Meet Our Staff, Volunteers & Interns!

ITE Staff

SUZANNE DHRUV, CCN DIRECTOR Suzanne, a native Tucsonan, has established deep, strong roots in the Sonoran Desert Region. Her passion to reconnect children with the natural world is fueled by a lifetime of playing, living, learning and teaching within a dynamic, colorful, and detailed landscape. In an effort to develop authentic, engaging, and educational opportunities in nature for adolescents, Suzanne achieved a Prescott College Master of Arts degree in Environmental Studies, investigating youths’ implicit theories of the natural world and their experiences within. This graduate research project builds upon Suzanne’s academic and professional foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona and has over ten years professional experience that includes directing, designing and instructing environmental education programs for all ages. Most recently, Suzanne directed the educational efforts of Tucson Audubon Society, a local non-profit that focuses on conservation, education, and recreation in the Sonoran Desert Region. Prior to this she worked as a museum educator which allowed her to create and manage programs for high school students to work and learn in a museum environment. Her experiences with local nonprofit organizations foster the ability to collaborate with community organizations, educators, and parents in an effort to enhance learning opportunities for adolescents and children throughout the Tucson area. Suzanne is also certified as a Wilderness First Responder and in First Aid/CPR.

ERIC DHRUV, ITE DIRECTOR Eric began his love affair with the Sonoran Desert and Tucson, Arizona while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Arizona. The romance and desire for immersion in the natural world led to several years of field work in such places as Arizona, Alaska and Papua New Guinea. Eric was employed by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum as an environmental educator and interpretive manager working with community members of all ages. Eric went on to earn an M.A. from Prescott College in Place-Based Education and enjoyed a position as Sustainability Director and professional naturalist at Miraval Resort in Catalina, Arizona. He is currently Associate Faculty for the Liberal Arts, Adult Degree Program at Prescott College Tucson Center and is LEED accredited and a member of the Southern Arizona branch of the US Green Building Council Chapter. Eric’s passions are discovering and relating to others the intrinsic bond between nature and humanity and the potential of an enduring biologically diverse future for our children’s grandchildren. Eric hosts the local Tucson TV program “Desert Living” which provides the opportunity to share the human-nature sustainable connection with many others.

Rachel Ann MacAdam, EcoPrograms Coordinator. Rachel started working with ITE as a volunteer, intern, and student employee in 2007, as she was finishing up her BA in Outdoor Education and Holistic Health through Prescott College.  In addition to her work with ITE she currently teaches Anusara influenced yoga at Yoga Oasis, and is a Licensed Massage Therapist.  She is also trained as a Certified Wilderness First Responder, through the Wilderness Medical Institute.  She is a Certified Permaculture Designer through the Sonoran Permaculture Guild.  Her undergrad studies also included work in the field of native desert plant medicine.  She loves sharing her knowledge of how to identify, cultivate, and process native plants with our teens.  Rachel shares a passion for connecting children, especially teenagers with the natural world as a means of engaging in their local community.  She believes that teenagers thrive when given the opportunity to take ownership, and have a voice in their community.  When teens are empowered in this way, and develop a love for the natural world, they become nature’s greatest allies.  Rachel enjoys hiking, yoga, running, camping, rock-climbing, and all forms of exploration in wild places all over the US, in addition to her local Sonoran Desert habitat.  Her absolute favorite times include bouts of uncontrollable laughter with our kids out in the backcountry.  She and her husband, James currently live in Tucson, where they cultivate an organic garden, tend bees and try to live simply.

Ryan Koch, Community Action Coordinator is a Tucson native who grew up playing in desert patches on the west side of town.  His childhood experiences of building forts, playing games outdoors, and engaging in dirt clod wars instilled in him a deep appreciation for the desert.  This appreciation was rekindled in his teenage years when Ryan began solo hiking in the mountains around Tucson.  After high school, he began an internship with Reevis Mountain School of Self-Reliance, where he learned how to live on the land.  Survival skills, gardening, livestock management, wild medicinal and edible plant uses were all part of his education at Reevis.  This led Ryan to seek out more immersions in nature, which included many primitive living skills apprenticeships and permaculture workshops over the course of several years.  Eventually he began work with youth at summer camps and wilderness therapy programs, where he was often affectionately known as “Nature Boy.”  In 2007, Ryan completed a B.A. in Outdoor Education through the Prescott College Adult Degree Program.  He then worked on an orchard in southern Utah, where he was the lead permaculture designer and later went on to work for Passages to Recovery, a wilderness therapy program for adult males struggling with substance abuse issues.  In his spare time, Ryan enjoys playing soccer, studying a wide variety of subjects, playing guitar, and spending time with friends and family.

Chester Clark, Community Action Coordinator. Chester was born and raised on the Oregon Coast in a small town called Waldport.  He attended college at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana where he studied Mechanical Engineering.  During college Chester participated in a study aboard program at the University of Manchester in Manchester, England.  After graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Chester joined the U.S. Peace Corps and volunteered in Namibia, Africa.  As an education volunteer he taught both students and teachers in mathematics, physical science and computer technologies.  He also collaborated with the local community and schools through various HIV/AIDS organizations and extra-curricular activities such as science clubs, sports and art projects.  Chester also had the opportunity to establish a school and community library and a computer laboratory.  Upon returning to the United States, Chester worked in the oil and natural gas fields as a wireline field engineer for Schlumberger, Ltd and as an equipment and logistics coordinator for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).  Currently Chester is enrolled in the masters of education program through the University of Arizona.  In his spare time he enjoys spending his time with his wife Natalie, mountain biking, rock climbing, backpacking, playing the guitar, fishing, camping and traveling.

Current Interns and Volunteers

Yael GreenBlatt is a Nutritional Sciences major at the University of Arizona. She moved to Tucson from Chicago and immediately fell in love with the relaxed atmosphere and spectacular sunsets of Tucson. In her free time, Yael enjoys being outdoors and active. Her favorite activities include swimming, running, yoga, hiking, snowboarding, and rock climbing. She also works part-time as a certified lifeguard at the U of A pool, and is CPR and first aid certified. Yael has a natural curiosity about everything in life, and is always challenging herself to expand on her knowledge. She is especially fascinated with the effects of healthy living on one’s mind and body. She loves sharing her passion for health and wellness with youth, and encouraging people to live a healthy lifestyle.

Past Interns and Volunteers

They may not be hiking among the cactus with us right now but all are still near and dear to our hearts. The Center for Children and Nature and Ironwood Tree Experience would not be where it is without these folks and their hard work!

Zachary Rockov is a currently a student at the University of Arizona. His major is in physiology where he one day plans to make it to medical school. His interest in the outdoors has been in his life for a matter of years. He lived in New Jersey for 12 years where he enjoyed camping, hiking, kayaking and white tail deer hunting. He also has an interest in weight lifting and healthy eating. Zach’s interest in Ironwood Tree Experience is to reach out to kids and help them in there progress of living a healthier and more knowledgeable lifestyle. He feels that everyone, starting at children should have the opportunity to gain knowledge of their community, family, bodies and world as a whole. He wants to be able to help kids see that the decisions they make will not only affect themselves but the people and world around them.

Carrie Soo Hoo is now a student at the University of Hawaii. She enjoys being outdoors, creating all types of art, practicing yoga, playing the guitar, and working with other youth. She has a passion for community work and hopes to make a positive difference. She was very happy to have the opportunity to intern with Ironwood Tree Experience and is now looking forward to gaining new life experiences!