Born and raised here in Central Texas, Chris has spent his entire life wandering and exploring the wild places across America. Fishing along the coast in Corpus Christi, hiking the trails of State Parks across Texas, exploring the piney woods of Big Thicket and discovering all that nature offered as mysteries along the way. After graduating High School Chris traveled across the country taking classes from dozens of different outdoor schools that focused on modern & traditional skills of survival living, as well as leadership, homesteading and permaculture. In 2009 Chris began working in environmental education for youth and adults teaching outdoor leadership skills, archery, bow making, wildlife tracking, ethnobotany and outdoor survival skills. In 2014 Chris opened Natureversity to help homeschool communities around Austin and Dripping Springs reconnect with nature through the practice of hands-on and passion-led learning while being outside. Chris is a certified Outdoor Wilderness Guide with the National Outdoor Leadership School & Wilderness First Responder with the the Wilderness Medicine Institute of North America. He is also an Active Duty Lifeguard with the American Red Cross and a Wildlife Track & Sign Specialist with CyberTracker International. He lives here in Austin Texas and enjoys traveling to new locations around Texas, making primitive bows and arrows, primitive hunting, fishing and tracking wildlife.

Carter was born in Austin, Texas, but grew up in a town north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a deciduous forest in his backyard. This allowed him to develop an intimate connection with nature at a young age. There he would use his imagination building forts, bike ramps, and a treehouse with his friends. He loved climbing trees, watching birds, carving sticks, and playing games. Being a camp counselor for a church summer camp in 2015, he got a taste of how fulfilling working with kids can be. Carter then went on to college in Ohio, earning a BA in Psychology at Kent State University in 2019 and this past summer, Carter and his girlfriend converted their car into an RV and lived on the road for three months as they traveled around the entire country traversing twenty different states to uncover the beauty that America’s national parks bestow. From Yellowstone in Wyoming, Crater Lake in Oregon, Redwoods and Sequoia in California, to Zion in Utah, his call to nature was reawakened, confirming an inner longing to build a career outdoors. After twenty years, Carter has finally returned to his roots in Austin, hopeful for new growth and revelations. He is grateful to have found Natureversity and is excited to learn and help our future generations develop their own connections with mother earth, which he believes will help our world become an even better place.

Taylor was born in Austin, Texas but grew up in western Pennsylvania with his identical twin brother, Carter. They were lucky enough to have a big deciduous forest in their back yard and so they spent most of their childhood running around playing in the woods, building forts with friends, catching tadpoles, climbing trees, and falling in love with nature. As Taylor grew older he learned more about ecosystems and foraging for wild plants and mushrooms, and loves to go on long lone journeys in the forest. He feels that there’s always magical moments, healing, and wisdom to behold in nature! When he’s anywhere in nature he feels how all life is connected and that always brings him a sense of awe and reinvigorates childlike wonder in his soul! Taylor absolutely loves working with kids and as a senior in High school he organized his own lacrosse skills camp for kids ages 9-14, and had so much fun teaching and encouraging the kids! He also served as a summer camp counselor through his church when he was in high school and he felt so fulfilled and excited every day to share incite with the kids and to listen to their perspectives and hear their wild imaginations, and play tons of games! With a love for helping people heal and overcome hardships in life Taylor went on to graduate from Kent State University with a BA degree in Psychology. Post graduation he spent a lot of time traveling and hiking from California to Europe and many places in between. His most recent endeavor was an off-grid work exchange in Hawaii on the big island. There he learned tons about sustainable living, gardening, and building healthy community. Natureversity feels like the perfect place for Taylor’s next chapter in life and he is excited to share his passion with nature and life itself with the future generation!

Chelsea grew up in Houston Texas where she found her love for the outdoor through her local Girl Scout camps. After becoming a camper and eventually a CIT, she became a counselor for the camp that inspired her to be an outdoor nerd all those years ago. After graduating from high school she went on to attend and graduated from Texas State with a degree in graphic design, & has been living in Austin since 2015. She is a graduate of our Natureversity Teacher Training Program & is First Aid & CPR Certified. She has a passion for all things outdoors and if she isn’t reading about the natural world you can find her crafting, bug hunting, & rock collecting out in the wild.

Mandy was born into and raised up in a small water ski community in rural southwest Indiana. Her earliest examples of community were neighbors and families coming together through outdoor based activities on a shared lake they built and cooperatively maintained. Childhood memories are filled with days being coached by neighbors alongside their kids on the water, riding bikes barefoot on country gravel roads, and eating dinner still in her swimsuit. Mandy became estranged from her connection to the outside world and passion for adventure in early adulthood but all of that changed after she moved to Texas and bought a camera on a whim. With her creative arts background and deep love of the Texan landscape, she began a devotional landscape photography practice. She has traveled to the far reaches of Texas and the greater American West, spending weeks off grid trying to document the splendor of the natural world. Mandy is excited for the opportunity she has as content creator for Natureveristy, hoping to inspire and create access for others to grow their connection with nature.

Mark was born and raised in Houston, Texas, but considers himself a true Austinite having lived in the Central Texas city since 1990. Growing up in the pre-Internet era, Mark spent his youth outdoors enjoying nature and playing sports with his friends. A dedicated musician since his teenage years, Mark’s work history began with a decade or so working in record stores, including the now legendary Sound Exchange in Austin, the home of Daniel Johnston’s landmark “Hi, How Are You” mural! He then transitioned into a 15-year career at The Austin Chronicle where he held such titles as Online Editor, Events Editor, and Head Proofreader to name a few. Looking for a change of pace, he co-founded popular barbecue trailer Micklethwait Craft Meats which has been included in the Texas Monthly Top 50 barbecue list twice running. After helping to establish the success of that thriving business, it was time for another change of scenery. This led him to Buzz Mill Coffee and managing its Lumber Society. In short the Lumber Society is “Boy and Girl Scout for adults” and teaches survival skills in a casual and fun environment (with beer). That’s where he met Chris Hyde. After working closely with Chris for several years he was delighted to be asked to join the staff at Natureversity and looks forward to a new challenge and another exciting career!