Drew Harwell (he/him)
Director, Lead Mentor for All Programs
Director, Lead Mentor for All Programs
Drew Harwell is the founder and director of Pathfinders Nature Mentoring. He is a nature awareness and Permaculture mentor with over 26 years of experience working with children, teens and adults in nature and garden settings. As a child, he spent a lot of time exploring the Foothills and Baylands of Palo Alto in Ramaytush Ohlone Territory, as well as gardening at the community garden behind the main library with his family. At the age of 17 he spent a month backpacking in the Wind River Wilderness of Wyoming with the National Outdoor Leadership School. Those experiences nurtured his passions and planted the seeds for his career.
His style of mentoring is to help students explore nature through their individual passions and creativity. He uses experiential activities, storytelling, songs and the art of questioning to inspire curiosity in others in developing their relationship with the natural world. Whether he is working in the garden or wandering in the hills, he loves to connect people to the healing powers of nature.
He has a BA from Prescott College in Environmental Restoration and was trained in nature awareness and regenerative design at the Regenerative Design Institute. He is a lecturer in the Stanford Graduate School of Education, where he mentors Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) teacher candidates in garden education for elementary schools. He has worked as a guide and mentor for the Exploring a Sense of Place program, Tender Tracks and the Riekes Center. He is the former manager of the Common Ground Demonstration Garden and the Stanford Community Farm. He loves to spend family time with his wife and two children exploring the foothills, baylands and local creeks.
His style of mentoring is to help students explore nature through their individual passions and creativity. He uses experiential activities, storytelling, songs and the art of questioning to inspire curiosity in others in developing their relationship with the natural world. Whether he is working in the garden or wandering in the hills, he loves to connect people to the healing powers of nature.
He has a BA from Prescott College in Environmental Restoration and was trained in nature awareness and regenerative design at the Regenerative Design Institute. He is a lecturer in the Stanford Graduate School of Education, where he mentors Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) teacher candidates in garden education for elementary schools. He has worked as a guide and mentor for the Exploring a Sense of Place program, Tender Tracks and the Riekes Center. He is the former manager of the Common Ground Demonstration Garden and the Stanford Community Farm. He loves to spend family time with his wife and two children exploring the foothills, baylands and local creeks.
Star Burton (they/them)
After School and Summer Camp Mentor
After School and Summer Camp Mentor
Star Burton is the newest addition to Pathfinders Nature Mentoring program and is very excited to be in a community with environmentally conscious minds. Born and raised in the Peninsula, Star grew up attending schools in Palo Alto. They have worked with children from ages three to seventeen for almost a decade.
Most of their background in nature mentoring comes from their experience with working at an outdoor circus camp every summer in Mendocino county. Their mentorship style is rooted in play-based and creative communal engagement. Star strives to encourage children by empowering them to be their most unique and silly selves.
Star has a BA from Lewis & Clark College in Political Science and is an aerial silks and trapeze instructor. In their spare time they enjoy indoor bouldering, writing letters, and riding bikes. They currently live in San Jose in a cooperative with individuals that also enjoy the outdoors.
Most of their background in nature mentoring comes from their experience with working at an outdoor circus camp every summer in Mendocino county. Their mentorship style is rooted in play-based and creative communal engagement. Star strives to encourage children by empowering them to be their most unique and silly selves.
Star has a BA from Lewis & Clark College in Political Science and is an aerial silks and trapeze instructor. In their spare time they enjoy indoor bouldering, writing letters, and riding bikes. They currently live in San Jose in a cooperative with individuals that also enjoy the outdoors.
Marcelo Ortiz (he/him)
Summer Camp Mentor (M-F)
Summer Camp Mentor (M-F)
Marcelo Ortiz is a school counselor with a B.S. in psychology and a master's degree in social work. During the school year, he works at various schools to provide mental health services to students, where he incorporates mindfulness-based ecotherapy techniques into his sessions to engage children's senses and connect them to the mental health benefits of a close connection with nature. He is also trained in play therapy techniques which he uses to engage young children. With years of experience working with children in a fun and educational setting, he looks forward to connecting with the campers this summer in a fun and educational natural environment.
Having grown up in New York state, Marcelo first discovered his connection with nature during a family hiking trip in the Adirondack Mountains. Witnessing the vastness and serene beauty of this forested mountain region led him to attend college in Canton, New York, a town whose proximity to the Adirondacks allowed for many more camping and hiking outings. During his college years, Marcelo joined the Outdoor Club and took part in backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, swimming, whitewater rafting, archery, and horseback riding, all of which solidified his love of nature.
After obtaining his undergraduate degree in psychology, Marcelo then spent the next two years pursuing higher education to engage his passion for social justice and mental health, a journey which included a cross-country road trip and the chance to live in several states across the USA, including Boston, MA and Houston, TX. Finally, missing the closeness of nature, he chose the Bay Area in California as a new home, and has greatly enjoyed exploring its mountains, beaches, and redwood forests through hiking, trail running, and mountain biking.
Marcelo is excited to demonstrate a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world to the campers this summer with the hopes of instilling in them a lifelong love of nature.
Having grown up in New York state, Marcelo first discovered his connection with nature during a family hiking trip in the Adirondack Mountains. Witnessing the vastness and serene beauty of this forested mountain region led him to attend college in Canton, New York, a town whose proximity to the Adirondacks allowed for many more camping and hiking outings. During his college years, Marcelo joined the Outdoor Club and took part in backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, swimming, whitewater rafting, archery, and horseback riding, all of which solidified his love of nature.
After obtaining his undergraduate degree in psychology, Marcelo then spent the next two years pursuing higher education to engage his passion for social justice and mental health, a journey which included a cross-country road trip and the chance to live in several states across the USA, including Boston, MA and Houston, TX. Finally, missing the closeness of nature, he chose the Bay Area in California as a new home, and has greatly enjoyed exploring its mountains, beaches, and redwood forests through hiking, trail running, and mountain biking.
Marcelo is excited to demonstrate a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world to the campers this summer with the hopes of instilling in them a lifelong love of nature.