Trudy was raised in the Ojai Valley, finding growth within herself deep beneath the mud that swallowed her bare feet. She believes one of the greatest gifts in her life was the support from her family, to trail off into the field, following her curiosities even at a very young age. Closely accompanied by her two goats, she’d travel to the pond to search for tadpoles or carve tunnels within the fields of mustard or follow the bees around the garden. With this freedom to discover, her youthful curiosity and confidence was able to flourish. This admiration and respect for her environment continued into her playful adulthood. She headed North into the PNW, where she earned her B.S. in Biology while building a career in wildlife conservation and rehabilitation. During this time, she found the love and gift of education through her focus on public outreach. After 10 years working with wildlife for various Veterinary Hospitals and Conservancies, she decided to turn her efforts fully towards nourishing the connection between our youth and the preservation of our environment.

She has since returned to Ojai, where she is happily educating, climbing, birding, gardening, backpacking, and continuing to play. With awareness, comes understanding. Respect and conservation quickly follow.