About Us
Pacific Wildlife Institute is an endeavor to promote curiosity and ignite change through the avenues of wildlife education, hands-on conservation projects, and outdoor excursions.
Overview
Established in 2024, Pacific Wildlife Institute is dedicated to empowering the next generation of citizen scientists. Although PWI is a new organization, our team brings years of experience leading groups in environments around the globe and teaching outdoor science classes in adventurous settings. Our focus is on the Far Western States: California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. We are passionate about connecting people with the natural world around them and fostering a deeper understanding of how to be good stewards of our planet.
What We Do
Wildlife Education: We lead classes, workshops, and adventurous activities that teach about local wildlife and the surrounding ecology.
Hands-On Conservation: We connect people who are looking to get involved with the active conservation projects in their communities.
Outdoor Excursions: We lead transformative expeditions for people wanting to experience the far off corners of nature.
Our Mission
Our mission is to inspire hope.
We acknowledge that, for most people, the very real issues facing the natural world can be overwhelming. Extreme emotions about the fate of our planet can easily lead people to feel helpless, depressed, or even indifferent. Although the challenges we face are tremendous, there are things that we can do to make a tangible impact – not just as “conscious consumers,” but as active conservationists that commit to stewarding our local ecosystems. We wholeheartedly believe that IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Our Vision
Our vision is to ignite change. We want to equip the public with knowledge of their natural surroundings and to provide the accessibility to contribute to critical scientific efforts. Our goal is for everyone to feel connected to their local ecological environment, involved in its preservation, and to be given the opportunity to become ambassadors for the world of wildlife.
About the Founders
Our Story
We are Andrew and Bridgett Nelson, founders of Pacific Wildlife Institute. We met in college back in 2014 and got married in 2018.
We have a shared passion for outdoor education and have had the privilege of working alongside each other for the past 6 years. We’ve led educational youth programs for various institutions in areas such as Catalina Island, Long Beach, CA, Laguna Beach, CA, Yacolt, WA, and Oahu, HI. We’ve guided groups both large and small on multi-day adventures that include hiking, snorkeling, bird-watching, tide-pooling, kayaking, dissections, and more. We’ve served as leaders for conservation efforts which include beach clean ups, invasive species removal, and habitat restoration. All of these programs were designed to foster curiosity about the natural world and environmental stewardship.
Now, with Pacific Wildlife Institute, we are embarking on a new venture back in our hometown; which connects our passions of wildlife education, hands-on conservation, and outdoor excursions.
Andrew Nelson
Andrew grew up in the Ojai Valley, where he developed his love for animals and adventure. He is the son of a local pastor who has served the Ojai Valley community through various outreach initiatives over the past 25 years. He loves riding his bike, looking for owls, backpacking, surfing, rock-climbing, and playing with his dog.
Bridgett Nelson
Bridgett was raised in the Las Vegas Valley by a single mother from the country of Honduras. She is bilingual (English&Spanish) and was raised in a multi-cultural home giving her a unique perspective. She moved to California in her teens. As she grew so did her confidence in exploring the natural world. She deeply loves cycling, rock climbing, hiking, reading, fitness, swimming in the ocean, and spending time with family.
Obi
Obi was born in Selma, Alabama. Andrew found him when he was only two weeks old, huddled in the corner of an abandoned building with his three brothers during a winter storm. Andrew and his friend scooped up the puppies, took them to the vet, and found them homes. He kept Obi and brought him across the country all the way to Washington, then to Hawaii, then to California. He is now 3 and a half years old. This jet-setting mutt has seen it all. He loves people and other animals (except skunks). His hobbies are swimming, hiking, and taking naps in the sun.
Join Us
Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or nature enthusiast, Pacific Wildlife Institute has something for you. Join us on an adventure and discover the incredible world around you. Together, we can make a difference.