Your EdenAcres Team

Executive Director
Fallon Harris
she/her
Hi! I'm Fallon, co-founder and director of EdenAcres. I also get the opportunity to engage in my true passion - teaching outdoors - as one of our Farm School instructors. Over the past 13 years I've worked in sustainability and outdoor education as well as in nonprofit leadership. I've had the joy of collaborating with organizations such as Swallowtail School & Farm, FG Community Alternative Learning Center, Roots & Shoots, FG Community School, & Centro Cultural to develop and teach youth programs. I have also designed & taught sustainability education courses at Pacific University. I have a deep passion for the natural world and for education.

Lead Gardener
Cristina Villafana-Balta
she/her
Hola! I’m Cristina and I’m grateful to share my love for gardening and working with the land as the Lead Gardener here at EdenAcres. I graduated from the Adelante Mujeres Agricultura program and gained valuable farming experience with Ayers Creek Farm.
These days, I tend the gardens at Nana Cardoon and the B-street Commons Learning Garden, where I take the lead on garden care and growing. I also manage our Tuality Plains Seed Library Heritage Seed Garden, where I focus on cultivating and preserving heirloom seeds for the community.
I’m passionate about creating vibrant, thriving gardens that connect people to the land, food, and each other!

Inclusion Coordinator
Traci Jo Partin
she/they
Hi! I'm Jo and I’m thrilled to be EdenAcres Inclusion Coordinator! Alongside this role, I’m pursuing a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy at Pacific University. I’m passionate about collaborating with students, families, and teachers to co-create inclusive, welcoming spaces where everyone feels supported.
When I’m not working or studying, I enjoy cooking with seasonal, local foods, exploring speculative sci-fi, and participating in biological field surveys to protect our old-growth forests!

Educator
Tyler Judson
he/him
Hi! I’m Tyler, born and raised in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. After spending 8 years teaching in Asia, including at Taiwan’s longest-running outdoor school, I’ve returned to share my love for nature with the EdenAcres community. I believe in the transformative power of the natural world and am excited to inspire the same enthusiasm in the youth I work with. In my free time, I love to go backpacking, especially to explore the hidden swimming holes and hot springs of the Pacific Northwest.

Educator
Hope Ellis
she/her
Hello! I’m Hope, and I’m delighted to be part of the EdenAcres team. Growing up as a fifth-generation fruit grower in the Willamette Valley instilled in me a deep respect for the environment. I hold a degree in Applied Sustainability and am passionate about teaching the next generation to appreciate and care for the natural world. I love sharing the wonders of wildlife with our students and inspiring them to explore and discover.

Social Media Mana
Ali Asman
she/her
Hi, I’m Ali! I’ve always had a deep connection to nature, and I’m thrilled to share that passion with our EdenAcres community while also raising my two daughters to love the environment. I graduated from the University of Portland with a degree in Psychology and Neuroscience, and have spent years working with children in various settings, from outdoor camps to Waldorf schools. I’m excited to engage with you all through our outreach efforts and social media platforms!

Preschool Teacher, B-st Program Coordinator
Libby Berg
she/her
Hello, I’m Libby, and I’m so excited to lead the Little Wonders program and collaborate on projects at B-street Learning Commons. My teaching journey has taken me across the globe, from classrooms in Thailand and Japan to an orphanage on the Burma border. My experiences have shaped my nature-based, hands-on teaching philosophy. I love organic gardening, herbal medicine, and beekeeping, and I’m thrilled to share these passions with our EdenAcres community.

Nature Educator
Laura Burke
she/they
Hello, I’m Laura, and I’m honored to be part of the EdenAcres team. With nearly eight years of experience in environmental education, I’ve taught in various settings, from YMCA Camp DeBoer to Rogue Outdoor School. My background in Environmental Science and my passion for creating safe and equitable outdoor learning environments drive my work. I’m excited to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with the Nature School community and to inspire your children to explore the wonders of the natural world.

Facilities Manager
Jeremy Jenson
he/him
With over 20 years of experience in construction, facilities management, and equipment operation, I take pride in maintaining and enhancing the spaces where the EdenAcres community learns and grows. Since joining EdenAcres in 2020, I’ve overseen the upkeep of buildings, gardens, and outdoor spaces, ensuring they are safe, accessible, and beautiful. From designing and building new structures to managing water systems and leading volunteer projects, I’m passionate about creating environments that support outdoor education.
My background includes working on municipal and federal projects, operating heavy equipment, and collaborating on construction in sensitive riparian and wetland areas. When I’m not at EdenAcres, I enjoy staying hands-on with projects that combine my love for nature and craftsmanship.

Forest Preschool Teacher
Angelina Galvan
she/her
Hi there! I’m Angelina, and I’m passionate about connecting children with nature. My love for the outdoors began in the Central Valley of California and has only grown since moving to Portland, where I’ve developed an interest in foraging and herbalism. Since 2020, I’ve been teaching with PDX Forest Preschool, and I’m thrilled to continue this journey at EdenAcres. In my spare time, I enjoy pastel drawing, writing, and organizing community events. I can’t wait to share my knowledge and passion with our community.

Forest Preschool Teacher
Stefanie Landman
she/her
Hi, I’m Stefanie! With eight years of experience in outdoor education, I’m passionate about creating safe and engaging outdoor experiences for young learners. I’ve led programs for all age groups, focusing on topics like animal habitats and water ecology. I’m excited to bring my love for the natural world and my experience in experiential activities to the PDX Forest Preschool. I look forward to connecting with your children and fostering their curiosity and love for nature.

Assistnat Nature Educator
Abbigail Gross
she/her
I’m thrilled to be part of the EdenAcres community, where my love for early childhood education and the natural world come together. My experience as a Life Skills Trainer for adults with IDD and time at the French International School of Oregon deepened my passion for working with children and creating inclusive spaces.
At EdenAcres, I bring a playful spirit, compassion, and a commitment to helping young learners explore and connect with nature. Outside of work, I enjoy forest adventures, learning new skills, and embracing opportunities for connection and growth.
Our Board of Directors
EdenAcres Environmental Education is currently recruiting new board members! EA's board is a diverse group of individuals who care deeply about our mission. We are looking to deepen our leadership team, expanding the guidance and support provided to our work. We'd love to chat with anyone interested or wants to learn more. No previous board experience necessary and we encourage those with lived experience to reach out.
EA is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering learners to become agents for change through experiential and environmental education. EA strives to support and promote excellence in hands-on, place-based education.
Our board members champion the importance of inclusive, hands-on learning and exceptional environmental education as a means of transforming our culture towards a more sustainable society. There are many access points to addressing a changing climate, to increasing academic achievement, and to improving the lives of children and families. We have chosen education as our focal point because we believe that education is the means by which we pass culture from one generation to the next.
We believe that each and every organization needs a strong and effective board to fully realize its potential for good. In addition to the standard roles and responsibilities of a board member, our board members are active advocates and ambassadors for the organization and are fully engaged in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for EA to advance its mission.
Join the Board Interest Form

Terry O'Day
Board Chair

Charlie Graham
Director

Charlene Murdock
Director

Steven Barnard
Director
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