Board
Richard David Tejeda
Interim President
Saved By Nature
Richard D. Tejeda is the Founder of Saved By Nature.
Roger Castillo
Treasurer
Steelhead Salmon Restoration Group
Roger Castillo is a citizen naturalist who grew up in the San Jose area and has walked along portions of local rivers and creeks for the past 30 years. As a "river guardian", he observes and records the changes in the Guadalupe and other local river systems that flow to the San Francisco Bay estuaries. Director Castillo discovered the remains of "Lupe" – a young Columbian Mammoth that lived approximately 60,000 years ago – while he and his dog Jenna were on a nature walk along the Guadalupe River. He works passionately on environmental and wildlife issues in the San Jose region, and founded the Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Group, a local organization committed to "Restoration through Education". Director Castillo was appointed by the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors to the GCRCD Board of Directors in 1999. His most recent term expired in November 2018, but he has remained active in District activities as a Director Emeritus.
A Mammoth Find
In 2005, Saved By Nature Board Treasurer and citizen scientist Roger Castillo and his dog Jenna found a bone from a Columbian mammoth while walking along the Guadalupe River. Ten years later, the find was commemorated with a beautiful (and enormous!) sculpture.
Children's Discovery Museum Exhibit
Lupe the Mammoth Comes to Life: Science on the SPOT (YouTube)
Robert Avila
Secretary
Restore and Hope
Chief Executive Officer and Certified Financial Advisor.
José G. Gonzalez
Honorary Board Member
Advisory Committee
Partner - Avarna Group
José G. González is the Founder of Latino Outdoors. He is an experienced educator as a K-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. He is also an illustrator and science communicator.
His commentary on diversity and environmental/outdoor equity has been featured by High Country News, Outside Magazine, Earth Island Journal, and Latino USA, and he engaged in collaborations with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Park Service during the Obama Administration. Jose also represented Latino Outdoors in several coalitions including the Latino Conservation Alliance, the Next 100 Coalition, and California Parks Now. He has been recognized with several honors, including the National Wildlife Federation Environmental Educator Award, Grist Magazine “Grist 50”, and The Murie Center Spirit of the Muries, among others. You may have also seen him in various outdoor spaces or read his poetic musings.
He received his B.A at the University of California, Davis, and his M.S at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment. You can connect with him on social media @JoseBilingue or visit his website at http://www.josegagonzalez.com/.
Join the Board
We're looking for a few passionate individuals to help take Saved By Nature to the next level!
Join a team that works to provide nature opportunity for Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC). We're a miraculous nonprofit with so much potential and solutions. We need leaders and advocates for Saved By Nature that truly want to share our message and vision with their family, friends, and beyond!
Fill out the form below and email it to education@savedbynature.org to get started!