Why we’re here.
The Wallowa Mountain Institute (WMI) works to educate and engage with all ages of young people through place-based, hands-on programs, increasing knowledge on rural issues, growing leadership capacity, building workforce development, and encouraging community and land stewardship. We are a program supported and housed under the non-profit entity Wallowa Resources.
All of our programs strive to…
Promote a deeper connection to the outdoors and local rural landscape
Educate the next generation of land stewards and community leaders
Increase K-12 STEM learning opportunities and science literacy
Create equitable access to outdoor science programs for ALL
Meet the Flock
Lindsay Miller
Youth Education Manager
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Lindsay and her family have lived in Wallowa County for over a decade now and couldn’t imagine calling anywhere else home. As a kid, Lindsay was often found crawling around the forest floor, exploring hidden nooks. Not much has changed since then, though now she has 3 kids trailing behind her. She loves expanding her understanding of all things botanical and has a deep and abiding interest in learning and teaching traditional ethnobotanical uses of native plants on the land, our first teachers. In addition to the titles of partner and mother she also holds a degree in Forest Ecology and Biology, a Masters in Science Curriculum and Instruction as well as a current Oregon teaching license.
Lindsay strives to spark a sense of awe, deep connection and love for the outdoor world in the youth she serves and has spent the better part of 2 decades doing just that. Working in residential outdoor camps, as an Interpretive Ranger for the Forest Service and for several years as a middle and high school classroom science teacher, she has had a career span that provides deep insight into how to connect youth to the natural world. Recently, through her position with Wallowa Resources, she has worked to help elevate rural issues into regional and state conversations around out of school enrichment and youth leadership. She is a fierce advocate for youth, her community, and the lands they steward, and is excited about the future of education on all fronts.
Hobbies: “Hiking, cooking and cultivating food from the ground up, playing Catan with her kids, impromptu dance parties and dreaming about standing on top of mountains”
Favorite Place in Wallowa County: “A little no-name lake near Elkhorn Peak, I’ll take you sometime”
Favorite Topic to Teach: “Fungi, Moss, Liverworts and Lichens…I love exploring the world of the smallest survival experts!”
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Email: lindsay@wallowaresources.org
Emily Bratcher
Youth Education Coordinator
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Emily grew up in Albany, Oregon, but always loved visiting Wallowa County as a kid. Her love for animals, science, and being outside led her initially to fish biology, but eventually to outdoor education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science from Oregon State University in 2015. After working in the field for a few years, she decided to switch gears and go back to school. Emily did a hands-on grad program at the McCall Outdoor Science School, where she taught outdoor education programs for middle schoolers. In 2020, she earned her master’s in Environmental Education and Science Communication from the University of Idaho, and began working for WMI.
Hobbies: “hiking and backpacking, white water rafting, fly fishing, traveling, cooking, (amateur) photography, and watching home improvement shows.”
Favorite Place in Wallowa County: “the upper Imnaha River. But the best view in the county is from the top of Pete’s Point!”
Favorite Topic to Teach: “I love teaching kids about ecology and animals! I have a huge soft spot for scaly critters, especially reptiles and amphibians”
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Lily Rhoades
Youth Expedition Specialist
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Lily was born and raised in a small desert town in Arizona before moving to Flagstaff, AZ, where she earned her B.S. in microbiology with a minor in chemistry. Craving the outdoors and the satisfaction of a hard day’s work, she joined an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps fire crew where she worked alongside non-profits and the Forest Service serving communities in need. Lily spent the next three years working as a wildland firefighter with the Forest Service in the Willamette National Forest before relocating to Wallowa County. After two years of fighting wildland fire in the Eagle Cap Ranger District, she decided she wanted to share her knowledge and love for the outdoors with the next generation of explorers and happily accepted a position with Wallowa Resources' Youth Education program. In her free time, Lily enjoys adventuring with her partner, Rose, and their dog, Charlie.
Hobbies: “Gardening, skiing, hiking, and traveling.”
Favorite Place in Wallowa County: “Hat Point lookout in the early summer when the wildflowers are blooming.”
Favorite Topic to Teach: “Wilderness medicine and anything to do with animals.”
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Jacob Losby
Workforce Development Coordinator
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Jacob was born and raised on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin before moving out west to attend the University of Oregon where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship and a minor in Music. Upon graduation he moved with his now wife to her hometown of Joseph to run a small restaurant at the foot of the Wallowas for eight years.
Since the move, Jacob has spent much of his time weaving his way into the community of Wallowa County. He has coached track and field at Joseph Charter School since 2015, served four years as a Director and President of the Joseph Branch Trail Consortium board, and is the founder and host of Terminal Gravity Brewing Co.’s Trivia Night.
With his background working with youth, business management, and his experience in the outdoor nonprofit space, he was tapped to be a Crew Lead for the HAWK Internship program. He helped introduce high school interns to various natural resource careers by shadowing professionals from partnering organizations while developing their professional skills in the process. He enjoyed the experience so much that he jumped at the chance to originate the Workforce Development Coordinator position when the opportunity arose.
When not working, Jacob enjoys trail running, backpacking, and day hikes with his wife, Olivia.
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Kalei Merrifield
Youth Education Intern
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I am originally from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, so I love the trees and lakes. One of my favorite summer activities is boating. Currently, I am a senior in college at Eastern Oregon University. My major is elementary education. I love working with the littles and am hoping to get hired to teach first or second grade after I graduate. I am very excited to learn more about Wallowa County and get more experience working with different age groups through this internship!
