NOS Staff and AmeriCorps Members
Melanie was born in Los Alamos, New Mexico and moved with her family to Idaho where she spent most of her childhood growing up on the family farm; she is the youngest of five children. She moved to Winnemucca in 1983 and met her husband Mike, a Winnemucca native, in 1986. She moved to Boise, Idaho after graduation where she attended ITT Technical Institute. After working for a while in the Boise area, she missed the rural Nevada environment and moved back to Winnemucca to marry and raise a family. They have two children together and two beautiful, inquisitive, nature loving grandchildren. She enjoys spending time in the great outdoors with her family, whether is in rural Nevada or beyond. Her favorite vacations are spent camping and whitewater rafting, but she also enjoys reading and cooking. Surrounded by a highly skilled, passionate and dedicated team, Melanie is inspired to lead Nevada Outdoor School into the next decade of expanding our programs across the state and continuing to work and live in these great rural Nevada communites.
Zulma was born in Colima, Mexico but has lived in Winnemucca most of her life. She is married and has two wonderful girls. She enjoys hiking, and cooking with her family. She loves to travel and explore, Lake Tahoe being one of her favorite places. Her love for community service and adventure brought her to Nevada Outdoor School. She is passionate about strengthening non-profit organizations through the AmeriCorps program and helping their committed AmeriCorps members in Northern Nevada and Las Vegas.
Meghan was born and raised in Elko, Nevada where she spent her childhood and now her adult years exploring all the beauty Nevada has to offer. She loves to camp, hunt, hike and discover new things along this crazy adventure called life. Meghan graduated from Elko High School and then attended Great Basin College to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. In her spare time she enjoys reading, archery, fishing and caring for all of her many plants! She is passionate about learning and the love of the great outdoors and can’t wait to share that passion here at Nevada Outdoor School!
Sarah was born in California, but was raised in Winnemucca, NV. After graduation she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. After a short move to Boston and back, she began a career in the Corporate World of Finance in San Francisco. After nearly 20 years away from home she and her husband relocated back to Nevada to be closer to family. She enjoys eating good food, traveling, camping, hunting and fishing.
Jessica was born in Kansas, but grew up on the east coast outside of Washington, DC. Her love for the mountains took her to Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina where she majored in Elementary Education. Jessie first came to the amazing state of Nevada as an AmeriCorps Naturalist with NOS in 2009. After her year of service, she moved back east and taught fifth grade. However, the beauty, adventurous spirit and vastness of the west soon brought her back. She has been on staff with NOS since February 2012 as Director of Programming, Associate Director and now, part time as Outreach Director. Jessie currently lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter and two cats, Wayne and Garth.
As a lifetime Nevadan I began my enjoyment of the outdoors by spending much of my early childhood with my grandparents and great grandparents in the garden and on hunting trips. Spending time outside never stopped when I moved away from Fallon to Elko. During college I studied to have a degree in Soil Management. Also during college, I was a part of the Great Basin Aggies Club where I met my Husband. Even when I moved to Winnemucca from Elko, the outdoors were never far away and in fact I got closer. From working at the Community Garden as an AmeriCorps Member to Winnemucca Farms as an Agronomist to helping my husband sub guide and trap, Nature is something I am part of. I now have 2 sons, Ridge (6) and Remi (3) who we take out on hunts, fishing trips and the trapline. I am so excited to be a part of the Nevada Outdoor School team again!
This photo at Griswold Lake is special to Macy because it was taken on her first backpacking trip. Camping is her favorite escape. She was able to have her first-time backcountry experience through serving as an AmeriCorps Member at Nevada Outdoor School. Through two years of serving as a Naturalist, she made priceless memories and friends of all ages. Some may better recognize her as “Bubbles.” Macy loves working for Nevada Outdoor School because she finds value in outdoor education, exploration, and being an active member of our community. Macy studied Natural Resources at Ball State University and graduated in 2019. In 2021, she moved from Indiana to Elko to serve at Nevada Outdoor School and began integrating herself into rural Nevada. Outside of her fulfilling job, she enjoys roller skating, crocheting, secondhand shopping, and taking naps with her cat, Uma.
Brenda Basset
Elko Office Administrator
Brenda was born and raised in Redwood City, California. She moved to Nevada with her husband in 2011 and made Spring Creek her home.. Her passion for supporting non-profit organizations, working with youth and exploring the outdoors brought her to NOS. In her spare time she enjoys camping, hiking and paddleboarding with her husband and fur babies.
Toni Coulter was born in Reno Nevada, growing up there and other locations in Nevada with her parents and three sisters. She has had a lifelong love for the outdoors and an interest in wildlife and insects. Her other interests are gardening, singing, and reading. She currently resides in Winnemucca Nevada with her husband, two adult children and pets. Toni is a returning Nevada Outdoorschool member, working alongside her child Sedric, who is also a returning member.
Noah was born in Salt Lake Utah, but was raised in Winnemucca, NV. His early life is where he discovered his love for the outdoors, riding dirt bikes, and pretty much any extreme sport he could get my hands on. A year after graduation, he moved to Truckee, CA to pursue his passion of snowboarding. He worked at ski resorts as way to easily snowboard every day. After 3 years, he decided he didn’t have enough time to enjoy it while working so he moved back to Winnemucca. He is excited to do another year of service and can’t wait to see what happens.
William is a returning member of Nevada Outdoor School born in Idaho and spent most his childhood in las vegas and now living in Winnemucca he loves to fish, swim, go on long walks outside, camp, workout, draw,
Noah Doyle was born in San Bernardino County in the state of California but has lived out his life out in Elko, NV since he was about 4 years old. He’s got a spunky personality and enjoys all things eccentric and funky. Noah’s passionate about nature and taking care of the environment. He also has a love for creative writing and indulges in writing fantasy stories or poems whenever possible. Noah is currently working his second term with NOS and is excited about the new skills and experiences he’ll have the opportunity to learn and participate in during the year. He and his partner of 3 years were recently engaged and even more recently able to move out of their parents houses and into a cozy space of their own! Noah aspires to write books and novels in the future, but is also considering a career in forestry in order to carry on the passion he hosts for all things nature.
Kindra Warren grew up with a strong passion for the outdoors! When she was younger her parents liked to camp, fish, and explore the wilderness. Her hobbies include powerlifting, plants, and hanging out with her two cats; Ani and Pickles. She got married in October of 2023 to her husband Sam. Her and her husband love to travel and camp, their favorite place to camp is Great Basin National Park! In her free time, Kindra also enjoys crocheting, kayaking, and thrifting. Kindra is very optimistic toward her future at NOS!!
ABOUT US
Nevada Outdoor School inspires exploration of the natural world, responsible stewardship of our habitat and dedication to community.
CONTACT US
Winnemucca Office:
655 Anderson Street
Winnemucca, NV 89445
(775) 623-5656
Elko Office:
2363 N. 5th Street, Unit 102
Elko, NV 89801
(775) 777-0814
