About our founders
Sprinavasa (L) pictured with Essie A. Camp Counselor (R)
Sprinavasa Brown
Founder & Executive Director
sprinavasa@campelso.org
Sprinavasa Brown believes that any person with the right encouragement, support, and mentorship can change the trajectory of their lives and future. Growing up in Oregon, Sprinavasa noticed early on that she was the only person, or maybe one of two, people of color who participated in both science and outdoor camps. She wondered where her peers of color were and why they weren't given a chance to have such fun summer opportunities.
Sprinavasa believes that all children should feel like the outdoor world is accessible to them, a place for environmental responsibility, learning, and joy. With her deep passion for equity, social justice, community activism, and increasing access to resources—Sprinavasa created Camp ELSO. Camp ELSO was spurred by her desire to cultivate an environment she and the co-founder Kellianne never had: where youth of color have the opportunity to see people who look like them as their science teachers, and career mentors. To increase opportunities for the next generation of youth to have hands-on exploration and learning opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and a willingness to help expose youth to the outdoors in a safe and fun way.
A recognized community builder, leader in the nonprofit field, and skilled and charismatic communications professional, Sprinavasa is committed to the health and sustainability of her community, and access to educational opportunities for all youth.
She has overseen Camp ELSO operations including curriculum design, partnership development, community outreach, fundraising, and direct program delivery for 3 years. She is a recipient of the Bonner Scholars Award at Oberlin College for outstanding community leadership and service. She has earned a BA from Oberlin with a double major in Biology and African American Studies, and a MA in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. Sprinavasa has experience advising and working alongside local agencies and regional government to further communication, engagement, and outreach to communities of color. She is a member of Metro's Public Engagement Review Committee, Metro Parks & Nature Equity Advisory Committee. Sprinavasa has worked with Portland Parks and Recreations on two advisory committees including the Columbia Children's Arboretum and Forest Park Nature Center. An alumna of the EE42 Environmental Leaders Program and served on the leadership group for the Regional Visioning Project for Environmental Education and Environmental Justice. She is a newly elected member of the board of directors for the Nonprofit Association of Oregon.
Sprinavasa has an extensive background in Advancement (donor fundraising, marketing, and communications) and currently advises on fundraising strategy and community engagement.
She leads by example to set a precedent for what can be accomplished in environmental STEM programming when people from diverse communities are empowered to lead and are supported through advocacy and partnership by mainstream organizations.
When she isn't actively engaged in one of her professional roles, Sprinavasa is spending time with family gardening, traveling, catching up on her reading list and enjoying Portland culinary scene.
Founder & Executive Director
sprinavasa@campelso.org
Sprinavasa Brown believes that any person with the right encouragement, support, and mentorship can change the trajectory of their lives and future. Growing up in Oregon, Sprinavasa noticed early on that she was the only person, or maybe one of two, people of color who participated in both science and outdoor camps. She wondered where her peers of color were and why they weren't given a chance to have such fun summer opportunities.
Sprinavasa believes that all children should feel like the outdoor world is accessible to them, a place for environmental responsibility, learning, and joy. With her deep passion for equity, social justice, community activism, and increasing access to resources—Sprinavasa created Camp ELSO. Camp ELSO was spurred by her desire to cultivate an environment she and the co-founder Kellianne never had: where youth of color have the opportunity to see people who look like them as their science teachers, and career mentors. To increase opportunities for the next generation of youth to have hands-on exploration and learning opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and a willingness to help expose youth to the outdoors in a safe and fun way.
A recognized community builder, leader in the nonprofit field, and skilled and charismatic communications professional, Sprinavasa is committed to the health and sustainability of her community, and access to educational opportunities for all youth.
She has overseen Camp ELSO operations including curriculum design, partnership development, community outreach, fundraising, and direct program delivery for 3 years. She is a recipient of the Bonner Scholars Award at Oberlin College for outstanding community leadership and service. She has earned a BA from Oberlin with a double major in Biology and African American Studies, and a MA in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. Sprinavasa has experience advising and working alongside local agencies and regional government to further communication, engagement, and outreach to communities of color. She is a member of Metro's Public Engagement Review Committee, Metro Parks & Nature Equity Advisory Committee. Sprinavasa has worked with Portland Parks and Recreations on two advisory committees including the Columbia Children's Arboretum and Forest Park Nature Center. An alumna of the EE42 Environmental Leaders Program and served on the leadership group for the Regional Visioning Project for Environmental Education and Environmental Justice. She is a newly elected member of the board of directors for the Nonprofit Association of Oregon.
Sprinavasa has an extensive background in Advancement (donor fundraising, marketing, and communications) and currently advises on fundraising strategy and community engagement.
She leads by example to set a precedent for what can be accomplished in environmental STEM programming when people from diverse communities are empowered to lead and are supported through advocacy and partnership by mainstream organizations.
When she isn't actively engaged in one of her professional roles, Sprinavasa is spending time with family gardening, traveling, catching up on her reading list and enjoying Portland culinary scene.
Kellianne Richardson PhD, Co-Founder
kellianne@campelso.org
Kellianne’s experiences in the laboratory lit a passion for natural sciences, technology and public service that have defined her career. Kellianne has insight into STEM careers and a strong desire to empower youth to consider careers in the natural sciences by offering first-hand experiences of the wonders of outdoors. A lover of science and an award-winning community leader, Kellianne developed the leadership skills that would propel her to co-found Camp ELSO with Sprinavasa Brown in Winter 2014. Her interest in science stemmed from memories of “it being the only class where you get to get up, stretch and do something cool”.
