Bruno Belforte (Lead Docent - c/o '23)
Few docents have come through our program that are as polished in their delivery of “The Tour” as Bruno Belforte. That confidence and shine doesn’t come from chance, however; inspired by the conservation concepts he’s learned in our program, Bruno has put in countless hours of individual study and research outside of class on just about every single animal — live or taxidermied – on display in our museum. He seems to know basic (and a ton of not-so-basic) biology facts as well as the conservation status and history of just about every creature on our premises. Considering we have 60+ living species and a couple hundred pieces of taxidermy and artifacts, that’s quite a mini-library of knowledge that Mr. Belforte has developed in a relatively short amount of time. Bruno came to our program only a year ago and has already mastered every aspect of the class. Instructor Tacata is impressed every time he watches Bruno deliver a museum tour: it seems he adds something new and exciting to his endlessly evolving and personalized script as visitors can feel the young maven’s passion to the point that they have no choice but to end up caring about the creatures and concepts he teaches.
Last year, Bruno spent 6 months learning and practicing exotic animal husbandry with Bonnie Cromwell and Classroom Safari and continues on this year as one of Bonnie’s animal presenters at birthday parties and educational events. Later this fall, Bruno will be one of our initial docents volunteers with the Marin County-based Chileno Valley Newt Brigade, helping the community conservation efforts to protect and conserve local California rough-skinned newts from road-strikes on their annual journey from the foothills to the lake. Also later this fall, Bruno will be applying for one of the coveted volunteer positions as a member of the Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito’s “Youth Crew,” a group of 35 Bay Area teens who help in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and abandoned pinnipeds covering over 600 miles of California coast. Bruno is going to be up to his eyes in animals this year, and there’s nothing that would make him happier :)
After high school, Bruno hopes to attend a 4-year university and continue his studies in Zoology (or possibly Marine Science) with a concentration in wildlife/marine conservation. Ultimately, Bruno wants to work with wild/exotic animals in some capacity – research, conservation, public policy, and/or education – and it’s safe to say the young man’s had an excellent start!
We at the Museum are proud of Bruno, for all he’s done for the program, all he’s doing for the program, and what he represents when he leaves the program… It will be young, talented, passionate, and hard-working folks like Bruno Belforte that will use their knowledge and experience to lead our local and global communities through the climate crisis, hopefully finding solutions that will lead to a better world for all the creatures with which we share our fragile planet.
Few docents have come through our program that are as polished in their delivery of “The Tour” as Bruno Belforte. That confidence and shine doesn’t come from chance, however; inspired by the conservation concepts he’s learned in our program, Bruno has put in countless hours of individual study and research outside of class on just about every single animal — live or taxidermied – on display in our museum. He seems to know basic (and a ton of not-so-basic) biology facts as well as the conservation status and history of just about every creature on our premises. Considering we have 60+ living species and a couple hundred pieces of taxidermy and artifacts, that’s quite a mini-library of knowledge that Mr. Belforte has developed in a relatively short amount of time. Bruno came to our program only a year ago and has already mastered every aspect of the class. Instructor Tacata is impressed every time he watches Bruno deliver a museum tour: it seems he adds something new and exciting to his endlessly evolving and personalized script as visitors can feel the young maven’s passion to the point that they have no choice but to end up caring about the creatures and concepts he teaches.
Last year, Bruno spent 6 months learning and practicing exotic animal husbandry with Bonnie Cromwell and Classroom Safari and continues on this year as one of Bonnie’s animal presenters at birthday parties and educational events. Later this fall, Bruno will be one of our initial docents volunteers with the Marin County-based Chileno Valley Newt Brigade, helping the community conservation efforts to protect and conserve local California rough-skinned newts from road-strikes on their annual journey from the foothills to the lake. Also later this fall, Bruno will be applying for one of the coveted volunteer positions as a member of the Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito’s “Youth Crew,” a group of 35 Bay Area teens who help in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and abandoned pinnipeds covering over 600 miles of California coast. Bruno is going to be up to his eyes in animals this year, and there’s nothing that would make him happier :)
After high school, Bruno hopes to attend a 4-year university and continue his studies in Zoology (or possibly Marine Science) with a concentration in wildlife/marine conservation. Ultimately, Bruno wants to work with wild/exotic animals in some capacity – research, conservation, public policy, and/or education – and it’s safe to say the young man’s had an excellent start!
