Meet the Corps

Conor Zeutzius (he/him) is a man of many passions. Whether he is playing sports, dabbling in disc golf, or admiring the quirks and whimsy of urban landscapes, he has loads of aspiration to improve the world and society through local action. Given his educational background in Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management, Urban Ecological Design, and Quantitative Science, as well as his involvement in a plethora of organizations at the University of Washington like the Student Mycology Club and the Forest Mycobiome Lab, the Society for Ecological Restoration, the Burke Meadow Team, the Dawg Pack Executive Board, MESH: Fashion and Design, and the Dirty Dozen Club, it has motivated Conor to strive for a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to everything he does. Although environmental justice and sustainability are forefronts of his, Conor also encourages himself to continue his electric enthusiasm in the realms of landscape architecture, public transportation, design, mycology, sports, and the outstanding outdoors as a whole. Other endeavors of Conor’s include plant-based cooking and baking, jazz and 70s music, gardening, crafting, reading non-fiction, and biking. As an EarthCorps Crew Leader in 2026, he hopes to build his knowledge and appreciation each and every day, while connecting people and communities together for stewardship to last eternities.

Ruby (she/her) is so excited to be back at EarthCorps as a Crew Leader after being a Crew Member in 2025! In this new role, she is excited to sharpen her leadership skills, deepen her ecological knowledge, and continue to build community in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Ruby was born in Australia, and spent her youth living in Wisconsin, Singapore, and Washington. Her international childhood inspired a deep appreciation of culture and community, which she maintains throughout all her work. Ruby graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Washington, where her interests lay in Criminal Justice, Gender Studies, and Environmental Justice. Ultimately, she hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of culture and the environment. Outside of work, Ruby is an avid reader and enjoys a long stroll through her neighborhood to explore all of the Little Free Libraries. 

Andy is originally from Seattle, but also has roots in New Zealand & Australia. He was an AmeriCorps NCCC member in 2020-2021, and has extensive experience in community service projects. He wants to spend his life trying to help mitigate the worst impacts of global warming, and engaging in local environmental restoration efforts. Andy is excited to work on environmental preservation/restoration in a group setting as a crew member. When he is not performing his EarthCorps duties, you can find him building machines from scrap household appliances & other assorted junk, hiking, biking, and walking around the perimeter of Green Lake with a lime-coconut cookie and a bottle of green tea.

Benjamin Smith (He/Him) or just Ben for short is a crew member for EarthCorps in 2025. They graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in oceanography and continued their education earning a M.S. from the University of Hawaii at Hilo in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science. While studying in Hawaiʻi, Ben worked with the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, primarily assisting with seabird recovery efforts on the island of Hawaii. Ben developed a love for working outdoors in unique locations during his time in Hawaiʻi and strives to continue this effort in Washington. Ben can be found often listening to music or an audiobook while walking around and enjoys learning more about birds. Ben has a strong sense of social justice and is proud of his multi-cultural background.

Ben(He/Him) was born and raised in Maryland close to Washington, D.C. He developed an interest in the environment due to hiking, volunteering at the National Zoo, and the disasters of Flint, Michigan, and East Palestine, Ohio. At first, studying Environmental Science, he soon realized he wanted to focus on the people, cities, and most especially the policies regarding the environment, so he moved to Environmental Studies. He graduated from Seattle University with a major in Environmental Policy, Politics, and Justice, where his interests in Justice, Policies, and Water Safety, Management, and Resources were formed. Ben rushed to EarthCorps to gain hands-on and practical experience working with the earth, and to gain a clearer image and understanding of the urban issues and the cities’ interactions with the environment, a passion that relates to all of his interests in Policy, Justice, Water Safety, Management, and Resources. Before coming to Earthcorps, Ben was both a sustainable leader for his college dorm hall and a representative for his college program. He hopes to pursue a career that can be a connection and a benefit for people, the environment, and the city. In his free time, Ben enjoys walking around Seattle, reading, collage and doodling, and writing stories.

