Rivers & Birds is excited to welcome an Executive Director team!

After 25 years as the Executive Director, Roberta’s time with Rivers & Birds has been a wonderful journey and it is time to pass the leadership baton.

Gwendoly Pieper and Leo Levy are our next generation of leadership starting in November of 2024.

Roberta Salazar

Passion for her cultural roots and natural heritage in New Mexico, combined with a professional understanding of nature, inspired Roberta to found Rivers & Birds 25 years ago , afte rher 17-year career as a wildlife biologist for the federal government.

"Celebrating Earth with others through outdoor experiences in nature, we honor life in a way that is joyful, meaningful, and connects to the spirit of all life. Teaching the interconnection of living systems is key to sustainability.”

Becka Porter

Becka graduated from Western State Colorado University with a BS in Geology. She has taught with Rivers & Birds since 2005. She is also delighted to be homeschooling her son and working as a mediator with the Taos Magistrate Court mediation program.

"When I become aware of how my actions impact the world around me, I am better able to make choices that serve and reflect my values of interconnectedness and compassion. It’s wonderful to be planting the seeds of compassion and interconnectedness through the many programs put on by Rivers and Birds."

Jesse Furr

As a young person raised in Taos County, Jesse is thrilled to help show our community all of the great work Rivers & Birds does through graphic design and illustration. Jesse has helped to enhance Rivers & Birds’ class workbooks in order to ensure that the next generation of Earth Stewards has engaging learning materials for years to come. He also illustrated a fun series of animal stickers that we are thrilled to be able to share with everyone.

"Being a student in Rivers & Birds’ Watershed Learning Project at the end of elementary school really opened my eyes to how people and public lands interact in powerful, positive ways."