We at the Museum are proud of Bruno, for all he’s done for the program, all he’s doing for the program, and what he represents when he leaves the program… It will be young, talented, passionate, and hard-working folks like Bruno Belforte that will use their knowledge and experience to lead our local and global communities through the climate crisis, hopefully finding solutions that will lead to a better world for all the creatures with which we share our fragile planet.
Cydney Doyle (Lead Docent - c/o '23)
On any given Saturday this year, visitors might walk into a PWM Open House and have the pleasure of receiving a tour given by the one-and-only Cydney Doyle. For those of you that are that lucky, let me tell you: you’re in for a treat!
Cydney has a way about her, a style of teaching that, when you’re with her, you just can’t help but listen and want to learn… Her infectious enthusiasm and electric personality will take you to the comet-filled skies of the Cretacous, swing you through the swirls of a Serenghetti zebra dazzle, and have you slithering side-by-side the constrictor-cramped swamps of the Everglades; she’s an adept storyteller and, at only 18-years of age, is – in Instructor Tacata’s opinion – a more polished and complete a teacher than most actual first-year teachers in the business.
Cydney first joined the museum as a sophomore during the fated covid shutdown of 2020. Over Zoom, Cyd learned all the basics of wildlife conservation from the online Museum Management course, but it was last year, when students finally returned to campus full time, that Cydney’s talents and hard work began to show. Week-after-week, while others shied away, Cydney repeatedly volunteered to shadow the Senior Lead Docents, learning the depths and details of the PWM tour from the inside. She took notes, scripted out her own personalized monologues and, ultimately, began leading tours on her own; Cydney shined in the spotlight!
In addition to her docent work, Cydney also volunteers for Bonnie Cromwell’s Classroom Safari and will be joining the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade this fall, offering her time and efforts to conserving native species of salamander in Marin/Sonoma counties. After high school, Miss Doyle hopes to attend the local junior college and ultimately transfer to a university, exploring any option that involves working with animals. Cydney has also experienced an affinity for teaching and could see herself pursuing a career in education. One of her future goals is, in her own words, “to take Tacata’s job (as Instructor of the Museum).” Let me tell you, if that day comes, there will be no one more proud than Mr. Tacata, himself!
Cydney is a dedicated wildlife supporter, a compassionate animal-lover with a Thoreau-esque connection to nature and wild places. She is a champion of environmentally conscious policy and believes to her core that her generation can correct the ecological and environmental mistakes of generations past. A vibrant young person with a story for every snake and a tale for every taxidermy, Miss Doyle is ready to deliver her special brand of biology to the inspire the next generation of conservationists that walk through the doors of the PWM <3
On any given Saturday this year, visitors might walk into a PWM Open House and have the pleasure of receiving a tour given by the one-and-only Cydney Doyle. For those of you that are that lucky, let me tell you: you’re in for a treat!
Cydney has a way about her, a style of teaching that, when you’re with her, you just can’t help but listen and want to learn… Her infectious enthusiasm and electric personality will take you to the comet-filled skies of the Cretacous, swing you through the swirls of a Serenghetti zebra dazzle, and have you slithering side-by-side the constrictor-cramped swamps of the Everglades; she’s an adept storyteller and, at only 18-years of age, is – in Instructor Tacata’s opinion – a more polished and complete a teacher than most actual first-year teachers in the business.
Cydney first joined the museum as a sophomore during the fated covid shutdown of 2020. Over Zoom, Cyd learned all the basics of wildlife conservation from the online Museum Management course, but it was last year, when students finally returned to campus full time, that Cydney’s talents and hard work began to show. Week-after-week, while others shied away, Cydney repeatedly volunteered to shadow the Senior Lead Docents, learning the depths and details of the PWM tour from the inside. She took notes, scripted out her own personalized monologues and, ultimately, began leading tours on her own; Cydney shined in the spotlight!
In addition to her docent work, Cydney also volunteers for Bonnie Cromwell’s Classroom Safari and will be joining the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade this fall, offering her time and efforts to conserving native species of salamander in Marin/Sonoma counties. After high school, Miss Doyle hopes to attend the local junior college and ultimately transfer to a university, exploring any option that involves working with animals. Cydney has also experienced an affinity for teaching and could see herself pursuing a career in education. One of her future goals is, in her own words, “to take Tacata’s job (as Instructor of the Museum).” Let me tell you, if that day comes, there will be no one more proud than Mr. Tacata, himself!