Brandon (he/him) is a Seattle native, born and raised, and a recent University of Washington Environmental Studies graduate. As a recent graduate, he hopes to gain valuable professional experience within the environmental field through EarthCorps and learn the nuances of what it means to be an environmental professional. Brandon is open to any environmental experiences and career opportunities that allow him to contribute his time to movements and organizations looking to make as much of an impact as EarthCorps. Brandon hopes after EarthCorps, he will be able to apply the skills, ideas, and leadership he has had at EarthCorps into an environmentally focused career in policy, research, or advocacy in order to continue to do what he can for his community and the surrounding environment. A majority of the time, you can find Brandon at his home, he believes he’s seen everything this region has to offer. However, from time to time, he does enjoy going out to the familiar forest to enjoy the unique environment the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Cat (she/her) is focused on helping out neighbors in South King County and other underserved social and ecological communities.

A former factory baker, caretaker, and student, she shifted from seeking to learn the language of feelings to learning the language of things — and found the two were but dialects of the same rich tongue. She comes to EarthCorps with a thirst to learn to better steward neurodivergent-inclusive work environments as much as pollinator-friendly natural environments.

Last year, Cat served as a member of the first Washington Conservation Corps crew focused on environmental justice in South King County. With the help of many inspiring connections, she had the opportunity to author a forest recovery plan for Tukwila Park and to help rejuvenate the push to save one of the last extant bogs in King County.

Cat now volunteers as a forest steward for North SeaTac Park and hopes her time at EarthCorps will help her to make more viable the dream of a wetland preserve for her bog and of a future for people like her in this field.

Ask her for a tarot reading! She’s always happy to practice.

Conor Zeutzius, he/him, is a man of many passions. Whether he is playing sports, dabbling in disc golf, or gardening, he has loads of aspirations to improve the world and society through local action. Given his background taking course and working with a plethora of organizations through the University of Washington, it has motivated him to strive for a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to everything he does. Although environmental justice and sustainability are forefronts, Conor also encourages himself to continue his enthusiasm in the realms of landscape architecture, transportation, design, mycology, and sports. As an EarthCorps Field Specialist, he hopes to build his knowledge and appreciation each and every day.

Davis (she/her) grew up in Seattle exploring various parts of the PNW. She gained a passion for ecology and the environment after joining a marine mammal research lab at Western Washington University. Within the lab she performed field observations and data entry which cultivated her interest in hands on outdoor work. Now graduated, with a BA in Environmental Studies, she is excited to contribute to EarthCorps and work hard to broaden her skills and knowledge on restoring and protecting ecosystems.

DyNe’ (she/her) has lived in Washington almost her whole life. She did Running Start there at Highline College and then transferred to Bastyr University. Although she originally wanted to go to Bastyr for Naturopathy, her love for nature steered her to instead complete a certificate in Holistic Landscape Design and Permaculture through PINA. DyNe’ was able to learn about the alternative methods that Naturopathy applied to people, instead in a way that applied them to the Earth. She has experimented with this on her own time, but also working in a botanical medicine garden, through numerous Permaculture design proposals, as well as with BIPOC community farms, gardens, and markets. She came to EarthCorps to continue that hands-on experience and her interest in people/plant health. Outside of those interests, DyNe’ also enjoys reading, writing short stories/books, and spending time with her siblings and dog.

Elliot (he/him) grew up in Seattle as an avid enjoyer of the outdoors, partaking in many hiking, biking and backpacking trips with friends and family. After graduating with a degree in Economics and Environmental studies from Whitman College in 2021, Elliot pursued a variety of hands on, outdoor related jobs such as land surveying, youth backpacking trip-leading, and outdoor recreation gear sales. He remains curious about the intersection of society and nature, and hopes to broaden his perspective around environmental, economic, and social issues through his experience at EarthCorps. In his free time, Elliot is an avid hiker and mountaineer, and loves nothing more than an exhausting trek to a summit with gorgeous views somewhere in Washington’s beautiful public lands.

