Meet the Full-Time Sly Park Teachers
Ginger Schlavin ("Wild Ginger")
Ginger began teaching part-time at Sly Park in 1998 and became a permanent educator in 2005 after teaching 6th and 8th grade in public schools. With years of experience leading rafting, rock climbing, and mountaineering trips, she has a strong foundation in outdoor education. An EMT since 1996, Ginger combines her passion for teaching with her commitment to safety in the wilderness.
Suzanne White ("Fern")
Suzanne "Fern" White has been adventuring in the woods and on the water since childhood in Florida and the Carolinas. Her passion for language and environmental studies has guided her path, from leading sea kayaking adventures in Southern California and Alaska to engaging young minds in the classroom. Suzanne now brings her combined expertise in outdoor skills and teaching to Sly Park, where she happily inspires students' curiosity and love for nature each day as they explore the wonders of the natural world.
Todd Gillihan ("Grizzly")
Todd is a full-time credentialed teacher with 14+ years of experience at Sly Park. Todd has lived in the Sly Park area for 30+ years. His background in Watershed Science and Natural Resources compliments his teaching style. When not at Sly Park, Todd can be found fly fishing the streams on the West Slope. His favorite ice cream is Pistachio.
Dave Giordano ("Gio")
Gio comes to Sly Park with an extensive background as a wildlife biologist, filmmaker and informal science educator. He has participated in research projects on a variety of terrestrial and marine animals throughout the United States and South America. Gio has taught at several outdoor science schools and presented science activities at hundreds of California public schools through the Lawrence Hall of Science Outreach Department. In addition, the BBC, National Geographic, and numerous environmental organizations have used his wildlife photographs and videos.
Gigi McBee ("Cascade")
Gigi comes to Sly Park with a passion for teaching, bringing 20+ years of varied teaching experiences in a variety of environments including environmental outdoor education, adventure instruction, and as a middle school science teacher. Recently she completed her master's in science education in 2018. Years of travel and living abroad for over 10 years in Peru and Chile led Gigi to pursue a bilingual authorization in 2021, allowing her also to teach science in Spanish. Additionally, she has worked as a freelance graphic designer and draws/paints in ink, contributing to many of Sly Park’s t-shirt designs since 2016. When Gigi is not teaching about the environment, you can find her whitewater kayaking, fly fishing, or out on the trail with her dog “Juju”.
Pilar Delmolino ("Otter")
Pilar is a new Sly Park Teacher. She comes to us with 7 years of experience teaching 6th and 7th grade science. Prior to teaching, Pilar worked as a Wildlife Biologist for the National Forest Service. She also has experience working in the fields of botany, fisheries, and hydrology. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and a Master of Science degree in Wildlife Science. Pilar loves spending time outdoors. During her free time she can be found trail running, mountain biking, or skiing with her family in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Pilar is looking forward to sharing her science knowledge and her passion for the outdoors with students visiting Sly Park.
Owen McIntyre ("Obsidian")
Long ago, Owen started on the path to becoming a Sly Park Teacher as a visiting wide-eyed 6th grader from Mary Tsukamoto Elementary. His experience over the course of that week-long adventure at Sly Park would lead to a lifelong love of nature and a passion for learning about our region's diverse ecology. Fast-forward to today, Owen has enjoyed success in a variety of roles in the field of Outdoor Education, and is putting his acquired skills to use in order to ensure that each visiting student's stay at Sly Park is as rewarding as the experience that he enjoyed, so many years ago.
Erica Nichols ("Flicker")
Erica's enthusiasm for science and the outdoors makes learning exciting. She began teaching in 2014 as a naturalist and has since achieved her master's in education, taught in the classroom, and revitalized extracurricular programming. Outside the classroom, Erica enjoys trail running, backpacking, biking, and kayaking. Her love for exploring the outdoors informs her teaching philosophy, where she blends physical activity, environmental stewardship, and personal growth.
meet the Part-time sly park teachers
You might catch sight of these amazing other teachers while on campus!meet the Part-time sly park teachers
You might catch sight of these amazing other teachers while on campus!
meet the Part-time sly park teachers
Jen "Chickadee" Calvin is a passionate educator who finds joy in watching children learn and grow. With over 12 years of experience teaching elementary students both in the classroom and outdoors, she is inspired by the excitement and curiosity that kids bring to every new challenge. Before becoming a teacher, Jen guided multi-day rafting trips through the Grand Canyon, sharing her knowledge of the desert environment and building strong bonds with her crew. While she no longer guides full-time, Jen still enjoys spending summers on the river and mountain biking in the Sierra Nevadas. In her free time, Jen also loves ceramics, embracing the creative process of pottery-making as a fulfilling artistic outlet. Her diverse experiences shape her dynamic approach to teaching and life.
Ben "Bobcat" Brown has been a part-time Sly Park instructor since Spring 2023, with well over a decade of additional teaching experience, serving students of all ages and walks of life. His professional training is in music, but his love for science and the natural world has led to numerous related teaching opportunities, including facilitation of college-level life science and human anatomy / physiology courses, in addition to coordination of hiking excursions across Northern California. An avid naturalist and hiker, Ben enjoys any and every spare moment in the great outdoors.
Susan “Sierra” Collins brings a rich background in education and a deep passion for the environment back to Sly Park Environmental Education Center, where she once served in an administrative role. Susan has spent over twenty years in the education sector, with roles ranging from teaching to administration in both K-12 and higher education settings, including a role at Sierra Ridge Middle School and leadership positions at California State University, Sacramento, and Princeton University. Susan holds a Master’s in Education, a Ph.D. focused on educational leadership, and currently enhances learning experiences for students across El Dorado County as a Guest Teacher. When not shaping minds, she enjoys running, hiking, biking, kayaking, and swimming—continuing to explore and appreciate the natural world.
Ann “Alpine” Kight brings two decades of teaching middle school science with a passion for Earth Science, ecology and microbiology through hands-on learning. As a part time teaching staff at Sly Park, she is enthusiastic about helping kids develop a love for the outdoors and introducing them to the wonders and science of nature. Ann brings a set of outdoor skills from her experiences backpacking, kayaking, SUP and snow sports in the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains and the European Alps. She says, “There's no better feeling than seeing a camper's face light up when they discover something new about the natural world around them.”
