Growing up on the edge of the Los Padres, in the Ojai Valley, Scott developed a connection to our wild lands from a young age. For him, the mountains became not only a classroom and playground, but a place of sanctuary and reflection. After completing his bachelor’s degree at UCSB, Scott spent five years practicing ecological restoration with the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) before taking a year to travel the country by motorcycle. He then spent more than seven years as a senior botanist for a local consulting firm, becoming an ISA-certified arborist and ultimately managing its GIS department.
Scott has had the pleasure of leading educational and volunteer events throughout the region and is excited to bring his experience and passion for local biodiversity to Los Padres ForestWatch. He oversees ForestWatch’s newly established nature preserve in the San Emigdio Mountains, leads habitat restoration and volunteer work throughout the Los Padres region, and creates maps and figures to support the organization’s projects.
In his free time, you’ll find Scott exploring dirt roads with his partner and dog, Frank, searching for rare wildflowers or mineral occurrences. By sharing what he sees and learns in our mountains and valleys, he hopes to impart to others some of the devotion to nature that has nurtured him throughout his life.