Joseph (he/him) recently graduated from The Ohio State University receiving a bachelors in Environmental Science, with a specialization in ecosystem restoration. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where his passion for the environment and restoration began with learning about Lake Erie water quality. While studying at OSU he spent a summer working and taking classes at Stone Laboratory, a research facility on Lake Erie, where he studied the impacts of water quality and algal blooms on native fish species. Also during his time at OSU, he competed in the regional Soil Judging competition 3 years in a row demonstrating his ability to classify soil order as well as identify horizon boundaries, texture, and structure. His interest for the environment, conservation, and community is what led him to EarthCorps. In his free-time, Joseph enjoys rock climbing with an emphasis on bouldering, and hiking. 

Lev Groves (he/him) was born and raised on Orcas Island, WA. He graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA with a degree in Environmental Studies, focusing on environmental justice and policy. He values the opportunity to engage with the environment and build community through hands-on field work. Outside of work he enjoys hiking, baking, and watching horror movies from the ’70s and ’80s.

Lily (she/her) is a born and raised Seattle-ite who is excited to strengthen her background in environmental science and give back to her home state through environmental restoration at EarthCorps. She graduated from Gonzaga University in 2024 with dual degrees in Environmental Science and Dance. While in school she was a member of the Bancroft Lab, where she contributed to a National Science Foundation grant project pertaining to the effects of climate change on permanent and semi-permanent wetlands through both field and lab work. For her senior capstone, she collaborated with fellow students and community members to design an ethnobotanical garden representing the cultural significance of plants utilized by members of the Spokane Tribe, which is set to be constructed at Wildhorse Park in Spokane within the year. She is passionate about environmental education, wetland ecology, algae, bryophytes, and sustainable architecture. Lily also teaches ballet at Tutu School, and enjoys collaging, journaling, maintaining her aquariums, and writing and performing stand-up comedy in her spare time.

To Margot (she/her), a day spent entirely outside is a day well spent. Growing up at a Quaker school in Philadelphia, she recently graduated from UW with her Bachelors in Environmental Science and Resource Management, where she was also a trip leader for a womxn’s outdoor group and spent lots of time helping out at the UW Farm. Now, she’s excited to be learning about ecological restoration at EarthCorps while giving back to the land she loves so dearly, on a team of folks that share that same excitement with her. After work, you might see her running long miles in the woods, jumping into bodies of water or listening to live music.

Ruby (she/her) was born in Brisbane, Australia, and spent her childhood living in Wisconsin, Singapore, and Washington. Her international childhood inspired a deep appreciation of culture and community, which she maintains throughout all her work. She graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Washington, where her interests lay in Criminal Justice, Gender Studies, and Environmental Justice. Ruby came to EarthCorps with the intention of deepening her relationship with the Earth, and getting hands-on experience working in restoration — passions that grew from her interest in Environmental Justice. Before coming to EarthCorps, Ruby volunteered with the Union Bay Natural Area and Green Seattle Partnership doing restoration work, and is excited to continue doing this kind of work in a new space! She hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of culture and the environment. During her free time, Ruby enjoys reading, singing, and hanging out with her wonderful cat, Cas.

Savannah (she/her) is a Field Specialist at EarthCorps. She is passionate about restoring ecosystems and community engagement. After studying environmental science in San Francisco she worked for the National Park Service as a biological science technician and would like to continue doing field work. Savannah has moved home to Seattle and enjoys going to the beach and hiking.

Solstice grew up in the PNW and always felt most at home in the trees and mountains. She studied in Outdoor Leadership and is interested in the interconnections between outdoor recreation, restoration, education, accessibility and longevity.

Solstice is an aspiring rock climbing guide and instructor, but also has a soft spot for trail and field work, wildlife biology and rangeland management.

