Jonathan Stauf

Interim Director and Program Mentor

My love of nature began at an early age, playing in the backyard, collecting roly-pollies, and covering myself from head to toe in mud. I still remember being hosed off on the back porch by my mother! My father took me on my first backpacking trip when I was ten years old, and I've been hooked ever since. For me, nature is where I find connection, silence, and a deep sense of who I am. It's where I have learned to speak kindly to myself and to trust in the ebbs and flows of life.

In a world where technology and social media compete for more and more of our children's attention, the fundamental experiences that Outside Now offers our children are increasingly important. The sense of self and belonging that I observe in the children who grow up in this program encourages me deeply, and it is why I am here to help carry that forward. It is a privilege to serve this program and this community, and it is with deep gratitude and humility that I approach this work.

Felise Gutierrez

Program Mentor

I have always let my curiosity guide me, and the path I follow has never been linear. Learning how to take care of the world around me has brought me on some wild adventures! I have sampled wildlife in the rainforest of Borneo, built houses out of clay in the Costa Rican jungle, worked on farms all across Australia and France and found my way back to California and to Outside Now with all of those new skills and perspectives in tow. I have come to understand that having a reciprocal relationship of care with nature, no matter what I am doing, lights my heart on fire and brings me a deep sense of purpose.

Nic Johnson

Program Mentor

Born and raised in northern San Luis Obispo county, I spent most of my free time as a child/teen exploring nature, camping, fishing, and collecting various wild animals as pets. 
In my early adult years my family and I spent much time at our family ranch located outside the Carrizo Plains National Monument. It is here my partner and I raised/homeschooled our children in a nature based learning environment. During this time we farmed turkeys, chickens, pigs, and goats and tried to live as closely to the land as possible. Living walking distance from thousands of acres of public land has granted me the gift of endless exploration and provided me with fruitful hunting territory. My favorite activities in nature are hunting, fishing, and backpacking.I also have an extensive background in Mixed Martial Arts.
I have been actively training Kickboxing, Jiujitsu , and Muay Thai for over 10 years. I am a kids/adult kickboxing instructor and fighter. I love the discipline, respect, and the limit pushing experiences fighting has gifted me with as an adult. 

Nawal Kassir

Program Mentor

In a society that often feels chaotic and unknowable, nature is the place where I can go to find clarity. It is in the wild spaces of the world, in observance of the natural cycles of life, untouched by human hands and human control, that I feel most connected to my own humanity. Beneath the trees, beside the river, atop the mountain, or submerged in the chilly waters of the ocean is where I find a true sense of freedom and spaciousness for truth and wisdom to come through. My dream for my time as a nature mentor is to encourage the youth I work with to stay connected to their innate knowledge, the inner spark that guides them, the call to the wild within them. It is by immersing ourselves in the natural world that we can discover our purpose and authentic path through life. 

Sadie Krier

Program Mentor

I am very grateful to have grown up on land in Nipomo. I have special memories playing in our creek, growing food, raising animals, finding rocks, and going on camping and ocean trips with my family. The land and sea have always been there for me and held me in my most vulnerable moments. As a teenager, I found a home in the sea, as surfing played a major role in saving my life, which led me to teach others the power of the ocean through surfing. 



Later on, nutrition, nature art, regenerative agriculture, and herbs played a significant role in my healing journey. I found myself studying the interconnectedness of these experiences at UCSC. From my focus on human health in relation to the environment, I found that disconnection from nature could be traced to any issue. During college, I continued to experience the joy of sharing nature with others as an outdoor educator. 



I continued to follow my calling of reconnecting humans to nature through herbalism school, where I deeply landed in my understanding of how our inner ecology is deeply intertwined with our outer ecology. While I love working with all ages, kids are extra special! To be able to share the experience with others that I needed as a child is deeply fulfilling. I am so excited to be a mentor with Outside Now and have so much gratitude for this wild path I am on.

Julia Munoz

Program Mentor

I believe human beings are inherently connected to Nature through our senses, intuition, observation, and relationships. These capacities have been cultivated and passed from generation to generation, yet modern culture can easily suppress them. My goal is not simply to teach information about nature, but to help awaken awareness, curiosity, presence, and a sense of belonging through direct experience with the living world.

