Emily Starkie Zbin
Executive Director
Emily has a life-long connection to Camp Natoma. She is the granddaughter of local teachers, Alf & Alice Starkie, who dedicated their summers in the 1950s as the camp maintenance man and outdoor cooking leader. As a youth camper, Emily’s family spent many weekends as volunteers helping take care of the camp facility. Emily began her employment at Camp Natoma as a lifeguard and counselor while attending the University of California, San Diego, where she graduated with a BS in Environmental Systems, and was captain of the Women’s Swim Team her senior year.
On the path to becoming Friends of Camp Natoma's first Executive Director, Emily gained experience and developed her passion for providing childhood nature experiences and outdoor education, first through a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course in New Zealand, then obtaining a California teaching credential and a Masters in Education, with an emphasis on children and nature. She taught 5th and 6th grades in local schools before assuming her position as Camp Director, where she grew the Camp Natoma program to provide hundreds of families the benefits of new camper experiences at Camp Natoma.
Emily is committed to expanding opportunities for youth to have the Camp Natoma experience and promoting the value of nature connection.