Our Staff & Board
The Youth Garden Project relies on a team of people to carry out our programs & events, grow the garden, and achieve our mission. The core of this team includes five full-time staff members, one AmeriCorps State member, seasonal programs instructors, our high school summer Seed Crew members, and dedicated volunteers serving as our Board of Directors. Find out our more about the staff and board of YGP below.
Interested in joining our team? Check for job openings.
Meet Our Staff
Emily
Executive Director
Emily has been Executive Director of YGP since Fall 2021, after having first spent a season as a garden intern and then two years in the Outreach & Development Coordinator role. Emily sees the garden as an invaluable asset to the Moab community. She’s excited to continue developing YGP as a place where people of all ages can learn new skills and foster meaningful relationships to their local environment, the food system, and with each other.
Contact:
emily@youthgardenproject.org
Katie
Youth Programs Director
Katie joined the Youth Garden Project team in Winter of 2024 as the Youth Program Director. Having spent a few seasons in Moab before, she is very excited to be back and working alongside the Moab community! Katie values community connections and spaces. She believes gardens are wonderful places to bring people together all while having fun, learning, and caring for the earth and ourselves!
Contact:
katie@youthgardenproject.org
Jessie
Outreach & Development Coordinator
Jessie first joined YGP as an AmeriCorps VISTA member from 2020-2021, and returned as Outreach & Development Coordinator in January 2022. She is excited to further foster connections between YGP, the Moab community, and the natural world.
Contact:
jessie@youthgardenproject.org
Sarah
Produce Manager
Sarah first joined YGP as a Farm Intern in 2020. She returned the following season as YGP’s Produce Manager. Sarah sees local food as a valuable tool in nourishing our community’s health and resiliency.
Contact:
sarah@youthgardenproject.org
Ben
Farm Manager
Ben moved to Moab to be YGP’s Farm Manager in winter 2022. Ben is ready to put down roots here to grow a community and explore all that Moab has to offer. He is looking forward to getting his hands in the dirt and sharing his passion for nature with all.
Contact:
ben@youthgardenproject.org
Meet Our 2024 Seasonal Team
Hannah
2024 Full Season Youth Programs Instructor
Hannah is excited to get to serve as a connecting role between kids and our local food system as an elementary programs instructor for the spring through fall of 2024! Having work experience with outdoor education/ recreation, youth development, as well as a variety of farms, she is passionate about combining her knowledge in her new role. She believes that gardens are a powerful tool in understanding interconnection, and empower youth through celebrating creativity and FUN!
Cali
2024 Full Season Youth Programs Instructor
Cali is super excited to be a part of facilitating young community members’ early exposure to new plants, animals, and people. Their background has been focused on environmental policy and community-facing design projects, and they are very passionate about creating spaces that encourage an ever-expanding sense of place within our local ecosystems.
Selah
2024 Summer Instructor
Selah is a student studying Parks, Recreation and Tourism at the University of Utah. She is passionate about outdoor education and working with plants. She has a history of working with kids in a volunteer setting, and being in nature has always been where she finds her peace. She can’t wait to be outside this summer and working with kids!
Mandy
2024 Summer Instructor
As a dedicated senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health with a minor in Nutrition at Utah Valley University, Mandy is passionate about improving community health outcomes, environmental exploration, and working with youth. She believes in the restorative power of nature and advocates for its integration into everyday life. Whether hiking through the majestic landscapes of Utah or engaging in outdoor sports, she finds inspiration in the beauty of the natural world and is excited to be working with kids this summer in Moab!
Meet Our Board of Directors
Desiree Westfall
Chair
Physician Assistant, Moab Regional Hospital
Anne Clare Erickson
Vice Chair
Sales Director, Retired
Tim Graham
Insect Ecologist
Ellie Keyser
Full time Mom & Former Teacher
Joyce Marienfeld
School Counselor, Retired
Laura Harris
Development Specialist, Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah
Ann Marie Aubry
Hydrologist & Gardening Enthusiast
Jerry Shue
Educator and Information Specialist, Retired
Pam Sauvageot
Program Manager, Biogen Global Biotechnology / Pharmaceutical