Board of Directors

John Rowden

President

John became active in environmental education not long after moving to Chico in 2000.  While attending Chico State from 2001 to 2004 he worked as an instructor and program coordinator for Kids and Creeks and a tutor at Chico State in Statistics, Biology, English and Spanish.  After recieving his B.S. in Biological Science with a minor in Spanish he worked part time for the C.S.U. Chico Reserves and the Oakland Raiders football team.  During this time he was invited onto the Kids and Creeks Board of Directors and immediately took an active role in administering the organization.  He is currently self employed and enjoys spending time with his family and spending time in our local hills.

Danielle Cresswell

Vice President

Lilita Wood

Treasurer

Outdoor Field Instructor

Lilita is honored and excited to serve on the Board of Directors for Kids and Creeks! Her “dream job” as a field instructor allows Lilita to teach in the out-of-doors through whitewater canoeing, backpacking, canyoneering and climbing. She loves going to Chico's Saturday morning market, listening to local music and swimming in Big Chico Creek. Lilita holds a degree in Environmental Studies and Outdoor Education and is a candidate for a Masters of Arts in Outdoor Education at CSU Chico.

Jessica Vandehoven

Secretary

High School Teacher

Jessica Vandehoven was born in Harvey, North Dakota and moved to Chico at age 12. In 1992, she graduated from Pleasant Valley High School. Travel to the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America transformed a small-town farm girl into a globally conscious adult. Ms. Vandehoven graduated Summa Cum Laude from Chico State with a BA in History and a minor in Spanish. In 2005 she completed her teaching credential and began working at a new high school in Yuba City in the Fall of 2006. She has experience teaching all levels of the California social science curriculum, including specialized training to teach AP World and AP US History. She also teaches Spanish and has coordinated AVID, a college preparatory program for potential first generation college students, at three schools. Ms. Vandehoven has also advised several student groups, including Key Club, the Speech and Debate team, and National Honor Society. Ms. Vandehoven has started school recycling programs at two Yuba City High Schools. In May 2010, her peers recognized her as Educator of the Year by the Feather River Service Center, which represents K-12 educators from the tri-county region. Ms. Vandehoven enjoys gardening, traveling and virtually all types of outdoor recreation.

Jim Palmer

Teacher Liaison

5th Grade Teacher

Jim is a 5th Grade teacher within Chico Unified School District with a passion for teaching children and a love for the natural world. Prior to teaching 5th Grade and being on the board of Kids and Creeks, Jim was fortunate to have received the chance to work as an instructor for this wonderful organization. This opportunity allowed him to combine both his interests while working with the many outstanding, local students of the Chico community within the beautiful environment that surrounds us here.