Cydney is a dedicated wildlife supporter, a compassionate animal-lover with a Thoreau-esque connection to nature and wild places. She is a champion of environmentally conscious policy and believes to her core that her generation can correct the ecological and environmental mistakes of generations past. A vibrant young person with a story for every snake and a tale for every taxidermy, Miss Doyle is ready to deliver her special brand of biology to the inspire the next generation of conservationists that walk through the doors of the PWM <3
President Camacho
Adam Camacho (President)
The non-profit Board of Directors of the Petaluma Wildlife Museum is, understandably, a diverse cast of characters. We are people passionate about a wide range of ideas and causes and articulate enough to describe exactly what we are passionate about into the wee hours of the evening, especially on Board Meeting nights!
President Camacho joined the Board in 2019 and is the "calming glue" (think Old Spice-scented Elmer's) that holds our cast of characters together, keeping us focused on our mission and always reminding us to keep our students -and practicality- at the top of our list of priorities. By day, Adam works in IT as a manager for Endsight in Berkeley/Napa, but after-hours, President Camacho dawns his cape-and-cowl and becomes a super-heroic advocate for the museum, its students, and its patrons.
Adam loves the Museum as it allows young adults to teach children and, in particular, lends valuable support to Instructor Phil Tacata, as a much appreciated colleague, mentor, and friend. Adam loves to go cruising on the weekend on his "Flying Brick" K100, devours any and everything sci-fi and fantasy, and is the man lucky enough to be married to Kris Camacho, PHS' 2020 teacher of the year.
Adam’s favorite animal to visit at the PWM is the American Kestrel, and his favorite non-PWM museum is the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
The non-profit Board of Directors of the Petaluma Wildlife Museum is, understandably, a diverse cast of characters. We are people passionate about a wide range of ideas and causes and articulate enough to describe exactly what we are passionate about into the wee hours of the evening, especially on Board Meeting nights!
President Camacho joined the Board in 2019 and is the "calming glue" (think Old Spice-scented Elmer's) that holds our cast of characters together, keeping us focused on our mission and always reminding us to keep our students -and practicality- at the top of our list of priorities. By day, Adam works in IT as a manager for Endsight in Berkeley/Napa, but after-hours, President Camacho dawns his cape-and-cowl and becomes a super-heroic advocate for the museum, its students, and its patrons.
Adam loves the Museum as it allows young adults to teach children and, in particular, lends valuable support to Instructor Phil Tacata, as a much appreciated colleague, mentor, and friend. Adam loves to go cruising on the weekend on his "Flying Brick" K100, devours any and everything sci-fi and fantasy, and is the man lucky enough to be married to Kris Camacho, PHS' 2020 teacher of the year.
Adam’s favorite animal to visit at the PWM is the American Kestrel, and his favorite non-PWM museum is the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Robin
Robin Haines (Vice President/Director of Facilities)
The PWM staff is filled with Renaissance Women and Robin Haines might lead the pack. A North Bay native, Robin started her early adult life off in the field of law enforcement and, ultimately, spent 22 years as a firefighter for Alameda FD. Before that, in 1987, Robin served as a trainer for the marine mammals (seals and sea lions) at Marine World Africa USA and, soon after in 1989, transferred into the Elephant Department where she found her true love.
Robin looks back fondly on her days as pachyderm keeper and trainer and says they are some of the best days of her life. Robin spent almost every day of the next five years as one of the matriarchs of a herd of a dozen elephants. She started like everyone else in the business: just a dung beetle shoveling and cleaning up (when students ask her what a typical day-in-the-life of an animal keeper is like, her go-to answer is "90% cleaning up crap, 9% dealing with drama, 1% everything else that makes it all worth it"). After a short while she was walking elephants and then performing educational demonstrations. "It was by far the most amazing experience being around these massive yet gentle creatures," she remembers. Robin's goal is to share those kinds of moments, educate our students about conservation, and create a fascination of animals with generations to come.
Robin donates over 30 hours a week of her time as the Vice President and Facilities Manager of the PWM. She is also, along with our Animal Care Tech, one of the lead keepers of our small animal collection. Ms. Haines began volunteering at the PWM in 2019 and is incredibly proud of her daughter, Zoey, the Lead Docent for the Museum this current 2020-21 school year.
The PWM staff is filled with Renaissance Women and Robin Haines might lead the pack. A North Bay native, Robin started her early adult life off in the field of law enforcement and, ultimately, spent 22 years as a firefighter for Alameda FD. Before that, in 1987, Robin served as a trainer for the marine mammals (seals and sea lions) at Marine World Africa USA and, soon after in 1989, transferred into the Elephant Department where she found her true love.
