About Us

Wolf Bauer’s legacy to the northwest is far reaching. He was the pioneer of mountaineering and kayaking education in the northwest, the founder of the Washington Kayak Club, the founder of the Washington Environmental Council, and the initial developer of much of the Puget Shoreline Act of 1971. He was also one of the co-founders of Mountain Search and Rescue along with Ome Daiber and Dr. Otto Trott.On a more personal level he has climbed many northwest peaks, skied the snowy slopes of the cascades, and kayaked many NW rivers. He was the first person to kayak the Green River Gorge with Tom Steinburn in the 60s.

Greg Wingard is a Seattle native, and life-long environmental advocate, having worked on issues such as uranium mining and milling, toxics, Clean Water Act litigation, environmental restoration, and purchase of lands for open space, habitat and passive recreation. Current work includes restoration and protection of the Green/Duwamish River from the Cascades to the Puget Sound (with a focus on the Green River Gorge between Black Diamond and Enumclaw), Clean Water Act litigation, and assisting local communities to deal with problems related to toxics and government bureaucracy. A longtime resident of rural SE King County, Greg’s preferred mode of transportation is by bike.

As a long-time resident of the Enumclaw Plateau, Bernie became involved in MGRC because of his passion in forest stewardship. He became a King County Park Ambassador for the Bass / Beaver / Dandy Lake Complex.  He is also one of the principal organizers of the “Rock the Green” event which raises money to support the Cleanup events for the Green River Gorge. He is also a grant writer, musician, producer, photographer & native plant enthusiast.

Courtney is equipped with a degree in recreation administration with an emphasis in outdoor recreation and natural resource management from San Diego State University. She has held internships at Peel Forest Outdoor Pursuits Centre in New Zealand and Mission Gorge Regional Park, San Diego and has worked at Yosemite National Park and ski resorts in California and Colorado. She is also a volunteer at SHADOW bog nature preserve in Renton and an Ambassador for King County natural area, Cedar Downs Site. Her interests are in environmental education and community outreach.

Lisa Parsons has been working on land conservation in southeast King County for the past 12 years. She is the executive director and works very hard, for free, on land conservation. Through her love of the outdoors and exploring she has discovered and worked to preserve some of the last wild places in southeast King County that have value due to their uniqueness as well as their recreational, habitat, and aquatic resources. She is also a conservation photographer who uses her medium as outreach to conserve key areas and bring them to the public’s attention. When she isn’t working as the executive director of MGRC and working as a paramedic, she travels internationally and enjoys frequent backyard adventures here at home.

Fran Troje is the chair of the foothills branch of The Mountaineers and a tireless advocate for conservation and the outdoors.

Kacie McKinney grew up on the Enumclaw Plateau and joined MGRC to protect the area that taught her the ways of an outdoor enthusiast. Kacie leads MGRC’s communications efforts and helps coordinate events such as “Rock the Green Clean.” When she’s not working for MGRC you can find out on the trails, running the Tacoma waterfront or at a local music venue.

Samuel Eide grew up in Black Diamond and spent his summers swimming and hiking at Flaming Geyser State park and the surrounding Green River basin. With a passion for backpacking, running, swimming and a love for all things outdoors, Sam joined MGRC to help preserve natural spaces for recreational opportunities and habitat conservation. Participating with planting events to helping organize “Rock the Green,” Sam can often be found wandering trails with his dog along the Green River.