Staff Spotlight: Jen Laughton
If you were to ask any NatureBridge employee what some of their favorite things about working with our organization are, you’d undoubtedly hear about the kids, the programs, and the impact we make daily. But without fail, the most common response to that question is “the people.” Anyone who’s spent even an afternoon with a group of NatureBridge employees leaves with a brand new group of friends and a ton of laughs and stories. This all rings true for our Director of Development Operations, Jen Laughton.
I have met some of the kindest, most empathetic, hard-working people at this job. Many have turned into dear friends that are still in my life, even if they no longer work for NatureBridge. The fact that I get to see them via video all the time and that my job revolves around working with these amazing people makes it not feel like a job at all, but more like a group of family and friends working toward putting good things out into the world.Jen
In July, Jen (she/her) will celebrate her sixth year with NatureBridge. She worked the majority of her years in our San Francisco office until the pandemic hit and she made a major life change by moving to San Diego, where she now works remotely, occasionally traveling to one of our four national park campuses for events. In the last six years, she’s moved through several different positions, and that adaptability and breadth of knowledge serves her well in her recent promotion.
“Every day is usually different for me—which I enjoy! Some days are full of meetings; some days I hunker down working on a report or on data analysis in spreadsheets. A lot of my job requires flexibility to act on things that pop up—suddenly I might receive an email from a board member asking questions and I’ll need to set aside my other tasks to get back to them promptly. Usually, I am in constant communication with my teammates since much of our jobs are intertwined with each other.”
Jen’s relationship with nature has been a life-long courtship. She wasn’t exposed to hiking, camping, or national parks as a kid, but found fulfillment soaking up the sunshine in her backyard. Growing up in Santa Barbara, CA, with the beach just a few miles away, Jen developed a connection with her surroundings.
“For me, literally just being outside anywhere makes me happy—feeling the air, feeling the ground, and hearing birds and trees. Now that I am older and have had more opportunities to explore, it just makes me excited to keep adventuring and keep finding new landscapes and plants and trees that spark something in me. I err on the side of introversion, and I feel like nature gives me that calming, safe space, without judgment, where it’s ok if I just sit and think.”
It’s without a doubt that Jen plays a huge role in maintaining our culture of kindness, curiosity and enthusiasm.
“I think NatureBridge does draw in very special people, and I feel incredibly lucky that I get to be part of this group.”
The feeling is mutual, Jen!
Stories
2024 Student of the Year: Kai Diaz
At NatureBridge, we celebrate the stewards of today and foster the development of the stewards of tomorrow, working to inspire environmental stewardship in all our participants. Our goal is to motivate our students to make waves and be changemakers in their communities and for our planet.
Each year, NatureBridge honors a student who has demonstrated leadership, growth and a commitment to protecting our natural world as a result of their participation in a NatureBridge program. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at An Evening Outside with NatureBridge on Thursday, May 16 at our Golden Gate campus.
We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Student of the Year: Kai Diaz.
An Interview with Evening Outside Keynote Speaker Dr. Britt Wray
The minute we found out about the work of Dr. Britt Wray, we knew we wanted to learn more about her. A well-respected author and scientist, Dr. Wray possesses expertise in an area of research we talk about a lot at NatureBridge—specifically how we can be resilient, hopeful, and actionable amid a changing world, including the climate crisis. We’re thrilled that Dr. Wray will be joining us on May 16 for An Evening Outside with NatureBridge as our Featured Speaker. Ahead of the event, we had the chance to ask her a few questions relating to her work and her connection to the mission of NatureBridge.
Staff Spotlight: Appreciation for Miho Aida
Miho Aida (she/they) has held multiple roles at NatureBridge over the past twenty-four years, including Environmental Science Educator, Community Connection Coordinator, Field Staff Scientist, Marine Project Coordinator, Pacific Rim Environmental Education Specialist, Armstrong Scholars Educator, Diversity Coordinator, Equity and Inclusion Manager, and Director of Equity and Inclusion. Now, on the eve of Miho's departure, we asked them to reflect on their time at NatureBridge and share a bit about their upcoming adventures.