Robin looks back fondly on her days as pachyderm keeper and trainer and says they are some of the best days of her life. Robin spent almost every day of the next five years as one of the matriarchs of a herd of a dozen elephants. She started like everyone else in the business: just a dung beetle shoveling and cleaning up (when students ask her what a typical day-in-the-life of an animal keeper is like, her go-to answer is "90% cleaning up crap, 9% dealing with drama, 1% everything else that makes it all worth it"). After a short while she was walking elephants and then performing educational demonstrations. "It was by far the most amazing experience being around these massive yet gentle creatures," she remembers. Robin's goal is to share those kinds of moments, educate our students about conservation, and create a fascination of animals with generations to come.
Robin donates over 30 hours a week of her time as the Vice President and Facilities Manager of the PWM. She is also, along with our Animal Care Tech, one of the lead keepers of our small animal collection. Ms. Haines began volunteering at the PWM in 2019 and is incredibly proud of her daughter, Zoey, the Lead Docent for the Museum this current 2020-21 school year.
Robert
Robert Barnes (Secretary)
Robert Barnes is a man of many talents and many lives: sculptor and creature designer at Lucasfilm/ILM, digital model-maker for 2K Games, curly-haired bottom-dweller and Purveyor of Punk for the electric eclectic rock band, Strange Cabbage... Yes, Robert is all of those things, but we here at the PWM know him as the "Father of the Mother of Dragons," a cool dude and an even cooler Dad.
Robert has been involved in some capacity with the PWM since the fall of 2012 when his eldest daughter, former Musuem All-Star and current Animal Care Tech, Issy Barnes, enrolled in the program as a wee freshman. Inspired to support the program in which his daughter was so passionately involved, Robert joined the PWM Board and lent his myriad talents to the program. Throughout the years, he's supervised and chaperoned dozens of Museum events and field trips, helped fix, upgrade, and install many of the enclosures and exhibits that are currently in use today (including the masterful southern rhino mount and sculpt he installed in our Africa exhibit back in 2019), and currently serves as our Board Secretary. Along the way, Robert, too, fell in love with reptiles and amphibians and has since become an avid herper and lover of all things cold-of-blood. As the saying goes, “Like daughter, like father <3”
2022 will mark a decade of service Robert has given the Museum and we are extremely fortunate and appreciative of his dedication to our kids and our program. The generations of young people that have passed through our doors owe him a nod of thanks, a smile of appreciation, and the universal Sign of the Horns; Rock on, Dragon Daddy... Rock on!
Robert Barnes is a man of many talents and many lives: sculptor and creature designer at Lucasfilm/ILM, digital model-maker for 2K Games, curly-haired bottom-dweller and Purveyor of Punk for the electric eclectic rock band, Strange Cabbage... Yes, Robert is all of those things, but we here at the PWM know him as the "Father of the Mother of Dragons," a cool dude and an even cooler Dad.
Robert has been involved in some capacity with the PWM since the fall of 2012 when his eldest daughter, former Musuem All-Star and current Animal Care Tech, Issy Barnes, enrolled in the program as a wee freshman. Inspired to support the program in which his daughter was so passionately involved, Robert joined the PWM Board and lent his myriad talents to the program. Throughout the years, he's supervised and chaperoned dozens of Museum events and field trips, helped fix, upgrade, and install many of the enclosures and exhibits that are currently in use today (including the masterful southern rhino mount and sculpt he installed in our Africa exhibit back in 2019), and currently serves as our Board Secretary. Along the way, Robert, too, fell in love with reptiles and amphibians and has since become an avid herper and lover of all things cold-of-blood. As the saying goes, “Like daughter, like father <3”
2022 will mark a decade of service Robert has given the Museum and we are extremely fortunate and appreciative of his dedication to our kids and our program. The generations of young people that have passed through our doors owe him a nod of thanks, a smile of appreciation, and the universal Sign of the Horns; Rock on, Dragon Daddy... Rock on!
Rebecca
Rebecca Abrams (Treasurer/ Collections Manager)
Rebecca Abrams, taught middle school science for eight years in Novato Unified. She joined the Museum Board in 2019. Rebecca has brought an incredibly adept, specialized, and valuable tool-set to our Museum in the form of her many years of experience as a museum preparator at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and in museum preparation at the California Academy of Sciences. Currently, Rebecca is earning her master's degree in Museum Sciences at San Francisco State University and has taken lead on the daunting task of exhibit and taxidermy curation at the PWM. Our museum has compiled over 30 years of donations and taxidermy and Rebecca has taken on the challenge of cataloguing our collections head-on; she's pretty awesome!
