Rebecca Minnick (She/Her)
Executive Director
rebecca@louisvillenaturecenter.org
About 20 years ago, Rebecca Minnick was home visiting Louisville and hiking in the Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve with her mom. She peered into the window of the LNC building and said, “Mom, I should work here some day!” Rebecca moved home in 2013 after spending almost 20 years in Maine, where she first fell in love with environmental education. In 2018 Rebecca joined LNC as Executive Director. In 2022, she earned the Outstanding New Leader Award from the Association of Nature Center Administrators. She has over 20 years of experience as an educator, both at nature centers and in schools. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Studies with focus on Environmental Education from Antioch University and a B.A. in Geology from Hanover College. Rebecca spends free time playing bluegrass guitar and hiking with her dog Hazel.
Olivia kaiser (She/Her)
Swallowtail Forest School Director
olivia@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Olivia graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She started her teaching career with a focus on ESL (English as a second language), taking her to Belize and South Korea. She began working in the field of EE in 2014 at the Parklands of Floyds Fork, and was awarded the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education’s Rising Star award in 2017. After working as an educator for the Louisville Nature Center in 2018, Olivia took a short break from teaching to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail. She has laid roots in Kentucky and is excited to be back working at the Louisville Nature Center. When she isn’t tromping through the woods, she spends her free time gardening and cooking.
Janelle Vaesa (She/Her)
Education Programs Manager
janelle@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Janelle graduated from the University of Louisville with a Master's in Public Health. After graduating she worked in the field of emergency preparedness where she saw how the environment and people affected one another. Her passion for the environment launched her into getting certified as a Kentucky Master Naturalist and establishing a forest school for homeschool families in the local community. When she's not in the forest teaching about native plants and wildlife you can find her running the trails, mountain biking, volunteering as a Scout leader, and on the rare occasion sitting on the porch with a glass of iced tea.
Savanna Latto (She/Her)
Swallowtail Forest School Teacher
savanna@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Savanna has been passionate about the outdoors and connecting with the environment since she went to camp as a child and her excitement has only grown over the years. She graduated from Indiana University with a major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, and a focus in Ethics and Justice. She hopes to devote her career to making the outdoors accessible and safe for all to enjoy. When she isn't at the Louisville Nature Center you may find her at Red River Gorge exploring with her camera or gardening at home.
Mac Lachmann (He/Him)
Swallowtail Forest School Teacher
mac@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Mac graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelors in Recreation and Parks Administration. After working in Adventure Programs at the EKU student rec center, Mac discovered his passion for outdoor education and conservation. This passion led him to intern at Land Between the Lakes and take many other recreation positions across Eastern Kentucky. When he isn't at the Louisville Nature Center, you may find him creating art and taking part in pretty much anything outdoors — camping, hiking, and educating people on Leave No Trace principles!
Ingrid walters (She/Her)
Swallowtail Forest School Teacher
ingrid@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Ingrid graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor's in Secondary Education, but didn't realize how much she enjoyed early childhood education until she had a child of her own. The pandemic gave her the opportunity to homeschool her daughter, and she planned all her lessons, prioritizing environmental education and learning through creativity and play in nature. Ingrid is excited to bring that same joy and energy to other children as well! She believes we can change the world by providing our youngest generations a chance to build a sense of wonder and love for the earth. Ingrid also enjoys volunteering at the farmer's market, gardening, reading fantasy books, and exploring cultures through cooking!
Elaine Keller (she/They)
AmeriCorps EELCorps Member
Elaine is from Ohio where she graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with her Bachelor's of Music in 2022. After spending 2 years working as an arts administrator in Cincinnati, Elaine decided to pursue her passion for the outdoors by taking a month-long outdoor educator course through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). At NOLS, they earned their Wilderness First Responder Certification and backpacked 100 miles in the Absaroka mountain range. As part of the EELCorps program, they are here at LNC to increase capacity for environmental education programs, community outreach, and overall impact on Kentuckian's environmental knowledge and behaviors. In their free time, Elaine likes to read, play with her dog and two cats, cook delicious vegan meals, and write letters to her friends.
