bios
current volunteers
Here are the people who actively support Tucson ICO:
mico archangeli
As a native Tucsonan I grew up with the Catalina Mountains as my back yard. Throughout my childhood I went on many rock climbing and bouldering trips throughout the Catalina’s and the southwest. As a young adult I feel the need to convey these experiences to Arizona youth through various outdoor programs like ICO or rock climbing summer camps. When I am not volunteering or preparing for classes, I am often found climbing on Mt. Lemmon or enjoying the outdoors. micomonkey@gmail.com
Sharon Arkin
I've been associated with ICO for about 8 years, at first as a volunteer assisting leaders on outings with school groups. Since becoming a certified leader two years ago, I have been taking refugee families on outings to places of natural beauty in and around Tucson. I especially enjoy the challenge of preparing culturally appropriate picnics for our outings. Professionally, I am a psychologist and former Alzheimer researcher. I also own and operate a bed and breakfast in my home (Bed and Bagels of Tucson) that caters to birdwatchers, people with chemical sensitivities, and travelers with pets and/or children. arkinaz@earthlink.net
al bellavia
I am a native of New York but have lived in Tucson for 38 years. An outdoorsman and nature advocate, I enjoy spending my free time hiking, backpacking, experiencing new terrains and working out at the local YMCA. I'm attracted to Tucson for its geography and it's deep respect for the natural vegetation and wildlife. My home borders the Saguaro National Park and has a small water pond that provides respite to many members of the desert including an occasional mountain lion. I support ICO for several reasons, but mostly because I enjoy working with youth and believe that it’s important for them to connect with nature since it is they who will be preserving it in the future. I also believe that building a relationship with the environment and coming to understand more about the earth promotes well being and helps to build inner strength. I am a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where I earned an Associates Degree in Social Work. I am self-employed in the business of real estate and when time permits take an occasional jaunt through the desert on horseback. albellavia@hotmail.com
Benjamin Blonder: Grant Writer
I think everyone deserves to have a sense of place and an understanding of their natural environment. I want to ensure everyone has access to these transformative outdoor experiences. Currently I am an ecology PhD student at the University of Arizona, and have previously worked as an environmental educator in Idaho public schools. bblonder@gmail.com
Kimberly Daly: webmaster
I grew up with nature as my playground. Upon reading Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv I was shocked to learn that many children living today do not experience the outdoors and are therefore becoming "nature-deficit". In response, I became active with Tucson ICO because I believe the natural world offers many lessons for humans to draw from. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona and currently own a eco-minded graphic/web design business that educates and encourages clients to function more sustainably. I strive to work with environmental organizations and often accept pro-bono projects in environmental conservation. kimberly@dalysite.com
Yue Max Li "max"
Nurturing the spiritual and intellectual bound between humans and Nature is not only crucial for preserving the wonderful natural world but also important to build the strength of our own mind and body. When one appreciates the depth of Nature, studies her and learns to think from her point of view, he/she creates a sacred place both within and without. My motivation of joining the Tucson ICO is to bring more people, especially youth and under-represented groups to the field, connect them with Nature, and help them to see from Nature's point of view. Being an Ecology Ph.D student, I feel the urge to introduce to more people our scientific understanding of Nature and to generate more interests in the study of Ecology. I also enjoy seeing the joy and inspiration trip participants can gain from hike and careful field observation and the friendship they build during the trip. These changes in people's spirit and attitude is essential for creating a healthy and sustainable human society. max.liyue@gmail.com
jeremy jonas: Secretary
Discovering and enjoying the marvel and seemingly endless beauty of the natural world is a universal right that I think everyone should have the opportunity to exercise. I also believe that increasing youth's, and ultimately society’s, awareness of their inclusion in the natural world and their interdependence with it will immensely benefit the commonwealth of our species and our community planet! Currently I am a PhD student in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Arizona. I previously taught Math and Science to elementary and middle school students in South Korea. jeremydavidjonas@gmail.com
Judy Rubin: Current Chair
Almost nothing brings me more joy than to be out in the beautiful Tucson mountains and deserts with children who, for the first time, are experiencing pure delight at the nature around them. I have coordinated and led over 50 outings since 1992 with ICO and Sunnyside School District. I am currently a Prevention Specialist at an elementary school and have a Masters of Education/Counseling. judym@susd12.org