Rebecca appreciates the diverse opportunities and experiences that museums offer children and adults. In her personal life, she also enjoys an array of passions and interests spanning the worlds of ornithology, geology, baking, nature-based crafts, you name it! Though she loves the variety of animals both living and displayed at the PWM, the Greater Kudu is her favorite, and her favorite non-PWM museum is the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, France. We at the PWM are lucky to have such a dedicated member and volunteer among our staff.
Rebecca Abrams, taught middle school science for eight years in Novato Unified. She joined the Museum Board in 2019. Rebecca has brought an incredibly adept, specialized, and valuable tool-set to our Museum in the form of her many years of experience as a museum preparator at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and in museum preparation at the California Academy of Sciences. Currently, Rebecca is earning her master's degree in Museum Sciences at San Francisco State University and has taken lead on the daunting task of exhibit and taxidermy curation at the PWM. Our museum has compiled over 30 years of donations and taxidermy and Rebecca has taken on the challenge of cataloguing our collections head-on; she's pretty awesome!
Rebecca appreciates the diverse opportunities and experiences that museums offer children and adults. In her personal life, she also enjoys an array of passions and interests spanning the worlds of ornithology, geology, baking, nature-based crafts, you name it! Though she loves the variety of animals both living and displayed at the PWM, the Greater Kudu is her favorite, and her favorite non-PWM museum is the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, France. We at the PWM are lucky to have such a dedicated member and volunteer among our staff.
Abby
Abigail Frost (Board Member)
Abby has been a part of the PWM Family for most of her life as she was one of the last students to take 4 straight years of the Museum Management course. At the time of her graduation from PHS in 2020, Abby accumulated several thousand hours of volunteer time at the Museum; if there was an event, Abby Frost was there helping out!
Currently, as a young adult, Abby is studying at SRJC and volunteers her weekend hours at the Museum running the Gift Shop during Saturday Open House. A deft and clever artist, Abby has created dozens of stickers and pins of our beloved animals for the Gift Shop, as well as created the hand-painted and built carnival games in the PWM Courtyard enjoyed by so many of our young visitors.
Abby digs anime and anime soundtracks, comics and sequential art, appreciates Wiccan culture, and deeply loves each and every one of the animals here at her "second home." The PWM loves Abby, too.
Abby has been a part of the PWM Family for most of her life as she was one of the last students to take 4 straight years of the Museum Management course. At the time of her graduation from PHS in 2020, Abby accumulated several thousand hours of volunteer time at the Museum; if there was an event, Abby Frost was there helping out!
Currently, as a young adult, Abby is studying at SRJC and volunteers her weekend hours at the Museum running the Gift Shop during Saturday Open House. A deft and clever artist, Abby has created dozens of stickers and pins of our beloved animals for the Gift Shop, as well as created the hand-painted and built carnival games in the PWM Courtyard enjoyed by so many of our young visitors.
Abby digs anime and anime soundtracks, comics and sequential art, appreciates Wiccan culture, and deeply loves each and every one of the animals here at her "second home." The PWM loves Abby, too.
Fabian
Fabian Romo Macias (Board Member)
Yet another amazing PWM Alum from the Class of 2020, you'll be hard pressed to find a harder-working and bigger-hearted volunteer than Fabian. Fabian was a late-joiner to the PWM Family, only enrolling in the Museum Management class for the first time during his Junior year, but his impact for the next two years was felt immediately. As a docent, Fabian had an incredibly creative mind for presentations and, even more impressively, the discipline and initiative to self-research topics and create fun, interesting, and imaginative Ambassador Animal presentations to children of all ages.
Currently, Fabian is a student at SRJC and volunteers at the Museum as a docent supervisor on the weekends. He is currently working to build connections between the PWM and the myriad of associations and groups found in the Petaluma Downtown District. We are proud to have this wonderful young man back to help shape the future of our program in our community.
Yet another amazing PWM Alum from the Class of 2020, you'll be hard pressed to find a harder-working and bigger-hearted volunteer than Fabian. Fabian was a late-joiner to the PWM Family, only enrolling in the Museum Management class for the first time during his Junior year, but his impact for the next two years was felt immediately. As a docent, Fabian had an incredibly creative mind for presentations and, even more impressively, the discipline and initiative to self-research topics and create fun, interesting, and imaginative Ambassador Animal presentations to children of all ages.
