Our Staff

Erin Guerricabeitia – Executive Director

Erin joined BUGS as Executive Director in 2011. As a Boise native, Erin has a long history working in the non-profit field in program management and fund development. Erin is dedicated to the local sustainable food movement, and to working with youth to broaden their knowledge of health and nutrition through organic gardening. In her spare time, Erin enjoys baking bread, cooking, canning and gardening with her family.

Erin can be reached at erin@boiseurbangardenschool.org or by calling 208.891.GROW (4769)

Cass Meissner – Program Coordinator

Cass was raised playing (and learning) on rivers and lakes in Oregon. Her mother and grandmothers taught her to garden and her father and grandfathers taught her to appreciate and seek "outdoor" time as much as possible. She loves working with families and encouraging outside time as part of a healthy lifestyle. Cass is also a wildlife educator and loves to explore backcountry places while sleeping under the stars. She enjoys cooking, hiking, whitewater rafting, and being with her family.

Cass can be reached at cass@boiseurbangardenschool.org or by calling 208.891.GROW (4769)

Mike Wallace – Garden Coordinator

Mike has been gardening his whole life. Working in the IT field for the past 16 years, he recently decided to leave the corporate life and pursue a career in agriculture. The seed for this change was planted as a youth when he was active in 4H and working leased fields with his grandparents. After arriving in Idaho, he found that the gardening climate was far different that his home state of Michigan. He has been training with Peaceful Belly for that last two years. After completing their Victory Garden class, he went on to help form a second year program called the Perennials, which is farming a 1/2-acre at Hidden Springs as a Community Garden model with 8 other gardeners. He is looking forward to working with the BUGS staff and volunteers to create a wonderful garden this year.

Mike can be reached at mike@boiseurbangardenschool.org or by calling 208.891.GROW (4769)

Beth Schadd – Spread Your Roots Coordinator

 

A Cheesehead at heart, Beth packed up her bags and left Wisconsin four years ago in search of new adventures. After spending 9 months at the McCall Outdoor Science School, she is now finishing two master’s degrees in Conservation Social Science and Education-Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Idaho. She enjoys working with youth and engaging them in hands-on and physical activities. With such a plethora of mountain activities to choose from, she is continually acquiring new skills and toys in order to take advantage of all that Idaho has to offer. 

Robbie Prokop – Garden Teacher

Robbie is passionate about food sustainability and environmental sustainability. He enjoys spending time with his family, reveling in the great outdoors, and soccer. He has been involved in youth education for 25 years, teaching fourth and fifth grades at Foothills School of Arts and Sciences, coaching youth soccer, and serving in various environmental education capacities.

Molly Shaver – Garden Teacher

Having started at BUGS as an AmeriCorps volunteer, Molly teaches in the seven-week summer program. Currently pursuing a degree in bilingual education, Molly loves to garden, play rugby, eat bacon, and make all kinds of pies. Before BUGS, Molly taught English to Spanish-speaking children and was the coordinator of a daycare.

Heather Kirk Skinner – Culinary Coordinator

Heather Kirk Skinner has worked in Art Education for many years and is passionate about teaching children. She has a myriad of non profit experience which includes working as an advocate for children with special needs. She enjoys cooking, hiking and painting in her free time. Her love of food, children and nature will be at the heart of every culinary lesson and every tasty morsel dished up in the BUGS kitchen.

Becky Morgan – Project Coordinator

Becky joined BUGS as Executive Director in 2007, and has recently stepped in the Project Coordinator roll. Before her involvement with BUGS, Becky taught fourth and fifth grades for nine years at Foothills School of Arts and Sciences, where she also served as a mentor/master teacher and upper school leader. Becky is passionate about connecting children with the natural world and to their food. Becky loves the outdoors, and when she’s not in the garden she can be found running or mountain biking in the foothills.