The Pisgah River Rangers season kicks off in May and runs through early August. If you haven’t joined them for a fun-filled activity in the forest yet, be sure to check out their Facebook page for upcoming events!
Meet Sadie Hornaday
Sadie grew up exploring her local creeks and rivers allowing her curiosity for nature to grow. Growing up in Wilkesboro and Surry County, she visited the Yadkin, Aarat, and New rivers frequently.
Through college she didn’t know what she wanted to focus on in her life until after working with freshwater mussels, where she learned how important our freshwater systems are. She has always loved the water and teaching people cool facts about everything she saw, because there are hidden treasures everywhere.
In her down time she loves to nature journal with watercolor, kayak, garden, and go looking for salamanders and snails in the creek. Sadie received her associates degree from Surry Community College and went on to receive her Bachelors Degree in Wildlife Biology from Lees-McRae College in May 2025.
If you could choose to be any Southern Appalachian plant or animal, which plant or animal would you be? Rosy Sided Dace
Meet Laura Nelson
Laura enjoys being outside, whether in the forest or her garden. She grew up in Western North Carolina, surrounded by the beautiful Southern Appalachian mountains, and loves the region’s wide variety of flora and fauna.
Though nature has always surrounded her, Laura officially began her journey into environmental work at the University of North Carolina in Asheville, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science.
She has worked with the Haywood County Cooperative Extension Office, where she helped with a 4-H youth camp and supported community members with questions about their gardens. She also has experience maintaining natural locations from when she worked as a landscaper at Lake Junaluska. Now, she hopes to do conservation work in our forests and teach the community about the immense biodiversity of the Appalachian region.
If you could choose to be any Southern Appalachian plant or animal, which plant or animal would you be? Red maple
Meet Summer Crist
Summer is a passionate second year student at Brevard College, but her hometown is in the small town of Williamston, South Carolina. As a biology major and environmental studies minor, she loves lots of hands-on experience whether it’s identifying plants and animals in the Southern Appalachian mountains or looking for hellbenders while trout fishing.
At college, she is involved in many clubs and honor societies, which are indicative of her success and her pursuit for matters she is passionate about. She loves to get to know new people and start new friendships which led her to be so involved at not only Brevard College but also in the Brevard community. While she loves her Brevard community, she is excited to pursue her future career as a zoologist/wildlife biologist at a graduate level.
If you could choose to be any Southern Appalachian plant or animal, which plant or animal would you be? Eastern Hellbender
Meet Maddy Elliot
Maddy was a Pisgah River Rangers intern in 2024 and is excited to be a part of the program again. She is a born and raised Hendersonville, NC resident. Pisgah National Forest has been a key part of her life and is the reason she is so passionate about environmental conservation and education.
She will be graduating from Brevard College with a degree in Biology and a double minor in Wilderness Leadership Experiential Education and Environmental Studies.
Aquatic macro-invertebrates and insects are what get her buzzing with joy. She is excited to share her knowledge and passion as a River Ranger in hopes to develop ecological awareness and stewardship.
If you could choose to be any Southern Appalachian plant or animal, which plant or animal would you be? Caddisfly
Thank you to our Pisgah River Rangers interns and our Lead River Ranger, Hailey Dansby, for an incredible season of watershed education, outreach, and stewardship so far!