Meet Our Staff!

We are fortunate to be able to pull from a pool of area experts, naturalists, and outdoor instructors to educate and inspire our participants.
Below are the profiles of a few of our staff. 

Bill Hunt: Director

After spending almost 38 years involved with outdoor education/ recreation programs, Bill is still excited to be working with youth in the outdoors. Hopping onto the Klamath Basin scene from the Rogue Valley 2 years ago as the new director for KOSS, he continues to enrich the programs of KOSS and unite organizations to connect kids to nature. 

Ellen Minichiello:  School Liaison (Klamath Falls)

As a child, Ellen was not allowed in the house until the 5:00 whistle blew or darkness fell on summer nights. That outside discovery time proved to be a healthy start to a happy outdoorswoman. A progression of field studies in natural history, environmental education and marine conservation have brought her through hikes of terrestrial forests and dunes to SCUBA dives of coral reefs and giant kelp forests. Ellen has taught observation skills through sensory and encouraged students to use binoculars, field guides, snorkels, kayaks, bicycles, and sailing to bring awareness and appreciation of a variety of natural environments. Work experience at nature centers has involved partnering with citizens’ groups, Pre-K schools through college research students, national parks services, university extension services, city and community parks, watershed alliances, private landowners, after-school programs, and art museums.  Later in life and travels Ellen became a freelance naturalist, developed coastal programs for adult learners, and assisted in wetlands education through a master naturalist program.  She has shared her passion with youth by starting a nature club so rural children would have a supportive environment to investigate plants and animals together.  Excited to be a liaison with KOSS, Ellen views the Stewardship Program as mutual endeavor and an appropriate extension of her life connecting people with outdoor education and fun!

 Marlena Wietlisbach: School Liaison (Klamath Falls)
& Camp Instructor
Marlena.KOSS@gmail.com

B.S. Wildlife Ecology & Conservation (minor: Education) from University of Florida 1 year KOSS liaison instructor, Klamath County Schools 1 year theater camp instructor, Ross Ragland Theater 4 years volleyball coach experience CPR/AED & First Aid Certified Marlena grew up in Klamath Falls until age twelve.  After moving around for a few years, she ended up in Florida and attended the University of Florida studying wildlife.  After graduating, she immediately returned to the Pacific Northwest.  Aside from teaching out in the woods, she also participates in fish research out of Corvallis in association with USGS and Oregon State University. She is also the Freshman volleyball coach at Henley High School and participates in community theater productions when time allows.

Aleyda Curo-Miranda: Camp Instructor

MS Tropical Forests and Biodiversity Management (San Pablo CEU University, Seville-Spain) B.S. in Biology (emphasis: Ecology and Herpetology at San Antonio Abad University, Cusco-Peru)  Enrolled in the Naturalist Certificate Program at the Siskiyou Field Institute in Selma

Bilingual Teacher assistant, Talent Elementary School/Phoenix District, Oregon
Field Instructor for the OSU Migrant Education Program in White City   
KOSS Instructor for Spanish community Programs 
Before KOSS I worked as a manager, field guide and researcher for an Eco-tourist Lodge, Rainforest Expeditions SAC, Rainforest of Madre de Dios in Peru.

Adrienne Duckrow: Camp Instructor 

Masters in Secondary Art Education from Portland State University, 2010 Oregon Teaching License, Art Endorsement, 2010 BFA in Sculpture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2006

7 years of teaching experience in Honolulu, Portland and Ashland/Medford
Several Juried Exhibitions in Honolulu and Portland
Publications in many Portland magazines and newspapers
Currently living in Ashland as a freelance artist