Meet Our Staff
Our staff and volunteers are committed to sharing nature and history with kids and families in a meaningful and inspiring way, teaching through discovery and taking advantage of natural teaching opportunities. Our staff receive training and professional development opportunities, and lead staff have current first aid/CPR cards.
Learn more about us on our Facebook Page.
Executive Director – Karen Rainsong
She/Her
Karen is the founding executive director of Singing Creek Educational Center. In 2005 she began her journey in living history education in the Eugene/Springfield area. She has a B.A. from Cal State University Northridge in Art, and a Certified Naturalist Certificate from the Siskiyou Field Institute in Oregon. She is passionate about history in general and Oregon history in particular. Karen is the webmaster and membership coordinator for ALHFAM (the Association of Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums.) She is also a mother and an active part of the community.
Karen has always loved nature and history interpretation. Throughout her 30+ years in Eugene she has taught children in both traditional school settings and non-formal outdoor settings. Some of her favorite jobs included teaching local history at Homesource home-schooling center, teaching art for Lane Arts Council, and teaching children with Audobon in the Schools, and Whole Earth Nature School.
Karen has worked with Kalapuya tribal elders such as Deitrich Peters, and has been a docent at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History (MNCH) at the University of Oregon campus. She regularly engages in professional development and learning from Native people through webinars, classes, conferences and demonstrations. Since 2021 she has been leading Kalapuya walks at Hendricks Park in Eugene. She works with Tribal members to implement indigenous educational programs across Western Oregon.
She was the Founder and Coordinator of the Alvord Farm and Museum from 2007- 2015, a forerunner to SCEC, until founding the Singing Creek Educational Center in 2015.
Karen’s passion for history and nature, and her strong leadership skills, make her a wonderful teacher and leader of SCEC.
Lance Stone – Instructor and Youth Cultural Advisor
He/Him
I am a Klamath Tribal Member and have been working with native youth since 2019. I currently sit as the male co-chair for the Klamath Tribes Youth Council, as well as going into my senior year at Churchill high school. My work with native youth extends past the walls of my community into a national agenda; going to conferences such as UNITY, NCAI, and helping to plan and host the annual Youth Summit held at Oregon Institute of Technology. Working with native youth and teaching about native culture has been a long running passion, and I am thrilled to have turned it into a job where I can impact kids of all backgrounds. This work extends as well to the native youth within the Eugene 4j NATIVES program and their annual summer camp, cultural presentations in the 4j school district, advising for curriculum and youth perspective.
Outside of education, I am a decorated men’ s grass dancer, and an avid beader. I hold positions with the 4j equity committee and run the Churchill NASU in my local area working to get more native kids engaged with inner city tribal identity. Being the smallest minority in many rooms, I work to make my voice heard and the voices of all other native people from the arctic circle to Mexico.
Deitrich Peters – Cultural Partner and Advisor
He/Him
I was born in Dallas, Oregon and I’m a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. I am Kalapuya, Rouge River, and Umpqua. I grew up in Oregon and love to travel to as many cultural events as I can.
I love my culture and traditions – making things with my hands, working with feathers, beadwork, traditional dancing, storytelling and of course my all time favorite, flute playing. I have learned these many things from our elders, and have been gifted these things by the Creator.
I am proud to work with Singing Creek Educational Center to bring Native American culture to the public in meaningful ways, and my hope is to create respect and understanding between Native and non-Native people of all ages.
Kevin Prier – Instructor
He/Him
Kevin Prier has a BS in biology from the University of Oregon and a doctoral dissertation in neurobiology at the University of Basel, Switzerland. With an extensive background in the sciences and math and more than 10 years tutoring and teaching experience from grade school to college level, he tutors science, math, and German at the elementary through college level and also works as a medical interpreter in German and French. His own children have been entirely home schooled. He has been teaching them science and math along with children from other home-schooled families, and was potions master for Homeschool Hogwarts for four years, teaching chemistry as Professor Abraxas. Kevin also teaches urban homesteading classes for adults through community centers in Eugene and Springfield, with workshops on gardening and foraging; fermenting sauerkraut, kimchi, and other vegetables; cheese and sausage making; soap making; and more.
Ana Bradley – Instructor
She/Her
Ana Bradley is the co-founder of Whole Earth Nature School. She has dedicated her life to deepening her connection with the Earth through nature awareness and attunement, cultivating a deeper sense of self-awareness, and supporting others in awakening their natural awareness of the environment, the land, and themselves. Through experiential/psycho-education, nature-based therapeutic practices, and land-based lived experiences, Ana blends person-centered and trauma-informed care practices into her mentoring style. Ana has worked with people of all ages across the lifespan, from one-on-one mentoring to facilitating groups of varying sizes and multicultural backgrounds. Ana is a mother, Clinical Herbalist, musician, and has her Master’s Degree in Counseling, blending her skill sets into a nature and experiential-based licensed professional counselor.
Emma Russell – Instructor
She/Her
Emma began her days with us as a camper herself. Starting out as a little girl on the Hunton Farm learning about life on the homestead, a love for living history started to bloom in her heart. Even after Emma graduated from being a participant, the love for the program stayed. She then spent 6 years as a volunteer, helping at Pioneer Homesteading camps, corn-doll-making booths and many other activities. As an official staff member starting in 2025, Emma has been involved in many events, including the Western Regional ALHFAM conference in 2025 (hosted by SCEC), homesteading camps, educational school events and more. Her love for the crafts, the incredible opportunity to educate students, and the complete flashback to the captivating experience that she had as a child are what encourage Emma to keep doing what she loves.
Emma is a full-time student at Lane Community College, heading toward a 4-year medical school, is deeply involved in animal rescue and rehabilitation, and strives to be involved in her community wherever she can.
Jo Howell – Instructor
He/Him
Jo Howell is an experienced outdoor educator with a passion and a deep appreciation for history and nature. He has many years of experience in outdoor survival, experimental archeology, and history research and is eager to share that love and knowledge with others.