Currently, Fabian is a student at SRJC and volunteers at the Museum as a docent supervisor on the weekends. He is currently working to build connections between the PWM and the myriad of associations and groups found in the Petaluma Downtown District. We are proud to have this wonderful young man back to help shape the future of our program in our community.
Tacata
Philip Tacata (Board Member/Instructor of Classes)
Phil Tacata is the Instructor of Classes at the PWM and is also the Director of the Marine Science program at Petaluma High. Mr. Tacata has, thus far, led a journeyman's career in education; after spending a year in the Bering Sea as a fisheries biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, he started teaching in January, 2000, as a young and brash 23-year-old middle school Math & Science teacher at Alum Rock Middle School in San Jose, CA. Since then, he's taught Science at two charter middle schools in Washington, D.C., taught Biology at his hometown rival high school in Daly City and, since 2014, has taught Biology, Marine Science, and Museum Management at Petaluma High School.
In 2018, Mr. Tacata received double honors as the California League of High Schools Teacher of the Year for Sonoma/Mendocino/Lake/Humboldt counties as well as a finalist for the Sonoma County Office of Education Teacher of the Year (specifically for his work revitalizing and developing the aforementioned Petaluma High School Marine Science Program). Shortly after, Mr. Tacata was offered the position of "PWM Instructor of Classes" with the hope that he could use his experience, vision, and passion to re-ignite, develop, and grow the Wildlife program just as he had done a few year earlier for the school Marine Science program. Currently, in his 5th year in charge of the PWM, he hopes it's on its way to returning to its robust, former glory.
Mr. Tacata recognizes the pedagogical potential and transformational power of the Museum Management program, both as a community portal for developing leadership skills in teens as well as being a unique environmental education tool that has taught (and continues to teach) concepts of wildlife conservation to generations of children here in the North Bay region. He prides himself in shaping the program to give his kids the kind of structural support and opportunities his teachers failed to afford him when he was a teen. Tacata, a popular and unorthodox teacher on campus, considers himself a "shaper of experiences" and his classes feature -at their core- some of the most ambitious, intricate, personalized, and potentially life-changing experiences for teens at Petaluma High; his labs are visceral and memorable, his lectures passionate and hilarious, and just being around the guy can, at times, feel like being at a snort-laughing comedy show with the production value of a viral video and and the soundtrack of a made-for-Hallmark movie (all at the same time). Oh yeah... He also runs some of the most legendary over-night field trip expeditions in the North Bay (just ask his alumni).
Mr. Tacata also likes to teach his kids some pretty cool stuff... Like Mr. Head (and Mr. Pawlan) before him, Tacata constantly looks for opportunities to "WOW" his students by showing them cool exotic animals, wicked skulls and pelts, or crazy-wild animal videos. He also never shies away from being real with his kids and will always and openly take time to discuss and dissect issues of conservation in the context of race and racism, environmental justice, and big-money politics. Ultimately, his goal is to expose his kids to things so amazing, so beautiful, and so magical that they can't help but end up seeing the world through a different lens.
Mr. Tacata knows the PWM is HOME for a very special group of students here at Petaluma High -the next generation of American conservationists- and has pledged to fiercely protect his students and positively develop this very special program during his tenure as Instructor.
Phil Tacata is the Instructor of Classes at the PWM and is also the Director of the Marine Science program at Petaluma High. Mr. Tacata has, thus far, led a journeyman's career in education; after spending a year in the Bering Sea as a fisheries biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, he started teaching in January, 2000, as a young and brash 23-year-old middle school Math & Science teacher at Alum Rock Middle School in San Jose, CA. Since then, he's taught Science at two charter middle schools in Washington, D.C., taught Biology at his hometown rival high school in Daly City and, since 2014, has taught Biology, Marine Science, and Museum Management at Petaluma High School.
In 2018, Mr. Tacata received double honors as the California League of High Schools Teacher of the Year for Sonoma/Mendocino/Lake/Humboldt counties as well as a finalist for the Sonoma County Office of Education Teacher of the Year (specifically for his work revitalizing and developing the aforementioned Petaluma High School Marine Science Program). Shortly after, Mr. Tacata was offered the position of "PWM Instructor of Classes" with the hope that he could use his experience, vision, and passion to re-ignite, develop, and grow the Wildlife program just as he had done a few year earlier for the school Marine Science program. Currently, in his 5th year in charge of the PWM, he hopes it's on its way to returning to its robust, former glory.
