Ben was born and raised in California and has lived on the west coast his whole life ranging from San Diego, California to Cordova, Alaska. He fell in love with the outdoors at a very young age because of his family’s annual camp trips to Yosemite and his constant desire to explore his natural surroundings everywhere he lives. With a background in tradeswork and a Mechanical Engineering degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Ben quickly entered the field of ecology and has been there ever since. He continues to fuel his great passion for the natural world by spending as much time outside as possible backpacking, mountain biking, surfing, water dipping, and deeply respecting the Earth. Ben constantly strives to make the world a healthier and more beautiful place by being the best steward of the land possible.