Dan first attended a tracking workshop with Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) in 2001 and hasn’t been able to quit the project since.  Over the years he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of WYP.  Although he's been a resident of Goleta since 1994, his reverent appreciation of the environment around the Santa Barbara Channel has yet to plateau.  He’s guided by a certainty that connection with the landscape around us helps develop the personal gifts that enrich our lives and the Community that contains us.

Erika was born and raised in Santa Barbara. In 2001 she returned home after graduating from UC Santa Cruz, for a job with SBCAG Traffic Solutions, where she worked for over 5 years promoting alternative transportation. Erika's love of the outdoors comes from growing up in Mission Canyon and from attending Santa Barbara Middle School. Her pastimes include surfing, pedicabing, spending time with friends and family and volunteering with Bici Centro, a community bike eduction center.

Kelly Villarruel grew up in Santa Barbara and has an intimate knowledge and love of our area.  With a background in early childhood education, she has worked in both preschool and home, day care settings for close to 20 years.  Kelly has been a massage therapist since 1989 and was an instructor at a local massage school where she focused on bringing awareness skills into daily life. She also holds a degree in Environmental Horticulture with an emphasis on restoration and regeneration. With the Wilderness Youth Project she is thrilled to find an environment to combine her passions for children, nature, and awareness skills.  She currently runs our home-school and preschool programs, and is a lead counselor in our after school programs.

Jess is originally from the east coast, where her love of beaches, forests and butterflies first bloomed.  She began working with children in the outdoors over ten years ago.  She has taught kids swimming, snowboarding, skiing and yoga.  She holds a B.A. in Multicultural Education and is a certified Yoga Instructor.  For the past two years Jess has been working as a naturalist and ropes course facilitator.  She is dedicated to offering the children she mentors a wealth of joy and encouragement as that is what she receives from them.  Jess currently lives in Gaviota with her partner Michael, Zoey and Audi (their dogs) and Rudi the cat, all of whom offer her endless support and inspiration.

Dan brings a happy ball of experience as a brother, mentor, coach, caretaker, outdoor guide, restorer, educator, husband, and father. He has traveled the world working with youth in Scotland, India, Europe, and parts of the USA, earning an AA in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and a BA in Theology along the way. He is driven simply to share passion for the natural world while developing deep meaningful relationships with humans and with the larger world. His pastimes are digging for the deeper question, ferf bowling, bog jumping, and watching his son, Finian, sleep. His mantra is “I am the Universe!” 

Devin is a Ventura, CA Native – raised with lots of love from his wonderful family. He has been learning and applying permaculture design for the past 5 years and runs Abundance In Balance Design. In 2007, Devin completed the Regenerative Design & Nature Awareness program and is empowered in rejuvenating community with Big Love. He has a BA in Culture Ecology & Sustainable Community from New College of California. Devin is stoked about playing and laughing big, dance parties, surfing, wandering, hand stands, questions, bird language, music jams, and among other things - being fully alive.

Julian has lived in Santa Barbara's Rattlesnake Canyon area his whole life. He has been in a lot of WYP programs both as a participant and as a volunteer. He loves to make awesome discoveries about the natural world, climb things, go surfing, find balance, laugh out loud, and fully live in the moment. He is currently a student at Santa Barbara City College and is studying Aikido, a harmonious non-violent martial art. He is continually amazed by life and how much it can teach us when the time is right.

Charlie's passion for nature comes from his extensive background working with youth in wilderness environments for the past 20 years. He has trained with The Tree of Peace Society, The Tracker School, Wilderness Awareness School and The School of Lost Borders. He has experience with youth of all ages and abilites, including children diagnosed with autism, adjudicated and crisis shelter youth. These experiences have inspired his involvement for Rites of Passage and Vision Fast programs.

Sharon has over 10 years of experience working with youth and families from a variety of backgrounds and was full time staff with WYP from 2001-2008. She earned her B.A. in Sociology from UCSB and has since trained with the Tracker School, Wilderness Awareness School, and School of Lost Borders. Sharon is a certified emergency medical technician and her passions include surfing, backpacking, exploring mysteries, journaling and connecting.

Bio coming soon...