Mr. Tacata recognizes the pedagogical potential and transformational power of the Museum Management program, both as a community portal for developing leadership skills in teens as well as being a unique environmental education tool that has taught (and continues to teach) concepts of wildlife conservation to generations of children here in the North Bay region. He prides himself in shaping the program to give his kids the kind of structural support and opportunities his teachers failed to afford him when he was a teen. Tacata, a popular and unorthodox teacher on campus, considers himself a "shaper of experiences" and his classes feature -at their core- some of the most ambitious, intricate, personalized, and potentially life-changing experiences for teens at Petaluma High; his labs are visceral and memorable, his lectures passionate and hilarious, and just being around the guy can, at times, feel like being at a snort-laughing comedy show with the production value of a viral video and and the soundtrack of a made-for-Hallmark movie (all at the same time). Oh yeah... He also runs some of the most legendary over-night field trip expeditions in the North Bay (just ask his alumni).
Mr. Tacata also likes to teach his kids some pretty cool stuff... Like Mr. Head (and Mr. Pawlan) before him, Tacata constantly looks for opportunities to "WOW" his students by showing them cool exotic animals, wicked skulls and pelts, or crazy-wild animal videos. He also never shies away from being real with his kids and will always and openly take time to discuss and dissect issues of conservation in the context of race and racism, environmental justice, and big-money politics. Ultimately, his goal is to expose his kids to things so amazing, so beautiful, and so magical that they can't help but end up seeing the world through a different lens.
Mr. Tacata knows the PWM is HOME for a very special group of students here at Petaluma High -the next generation of American conservationists- and has pledged to fiercely protect his students and positively develop this very special program during his tenure as Instructor.
Issy
Isabelle Barnes (Board Member/Live Animal Curator)
The Petaluma Wildlife Museum is both excited and proud to welcome back c/o 2016 alumnus, Isabelle Barnes. Issy graduated from Cal Poly in 2020 with a degree in Animal Sciences (with a minor in Biology) and is looking to enter grad school in the field of Conservation Biology sometime in the near future. Until then, Issy will serve as our Animal Care Tech charged with the ultimate care and welfare of our small animal zoo as well the proper training of our student docents in all-things-animal husbandry.
During her time as a teen-aged docent in the Museum Management program, Issy recognized and developed her passion for animal care and wildlife conservation and that experience set the pathway for her burgeoning career. She was a star at the PWM in high school, won county honors for her bearded dragon breeding program, and, in her words, "would've hated high school without it (the PWM)." Issy credits the Museum with giving her real-world skills and a social group of like-minded individuals with which to bond, and is proud to be back home contributing to the growth and development of our next generation of docent conservationists.
Welcome Home, Khaleesi ;)
The Petaluma Wildlife Museum is both excited and proud to welcome back c/o 2016 alumnus, Isabelle Barnes. Issy graduated from Cal Poly in 2020 with a degree in Animal Sciences (with a minor in Biology) and is looking to enter grad school in the field of Conservation Biology sometime in the near future. Until then, Issy will serve as our Animal Care Tech charged with the ultimate care and welfare of our small animal zoo as well the proper training of our student docents in all-things-animal husbandry.
During her time as a teen-aged docent in the Museum Management program, Issy recognized and developed her passion for animal care and wildlife conservation and that experience set the pathway for her burgeoning career. She was a star at the PWM in high school, won county honors for her bearded dragon breeding program, and, in her words, "would've hated high school without it (the PWM)." Issy credits the Museum with giving her real-world skills and a social group of like-minded individuals with which to bond, and is proud to be back home contributing to the growth and development of our next generation of docent conservationists.
Welcome Home, Khaleesi ;)
Jack Dalton (Assistant Animal Care Technician)
Jack is a proud Museum alum from the class of 2020. While he only spent his Senior year as part of the Museum Management Class, he quickly became a trusted leader in the PWM Family and ended the year as a superstar docent, loved and respected by his peers. Jack is currently a student at SRJC and works for the PWM on the weekends as our Assistant Animal Care Tech; he helps to maintain the general health and well-being of our small animal zoo and serves as a deft and experienced mentor for our student docents who often turn to Jack when they have questions about anything from husbandry to how to deliver a certain part of The Tour.
