Suzanne L. Weakley has been active outdoors with a deep appreciation of the natural world her entire life. A Berkeley resident, she enjoys hiking, horseback riding and sailing on weekends. She is a fifth generation Californian and a native of San Francisco. Continue reading →

Cathy Petrick is an identical triplet. She grew up in a leafy New York suburb where she and her sisters spent most of their time outside, climbing trees, crossing streams, and dominating neighborhood games with a voting block. Cathy worked … Continue reading →

Jonathan Marshall went on his first Greenbelt Outing more than 10 years ago. A longtime member, he decided to become a Greenbelt Outings leader because he liked that the outings were small, informative, and provided an easy way to explore … Continue reading →

Liz Watson is a special education teacher in Concord. She has her own classroom and she does home/hospital schooling. Liz enjoys nature, hiking, history, animals, traveling and providing outdoor experiences to people of all abilities. Continue reading →

Tania Malik is a writer and rambler who enjoys exploring the trails of Marin County with her dog. She was educated in boarding schools in the foothills of the Himalayas, and raised in India, Africa and the Middle East. She has worked for non-profits, and in the travel marketing field, writing and creating brochures for holidays to exotic destinations. After years of nomadic wanderings, the Bay Area has been her home for the last ten years. Continue reading →

Sandra and Bruce are experienced hike leaders who enjoy sharing their knowledge of Bay Area trails and the natural world. They are supporters of preserving and protecting open spaceAny parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or … Continue reading →

Bob Johnson is a Greenbelt and urban outings leader and works with Urban Advantage to produce photo-realistic visualizations of better urban designThe attempt to give form, in terms of both beauty and function, to selected urban areas or to whole cities. Urban design is concerned with the location, mass, and design of various urban components and combines elements of urban planningControls by central or local government over the use of land. Land-use planning is used to keep activities causing harmful externalities, such as noise or visual intrusion, away from places where they are believed to be particularly harmful. , architecture, and landscape architecture.; he has been a board member since 1991. Continue reading →

Sarah Cramer is an educational specialist at the Oakland Zoo. She graduated with a biology degree from Carlton College in Minnesota, and has worked for the National Park Service and the Discovery Museum in Sausalito. A skilled interpreter and teacher, … Continue reading →

Gael has been leading Greenbelt Alliance outings for 15 years and she has never been on one that was not an uplifting experience. Most of the hikes she leads are in San Mateo and Santa Clara County. She loves planning … Continue reading →

Alexandra Fraser is a wetlands and plant community ecologist with more than 15 years of experience leading nature outings for the public. Since 2006 she has been leading Greenbelt Outings that focus on the wildflowers, plant communities, and natural history … Continue reading →

Ken has introduced countless children and adults to the delights of the nature and the greenbelt as an outdoor education teacher, park ranger, and hike leader. He is an entertaining storyteller and expert speaker on the natural world, including Bay Area geology, flora, and fauna. Continue reading →

Anita Lalwani is a former Greenbelt Alliance staff member. These days. Anita wears several hats- yoga instructor, professional dancer, and licensed personal trainer. Anita leads Greenbelt Alliance outings that combine Yoga in beautiful natural settings. Continue reading →

Janet Byron has been leading outings for Greenbelt Alliance since 1993, and served on the board for five years. She is an amateur birdernd enjoys running and hiking on East Bay trails. During the week,she is managing editor of the University of California’s California Agriculture journal. Continue reading →

Michele is a San Mateo County native and has been working to protect open spaceAny parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of development. or area of land or water that is essentially unimproved and devoted to an open space use for the purposes of (1) the preservation of natural resources, (2) the managed production of resources, (3) outdoor recreation, or (4) public health and safety. lands and create livable communities in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties since 2004. She often speaks on affordable housingHousing that can be purchased or rented by a household with moderate, low, or very low income, based on a household's ability to make monthly payments necessary to obtain housing. Housing is considered affordable when a household pays less than 30 percent of its gross monthly income (GMI) for housing, including utilities. and smart growthA broad concept that describes a series of principles that encourage development that better serves the economic, environmental and social needs of communities than do many of the principles that have guided development in the post-World War II period. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified the following ten principles of smart growth: 1. Mix land uses 2. Take advantage of compact building design 3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 4. Create walkable neighborhoods 5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective 10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. Continue reading →

The Ongs are knowledgeable birders and patient teachers. Their hikes attract beginners through advanced birdwatchers. They are able to track changes in bird populations and spotlight the importance of preserving the natural areas Greenbelt Alliance works to protect. Continue reading →

Nancy Valente is a faunal analyst with a master’s degree in archeology. She is a recognized expert in the identification of animal skeletal remains and is often asked to identify bones unearthed at sensitive sites during construction projects.

Cristin Kenyon is a Bay Area native who grew up hiking in the open spaceAny parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of development. or area of … Continue reading →

A professional geologist at Chevron Energy Technology, Karen has taught outdoor education programs for children on Mount Diablo for several years in addition to leading interpretive outings for adults. Drawing on her background in geology and hydrology, Karen always entertains … Continue reading →

Patti is a San Francisco Bay Area native who enjoys hiking and biking along the bay shore and mountains of Santa Clara County. Continue reading →

A longtime East Bay environmental leader, Judy is a strong proponent of Greenbelt Alliance’s conservation goals. Over the years, she has led Greenbelt Alliance outings demonstrating organic gardening techniques, plant-pollinator relationships, and methods to foster locally grown, sustainable produce. In … Continue reading →

For the past 17 years, David Schmidt has shared his vast knowledge of Bay Area natural areas and environmental history with Greenbelt Alliance outing participants. Though born and raised in the Bay Area, David learned about Greenbelt Alliance while working … Continue reading →

Nancy Topp, a CPA by profession, comes to Greenbelt Alliance with a long history of volunteerism in open spaceAny parcelA lot, or contiguous group of lots, in single ownership or under single control, usually considered a unit for purposes of … Continue reading →

Bob Solotar is a Bay Area native. His interest in environmental issues grew as a result of the changes in the Bay Area he saw growing up. He has served on the governing bodies of local environmental organizations, and presently … Continue reading →