THE ALPINE EXAMINER
June 10, 2026
NATURALIST BLOG
Alicia Lindbom, 2026 Summer Programs Coordinator
Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Welcome to our 2026 SIHA crew!
Hello to our 2026 Summer Crew! The Redfish Visitor Center isn’t open quite yet, but summer season has begun for us here at SIHA with training in full swing. Let me introduce our new crew! College students, graduates, and returners – we’ve got a great group this year and are excited to continue to get to know them. 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 2026 MUSEUM CREW:
Eoin Gleeson Eoin Gleeson is a returning Historic Specialist, having spent last summer with SIHA. During that time he developed an immense love of public lands, public history, and interacting with visitors to share his love of the Sawtooths. He is incredibly excited to be returning! During the rest of the year he is a History and English student at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Besides Idaho he has previously lived in Washington, Montana, and his birth country of Ireland. When he isn’t learning or interacting with museum visitors, he enjoys fishing, hiking, road trips to places known and unknown, and eating copious amounts of the Sawtooth Special from Papa Brunees.
Brady Cooke was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho where he graduated from Idaho State University with a B.A. in History and a B.S. in Political Science in 2025. Growing up in Idaho, Brady has recreated his entire life throughout Idaho, and enjoys spending time in the forests and mountains of Idaho skiing, hiking, fishing and camping. Other than the outdoors, Brady enjoys music, reading and spending time with friends and family.
THE 2026 NATURALISTS:
Rory ‘Cush’ Cushen is ecstatic to be back with SIHA for a third summer! Into his sixth year as an environmental educator, Cush will continue to help people engage with the Land in their own personal way. He loves learning the mysteries of science that propel all of Life. Cush enjoys birding, amazing camp sites, and big horizons, which are all aplenty in the Sawtooth NRA. This year, he hopes he can trek the White Cloud Wilderness, spot a Beaver, and talk to visitors from all fifty states.
Addie Frazier grew up in Nampa, Idaho, and has been visiting the Sawtooths her entire life. She is currently studying Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana and minoring in Nonprofit Administration. Spending time in Stanley each summer sparked her love for the outdoors, and she wholeheartedly believes it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Addie enjoys hiking, camping, horseback riding, and spending as much time outside as possible. She is incredibly excited to be working as a naturalist this summer and looks forward to sharing her passion for the Sawtooth region with visitors.
Christina Gibbs is originally from Illinois but attended Montana State University where she graduated with a B.S. in Fish and Wildlife Ecology in the spring of 2024. Since graduation, she’s traveled the country working as a technician on various wildlife projects, from pika and small mammals in northern California to wild turkeys in Nebraska. She’s more than excited to fold her wildlife knowledge into her teaching style, and believes that enthusiastic education fosters love and respect for our environment. Christina’s an avid hiker, birder, reader, and photographer and can’t wait to get out and explore the Sawtooths this summer!
Miriam Black has always been many things: a biologist, poet, artist, educator, and avid trinket collector. Miriam has lived coast to coast and in small Khmer (Cambodian) and British communities, which experiences gave her a deep and profound appreciation for rich and diverse cultures. She brought this passion for understanding and open-mindedness to her degrees: an Associates in Chemistry and Art in Washington state, followed by a Bachelors in Biology and English. Right now, she is working on her first publication as an author, a small novella on marriage in 1600s Europe. Although she used to think that she had to choose one singular path in life, Miriam has come to realize that we can be not just anything we choose, but everything we strive to be.
Luke Williams was born and raised in Kuna, Idaho. Growing up, he often went camping with his dad in the Idaho wilderness. Through this, he gained a love of the outdoors and recreation. He’s currently studying Environmental Science at the University of Idaho. He enjoys camping, fishing, and hiking. If he’s not outside, you can often find him listening to music or reading a book. Luke is excited to learn more about the Sawtooth area and share his knowledge with visitors this summer.
Alicia Lindbom is SIHA’s 2026 Summer Programs Coordinator. This is her third year with SIHA and she can’t wait to explore more, meet this year’s visitors, and help our staff and organization have a great summer!
The Redfish Visitor Center and Stanley Museum will be open June 12th! Stop by and meet the crew!