About the Nature Network
At one with nature
The Lower Columbia Nature Network connects our community to nature by fostering partnerships in Clark County and southwest Washington.
We are working in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Vision –Make nature welcoming to all
Mission – Elevate the partners in the network and provide key information to the public to give them more tools to connect with nature
Goal – Reducing barriers so all can access nature
Meet Our Team
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Jane Tesner Kleiner
PROJECT MANAGER
Jane is a nature person at heart. As a landscape architect, ecologist and environmental educator, she has been helping communities build beautiful spaces to connect in the great outdoors for over 25 years. She has worked as a private consultant as well as a public servant in city and county governments in the parks, trails, open space and ecological restoration fields. Her current work focuses on greening school campuses and developing habitat for our neighbors. She supports work with national organizations on children and nature, as well as Green Schoolyards.
She has been told by many that she is easily distracted by birds and butterflies. Her passion is teaching others about the wonders of nature. She can’t wait to teach kids how to plant a plant, is happy to weed a school garden with students and loves the back country trails to explore and wonder.
Favorite SW Washington nature spot: Well, pretty much all of them! Especially if there is a chance to find an owl.
Favorite tucked away trail: The Salmon-Morgan Creeks Nature Area has a trail with some old growth trees, including one that looks like it is straight out of a Tolkien story. Love to hear the ravens and owls in this woodland in the headwaters.
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Michelle Sanow
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Michelle has a passion for pulling the community together to accomplish more than we can as individuals. She previously worked for Clark County and led the Green Schools program, encouraging waste reduction and sustainability in schools all over the county. She loves gardening and especially growing delicious heirloom tomatoes and beautiful dahlias. Her grandfather was a master dahlia grower and she caught the gardening bug from his example. Michelle looks forward to helping connect more students to the natural world, giving them hands-on experiences and cultivating more lifelong lovers of nature.
Michelle and her family enjoy getting out into nature and especially loves hiking. Not all of her five kids love hiking as much as she does, but they all enjoy being outside whether that’s fishing, camping, swimming in a lake, etc. She and her husband especially love dispersed camping, where you can camp anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. They love getting away from the crowds and having quiet moments in nature.
Favorite SW Washington nature spot: Lower Creek Falls in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Favorite tucked away trail: Whipple Creek - feels like you are away in a forest but it’s a few minutes from Salmon Creek!
Learning from each other - we want to help you start
The information provided in these web pages are meant to start conversations and support moving forward to remove barriers to accessing nature.
We ask that you review information, assume associated risks and seek other sources to support your adventure. The content is for informational purposes.