Chelsea (she/her) was born and raised in Spokane, WA. She recently graduated from the University of Washington where she obtained her B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Urban Ecological Design. Prior to EarthCorps, Chelsea interned with Friends of Lincoln Park, a volunteer-led organization devoted to restoring urban forests within West Seattle, thus establishing her with a foundation of restoration techniques and community engagement tactics as a young professional. Chelsea is returning to Seattle after a year in San Diego, CA, where she briefly worked at the San Diego Zoo! She is excited to continue her professional journey in the restoration realm, eager to learn more about Pacific Northwest native plants and bird species whilst alongside her crew. She remains an avid advocate for climate change mitigation and environmental justice in the Seattle region and beyond, feeling as though EarthCorps will give her the opportunity to create positive change within the community. Chelsea is looking forward to pursuing further education exploring GIS software and how it may be utilized in environmental spaces. Outside of work, you could find Chelsea running through the pier, tufting rugs, and spending time with her cat Juniper!

Adelle (she/her), a recent graduate from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Anthropology, has worked in the field of outdoor education through various summer camp programs for over 5 years. Her love of summer camp inspired her senior capstone project in the Western Honors College: an anthology of creative works inspired by the outdoors, childhood experience, and change. Most recently, she worked with Birds Connect Seattle for two summers of nature camp programming where she has learned from professionals in the field of ornithology and education. Her passion for restoration and conservation comes from a life changing study abroad experience in Costa Rica, where she backpacked for six weeks through some of the most biodiverse tropical rainforests on the planet. She realized the impact of local communities and hands-on field work while participating in discussions with locals about development and working on mangrove restoration projects. She gained valuable field experience through a variety of soil and water monitoring projects, learned to survive a night in a very wet tent, and physically challenged herself on hikes through the tropical backcountry. She is inspired by this experience to engage with her local community during her time with EarthCorps, and she hopes to bring that same energy she experienced in the tropics to the projects she participates in. In her free time, she loves to cook and craft, most recently diving into the world of crochet. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music, and laughing.

Lottie (She/Her) was born and raised in Southern California, but spent lots of time visiting her grandparents and going to outdoor summer camp in the San Juan Islands where she later worked as a counselor, music director, and head of the arts program. Although she pursued many creative routes throughout her early 20’s (social justice film-making, natural cooking, and music writing/recording), Lottie decided in 2024 to return to school and pursue an education in conservation biology. As a lifelong appreciator and explorer of the great outdoors, she is excited to learn what it takes to effectively protect wildlife and do our part to restore damaged ecosystems. She plans to head to university in Fall ’26 to continue her education in her official new home of Washington state! Outside of Field Specialist work, Lottie is often exploring Seattle parks and trails, playing guitar, or helping out at her mom’s and stepdad’s cider farm on Orcas Island.

Tina (she/her) is new to Seattle but already feels at home among its forests and gardens. She has volunteered at the Arboretum greenhouse, worked as an independent gardener for the University of Washington, and joined restoration projects with EarthCorps and Mountains to Sound Greenway. She loves learning about plants, their stories, and their uses across cultures. What excites her most about conservation is seeing its impact in both the health of nature and the lives of people. When not in the field, Tina hikes local trails, games, or trains her puppy Flynn to be a future Bark Ranger.

Easton (he/him) was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up in the Sonoran Desert taught him to find beauty and curiosity in all kinds of natural areas and he is eager to learn more about the Pacific Northwest. Easton graduated with a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona in 2025. His time at the U of A gave him an appreciation for botany, ecology, and meeting new and interesting people to connect with! He is excited to assist in restoring ecosystems, gain knowledge on conservation of natural landscapes, and help the public feel connected to nature. During his free time, Easton loves going to the beach, farmers markets, and exploring Seattle. During a lazy day, he might be reading, trying a new recipe, or playing his latest video game obsession.