ELSO Inc.’s Consulting Services are made up of key staff members, subject matter experts, and a core team of community consultants with a passion for shifting science education in the natural and built environments.
Meet Our Consulting Team
Leadership
Erin Cathcart has been learning, growing, and teaching across Oregon since her youth. As a neurodivergent learner who struggled in the public school system, Erin consistently found refuge and learning in nature. This perspective has grown into a career focused on exploring the complex relationships between people and the land, using a liberatory lens grounded in justice, reciprocity, belonging, and joy.
With an undergraduate degree in Fisheries and Wildlife and a Master’s in Environmental Education and Interpretation, Erin has led program implementation and curriculum development across both public and private sectors, bringing extensive experience in management, curriculum development, mentorship, and equity-centered training for staff and volunteers.
Erin Cathcart
Sprinavasa Turner, formerly Sprinavasa Brown, is a nationally recognized leader in equity within environmental education. As Co-Founder and CEO of Portland-based ELSO Inc. (Experience Life Science Outdoors), she is addressing opportunity gaps in STEAMED (Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Math-Environment-Design) careers, particularly for marginalized communities.
Mrs. Turner holds a Master’s in Communication & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University and a B.A. in Biology and African American Studies from Oberlin College. With over 20 years of experience, she has become a respected community leader, social entrepreneur, and award recipient, including the PBJ 40 under 40 for her work in education.
Under her leadership, ELSO has secured $3.6 million in investments over the past three years in organizations and initiatives to foster inclusive leadership for future generations.
Sprinavasa Turner
Core Consultants
Rachel Buissereth
Rachel Buissereth is the Director of Visiting Programs at The Island School. Through her work at Island School and ELSO, she aims to foster equity in environmental education, believing that community engagement is key to conservation and climate leadership. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where diverse voices can share stories and experiences and work together to steward local ecosystems, blending art, culture, and service into collaborative efforts.
Symone Gyles
Symone Gyles is an Assistant Professor of Science Education at the University of California, Irvine. Her research focuses on designing a justice-centered, community-based science curriculum and developing educators’ pedagogical practices that recognize and utilize the cultural wealth of students, families, and communities. She is committed to reimagining ideas around who is considered a science expert and where scientific expertise is derived from.
Jon Cruz
Jonathan Cruz is passionate about connecting environmental justice with cultural practices and community empowerment. As a community organizer and health educator, he uses his ability to engage people in personal ways, encouraging them to explore environmental justice, healthy living, and air quality issues. Through his work, Jonathan creates meaningful connections between communities and environmental health, particularly within Portland’s Pacific Islander community, blending education with cultural knowledge and community engagement to inspire positive change.
Subject Matter Experts
Aaron Limonthas
Aaron Limonthas (he/him) of DEI Champions, LLC is a consultant working with ELSO as our JEDI specialist. Aaron is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Shipt, Inc., where he is driving a culture of belonging and professional growth for all employees. Aaron started with ELSO because companies have the power to change the world, not just for individuals but for families and generations.
When we remove barriers to access, build equitable systems, and design inclusive workspaces for everyone, we can transform lives. For many, that change starts with our environment. Outdoor Science is one of our first introductions as humans to the space we occupy and our place in this world. If we can build equity outdoors, we can bring equality indoors and into all of our lives.
Kenneth Turner
Kenneth Turner is the Design Program Director at ELSO Inc., where he oversees the national youth design program, supervising junior architecture Instructors who mentor and guide students in the development of technical skills, ensuring a strong foundation in architectural design and practice. Kenneth serves as the Senior Designer and project leader for ELSO's Youth Climate Education Project. With nearly 8 years of experience in the design field, Kenneth began his career as a Junior Designer before transitioning to Intel as an AutoCAD and Revit technician. Prior to joining ELSO Inc., he held the role of BIM (Building Information Modeling) III Technical Lead. Fondly known as Mr. T, Kenneth’s extensive experience and leadership continue to impact the next generation of designers and architects.
Consulting Services
Since 2020, our Consulting Services Department has been an integral part of ELSO’s mission, supporting STEAMED and nature-based organizations in enhancing their community engagement and programming.
Workshops & Trainings
Curriculum Development
Program Assessment
Strategic Planning
Customization
Workshops & Trainings
We offer customized workshops and training sessions for client staff, volunteers, board members, contractors, etc. Workshop topics, goals, and outcomes are developed individually for each client, with broad focuses including, but not limited to:
Inclusive practices in youth and community programming
Understanding context and program development
Creating accessible programs
Authentically engaging local audiences
Creating meaningful partnerships
Incorporating a STEAMED-centered lens
ELSO aims to provide the tools and support an organization needs to critically assess and revise their own programming. However, in certain cases a client may ask ELSO to develop unique instructional resources. Using our Liberatory Pedagogy, we will work with your team to co-create thematic student-driven curriculum, lesson plans, or activity outlines and provide training on how to successfully implement them in your programs.
ELSO will review informational or educational materials and make recommendations for improvements in alignment with the client’s goals. Materials could include program brochures, web content or other communications, as well as lesson plans, curriculum, teaching guides, self-guided materials, or other instructional resources.
Not sure where to start? ELSO has worked on a variety of projects for clients starting out with just an idea. Our holistic strategic planning roadmaps provide insights and direction for the future of emerging projects or initiatives, which could include expansion into new areas or audiences, building new community relationships, or creating new programming.
Tailor Your Consulting Pathway
We are happy to discuss your program’s unique needs and develop a service package designed specifically for you.
After completing initial information sessions with each Client, ELSO, Inc. will create a customized quote for the requested scope of work, calculated at our standard consulting rate of $495 per hour. This rate includes a team of up to three of our expert consultants working closely with you to ensure your project is completed to the highest standard.
Pricing & Funding Support
Many organizations choose to invest in this work by applying for funding through grants, sponsorships, or other 3rd party sources, and we understand that contracts may be contingent on receiving these gifts or awards. While we do not currently co-write funding proposals with clients, ELSO will be happy to provide letters of support, project proposals, quotes, or other documentation to help clients receive the funds they need to engage in this work. We have multiple clients who have received significant awards to work with ELSO, some spanning across multiple years.
If you are interested in having an initial conversation about your project, click the link below to schedule time with our Director of Consulting Services Erin Cathcart (erin@campelso.org) to tell us a little bit about your organization, the project you have in mind, your goals for our work together, and the budget you are working with.
Past Clients
We have worked with 8 major clients across 3 states, directly engaging over 70 educators, leaders, teachers, and scientists. Through ELSO's ripple effect, these efforts have reached countless numbers of youth and their families who participate in our client’s programs.
Testimonials
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Bird Alliance of Oregon
“ELSO has challenged us to transform so much of our work, from staff training to curriculum design. Most profoundly, they’ve changed the way we approach partnerships - allowing time for the essential, deep work of relationship building.”
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Energy Trust Oregon
“As consultants, the ELSO team came in with a collaborative approach and demonstrated their teaching methods and expertise in our meetings ... They seamlessly developed an approach that centers reflection and experiential learning for students to support the learning objectives”
ELSO Consulting Services has…
Served 8 Major Clients across 3 states
Delivered over 150 hours of direct training for educators and organizational leadership
Developed nearly 250 hours of youth and community programming, impacting thousands of youth participants
Supported organizations in strategic planning, program implementation roadmapping, and coaching on best practices for driving systemic change.
