Staff
Chaia May
Chaia May is an educator in the Bay Area with over 30 years of experience in working with children both typical and atypical. She has written 15 books, runs a music studio and directs a year long “out of the classroom” experience for youth emphasizing nature, sports and self-development. Chaia is a vendor for Ocean Grove Charter School home school program and a former national speaker on Sensory Integration in the Classroom. She is the proud parent of two daughters, Hannah and Ami and lives in Menlo Park, CA.
Kevan Jenson
Kevan Jenson is a creative and experienced film and media technician, producer, and director, with a resume of projects ranging from boutique-sized promos to multi-million dollar feature films. He grew up in Los Angeles, where Kevan’s dad taught him to use a light meter and mix sound before Kevan was 12. Over 25 years he has worked on hundreds of television shows, films, and commercials and has over 500 episodes of live-audience sitcom experience as Associate Director and Creative Technical Director. Kevan has produced documentaries and theater, and is an accomplished artist as well.
Kelly Murray
Kelly Murray is a former Maritime Academy Instructor and Engineer, Retired LT. Commander, US Navy, and the father of four strong young adults whom he home schooled and led both in Sea Scouts and Robotics groups while raising them. He worked as the sports instructor for LearningPlay Second Sunday programs and is one of the core teachers for the new Iron into Steel program.
Nate Grieg
Nate Grieg is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and educator, and has spent his life exploring the wilds of California and Western United States. His areas of expertise include natural history, microbiology, hydrology, navigation, hiking, fishing, and camp craft. Nate believes that every person can better themselves by enjoying a relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. His goal is to provide avenues for the youth to find inspiration and ambition for the challenges of everyday life through outdoor experiences.
Cliff Evans
Cliff Evans is a real urban cowboy. He runs Ravenswood Ranch, an equestrian center and outreach program aimed at underprivileged youth in East Palo Alto. He is a competitive roper of steer and believes animal husbandry is an effective way to be in touch with the world in real time and be more present in one’s life. Cliff is also a former touring rock bass player having opened up for notable groups such as Jefferson Airplane. He is presently working at Apple Computer, is a professional building contractor in the Bay Area and has a grown son. In 2009 Cliff was featured in a cover story of Palo Alto Weekly.
Brett Stephenson
Bret Stephenson M.A. is the author of From Boys to Men: Spiritual Rites of Passage in an Indulgent Age and The Undercurrents of Adolescence: Tracking the Evolution of Modern Adolescence and Delinquency Through Classic Cinema. He has been a presenter and speaker at numerous national and international conferences and workshops, including being the teen coordinator at the International Transpersonal Association’s Youth Conferences in America and Ireland, the United Nations World Peace Festival, Institute of Noetic Sciences, the World Children’s Summit and private workshops in Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Bret has worked with teens from more than 100 countries.
Lynn Romano
Lynn Romano was born in Chicago, Illinois and currently resides in San Jose working as an English Language Arts and a Yearbook middle-school teacher. She is passionate about supporting and guiding youth in self-discovery and knowledge. She believes that all children are capable of achieving their goals when given the right opportunities to explore their identity and aspirations. Lynn was a former foster youth who found safety and hope in her quest for education and teaching. She achieved her B.A. in English and Spanish at UC Davis. She continued her educational career at UC Davis for her teaching credential and M.A. in Education.