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	<em>Today, there are over 4,000 Au Sable alumni around the world doing great things to serve and protect our precious natural world. Profiles in Stewardship shares the significant accomplishments, enduring effort, and lasting effectiveness of Au Sable alumni as they seek to do God&#39;s work in the world. We hope these stories create a space for mutual admiration, common purpose, and collective achievement among all those doing creation care. &nbsp;In two words, true community. To learn more, read Executive Director Fred Van Dyke&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="http://ausable.org/news_and_resources/blog/introducing_profiles_in_stewardship_by_fred_van_dyke_executive_director#.UX6fYrU3uSo">introduction to this blog series</a>.</em></p>
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	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}IMG_4152-250pxl.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 167px; float: right;" />Kellan Warner enthusiasm finds its mark each day in the lives of low-income students in Salt Lake City. Kellan works as a Youth Teaching Youth Program Assistant at the Natural History Museum of Utah. A child of the west coast, she spent the summer of 2011 studying Alpine Ecology and Marine Mammals at the Pacific Rim Campus under the tutalege of Au Sable professors Eric Steinkamp and Rafe Payne. After graduating from Wheaton College with a degree in Environmental Studies, she headed back to the open skies and stunning vistas of the American west to pass along her passion for God&#39;s creation to young students. Kellan&#39;s devotion to living faithfullly to God&#39;s call of environmental stewardship has created opportunities for students who have never been hiking to get a glimpse of the wide, expansive place in which they live. We caught up with Kellan to learn more about her work and its importance.</p>
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	<strong>What do you do in your current position?</strong></p>
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	I educate and mentor elementary, middle school, and high school students from a low-income area of Salt Lake City. We run an after school program at a local middle school once a week, and at those meetings the high school interns mentor and teach various natural history concepts (e.g. geology and animal adaptations) to the middle school students. &nbsp;During the week, I take middle school students to teach what they have learned at after school meetings to 4th graders. We also take students on trips to southern Utah to see some of the incredible national parks Utah has to offer. It&rsquo;s often a first hiking trip experience for the middle school students! The high school interns are also involved in other aspects of museum life, such as going to on various fieldwork endeavors with researchers from the museum during the summer months and working various science education events throughout the year.&nbsp;</p>
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	<strong>Why is this work important to conservation? &nbsp;</strong></p>
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	Fostering a love of nature in young people is essential to continuing conservation. The goal of the program is to empower youth to make thoughtful decisions as they gain new perspectives in the natural world.&nbsp;</p>
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	<strong>What was most memorable and important to you about your time at Au Sable? &nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>
	The majority of learning happened on field trips, which is part of what made my Au Sable experience so memorable. I also had to opportunity to study in two areas that I am extremely interested in, which made the experience valuable. The opportunity to collaborate and learn from students from all over North America was the icing on my Au Sable cake.&nbsp;</p>
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	<strong>How does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the work you do today? &nbsp;</strong></p>
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	My faith in Christ has been a big factor in my desire to work for a secular environmental organization. Unfortunately, many people I work with have primarily interacted with Christians who are anti-environmental and anti-science. As a Christian who is a scientist and an environmentalist, I can give a new perspective: Christianity and science/environmentalism don&rsquo;t have to be at odds. I also want the youth I work with to see that dynamic as well. I hope that my actions and words will show Christ to those around me and show them that all Christians don&rsquo;t fit the negative stereotypes.&nbsp;</p>
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	<strong>How did your time at Au Sable help prepare you for what you are doing now? &nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>
	Au Sable prepared me by giving me legitimate field experience in my marine mammals class, which prepared me for my summer 2012 internship with Allied Whale. Additionally, the way my Alpine Ecology was structured, with students keeping field notebooks on hikes, is similar to how Youth Teaching Youth does trips and hikes with students. Au Sable also cemented my desire and passion to do work to contribute to the preservation and appreciation of God&rsquo;s nature- both on sea and on shore. &nbsp;</p>
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	<strong>Why do you think people should continue to study at Au Sable today? &nbsp;</strong></p>
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	People should continue to study at Au Sable because it&rsquo;s a unique and valuable experience. As a biology or environmental science major, I believe it&rsquo;s essential to take classes where field experience is emphasized. Additionally, having a chance to take courses that your home institution can&rsquo;t provide but that interest you can open doors you never thought could be opened.&nbsp;</p>