Matt Nelson: Former Chair
I'm a passionate outdoor professional who is dedicated to helping people connect to each other and the natural world through adventure, introspection and community activism. I have worked with youth from diverse backgrounds in a variety of contexts since 1998. During that time I have been a ropes/challenge course facilitator, summer camp director, teen wilderness adventure leader and service project organizer. I organize and facilitate various outdoor activities for schools and organizations throughout Arizona. I currently live off-the-grid in the Sierrita Mountains west of Tucson, and in between teaching programs and guiding outdoor adventures, I work as a field archaeologist and nature writer. onejourney@juno.com
donovan porterfield
I have always felt a deep connection to our natural world and a desire to explore it whenever possible. As an elementary school teacher I would strive to instill the same love and appreciation of nature in my students as I felt. I would organize family class field trips on Saturdays for hikes and service activities to integrate with our studies on conservation and the environment. ICO would have been a wonderful resource for these trips had I been aware of it. Now, through ICO, I can continue helping children learn to enjoy and respect the natural world with a group of fun like minded folks. donlport@gmail.com
Krystal Short: Treasurer
I was one of those lucky kids who had parents that were very active and took me out into the wilderness a lot growing up. For so many kids that experience is out of reach. ICO bridges that gap and helps expose kids to something that can be life changing and vitally important to the future.
On top of my general experience growing up with mountain biking, climbing and exploring, I was also a guide in college. I worked with my university's outdoor program to take students, faculty and staff out on all sorts of trips, from canoeing and backpacking to whitewater rafting and climbing. My favorite trips were the ones that had people who had never experienced the type of wilderness we were going into, or the sport we were introducing them to. I loved the feeling of helping someone experience something so amazing for the first time. ICO is that feeling to a much greater degree! As well as guiding trips with the program I also was involved with gear rental, running our climbing wall and our educational clinics teaching skills such as knot tying, kayak safety and navigation. I am currently certified in First Aid and CPR, and have a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Texas. krystalshort@gmail.com
pacifica Sommers
I enjoy hiking, camping, and exploring, as well as mountain biking and rock climbing, and wants to share these skills and experiences with others. I am currently earning my PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, and love sharing my knowledge of biology and nature. pacificasommers@gmail.com
bob tracey
I've experienced several life changing events that have encouraged me to be more involved in my community. I became a volunteer with Friends of Sabino Canyon, helping on various cleanups, as well as Arrundo Reed Grass removal along the creeks. When I first joined the Sierra Club, I read about ICO. It seemed like a wonderful way to help others enjoy the great outdoors - that I have enjoyed for many years - around Tucson and the southwestern US. A long time resident of Tucson (30+ years), an avid hiker, backpacker, camper, and river rafter, I hope that my experience and knowledge of trails and camping locations will be a benefit on ICO outings. bandrtracey@cox.net
Matt Trillo
I support ICO because it gives my students that I work with a chance to get out into nature. Most of them never leave their neighborhoods, and thus never get a chance to experience nature. I am a teacher of ELD (English Language Development, formerly known as ESL) and I work with Cheryl Walling and Marshal Cole at Maxwell Middle School and help them with the monthly/bi-monthly hikes we set up for the students of Maxwell M.S.. I have my Bachelors in Education and my Masters in Bilingual and Multicultural Education, as well as several endorsements and have a certification to teach Community College. I enjoy being associated with ICO because it gives me as well as my students an opportunity to get out into nature and ICO is a very committed organization that helps inner city children build that appreciation towards nature. matthew.trillo@tusd1.org
Cheryl Walling
My family has always loved traveling and camping. I want to bring this experience to our students at Maxwell Middle School. Many of our students have never left the city limits of Tucson. There are so many places of nature to visit in our state. I hope we can share that love with our students for future generations. I am currently a teacher librarian at Maxwell Middle School. I have a hiking club at school that includes 6th, 7th and 8th graders. We have anywhere from 50-100 students in the group although only about 20-30 are usually active. I am almost finished being a certified leader for our ICO group. I've been leading groups since 2005. cheryl.walling@tusd1.org