Claire grew up in Astoria, Oregon and spent her childhood exploring the beach, the woods and the waterfront landscapes. Her favorite memories are of sculpting sand castle walls at the beach to keep the tide from coming in, and building forts in the woods behind her house. In 2022, she graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelors of Science in Art and a minor in Environmental Studies. Through an Urban Farm course, she developed a passion for food systems work and garden education. Over the last couple of years, Claire has worked as a Paraeducator, a Community Food and Garden Coordinator, a Destination Services Coordinator focused on supporting Oregon food systems, and as a Farm Hand at her grandmother’s nursery in the Willamette Valley. Claire is dedicated to connecting with communities through food, education and art. She loves to spend her free time soaking up the beautiful outdoors, painting, gardening, hiking, doing yoga and swimming in any body of water she can find.