INSTITUTE STAFF

Aaron Morehouse
Executive Director
aaron@gorgeecology.org
Aaron Morehouse has spent the past 15 years working professionally in the field of environmental education and joined the Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute as the Executive Director in August 2009. Prior to coming to CGEI Aaron developed conservation outreach and watershed education efforts as Program Director with ThorpeWood in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland and most recently served as the Education Manager for the Catalina Island Conservancy off the coast of Southern California. With a depth of practical experience Aaron has also engaged in various research efforts on the implementation and evaluation of environmental education programs with a particular focus on working with diverse audiences through place-based education. Currently Aaron is finishing a PhD in Sustainability Education at Prescott College. Aaron's greatest teachers of ecology and education are his two children as they now explore the wilds of the Columbia Gorge.

Jenny Gilbert (aka "Cedar")
Conservation Education Coordinator
Jenny returned to CGEI as a second-term AmeriCorps member (YEAH!!!) with the Mt. Adams Center AmeriCorps program. A recent graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, she is excited to continue learning about ecology and education as she makes her new home in the Gorge. When she's not busy inspiring young environmental world-changers, you can find her out for a run, jamming on her guitar, or cooking something delicious. Jenny's main projects will be coordinating the SECRETS program and assisting the US Forest Service with Salmon Watch and other interpretive programs.

Valerie Johnson (aka “Chickadee”)
Conservation Science Educator
Valerie can’t get enough environmental education or Gorge play-time!  After several months in South America, she’s back for her second AmeriCorps term at CGEI, this time through the Lower Columbia Center in Portland.  In 2008 she co-led the Forest Explorers program and the SECRETS program.  This year she’s helping run SECRETS and leading the second year of Science in Action – a program that engages middle school students and their teachers in meaningful field-based research.  Valerie enjoys hiking, rock climbing, reading, and baking cookies for her officemates.

Julie Anderson
(aka “Chanterelle”)
Secrets Lead Coordinator
Having made her home in various regions of Oregon since 2001, Julie is delighted to have recently landed in the Gorge and to have joined the Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute.  Serving as an AmeriCorps/NWSA member, Julie will be a part of the CGEI team through August 2010.  Julie first came to Oregon as a professional forester working in southern coastal timberlands.  She then moved to the Willamette Valley where she earned a Masters in Education and taught middle school math and science for two years.  In her current position, she is excited to combine her backgrounds in natural resources and education as she guides kids in learning about and exploring their local ecosystems.