Staff Biographies
Lauren Dalberth
Lauren is a core facilitator of the Regenerative Design & Nature Awareness Intensive (RDNA) & the Four Seasons Permaculture Design Course at the Regenerative Design Institute in Bolinas, CA. She is a co-owner and principal designer for Weaving Earth, a Permaculture design firm specializing in Holistic Landscape Design, Nature Awareness & Permaculture Education Services, Garden Coaching and Nature Mentoring. She has been working and learning in the field for over 10 years and brings a deep commitment and strong background to her work.
As an Educator and Permaculture designer, Lauren’s intention is to revive and foster the vital relationship that humans play in the creation and regeneration of healthy ecosystems, both on the land and in the community. Her work in the world is a call to humanity to once again step into our role as caretakers of the earth and do our part to create fertile, abundant and regenerative ecosystems for the future generations to enjoy. Her in- depth work facilitating the Art of Mentoring and Cultural Mentoring models are a strong seed toward that vision. Lauren’s deep curiosity and love of life keep her learning new things in each moment! (www.weavingearth.com)
Dave Hage
Since discovering Permaculture and tracking as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay in 2000, Dave has continued, both personally and professionally, down a path of exploration in the realm of Regenerative Community Design. In 2005 he was a part of the pioneering class of the Regenerative Design & Nature Awareness program (RDNA), the first intensive of its kind to blend the fields of Permaculture and Nature Connection into one program. Currently Dave is core staff for the RDNA program and the Four Seasons Permaculture Design Courseat the Regenerative Design Institute. Dave is also a trained Wilderness Rites of Passage guide, and has been facilitating Vision Quests for the past 7 years. He strongly believes that returning rights of passage to our culture is a critical element of regenerative design. His passion and enthusiasm for working with people of all ages, helping them connect to nature, and to their true, powerful selves, make Dave a potent teacher and an effective mentor.
Josh Lane
Facilitator – Getting Nature Connected, Village Builders, and Essentials of Nature Awareness Call Series Mentor – Shikari Tracker Training Personal Mentoring Services. Josh contributes to a variety of the 8 Shields & Shikari Tracking Guild nature connection programs both in the field as a facilitator and also as a curriculum development specialist. Josh holds a level 3 certification in Wildlife Track & Sign Interpretation from Cybertracker Conservation International. He is also a graduate of the Kamana Naturalist Training Program and has completed advanced training in the Shikari Tracker Training Program. Josh sat under the same tree every day in New England for four years and has had chickadees land on his head, visits from fishers and foxes, and even had wild rabbits sit next to him within inches under the shade. When he’s not outside (or even if he is outside), Josh is known to write and sing folk music and play the mandolin. Currently he is learning to play traditional Irish tunes on the fiddle.
Devin Slavin
Program Manager of Nature Mentoring Community Online & Getting Nature Connected Weekend Series Devin is a California Native, born and raised in southern California. Since 2003, he has pioneered a livelihood in the field of Permaculture Design through organic farming, owning his own design business, and facilitating permaculture workshops on a variety of subjects. Devin is a multi-year graduate of the RDNA Cultural Mentoring Program and through his passion for Permaculture and Village Building, he invented and co-founded the Grow Food Party Crew – a model and movement for hosting community celebrations that plant edible gardens all across the world. Devin has also been leading nature-based courses for adults and children through the Regenerative Design Institute, Riekes Nature Awareness, Native Eyes Youth, and Wilderness Youth Project. Devin lives in Santa Cruz, CA where he loves to surf, play music, and enjoy every moment of life to its fullest.
Caitlin Williams
Facilitator – Getting Nature Connected. Caitlin is a tracking field instructor and also specializes in mentoring for young children. She also teaches Environmental Biology at Deanza Community College in San Jose, California. Caitlin has studied the art of tracking with many of the top experts in the field. She achieved a level 3 certification in Wildlife Track & Sign Interpretation from Cybertracker Conservation International, and also a level 2 in the Trailing test. Caitlin was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle while teaching a tracking class at Deanza College.
Nicole Young
In 1995 Nicole co-founded Villa Villa Cola, a media production company and collaborative of female skateboarders. She also co-founded Wild by Nature in 2005, a camp for young women involving surfing, skateboarding and nature. Nicole is a key collaborator in the Regenerative Design and Nature Awareness Program, Village Builders, and other 8 Shields=based programs local to Santa Cruz, California. Nicole works with the Shikari Tracking Guild on Wildlife survey project for local land trusts, and wildlife tracker trainings. She also works with Owlink Media in program development and facilitation, and as a video producer. Nicole and her husband, Jon, have two children and live in Santa Cruz. Nicole is passionate about Surfing, Skateboarding, Nature, Permaculture/Regenerative Design, Mentoring and Creativity. Her dream is to create pathways for children, adults and herself to continue experiencing the mystery and wonder of this beautiful place called earth.
Sal Gencarelle
At the age of 15 Salvatore Gencarelle was called to walk the ceremonial path of healing and renewal and became an assistant to a Native American Medicine Man from the Lakota Sioux Tribe. Through his experience, Salvatore became a cultural bridge between indigenous ceremonial traditions and the modern world. During his training he went through an intensive mentoring period that required both dedication and sacrifice for 17 years as a ceremonial guide, creator, singer, and mentor, under the direct supervision of the Native American healer. It was through this process he earned the responsibility to pass these teachings on to all people. Beside his education in traditional healing practices, Salvatore also works in the healing applications of the modern world as a Paramedic with over 16 years of experience. He is also an artist, photographer, freelance writer, and a musician. At this time Salvatore currently travels across the United States and the world teaching and helping others learn from his experience. Visit Sal’s site to learn about his book at: http://www.manamongthehelpers.com/
