Hello! My name is Kayla Austin, and I was born and raised in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York.

My husband, our daughter, our two dogs, and a lively flock of chickens and honeybees all call an old hunting cabin home, which we're currently renovating. When I'm not working, you'll usually find me tending my garden, caring for our animals, fly fishing, or spending time with my family out on the boat.

I graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a minor in Wilderness Education. Shortly after graduation, I moved to Colorado to pursue my passion for outdoor education with the Colorado Outward Bound School. Over nearly five years as a Senior Logistics Coordinator, I had the opportunity to work at base camps in Moab, Utah, Marble, Colorado, and Leadville, Colorado, where I shared my love of backpacking, rock climbing, and exploring the outdoors.

After my time with Outward Bound, I joined Melanzana Mountain Gear as the Quality Control Manager, helping ensure that we produced high-quality, sustainable, and environmentally conscious apparel. I also spent my final Colorado winter working as an attendant at remote backcountry sleeping yurts, where I enjoyed exploring the mountains by snowmobile.

Although I loved Colorado, I eventually realized how much I missed the lakes and waterways I grew up with. Three years ago, my husband and I made the move back east from Leadville, Colorado—the highest incorporated city in the United States—and we've loved being back ever since.

I am passionate about helping children discover and appreciate the natural world. Whether we're exploring science, learning outdoors, or asking questions about the environment around us, I hope to inspire curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. I am so excited to be working with your children and can't wait to share new adventures and exciting discoveries with them throughout the year!