Dr. Richardson’s research experience spans 11 years. Her interest in human drug abuse and “all things related to the brain” propelled her from her hometown to Oberlin College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies with a Concentration in Education and Chemistry minor before pursuing her doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology. She has won several award for presentation of scientific material and has taught students for VCU Department of Biology, VCU Graduate School Mentorship Program, Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth and the Orthotics and Prosthetics Assistance Fund (a DC-area non-profit). Most lecture topics usually ranged from General Biology to Forensic Science and were delivered to audiences with a wide range of capabilities (e.g., pre-teens, lay persons, professionals).
Kellianne’s desire to explore non-traditional STEM careers and learn more advanced laboratory techniques have led her to hold a Licensing & Marketing Internship from NIH Office of Technology Transfer and work in a laboratory in central Virginia. She looks as this Camp ELSO (ad)venture as an opportunities to inspire a new generation of youth of color with interest in the sciences. Furthermore, she will contribute to project management efforts as well as educational contenting development, and share her story.
kellianne@campelso.org
Kellianne’s experiences in the laboratory lit a passion for natural sciences, technology and public service that have defined her career. Kellianne has insight into STEM careers and a strong desire to empower youth to consider careers in the natural sciences by offering first-hand experiences of the wonders of outdoors. A lover of science and an award-winning community leader, Kellianne developed the leadership skills that would propel her to co-found Camp ELSO with Sprinavasa Brown in Winter 2014. Her interest in science stemmed from memories of “it being the only class where you get to get up, stretch and do something cool”.
Dr. Richardson’s research experience spans 11 years. Her interest in human drug abuse and “all things related to the brain” propelled her from her hometown to Oberlin College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies with a Concentration in Education and Chemistry minor before pursuing her doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology. She has won several award for presentation of scientific material and has taught students for VCU Department of Biology, VCU Graduate School Mentorship Program, Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth and the Orthotics and Prosthetics Assistance Fund (a DC-area non-profit). Most lecture topics usually ranged from General Biology to Forensic Science and were delivered to audiences with a wide range of capabilities (e.g., pre-teens, lay persons, professionals).
Kellianne’s desire to explore non-traditional STEM careers and learn more advanced laboratory techniques have led her to hold a Licensing & Marketing Internship from NIH Office of Technology Transfer and work in a laboratory in central Virginia. She looks as this Camp ELSO (ad)venture as an opportunities to inspire a new generation of youth of color with interest in the sciences. Furthermore, she will contribute to project management efforts as well as educational contenting development, and share her story.
board of directors
Whitney Neal
Selam Mehary
Claudia Colen
Emmanuel Williams
Sprinavasa Brown, Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Kellianne Richardson, Co-Founder
Selam Mehary
Claudia Colen
Emmanuel Williams
Sprinavasa Brown, Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Kellianne Richardson, Co-Founder
Staff and Service Members
Asia Saechao- Program and Outreach Coordinator (Americorps)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Asia’s passion for life sciences began in her great grandmother’s backyard garden. Today, her connection to environmental STEM is carried through her ancestors’ stories, her understanding of her Iu-Mienh and indigenous Khmu identities, and her people and their connection with food.
Through observing the way her family nurtured the garden and seeing them harvest their fruits of labor, her curiosity for the natural world grew. This fascination eventually led her to be the first in her family to receive degrees in the STEM field. Her experience as a first-generation student from a family of wartime refugees, and her love for community and sciences are the driving forces of her commitment to inspiring passion for STEM in youth through youth mentorship and education in expanded learning programs.
In her spare time, Asia enjoys sketching/watercolor painting and writing while listening to Studio Ghibli scores composed by Joe Hisaishi. She also loves jamming out with her sister and feeding/caring for her Venus flytrap, Diona, and succulent, Coral.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Asia’s passion for life sciences began in her great grandmother’s backyard garden. Today, her connection to environmental STEM is carried through her ancestors’ stories, her understanding of her Iu-Mienh and indigenous Khmu identities, and her people and their connection with food.
Through observing the way her family nurtured the garden and seeing them harvest their fruits of labor, her curiosity for the natural world grew. This fascination eventually led her to be the first in her family to receive degrees in the STEM field. Her experience as a first-generation student from a family of wartime refugees, and her love for community and sciences are the driving forces of her commitment to inspiring passion for STEM in youth through youth mentorship and education in expanded learning programs.
In her spare time, Asia enjoys sketching/watercolor painting and writing while listening to Studio Ghibli scores composed by Joe Hisaishi. She also loves jamming out with her sister and feeding/caring for her Venus flytrap, Diona, and succulent, Coral.
Current & past Program partners
PDX Insectarium
The Oregon ZOO
UNO (Urban Nature Overnights)
Mudbone Grown
Tualatin RiverKeepers
Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge
The CENTER
North Portland Community Works
Historic Kenton Firehouse
Youth Mentoring Collaborative
Friends of Tryon Creek
Center for Diversity & the Environment
Metro Parks and Nature
Audubon Society of Portland
NAYA Family Center
Green Zebra Grocery
Multnomah County Soil & Water Conservation District
Cherry Sprouts Market
Greater Than formerly "I Have A Dream" Oregon
Portland Parks and Recreation
The Oregon ZOO
UNO (Urban Nature Overnights)
Mudbone Grown
Tualatin RiverKeepers
Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge
The CENTER
North Portland Community Works
Historic Kenton Firehouse
Youth Mentoring Collaborative
Friends of Tryon Creek
Center for Diversity & the Environment
Metro Parks and Nature
Audubon Society of Portland
NAYA Family Center
Green Zebra Grocery
Multnomah County Soil & Water Conservation District
Cherry Sprouts Market
Greater Than formerly "I Have A Dream" Oregon
Portland Parks and Recreation