THE ALPINE EXAMINER
June 8, 2024
NATURALIST BLOG
Alicia Lindbom, 2024 Summer Programs Coordinator
Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Welcome to our 2024 SIHA crew!
Here we go! The Redfish Visitor Center isn’t open quite yet, but summer season 2024 has begun for us here at SIHA. Let me introduce our new crew! They come from across the country, with a variety of backgrounds. Look for them this summer behind the Visitor Center desk, at trailheads, roving the campgrounds, and at the Stanley Museum. This is going to be a great season!
THE 2024 MUSEUM CREW:
Morgan McCully is an Idaho native who just finished their sophomore year of college at the University of Idaho where they are studying History and Anthropology. They love the natural beauty and history that surrounds the area and are looking forward to spending this summer getting to share their love of Idaho history with you at the Stanley Museum. In the summer, they can be found hiking, fishing, knitting, and huckleberry picking.
Azelie Wood is a recent graduate from Benedictine College with degrees in history and philosophy. As a native of Northern California, she loves the outdoors, and is looking forward to spending the summer in the Sawtooth mountains. In her spare time, Azelie loves to read, hike, and slowly improve her baking skills. During work hours you can find her doing historical research and answering questions for you at the Stanley Museu
THE 2024 NATURALISTS:
Rory ‘Cush’ Cushen joins us from Southwest Florida! Rory was born in Maryland but has lived in Florida for half his life, and moved to Southwest Florida to pursue a degree in Environmental Education at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has been educating others about Florida’s delicate freshwater resources for a number of years and looks the forward to turning his naturalist skills to the high mountains of the Sawtooths and Idaho! Rory’s interests include dendrology, birding, photography, hiking, and reading nature books.
Heath Bagley, is excited to be back inn one of his favorite places for a second season working as a naturalist for SIHA. Heath has an associates in biology from the College of Western Idaho and plans to continue his education at Boise State University for a bachelor’s in environmental science. He likes to go birdwatching and hiking the trails around Boise on the weekends and is also an artist and chronic doodler. Stop in at the Redfish Visitor Center so Heath can share his knowledge and passion for conserving Idaho’s ecosystems with you!
Jenna Downing comes to SIHA from upstate NY and is currently studying Fisheries & Wildlife Conservation at Paul Smith’s College. Two of her favorite outdoor activities are hiking and fishing, but when I’m inside she likes to read, do puzzles, and crochet. You’ll find Jenna at the trailheads sharing best practices and doing programs at the Visitor Center this summer!
Chari and Steve Maier are our volunteer naturalists for 2024! Both native New Yorkers, they have been full-time RVrs since 2012. They’ve RV’d to 49 of the 50 states, plus some of Mexico and Canada! They love photography and sharing about our beautiful public lands, and will be ready to help you from behind the desk at the Redfish Visitor Center.
Alicia Lindbom is SIHA’s 2024 Summer Programs Coordinator! This is her first year with SIHA but she and Jeff were here in 2014 for a backpacking trip to the iconic Sawtooth Lake! Alicia loves to talk nature and hear all your adventure stories, so share what’s new when you see her at the Redfish Visitor Center or out on the trail!
The Redfish Visitor Center will be open every day from 9:30am to 5pm starting June 26th through September 15th, then weekends through the 29th! We’re here to answer your questions, chat about hikes, and provide you with the best books and maps for your Sawtooth adventures! The Stanley Museum is open 10am-5pm every day of the week, June 7 through Labor Day. Stop by for fascinating historical displays and fun kids activities, and keep an eye out for more information on History Day hosted at the Stanley Museum on July 20th.
