to wildlife managers. She has been with NOSC for over a decade and loves spending time on our local rivers and streams. In her spare time, she enjoys backpacking, mountain biking, skiing, and playing with horses.
Nate Roberts, Stewardship Coordinator
Growing up in Gig Harbor, Nate could often be found fishing one of several small inlets, bays, or estuaries in search of salmon and trout. Shortly after receiving a B.A. in Elementary Education he realized that while he loved working with kids, his desire to work in a career recovering salmon in his home state was even greater. Accordingly, he returned to school and recently received a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, specializing in riparian ecology and restoration. After interning with NOSC in spring 2019, he is eager to rejoin the team as a full-time employee working to improve salmon habitat. Prior to being with NOSC, two of Nate’s favorite jobs were working as a fly fishing guide in Idaho and Montana and, more recently, working for WDFW taking scale samples, which were sent to the fish ageing lab in Olympia to determine the size and composition of the overall salmon return for the year. In addition to fly fishing, Nate enjoys backpacking, lapidary, propagating plants, and skiing.
Maude Richards, Accounting & Admin Assistant
Maude Richards is a mother, gardener, and lover of all things wild. She moved to the Peninsula in 2008 to study wooden boat building and found herself at home among the cedar trees and rocky shorelines. After four years as a proud participant in Port Townsend’s marine trades community, she and her husband moved to Chimacum in 2013 to homestead 5 acres of native forest. She feels so thankful for the challenge of growing food in our dry summers, autumn’s crunch of bigleaf maple leaves, the subtle winter pallete of red osier dogwood and native willows, and the spring return of the Swainson’s thrush. When she’s not in the garden, you may find Maude backpacking and botanizing in the Olympics, studying animal tracks with her daughter, wildcrafting rose hips, and looking up at starry skies in wonder. She is honored to aid NOSC in its mission by assisting in the accounting realm.
Lindsay McCord, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Lindsay grew up playing in the mountains, rivers, and lakes of Oregon. A love of being outside, a passion for understanding the natural world, and a hankering towards a good debate led her pursue a BA of Environmental Analysis from Pitzer College. Wanting to share the joys of science and nature, Lindsay moved to Minnesota to work as an educator for an environmental learning center and outdoor school. While finishing her MA in Education with a focus in Natural Science and Environmental Education, Lindsay moved back to the NW to work as an educator teaching in the North Cascades. Over the years, Lindsay has dipped her toes in many tangential fields, including farming, sustainability, and working as a wilderness ranger, but her love of education, being outdoors, and working with people has landed her with NOSC as the Education and Outreach Coordinator. Outside of work, Lindsay enjoys growing food, feeding people, and getting roped into adventures in the mountains.
LJ Stensgar, Finance Manager
John "LJ" Stensgar Jr is a founding board member of the Light Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps cultivate, enrich, and perpetuate indigenous ecological stewardship, habit conservation, and climate adaption. He is also an experienced board member and committee volunteer who has contributed to various organizations in his community. John lives in Washington state with his wife and five children. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as golfing, hunting, snowboarding, and fishing, as well as traveling and gathering native roots and herbs. With his expertise in business administration and community leadership, John has served on several boards and committees throughout his career. He is currently serving on the Light Foundation board and has previously served on the Colville Indian Housing Board, Lake Roosevelt Community Health Centers Board, Tribal Governments Safety Committee, and Training Committee. He also participated in the planning committee for the Northwest Native Youth Conference while serving on the TANF. John earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Gonzaga University and an associate degree in Arts and Science from Wenatchee Valley, where he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
Rachel Dooley, Education and Outreach Associate
We’re excited to introduce the newest member of our team, Rachel Dooley, who will serve as our Education and Outreach Associate. After completing her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Management at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Rachel began working for non-profits with a focus on environmental stewardship. Following her graduation she spent a year with a river cleanup organization living on a barge on the Mississippi and Ohio River. A summer of seasonal work as an outdoor educator in Yellowstone National Park solidified her desire to teach and she decided to pursue environmental education work in Washington state. In her free time, Rachel likes to create stained glass art, read memoirs, journal, hike, and kayak.