PRNC Staff
Sarah Davidson-Nelson
Operations Coordinator
810-455-4160
nelson.sarah@sccresa.org
Sarah is an environmental educator and operations coordinator at the nature center. Sarah attended Central Michigan University where she earned a bachelor’s degree majoring in biology and natural resources. She stayed at CMU to earn her master's degree in conservation biology where she studied wolf depredation ecology on sheep and cattle farms in the Upper Peninsula. She has extensive experience in the field and in the classroom. Sarah enjoys working with St. Clair County's area students and residents.
Monique Werner
Environmental Educator
810-455-4161
werner.monique@sccresa.org
Monique attended the University of Michigan’s Flint campus, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in biology. She volunteered with the nature center when it opened in 2003. She volunteered and worked as a part-time naturalist at the nature center until becoming a full-time environmental educator in 2021. Monique enjoys sharing her passion for nature with students, volunteers, and visitors of all ages. You’ll find her outdoors, hiking, birding, and photographing Michigan’s flora and fauna when not at work.
Meet the 2024-2025 TEC Students
Meet Sage McCombs
Sage is a senior at Port Huron Northern High School. She is a huge animal lover and that’s the biggest reason why she decided to be a TEC student at the Pine River Nature Center. She grew up in Port Huron, always camping and hiking with her family. Her love for nature and all things related came from when she took a biology class in 9th grade and decided she wanted to spend as much time as she could loving, and trying to preserve our planet.
Meet Riley Ganger
Riley is a Port Huron Northern High School senior and a work-based learning student at RESA’s Technical Education Center. Riley plays for the Northern Varsity Soccer Team as a goalie, is the captain of the Red Dogs swim team and is a goalie for the Port Huron United Lacrosse Team.
As a child, Riley was involved in the Nature Center’s Summer Nature Club and even completed his Eagle Scout Project at the Nature Center. His involvement in these activities has fostered his love for nature and the outdoors. He’s glad to be giving back to an organization where he has so many fond memories. After high school, he plans to earn a degree in Environmental and Outdoor Education from Slippery Rock University or MSU. Riley plans to work at a national park as a park ranger or be part of the national park police force as a U.S. Law Enforcement Ranger.
Meet Natalie Korotko
Natalie is a very active junior at Yale High School. She participates in varsity golf, varsity bowling, varsity track, trap shooting and National Honor Society. Natalie's dream has always been to be a conservation officer for the Department of Natural Resources, which she knew in elementary school. She grew up in Yale Michigan, where her passion for the outdoor started as a child. As a child she was constantly hunting and fishing with her brothers and sisters, running around in the woods and through the river in her backyard as well as attended Pine River Nature Center's Summer Nature Club. After high school, Natalie plans to attend Michigan State University to obtain a degree in Criminal Justice or Wildlife and Fisheries Management. After completing her degree, she will attend the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Academy in hopes of achieving her dream job.
Meet Cooper Machala
Cooper is a Junior at Algonac Jr/Sr High School. During the school year he participates in trap shooting and is part of the football team. He has always loved being outdoors. He likes to camp, hike, and fish. When he found out that there was a TEC program that involves him being outdoors in nature, he knew he had to join. His love for the outdoors comes from the countless camping trips he went on as a kid. After high school he plans on attending college to become a wildlife biologist.