Meet the Team
Meghan Ballard - Chair
Meghan Ballard grew up in Central Pennsylvania until moving to the Willamette Valley in high school. She graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science with a focus in Geology, has completed graduate level coursework in Environmental Education and is a Certified Nature Based Teacher with the Association of Forest and Nature Schools. With over twenty years of experience in nature-based education guiding curious minds from preschoolers to adults, she's worked for organizations like SOLVE, Friends of Tryon Creek State Park, and the Wetlands Conservancy. She is owner and lead teacher of Blue Mountain Nature School, a nature-immersion preschool. When she's not teaching, she's off exploring the great outdoors with her family and her four-legged trail buddy.
Meghan Ballard grew up in Central Pennsylvania until moving to the Willamette Valley in high school. She graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science with a focus in Geology, has completed graduate level coursework in Environmental Education and is a Certified Nature Based Teacher with the Association of Forest and Nature Schools. With over twenty years of experience in nature-based education guiding curious minds from preschoolers to adults, she's worked for organizations like SOLVE, Friends of Tryon Creek State Park, and the Wetlands Conservancy. She is owner and lead teacher of Blue Mountain Nature School, a nature-immersion preschool. When she's not teaching, she's off exploring the great outdoors with her family and her four-legged trail buddy.
Ben Walker - Treasurer
Ben Walker grew up in Pennsylvania, received his B.S. from Penn State University in Environmental Resource Management, and moved out to Montana soon afterwards to work on trails for the US Forest Service in the Scapegoat Wilderness. He accepted a permanent recreation position with the USFS on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska in 2005, moved to Ukiah, OR in 2016, and on to the La Grande Ranger District in 2019 as the recreation specialist. He currently lives with his wife, Mary, and enthusiastic daughter, Vivian, in Island City, and gets outside with them and their old Labrador, Skeena, and young redbone hound, Red, on outdoor adventures as often as possible. He is fascinated by the natural world, and loves learning about plant and animal communities and sharing those wonders with Vivian.
Ben Walker grew up in Pennsylvania, received his B.S. from Penn State University in Environmental Resource Management, and moved out to Montana soon afterwards to work on trails for the US Forest Service in the Scapegoat Wilderness. He accepted a permanent recreation position with the USFS on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska in 2005, moved to Ukiah, OR in 2016, and on to the La Grande Ranger District in 2019 as the recreation specialist. He currently lives with his wife, Mary, and enthusiastic daughter, Vivian, in Island City, and gets outside with them and their old Labrador, Skeena, and young redbone hound, Red, on outdoor adventures as often as possible. He is fascinated by the natural world, and loves learning about plant and animal communities and sharing those wonders with Vivian.
Donna Rainboth - Board Member
Donna Rainboth was born and raised in eastern Oregon. She received her Masters in Science Education from Oregon State University. She has 30+ years of experience in environmental and science education including secondary science teaching, curriculum development, Assistant Professor of Education at Eastern Oregon University and serving as the director for the Greater Oregon STEM Hub. She retired from Eastern Oregon University in August 2021 but continues to work with the La Grande School District as the STEM Coach. Recently Donna received the 2022 Fred Fox Distinguished Service to Science Education Award from the Oregon Science Teachers Association. The award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to mentoring and developing new teachers. In her spare time, she can be found in the garden, engaging in multiple different fiber arts endeavors or traveling with her husband.
Donna Rainboth was born and raised in eastern Oregon. She received her Masters in Science Education from Oregon State University. She has 30+ years of experience in environmental and science education including secondary science teaching, curriculum development, Assistant Professor of Education at Eastern Oregon University and serving as the director for the Greater Oregon STEM Hub. She retired from Eastern Oregon University in August 2021 but continues to work with the La Grande School District as the STEM Coach. Recently Donna received the 2022 Fred Fox Distinguished Service to Science Education Award from the Oregon Science Teachers Association. The award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to mentoring and developing new teachers. In her spare time, she can be found in the garden, engaging in multiple different fiber arts endeavors or traveling with her husband.
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Josh Bohannan - Board Member
Josh works as a agribusiness sales & marketing professional with Strategy Lead Wilbur- Ellis Co. Josh is an experienced sales and marketing professional with a demonstrated history of succeeding in the agriculture industry. Skilled In team leadership & management, strategic planning, market planning and organizational efficiencies. Drawing from a diverse background that includes eight years as an Army Captain and over a decade of experience in the agriculture market, Josh has been able to lead and manage change throughout his career. He spends his free time with his wife and two daughters at their cherry farm in Cove, Oregon, volunteering with Hire Heroes USA, and enjoying the outdoors. Josh holds a BS in Agricultural Economics from Washington State University a Master of Organizational Leadership at University of Massachusetts Global. |
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Rachael Oliver - Board Member
Rachael Oliver was raised in La Grande, Oregon and currently lives in La Grande with her husband and two daughters. Rachael has been a teacher since 2015, and a special education teacher in La Grande School District since 2018. She first met Meghan and discovered the wonders of Wild School when her oldest daughter Ari started taking classes several years ago. She has continued enjoying wild-school activities as she has grown. Rachael’s younger daughter June will start Blue Mountain Nature School in the Fall. As a special education teacher, Rachael believes in making out-of-the-box educational opportunities available for all children. In her free time Rachael enjoys spending time with her family, cultivating her extensive collection of indoor plants, and sharing her love of art with her daughters. |
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Lanny Flaherty - Secretary
Lanny Flaherty grew up in Minnesota and developed his love for the outdoors exploring the lakes, rivers, and forests of the area. He attended Occidental College in Los Angeles to study marine biology and aquaculture, and then bounced around the western hemisphere wearing many hats over the years, fish farmer, research diver, aquarist, law enforcement officer, ad agent, botanist, ski bum, etc. He landed in La Grande due to its fantastic botanical biodiversity, and the challenge of managing a landscape for highly varied (and sometimes conflicting) uses. Currently, he is employed as an ecologist that specializes in fire behavior, fire ecology, and long term monitoring of forest and range conditions, with particular focus on rare plants, fungi, mosses, and lichens. Lanny’s free time is spent gardening, reading, hunting rare fungi and plants, hunting delicious fungi and plants, hunting for fossils and shiny rocks, ski patrolling at Anthony Lakes, and always, enjoying the beautiful landscapes we have surrounding us." |
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Evan Humphry - Board Member
Evan Humphry was born and raised in La Grande. He received his Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management from Eastern Oregon University. With a deep appreciation for his hometown he aims to connect and support his community in its future sustainability. He currently works as an IT Professional at Grande Ronde Hospital. |