Executive Director

I graduated from Green River College in 2021 with an associate’s degree in Natural Resource Management for Parks and Recreation Management, Water Quality Management, Forestry Management and Geographic Information System (GIS). I just recently completed a double major at the University of Washington in Environmental Studies and American Indian Studies in June 2023.

I am continuing my education in graduate school at the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs in a Master in Marine Affairs. Much of my educational goals are centered around my passions for the Southern Resident orcas, environmental justice, sustainability, biodiversity, and native plants.

I grew up in Washington which has led my passions for the Southern Resident killer whales and local flora and fauna. My passions have grown to include salmon and all things related to their conservation and to how humans can coexist with all living and non-living things on this planet, which directly relates to the protection of the SRKWs.

I have been working with the Green River College- Free The Green, previously Green River Coalition for over 4 years now helping to manage operations for the internship focusing on restoration work along salmon-bearing streams and rivers in the Green-Duwamish River watershed. I have also worked with the Green River Coalition helping to manage high school and middle school interns on stream restorations along the river as well as helping lead community habitat restoration events that help to support the salmon, local biodiversity, and orcas.

Recently, I have accepted a board member position with the Orca Conservancy and have been looking into ways that traditional foods can be incorporated and prioritized when planning restoration sites, and am looking to continue that journey with my graduate work and projects Free The Green is working on.

President

Hello everyone! My name is Tanner and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the team coordinator for Free the Green! I am a 2022 graduate from Green River College with a bachelor’s degree in Forestry Management I have 6 years experience in restoration work!

My journey into the world of restoration has been unconventional with me starting out with a planned major in biology transfer degree doing running start– The forestry program caught my eye for it's a genuine passion for nature and a commitment to making a positive impact and at 17 I jumped in! One of the opportunities offered to me due to my changed educational pathway was an internship focusing on river restoration which quickly found its way to being more than just an internship but a mission to ensure that our rivers thrive and provide a healthy habitat for all our species here in Washington.

Botanist and Education Outreach Specialist  

Hello! My name is Zach Ziska. I am a Greenriver college graduate who earned the degree in Forest Resources Management with an emphasis on ecological sampling and assessment. I have a passion for ethnobotany, plant ecology, and invasive species management.   I am the Botanist and Education Outreach Specialist with Free The Green and have experience and passions working with native plant ecology, growing and production, as well as noxious weed best management  practices.   Native plants are such a key element for ecological restoration and I am honored to be a part of the team in which I oversee native plant orders and operations, community outreach and social media, educating interns and volunteers about diverse restoration techniques, and the interconnectedness of our Pacific Northwest ecology while fighting the battle against noxious weeds.   Stick your hand in dirt, identify and plant a native  plant, pull noxious weeds, and marvel at this beautiful planet we share with so much flora and fauna that we must protect at all costs. Earth is above, below, around, and inside of us. We are from the Earth.

Hi, I’m Madison Brown and I am a studying Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation science at Oregon state university. I worked with the Washington Conservation Corps as a technician and assistant supervisor for two years and bring knowledge on large scale restoration projects and the techniques needed to organize and lead them. As Project Planner and Media Specialist for Free the Green, I combine hands-on fieldwork experience with my education in visual communication using art to inspire local stewardship and protect native ecosystems. I bring expertise in visual communication and stakeholder collaboration, having worked alongside local governments, and community organizations like the Pierce Conservation District. I hold certifications as a Wilderness First Responder and chainsaw sawyer. Driven by a passion for biodiversity and ecological justice, I believe in empowering communities to restore and sustain healthy, thriving environments.

Lead Technician

My name is Seabrina Baccus and my current role is a technician. I am a GRC second-year student earning an AA in Forestry, Water Quality, and GIS. I have a passion for educating myself and the public about the intricacies of land & water sustainable stewardship. In 2021 I took a solo trip to Germany and fell in love with the culture and how they steward their forests/resources. GRC Natural Resources program was the next right choice to further my education. This Summer I hope to intern at a laboratory to learn deepen my understanding of the relationship between marine biology and forestry.

My first internship was when I started working with Kayley, Tanner, Bryce, Jon, Zach, Andrew, and Darrel last Spring while we were still known as Green River Coalition.

Meanwhile, I have been with Free The Green team since and am proud of the environmental and humanitarian impacts we are creating. Working with amazing people have helped me to learn that if something is worth doing it is worth doing with others.

Over this past Summer, with help from the NATRS Rec. class, GRC facilities and FTG we were able to reconstruct the Greenhouse, enhance nurseries, potting stations, and sheds. Ultimately improving our day-to-day functions as technicians, site-planners, volunteers, and management. I am excited for 2024 and adventures that come along with it.

I am also the artist behind our LOGO!!!!

Project Planner

My name is Kat and I am passionate about aquatic sciences and environmental conservation. I have a BS in oceanography from Cal Poly Humboldt and have recently earned a MS in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington. I grew up in the desert and fell in love with the Pacific Northwest when I went to college. Every summer growing up was spent on both coasts, developing a love for the ocean and how to protect it. I moved to Washington and have learnt so much from living amongst the woods and the Puget Sound. In graduate school I developed a love for watersheds and riparian systems: it’s all connected to the biodiversity we see in this beautiful region. My experiences have given me a deep appreciation for ecology and that complex ecosystems exist in every biome. I joined Free the Green as a restoration technician and am proud to have become a project manager. It is where I can combine my loves for conservation, restoration, and creating into one. Facing an uncertain future may be overwhelming, but it means so much to me that I have a team and a space where I can make a tangible difference in my community and in my corner or the world.

Hi, my name is Ben Hogle. I’m a Natural Resources student at Green River College, where I am studying forestry, water quality, park management, and GIS. I enjoy hands on field-work and research and learning about how forests, streams, and wildlife function together as connected systems. I’m also interested in understanding how past ecosystems can inform conservation and land management today.