My path has taken me through public education, special education, youth institutions, theatre arts, dance, homeschooling, and community building. In schools, I saw children given very little time outdoors, often without access to wild spaces. In youth institutions, even “yard time” often meant time on concrete. These experiences made me increasingly aware of what can happen when young people grow up disconnected from nature. As a mother of two daughters whom I have homeschooled, I have made nature connection a central part of how I understand childhood and learning.

I was drawn to Outside Now’s philosophy and art of mentoring. I believe adults do not need to be the holders of all knowledge; we can instead model curiosity, humility, observation, and a willingness to keep learning. Through sensory awareness, storytelling, play, exploration, practical skills, and time spent developing a relationship with place, I seek to help young people discover their own capacities and confidence.

Ultimately, I hope to help create a culture of belonging rather than disconnection—one where children, adults, and elders can learn together, where education extends beyond the classroom, and where relationships with the natural world become a foundation for healthy individuals, families, and communities.

Caroline Murphy

Program Mentor

My relationship with nature began in the lakes and trails of northern Wisconsin. Each summer, my parents chose not to bring Wi-Fi, phones, or TVs into our sanctuary. Without these distractions, I learned the simplicity of what I truly needed. From a young age, I realized how deeply interwoven my being is with Mother Earth and how important it is to continue fostering that connection. That curiosity and deep love will never fade, and the lessons will never stop. This love has guided me from my hometown outside of Chicago to the mountains and ocean of California’s Central Coast, and onward to exploring different parts of the world with the desire to learn how communities connect with the land and the elements around them.

Mother Earth holds us, protects us, and guides us. Through the beauty of the natural world, she helps us recognize the beauty within ourselves. Having the opportunity to share this love as a mentor with children—supporting them as they discover their own connection to the earth and learn practices passed down through generations—is a dream come true. At the heart of it all is the deep, innate, and primitive connection we share with the natural world. All we can do is take small steps each day to strengthen that bond. We get to be here, living with Mother Earth—what a gift.

Victoria Pond

Program Mentor

Growing up as an aspiring academic, I have been on an incessant quest for truth. I was always searching for an answer to a question I didn’t even know yet. When I fell into the hands of Nature, I knew I found it. The answers to all my burning questions always seems to reveal themselves when I go out to hike, surf or adventure in nature. Although I am still a lover of books and poetry, I find the most valuable learning comes from time spent in the presence of our natural world. We are all a part of it and to prompt our remembering of how to live in harmony with this place we call home, is what motivates me in all that I do. It is my belief that a commitment to caring about the wellbeing of each other and the environment is a radical medicine that can heal almost any aching heart. Learning to be one with this Earth and the beings on it has been the greatest gift and I am inspired to be a part of the Outside Now community, cultivating deep relationship with each other and our Home. 

Kara Quinn

Substitute Program Mentor

I am a lifelong nature enthusiast! I am my happiest when I am outside, and I believe any time spent in nature is time well spent. As a child, I grew up camping along the coast with my family and enjoyed countless walks in the Sierra Nevada mountains with my grandparents near their cabin. You’ll often find me hiking, camping, or just being outside near my home while exploring the natural beauty around me. I recently moved to the coast from the Central Valley with my husband and two children, and I am thrilled to be able to share this beautiful location with them and begin making more memories outside!  My background is in early childhood education. Being with children and passing along my love and respect for nature is something I am passionate about.

Morgan Weldon

Program Mentor

I grew up in the rolling foothills of California's Central Valley, surrounded by lakes, rivers, and the majestic Sequoia National Park. From an early age, life on my family’s small farm taught me how to cultivate the land and care for wildlife. I learned the delicate balance of nurturing nature to foster growth, from planting crops to witnessing the cycle of life unfold, from the tiniest eggs to the birth of animals. These experiences instilled in me the value of stewardship—of both the earth and the relationships we build. I learned the importance of a kind hand from a neighbor, and the joy of mentoring young children, guiding them in tending the land and respecting the creatures that inhabit it.

Now, as an adult, I am driven by a passion to share this knowledge, inspire curiosity, and help others appreciate the significance of nurturing our planet. I turn to nature as my sanctuary, finding solace in the warmth of the sun, the serenity of a secluded pond, hammocking, camping, and the thrill of outdoor adventures like surfing, hiking, and skateboarding. My love for the natural world continues to shape who I am and how I connect with others, fostering a life full of wonder, exploration, and reverence for this beautiful planet.