Our Mission
"To actively conserve wildlife and their habitats by fostering community connectedness, outdoor education, and applied research."
Who We Are
Have you ever been curious about wildlife or the outdoors, but felt out of place or unwelcome?
Or maybe you already care deeply about conservation, but the path to getting involved feels intimidating or out of reach.
This is your home.
We believe everyone should have a place in the natural world—and a place in the community working to protect it.
We’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization creating accessible opportunities to explore wildlife, learn outdoor skills, and connect with others. Through free and low-cost educational events, excursions, and professional skills training, we work to break down the barriers that keep people from participating in conservation.
Whether you’re building your resume, deepening your knowledge, or simply looking for a way to get outside, you’re welcome here. Not sure? Come hang out at one of our free excursions—a casual, no-expectations way to see what we’re about.
Ready to dive in? Explore our upcoming workshops or become a registered volunteer. Proceeds from our paid programs go directly toward conserving and recovering endangered wildlife and habitats, and you can follow our Blog to stay updated on those efforts every step of the way.
There's a place for you here, and we hope to meet you soon.
Our Philosophy
Nature is for everyone.
No matter who you are or where you come from, nature is for you. Much of humanity's supposed divide from nature actually comes from divisions between each other - entire groups of people who have been excluded, chased off, or made to feel unsafe or unwelcome in outdoor settings. Healing divisions between humanity and nature is directly tied to healing divisions between ourselves.
We are a part of nature, not apart from nature.
Humans are not invaders. We have lived on every major landmass since before the end of the last ice age more than 10,000 years ago, and every species alive today has evolved and adapted alongside humans. While some species and habitats are more affected by humans than others, a pristine wilderness, 'untrammeled by man...' is a myth. Indigenous cultures around the world have actively shaped the ecosystems we live in, and many wild species rely on human activity to exist.
Community includes humans and wildlife.
'Eco' means 'Home.' Ecology is the study of our home, and includes every member of our natural community, human and wild. Both are deserving of the same care, respect, and consideration. When we try to set ourselves apart, we become disconnected from the very community that makes this planet able to support human life - from the community that makes this planet Home.
Nice to meet you!
Adam Austin, Co-Director
Adam is a Southwest Michigan native where he grew up adventuring in the woods, ponds, and rivers around his small town. Once a US Navy journalist and now a wetland biologist and herpetologist, he earned both his BA (English) and BS (Biological Sciences) from Western Michigan University, where he also earned an MS en route to his PhD learning how to create wetland habitats that support imperiled species. Adam is a certified college science educator and teaches ecology, evolution, and environmental biology courses part-time at the local colleges. He serves on the Eastern Massasauga Species Recovery Working Group alongside state and federal agencies, zoos, and other nonprofits; and works with the state-endangered Western Lesser Siren salamander after rediscovering it nearly 60 years after it was last documented in Michigan. He has previously worked in positions that included research, land management, consulting, and community outreach through state and tribal governments, and is passionate about improving habitats and helping folks find their own wonder and appreciation for the outdoors.
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Karla Kelly, Co-Director
Karla is originally from Washington State but has called Michigan home since 2021. In Washington, Karla earned her Bachelor of Science degree at The Evergreen State College, studying a variety topics including ornithology and marine biology. She then went on to work with birds; first as an intern studying pigeon guillemots, then as an AmeriCorps member studying streaked horned larks, Western bluebirds, and Oregon vesper sparrows, and finally as an avian field technician working with those same species as well as monitoring shorebirds and waterfowl in the North Puget Sound. She then picked up and moved to Kalamazoo to pursue and ultimately earn a Master of Science degree at Western Michigan University working with northern yellow warblers. She is currently nearing the end of a PhD program researching mangrove yellow warblers and chestnut-sided warblers. Karla grew up in a city and it wasn't until her first year of college that she really began pursuing her interests in the outdoors but once she started, she was hooked. Now she finds every excuse and hobby she can that allows her to get outside as much as possible.
Our Board of Directors
Colleen Kellogg
Colleen is a Michigan-based filmmaker and conservationist with a passion for herpetology. She attended Grand Valley State University for film and video production, where she garnered an interest in documentary filmmaking. For her senior project, she directed a short film about a venom lab, which reignited a long-held love for reptiles. Following the completion of that project, Colleen pursued further education and experience in the herpetology space. She has continued to work with and educate folks about reptiles, specializing in snakes. In 2023, she received her first venomous handling safety certification and began production on a feature-length documentary about the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. Throughout the production, she quickly grew a massive soft spot for Michigan’s only venomous snake. She became more involved in their conservation, which in turn led to an interest in not only protecting and educating about them, but also their habitats and the countless other species they share their home with.
Tiffany Johnson
Tiffany Johnson is the founder and CEO of Dino Buddies LLC, a Cincinnati-based wildlife education organization dedicated to making conservation and science accessible, exciting, and community-driven. With a background in zoology and years of hands-on experience working with reptiles, exotic animals, and educational outreach programs, Tiffany has built Dino Buddies into an award-winning organization known for combining entertainment with meaningful wildlife education.
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Since founding Dino Buddies in 2020, Tiffany has focused not only on educating the public, but also on creating opportunities for young professionals to gain hands-on experience in animal care, public outreach, and conservation. Under her leadership, Dino Buddies has partnered with libraries, schools, nonprofits, farms, and conservation organizations across the region to connect communities with wildlife in engaging and impactful ways.
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Tiffany is passionate about reptile conservation, environmental education, and building spaces where people feel welcomed into the world of wildlife and the outdoors. Her work emphasizes empathy for misunderstood species, ethical animal care, and inspiring the next generation of conservationists.
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As a board member of Midwest Friends of Wildlife, Tiffany is excited to support initiatives that strengthen community connection, conservation education, and accessible opportunities for people to engage with wildlife in meaningful ways.
Laurel Ridgway
Laurel is the Animal Ambassador Manager at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. They began working with wildlife ambassadors in professional care in 2021 at Osprey Wilds ELC in Minnesota as the Wildlife Fellow. They developed a deep love for wildlife, especially birds of prey and owls. They continued on to Buttonwood Park Zoo, an AZA facility in Massachusetts, before moving to Michigan in 2024 to join the Kalamazoo Nature Center. They are passionate about high quality of life for animals in human care and promoting empathy for our wildlife neighbors through education, conservation, and research. They are members of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE), Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Advancing Conservation through Empathy for Wildlife (ACE for Wildlife), and Michigan Association of Wildlife Rehabilitation (MAWR). In their free time, they volunteer with local wildlife rehabbers and bird banders and pursue continuing education.
Our Community
We're so thankful to the people and organizations who make our work possible!
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