Kalyb Sims
Kalyb’s lifelong love for nature began while exploring the coast and freshwater springs of her home state of Florida. She’s especially passionate about animal rights and enjoys helping kids connect with the natural world by nurturing empathy for all beings with whom we share the planet. Kalyb holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and spends her free time at the beach, hiking with her senior dog Shady, and trying every plant-based restaurant in LA.
Favorite animal:
Bobcat
Meet More Educators!
Expert Guides
Our experienced guides are equipped and trained with the skills to help your explorer learn, grow, and explore through the great outdoors.
Nature Enthusiasts
They foster a deep connection to the outdoors and instill a sense of wonder.
Alana Berthiaume
Alana grew up in Wisconsin. Part of her childhood was spent on her grandparents’ farm where she learned a love... See More
Alea Sabah
As a kid growing up around Mulholland chaparral, Alea discovered a proclivity for climbing trees, bird watching, bug finding, and,... See More
Amanda Charney
Amanda is an LA-native and big fan of plants, birds, bugs, and more! An avid gardener and hiker, she loves... See More
Amanda Wallace
Amanda grew up in Riverside, CA, fostering an early love of the outdoors staring up at the peaks of the... See More
Analiese Walker
Analiese (she/her) grew up in Northern California and spent as much time outside as possible; searching for bugs in the... See More
Arianna Elwess
Arianna grew up in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties where she fell in love with nature during weekends exploring the... See More
Bradley Rydholm
Bradley grew up in Northern Illinois where he fell in love with the forest and prairie ecosystems of the Midwest.... See More
Brenton Cooper
Brenton (He/Him) is a certified California naturalist, photographer, and aspiring botanist with a love for California ecosystems. During the pandemic... See More
Colette Bartel
Colette grew up hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains, and it was her love of animals that first drove her... See More
Dominic Kyle Ypil
Dominic Kyle Ypil (he/him) has a deep-rooted connection to Los Angeles and extensive outdoor experience. His lifelong curiosity about the... See More
Eli Caplan
A fourth-generation Angeleno, I fell in love with nature camping and hiking in our local San Gabriel mountains. I now... See More
Ella Bogdanski
Ella (she/her) grew up traversing Oregon’s misty woodlands and coastlines. She moved to Los Angeles to earn a degree in... See More
Ingrid Santiago
Ingrid (she/her) grew up in Los Angeles and fell in love with nature during her frequent hikes with family. Ingrid... See More
Jayden Samuels
Hello! My name is Jayden—and I am excited to be an educator for HAWKSLA! I love the outdoors, specifically backpacking,... See More
Jenn Bologna
Hi! I’m Jennifer, and I am stoked to join HAWKS. Growing up on the gorgeous beaches of San Diego gave... See More
Jessica Jimenez
Jessica Jimenez is delighted to be part of the HAWKs LA family, sparking curiosity and excitement in students to explore... See More
Jordan Arney
Jordan is from a small farm town in Vermont and fell in love with nature by exploring the endless deciduous... See More
Josh Andujo
Love being in the outdoors, whether it’s hiking, kayaking, fishing. Or just connecting with my native garden. Favorite thing to... See More
Julia Blatz
Julia grew up on the beach in Orange County and she cultivated her love of nature at sleep-away camp in... See More
Kaitlin O’Connor
Kaitlin (she/her/hers) grew up in Virginia, where the Atlantic Ocean and the changing seasons sparked her love for the outdoors.... See More
Kelly Knowles
While studying Environmental Biology at CPP, Kelly worked at an ethnobotanical education center on campus and absolutely fell in love... See More
Lauren Allin
Lauren is from Los Angeles, and grew up camping, hiking, exploring museums, zoos and aquariums in the area! She is... See More
Leah Costello
(she/her) Originally from Wisconsin, Leah is raising her two children in the hills of Echo Park. She loves being outside... See More
Liam Mcdougal
Liam (he/him) grew up in Southern Los Angeles County and developed a love of nature from a very young age... See More
Makayla “Mak” Dempsey
Mak grew up exploring the outdoors in and around Los Angeles, but it was the magical old-growth forests in Oregon... See More
Max Flores
I am from Santa Ana and I fell in love with nature because of my moms passion for taking care... See More
Mikayla Bryant
Mikayla (she/her/hers) is from the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawai’i. It was there that she developed her love for nature,... See More
Nina Palomba
I’m Nina, an independent artist and arts educator who loves sharing my creative passion with others. I love having the... See More
Rachel Landis
Rachel (she/her/hers) grew up on Balboa Island. The life she came across in and around the ocean helped form the... See More
Samantha Satin
Sami is an outdoor educator with over a decade of experience guiding curious minds through forests, gardens, and classrooms. With... See More
William Mason
William has been fascinated by nature since his childhood, spent hiking and camping among the diverse landscapes of the Southwest.... See More