National Team

 

Together we maintain our partnerships, promote outreach to our local and global communities, develop curriculum, craft grant proposals, and provide support for our chapter teams and instructors.

 
 

Meet the team

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Meet the team 〰️

 
Kendall Post

Kendall Post

(she/her)

NATIONAL DIRECTOR, SPROUT UP

Nature name: Water Lily

Contact: Kendall@sproutup.org

  • Kendall is passionate about inspiring and igniting the next generation of environmental problem solvers and nature lovers. Her first formal introduction to being an environmental educator was through the Sprout Up chapter at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she volunteered as a classroom lead instructor and worked on the education team to refresh the chapter’s curriculum. Since graduating from UCSB in 2019 with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Elementary Math and Science Education, Kendall has spent the last several years mentoring college students and developing environmental education programs for the non-profit organizations Acterra and Gravity Water. She loves exploring new trails and outdoor spaces around the Bay Area, finding secondhand treasures at thrift stores, and tending to her houseplant and succulent collection.

 
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Katarina Pittis

(they/she)

DIRECTOR OF CHAPTER OPERATIONS & COMMUNITY

Nature name: Starry Night

Contact: Katarina@sproutup.org

  • Katarina Pittis graduated in 2018 from New York University with a major in Film and Television. They first joined Sprout Up in 2016 as an instructor and taught in multiple classrooms. She is most passionate about making documentaries because she loves to combine her love for education and filmmaking. Often their films have an environmental theme that center around water issues. She loves hiking on her free time, and spending quality time with her cats.

 

2024 interns

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2024 interns 〰️

Rachel Warner

Rachel Warner

(she/her)

Nature name: Dandelion

  • Rachel is a sophomore studying Environmental Biology at Columbia College. She started as a Sprout Up instructor in Spring 2024. She is passionate about environmental education and enjoys watching kids develop a love for nature. In her free time, she likes to read and be outside with friends and family.

Dandelion
Ben Wollack

Ben Wollack

(he/they)

Nature name: Honey Bee

  • Hello! I am Ben and I a second year UCSB student majoring in environmental studies. I joined Sprout Up because it is vital that the young generation has the knowledge and skills needed to solve environmental problems. In my free time, you can probably find me relaxing on a walk and/or listening to instrumental music.

Honey Bee
Olivia Grefenstette

Olivia Grefenstette

(she/her)

Nature name: Tomatillo

  • Olivia is a sophomore at Barnard College studying Environment and Sustainability. She joined Sprout Up as an instructor in 2023 and loves the opportunities Sprout Up provides her to connect with the local community while fostering curiosity and engagement with the environment. In her free time, Olivia enjoys exploring the city, especially all of the beautiful parks and museums.

Tomatillo
Lauren VandeVort

Lauren VandeVort

(she/her)

Nature name: Butterfly

  • Hi! My name's Lauren (aka butterfly🦋!) and I'm going into my third year as an Environmental Management and Protection major at Cal Poly SLO. I joined Sprout Up because I love working with kids and seeing how they are able to help change the world! I also believe it is extremely important to educate the younger generations on ways to protect our planet. In my free time I like to spend time outdoors either hiking or relaxing at the beach, hanging out with friends and family, and listening to music!

Butterfly
Kelsie Garay

Kelsie Garay

(she/her)

Nature name: Daisy

  • Hi!! I'm Kelsie, and I'm a third year UC Davis student majoring in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning and minoring in Education. I love connecting with kids through Sprout Up and helping to develop their passion for protecting the environment! In my free time, you can find me trying out a new boba spot, doing karaoke in the car, or getting burritos with my friends.

Daisy
 
 

Our Current Chapter Teams

 

Sprout Up is a program of Environmental Volunteers and currently has 9 chapters in California and New York. Led entirely by college student volunteers, the chapter team recruits, trains, schedules, and provides support for a team of around 20 college student instructors each semester. The chapter team is also responsible for fundraising, building community, organizing classroom materials, and maintaining relationships with our partner schools, principals, and teachers.

 
 
 
 

 

Instructor Teams

Our instructor teams, led by a lead instructor, consists of between 3 and 5 college student instructors. They teach once a week for 6-8 weeks every semester.

 
 
 
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Our instructor teams meet weekly with their Chapter Teams to prepare for their lesson, provide feedback on curriculum, receive teaching and classroom management support, and build community support. Our instructors make our lessons and our mission happen on the ground!