Rachel Harbrecht (She/Her)
Swallowtail Forest School Teacher
rachel@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Rachel’s love for the outdoors and wildlife began as a child roaming through the forests of western Pennsylvania. She graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor's degree in Communication in 2018 and found her way to the Louisville Nature Center in 2024 as the Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator. Being part of LNC helped her realize her desire to educate children and foster that same love for the Earth. Rachel is thrilled to return to LNC as an educator and inspire the next generation of nature lovers. In her free time, she loves hiking, reading books, getting lost in creativity, and spending time with her family.
Alex Goldsmith (She/Her)
Swallowtail Forest School Teacher
alex@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Alex has always had a passion for nature and connecting with people through the outdoors, especially kids! She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management and Conservation. She is also a certified Kentucky Master Naturalist! Alex found her passion for environmental education at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary where she worked as a Recreation Specialist, leading various nature programs like junior explorers, nature crafts, wildflower walks, and many more! Inspiring the next generation of children to care for the environment is very important to her. In her free time she loves doing arts and crafts, thrifting, camping, and hiking with her dog Frankie!
Sasha Weaver (She/Her)
Swallowtail Forest School Teacher
sasha@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Sasha is a mother to three boys who keep her heart wild and her boots muddy! Her oldest attended Swallowtail Forest School where his love for learning through the natural world deepend and showed her just how powerful nature can be for children. After the passing of her mom, the outdoors became even more sacred —a place for healing, reflection, and gratitude. Sasha spends her days exploring the outdoors with her sons; hiking wooded paths, listening to bird songs, turning over rocks, and discovering the world together! Through muddy boots, curious minds, and open hearts, she is raising her boys and her students to grow strong, kind, and deeply connected to the earth.
Charlie Combs (They/Them)
Educator, Volunteer Coordinator
charlie@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Charlie graduated from Bellarmine University in 2021 with a bachelors in Environmental Science, focusing on environmental education and experiential learning. Putting those skills to work they spent the following two years with AmeriCorps building community, learning about Louisville's natural spaces and how to support them. Now a certified Environmental Educator, Charlie continues to work with LNC to facilitate programming and help make it a place for everyone to enjoy. When not at LNC, you'll find Charlie planting trees, hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing and exploring across Kentucky and beyond.
Hannah Coleman-Zaitzeff (She/THey)
Development Manager
hannah@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Hannah has worked in fundraising for 5+ years and loves advocating for nature, art, and animals. They graduated from Hamline University in St.Paul, Minnesota in 2020, and found their way to Louisville, Kentucky in 2022 where she fell in love with our local green spaces including the Louisville Nature Center. When she's not connecting people to our mission, she can be found boxing, swimming, baking, crocheting, or relaxing with her sweet rescue dog Boba.
jen deleeuw(she/her)
Land and Project Manager
jen@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Jen came to conservation work through her love of birds, which expanded to include all of the natural world, from sedges to solitary wasps to sycamore trees. As Land and Project Manager, Jen is responsible for LNC's work to promote biodiversity and ecological vitality in Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve and the additional 43 acres we steward. On the rare occasion Jen is not in the woods, you're likely to find her in her art studio or garden.
Cynthia Bauer (she/Her)
Administrative Assistant
cynthia@louisvillenaturecenter.org
Cynthia was an intern at the Louisville Nature Center during the summers of 2022 and 2023 where she was inspired by the work done and the incredible people working here. She graduated from Ohio University in 2025 with a bachelors in Environmental Science and Sustainability and a certificate in Wealth and Poverty. She is very excited to return to the Louisville Nature Center post-graduation in her new role! Cynthia is passionate about equitable, accessible, and sustainable nature and strives to make a difference in her community. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, birding, hiking, and baking!
Board of Directors
Aaron Daley, President
KPFF Consulting Engineers
mary Lowery, Treasurer
Ability!
Wesley sydnoR, Vice President
Louisville Public Works
Lacey mcNary, Secretary
McNary Group
Casey Adams
Waypoint Strategies
Rick Adams
Kaplan Johnson Abate & Bird LLP.
Will Carroll
McBrayer, PLLC
Melissa Francisco
Brown Forman
Sammie Dauer
Marsh McLennan
Elizabeth Gulick
KFC Foundation
DAVID HIGDON
Atria Senior Living
Monica Molnar
Mandy Olivam
Megan resch
Megan Resch Photography
Ricardo Santiago
Americana Community Center
Sarah Flarsheim
Ex Officio, Louisville Parks & Recreation