These are members of the Outdoor Education team that will host and facilitate immersive outdoor field trips. They help kids experience the outdoors through education while matching state standards and providing a unique field trip. Scroll to learn more about the team.
Each season, the OE staff members choose a nature name. They stick to that name all season long, with teachers and students, and with each other.
Lauren McCleary Buchanan
Why did you choose your OE name? You could say it chose me
Where are you from? West Lafayette, Indiana
What is your favorite place at Camp? My favorite location at camp is the back porch of the Historic River Lodge looking over onto the Tippecanoe.
What were you up to before this OE season? Before this season of Outdoor Education I was getting lots of baby snuggles while on maternity leave
Why did you choose your OE name? You could say it chose me
Where are you from? West Lafayette, Indiana
What is your favorite place at Camp? My favorite location at camp is the back porch of the Historic River Lodge looking over onto the Tippecanoe.
What were you up to before this OE season? Before this season of Outdoor Education I was getting lots of baby snuggles while on maternity leave
Mark Comella
Why did you choose your OE name? I’d like to think I am tall and stoic like a mammoth
Where are you from? Lafayette, Indiana
What is your favorite place at Camp? Richard G Marsh Lake
What were you up to before this OE season? I had just graduated from IU in December, but I was working OE in the Fall as well before that.
Why did you choose your OE name? I’d like to think I am tall and stoic like a mammoth
Where are you from? Lafayette, Indiana
What is your favorite place at Camp? Richard G Marsh Lake
What were you up to before this OE season? I had just graduated from IU in December, but I was working OE in the Fall as well before that.
Kaleb Buchanan
Why did you choose your OE name? At my old summer camp there was a taxidermy Kudu in the creative arts center.
Where are you from? Central Illinois
What is your favorite place at Camp? I live every spot at camp equally, even the CAC bathrooms.
What were you up to before this OE season? I have been working OE for the past 10 seasons but before that I was a fed ex driver.
Why did you choose your OE name? At my old summer camp there was a taxidermy Kudu in the creative arts center.
Where are you from? Central Illinois
What is your favorite place at Camp? I live every spot at camp equally, even the CAC bathrooms.
What were you up to before this OE season? I have been working OE for the past 10 seasons but before that I was a fed ex driver.
Jesse
Why did you choose your OE name? Whimsical name out of the norm
Where are you from? Elsie, Michigan
What is your favorite place at Camp? Gish
What were you up to before this OE season? Road Trips
Why did you choose your OE name? Whimsical name out of the norm
Where are you from? Elsie, Michigan
What is your favorite place at Camp? Gish
What were you up to before this OE season? Road Trips
Maddie Cashmere
Why did you choose your OE name? As a Nebraska native, I have a deep appreciation for the great American bison, but Buffalo was easier to spell.
Where are you from? Lincoln, Nebraska
What is your favorite place at Camp? Tippecanoe River
What were you up to before this OE season? Substitute teaching for Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska and worked at Camp Kitaki!
Why did you choose your OE name? As a Nebraska native, I have a deep appreciation for the great American bison, but Buffalo was easier to spell.
Where are you from? Lincoln, Nebraska
What is your favorite place at Camp? Tippecanoe River
What were you up to before this OE season? Substitute teaching for Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska and worked at Camp Kitaki!
Rachel Naylor
Why did you choose your OE name? i wanted a solid name, and something down to earth. and answering the radio by saying “rock on!” is pretty great too.
Where are you from? Fishers, Indiana originally, but now Brookston is home!
What is your favorite place at Camp? lately, the suspension bridge!
What were you up to before this OE season? working in the office all winter patiently waiting for outdoor education to start!
Why did you choose your OE name? i wanted a solid name, and something down to earth. and answering the radio by saying “rock on!” is pretty great too.
Where are you from? Fishers, Indiana originally, but now Brookston is home!
What is your favorite place at Camp? lately, the suspension bridge!
What were you up to before this OE season? working in the office all winter patiently waiting for outdoor education to start!
Carolyn Oneal
Why did you choose your OE name? Snakes are my favorite animal!
Where are you from? West Lafayette, Indiana
What is your favorite place at Camp? Lake road. Especially in the spring when everything is green!
What were you up to before this OE season? I had the incredible opportunity to visit South Africa in December with some other Tecumseh staff to volunteer at a non-profit camp in Cape Town!
Why did you choose your OE name? Snakes are my favorite animal!
Where are you from? West Lafayette, Indiana
What is your favorite place at Camp? Lake road. Especially in the spring when everything is green!
What were you up to before this OE season? I had the incredible opportunity to visit South Africa in December with some other Tecumseh staff to volunteer at a non-profit camp in Cape Town!
Claire Bradley
Why did you choose your OE name? Orange is my favorite color!
Where are you from? Illinois
What is your favorite place at Camp? Turkey Island
What were you up to before this OE season? Did OE in the Fall. And then before that summer camp. And before that living in Washington DC. And before that living in Wisconsin #gobadgers
Why did you choose your OE name? Orange is my favorite color!
Where are you from? Illinois
What is your favorite place at Camp? Turkey Island
What were you up to before this OE season? Did OE in the Fall. And then before that summer camp. And before that living in Washington DC. And before that living in Wisconsin #gobadgers
Taylor Moore
Why did you choose your OE name? Because you can hear me 15 miles away
Where are you from? McMinnville, Tennesee
What is your favorite place at Camp? Richard G. Marsh Lake
What were you up to before this OE season? I also was in South Africa with a group of Tecumseh staff working with the non profit, EcoActive.
Why did you choose your OE name? Because you can hear me 15 miles away
Where are you from? McMinnville, Tennesee
What is your favorite place at Camp? Richard G. Marsh Lake
What were you up to before this OE season? I also was in South Africa with a group of Tecumseh staff working with the non profit, EcoActive.
Bri Bentley
Why did you choose your OE name? It felt fitting and I like butterflies
Where are you from? Liberty, Indiana
What is your favorite place at Camp? South Pasture sleep out spot
What were you up to before this OE season? Grad school for my MSW (hitting pause on that currently)
Why did you choose your OE name? It felt fitting and I like butterflies
Where are you from? Liberty, Indiana
What is your favorite place at Camp? South Pasture sleep out spot
What were you up to before this OE season? Grad school for my MSW (hitting pause on that currently)
Keith Kalish
Why did you choose your OE name? I chose Kilimanjaro as a unique “K” name, I am a fan of climbing, rock climbing, mountains and Kilimanjaro is a unique mountain to be named after!
Where are you from? Belleville, Illinois
What is your favorite place at Camp? Ghost Creek, Pine Forest, and the Nature Center!
What were you up to before this OE season? Graduated with a MA in pastoral counseling, worked at a scout and church camp. I also had an internship with a faith based counseling and faith based resource center in St. Louis.
Why did you choose your OE name? I chose Kilimanjaro as a unique “K” name, I am a fan of climbing, rock climbing, mountains and Kilimanjaro is a unique mountain to be named after!
Where are you from? Belleville, Illinois
What is your favorite place at Camp? Ghost Creek, Pine Forest, and the Nature Center!
What were you up to before this OE season? Graduated with a MA in pastoral counseling, worked at a scout and church camp. I also had an internship with a faith based counseling and faith based resource center in St. Louis.
Taisa
Why did you choose your OE name? Tornados are powerful and messy
Where are you from? Brazil
What is your favorite place at Camp? Pine forest / chapels
What were you up to before this OE season? Teaching English and music
Why did you choose your OE name? Tornados are powerful and messy
Where are you from? Brazil
What is your favorite place at Camp? Pine forest / chapels
What were you up to before this OE season? Teaching English and music
