Rebecca Minnick (She/Her)

Executive Director

About 20 years ago, Rebecca Minnick was home visiting Louisville and hiking in the Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve with her mom. She peered into the window of the LNC building and said, “Mom, I should work here some day!” Rebecca moved home in 2013 after spending almost 20 years in Maine, where she first fell in love with environmental education. In 2018 Rebecca joined LNC as Executive Director. In 2022, she earned the Outstanding New Leader Award from the Association of Nature Center Administrators. She has over 20 years of experience as an educator, both at nature centers and in schools. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Studies with focus on Environmental Education from Antioch University and a B.A. in Geology from Hanover College. Rebecca spends free time playing bluegrass guitar and hiking with her dog Hazel.

Olivia kaiser (She/Her)

Education Programs Manager

olivia@louisvillenaturecenter.org

Olivia graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She started her teaching career with a focus on ESL (English as a second language), taking her to Belize and South Korea. She began working in the field of EE in 2014 at the Parklands of Floyds Fork, and was awarded the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education’s Rising Star award in 2017. After working as an educator for the Louisville Nature Center in 2018, Olivia took a short break from teaching to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail. She has laid roots in Kentucky and is excited to be back working at the Louisville Nature Center. When she isn’t tromping through the woods, she spends her free time gardening and cooking.

Savanna Latto (She/Her)

Swallowtail Forest School Teacher

savanna@louisvillenaturecenter.org

Savanna has been passionate about the outdoors and connecting with the environment since she went to camp as a child and her excitement has only grown over the years. She graduated from Indiana University with a major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, and a focus in Ethics and Justice. She hopes to devote her career to making the outdoors accessible and safe for all to enjoy. When she isn't at the Louisville Nature Center you may find her at Red River Gorge exploring with her camera or gardening at home.

Mac Lachmann (He/Him)

Swallowtail Forest School Teacher

mac@louisvillenaturecenter.org

Mac graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelors in Recreation and Parks Administration. After working in Adventure Programs at the EKU student rec center, Mac discovered his passion for outdoor education and conservation. This passion led him to intern at Land Between the Lakes and take many other recreation positions across Eastern Kentucky. When he isn't at the Louisville Nature Center, you may find him creating art and taking part in pretty much anything outdoors — camping, hiking, and educating people on Leave No Trace principles!

Ingrid walters (She/Her)

Swallowtail Forest School Teacher

ingrid@louisvillenaturecenter.org

Ingrid graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor's in Secondary Education, but didn't realize how much she enjoyed early childhood education until she had a child of her own. The pandemic gave her the opportunity to homeschool her daughter, and she planned all her lessons, prioritizing environmental education and learning through creativity and play in nature. Ingrid is excited to bring that same joy and energy to other children as well! She believes we can change the world by providing our youngest generations a chance to build a sense of wonder and love for the earth. Ingrid also enjoys volunteering at the farmer's market, gardening, reading fantasy books, and exploring cultures through cooking!

Elaine Keller (she/They)

AmeriCorps EELCorps Member

Elaine is from Ohio where she graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with her Bachelor's of Music in 2022. After spending 2 years working as an arts administrator in Cincinnati, Elaine decided to pursue her passion for the outdoors by taking a month-long outdoor educator course through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). At NOLS, they earned their Wilderness First Responder Certification and backpacked 100 miles in the Absaroka mountain range. As part of the EELCorps program, they are here at LNC to increase capacity for environmental education programs, community outreach, and overall impact on Kentuckian's environmental knowledge and behaviors. In their free time, Elaine likes to read, play with her dog and two cats, cook delicious vegan meals, and write letters to her friends.

Janelle Vaesa (She/Her)

Educator/Operations Specialist

janelle@louisvillenaturecenter.org

Janelle graduated from the University of Louisville with a Master's in Public Health. After graduating she worked in the field of emergency preparedness where she saw how the environment and people affected one another. Her passion for the environment launched her into getting certified as a Kentucky Master Naturalist and establishing a forest school for homeschool families in the local community. When she's not in the forest teaching about native plants and wildlife you can find her running the trails, mountain biking, volunteering as a Scout leader, and on the rare occasion sitting on the porch with a glass of iced tea.

Rachel Harbrecht (She/Her)

Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator

rachel@louisvillenaturecenter.org

Rachel graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor's degree in Communication in 2018. Having grown up in the Steel City surrounded by nature preserves, her love for the outdoors and wildlife led her to intern at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, where she saw firsthand the positive impact of nature education. After using her marketing background at local organizations such as the Kentucky Derby Festival, Rachel was eager to get back to working in environmental conservation. In her free time, she loves hiking in the woods, reading books, playing video games, and spending time with her dog and cats.

Board of Directors

tony marconi, President

RA Consultants

Aaron Daley, Treasurer

KPFF Consulting Engineers

Wesley sydnoR, Vice President

Louisville MSD

Allison Smith, Secretary

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Rick Adams

Kaplan Johnson Abate & Bird LLP.

Claire Anton

Mattingly Edge

Russel Cotton

Raymond James

Melissa Francisco

Brown Forman

Pete Glauber

Retired from Boehl, Stopher, and Graves, LLP

RON JOLLY

Independence Bank

maria koetter

CoolSeal By GuardTop

Joe chiles

Emeritus, Retired

Mary Lowery

Ability

Lacey McNary

McNary Group

Josie Raymond

KY State Representative

Megan resch

Megan Resch Photography

Heather Turner

University of Louisville

Chris Staples

Baird

Sarah Flarsheim

Ex Officio, Louisville Parks & Recreation

phyllis fitzgerald

Emeritus, Retired from LG&E

Banner photo by Jeff Mattingly