Educators

Educators are integral to the NorthBay program. Educators provide the foundation upon which our lessons are built, and act as the key to ensuring the NorthBay experience remains relevant and present in the students' lives. Therefore we are committed to ensuring educators have resources at their disposal to help make NorthBay the best education it can be.




Salena Garber
Salena is from Cecil County Maryland and has recently returned to be close to her family and the beloved Chesapeake Bay. She is currently pursuing a B.S. degree in Ecology and Environmental Biology at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She has been at NorthBay since the summer of 2007 when she was first hired as the Sailing Instructor. Later, she became an Educator and officially found her niche.

Salena says, “Every Monday brings a sense of thrill and excitement when I meet my new class. The adventure we share through teaching environmental lessons and character education provides me with hope in a better future. NorthBay has given me the gift of wonderful friendships, vast experiences, and the opportunity to convey my feelings for the natural world to all of my students.” Salena enjoys hiking with her dogs, lying in the grass, and spending time with her husband, Rick. Salena believes that everyday at NorthBay is a rewarding experience in more ways than one!



Jessica Green
Jessica is a graduate from Frostburg State University, in western Maryland where she earned her degree in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Science and a minor in Geography. Following college she worked for Irvine Nature Center where she found her passion for teaching environmental education. There she worked with Baltimore City youth teaching them the importance of conducting research, schoolyard habitat projects, and natural science activities. She is currently working to obtain her Maryland State Teaching Certification. A native to Maryland Jessie enjoys giving back to natural environment that she grew up in. Being a part of the NorthBay team gives her the opportunity to give back to the environment by teaching environmental and character education. In her free time, Jessie enjoys making people laugh, spending time with family and friends, following Maryland sports and exploring the outdoors.

Sarah Maglove
Sarah joined NorthBay’s Education Team in March 2008. She graduated from Towson University with a degree in Environmental Science specializing in Biology and Outdoor Environmental Education. Sarah has worked in a variety of environmental settings, but her true passion is for kids and the outdoors—a great fit for working at NorthBay.

This summer Sarah will be on the waterfront as a Paddling Instructor helping students and campers navigate NorthBay’s waterways. She has always loved paddling through small creeks at sunset and would one day love to paddle down the Amazon River when it is flooded to the tree tops. While being outgoing, adventurous, and loving the outdoors, a little known fact about Sarah is that she is also an airbrush artist.

Adina Nielsen
Adina Nielsen grew up in rural PA with her three sisters and variety of animals. Camping and being in the outdoors have always been a key part of her pursuits. It comes as no surprise that Adina earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Camp Management, focusing on Outdoor Education and Recreation. After graduating, Adina helped start a children's camp in southern Australia, and then returned home to work as an outdoor educator and facilitator at education and adventure centers in New York and Pennsylvania. Adina has worked at NorthBay for several years and has feels privileged to be part of the changes and growth that have taken place. Currently, Adina is working on a program that will bring fun and education to the local community!

When not sharing her knowledge and excitement about the outdoors with others, or traveling the world with her husband, she and her dog can often be found roaming around in the woods.

Daksha Patel
Daksha Patel, born in Zimbabwe, Africa, knew the importance of attaining a higher education early. She pursued studies in Biology with an emphasis in Ecology from the University of Utah and at Morgan State University. Wanting to make a positive impact on youth about the importance of sustaining the environment and succeeding in life, she chose to be a NorthBay Educator. She believes that being an Educator is an integral part of teaching students how to live life by developing their minds and equipping them to deal with reality. She plans to continue her education by entering a Master’s degree program in Environmental Science and Education.

While she was in Utah she spent most of her time backpacking during the summers and skiing during the winters. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, traveling, tennis, the outdoors, and having new experiences.

Brandi Perkins
Brandi Perkins is a veteran of the Education team. She has worked at NorthBay since it opened in 2005 and has progressed her way up through the ranks. She was born in California and settled in Pennsylvania with her family. She studied Art History at Eastern University, is an avid reader, and cares about the environment as much as the students she teaches.

Naeema Watts
Naeema was born in New York, New York and was raised in Brooklyn for 18 years. As a young child, she was a member of the Girl Scouts and summer day camps, which opened her eyes to the beautiful outdoors. She attended the High School of Art and Design for Architecture, but quickly changed direction to study Biology at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. While at Lincoln University, Naeema was part of the Lincoln University Gospel Choir and the Lincoln University Drill Team.

During her high school and college years she traveled most of the East Coast, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Boston, and Upstate New York. After graduating, she married the keyboardist of the Lincoln University Gospel Choir, David Watts Jr., and soon after had two beautiful children--a girl, Nyla; and, a boy, D.J. She was a substitute teacher for Cecil County Public Schools for two years before joining the NorthBay Education Team.

Currently, she enjoys having fun with family and friends, and teaching at NorthBay, hosting meals, and entertaining the students. Working at Northbay enables her to expand her knowledge about the environment and the outdoors--which teaches her more and more everyday of how to step outside of the box. Working at NorthBay is her “everything” and she could not picture herself anywhere else.