Jack has always had a passion for wildlife and the natural world and after taking both Tacata's Marine Science course and Camacho's AP Environmental Science Class in his Junior year at PHS, Jack was inspired to apply for a coveted teen volunteer spot at the Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito, which he subsequently received. At the MMC, Jack participated in real-world marine conservation, learning and executing a plethora of skills to rescue, rehabilitate, and release hundreds of marine pinnipeds stranded or injured along the Northern California coastline. He brings this wonderful set of skills, experiences, and his passion for conservation back home to the PWM to help our next generation of conservationists learn the skills and techniques they need to keep our small animal zoo healthy and happy.
Animals happy; check... Students learning and growing from one of their own; check... PWM fortunate and proud to have Jack back; check.
Jack is a proud Museum alum from the class of 2020. While he only spent his Senior year as part of the Museum Management Class, he quickly became a trusted leader in the PWM Family and ended the year as a superstar docent, loved and respected by his peers. Jack is currently a student at SRJC and works for the PWM on the weekends as our Assistant Animal Care Tech; he helps to maintain the general health and well-being of our small animal zoo and serves as a deft and experienced mentor for our student docents who often turn to Jack when they have questions about anything from husbandry to how to deliver a certain part of The Tour.
Jack has always had a passion for wildlife and the natural world and after taking both Tacata's Marine Science course and Camacho's AP Environmental Science Class in his Junior year at PHS, Jack was inspired to apply for a coveted teen volunteer spot at the Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito, which he subsequently received. At the MMC, Jack participated in real-world marine conservation, learning and executing a plethora of skills to rescue, rehabilitate, and release hundreds of marine pinnipeds stranded or injured along the Northern California coastline. He brings this wonderful set of skills, experiences, and his passion for conservation back home to the PWM to help our next generation of conservationists learn the skills and techniques they need to keep our small animal zoo healthy and happy.
Animals happy; check... Students learning and growing from one of their own; check... PWM fortunate and proud to have Jack back; check.
Karen
Karen Payne (Board Member/Director of Summer Camp)
Karen Payne first experienced the wonders of the PWM over twenty years ago when she moved to the North Bay and regularly brought her two young children to the Museum. Years later, she met Phil Tacata, the instructor of her daughter's Marine Science class at PHS, and she became an instrumental parent supporter of the MarS program in charge of fundraising and event planning for the class. After Mr. Tacata became the instructor of the Museum Management program in 2018, Karen reconnected with Phil and brought her twenty-five year depth of knowledge and career experience as a specialist in early childhood education over to the PWM as the new Summer Camp Director. In addition to her Camp Director duties, Karen is also a Pre-K teacher in Marin, a part-time lecturer in the Education Dept. at SSU, and an Event Coordinator at Oh Splendid Day (a Sonoma County based wedding and event coordination company). On top of all of this, Karen is pursuing a doctorate in Education through Walden University; the PWM is so lucky to have such an amazing, talented, and dedicated member!
Karen appreciates the transformative potential of museums on the early identity-development of children and fully understands the importance of Petaluma's "hidden treasure" in our North Bay community. As Summer Camp Director, she serves to inspire curiosity in our K-6 campers, helping to foster and develop within them a life-long interest in nature, conservation, and preservation of the local and global environment.
Karen Payne first experienced the wonders of the PWM over twenty years ago when she moved to the North Bay and regularly brought her two young children to the Museum. Years later, she met Phil Tacata, the instructor of her daughter's Marine Science class at PHS, and she became an instrumental parent supporter of the MarS program in charge of fundraising and event planning for the class. After Mr. Tacata became the instructor of the Museum Management program in 2018, Karen reconnected with Phil and brought her twenty-five year depth of knowledge and career experience as a specialist in early childhood education over to the PWM as the new Summer Camp Director. In addition to her Camp Director duties, Karen is also a Pre-K teacher in Marin, a part-time lecturer in the Education Dept. at SSU, and an Event Coordinator at Oh Splendid Day (a Sonoma County based wedding and event coordination company). On top of all of this, Karen is pursuing a doctorate in Education through Walden University; the PWM is so lucky to have such an amazing, talented, and dedicated member!
Karen appreciates the transformative potential of museums on the early identity-development of children and fully understands the importance of Petaluma's "hidden treasure" in our North Bay community. As Summer Camp Director, she serves to inspire curiosity in our K-6 campers, helping to foster and develop within them a life-long interest in nature, conservation, and preservation of the local and global environment.