Dwain Wilson
Founder and Executive Director
Dwain’s passion for the outdoors began in the rolling hills of North Carolina where he grew up. That deep appreciation for nature evolved into decades of advocacy and work in outdoor and environmental education and led him to found Wildwoods in 2000.
Dwain holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Antioch University and has studied Field Biology, Environmental Education and Systems Theory, Environmental Ethics, and Child Development. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the California Environmental Education Foundation and is a past member of the Environmental Literacy Committee for the California Association of Science Educators.
Carol Peralta
Program Director
Carol is passionate about building community and contributing to the health of the planet. She brings a unique perspective to her role, having held the distinction of running every Wildwoods program during her tenure with the organization.
Carol holds a Bachelors in Environmental Science, with a concentration in Human Rights and Cultural Memory, from UC Santa Barbara, and is pursuing a Masters in Hydrology from Cal State LA. An LA native, she has many hobbies in the categories of physical activity, art, service, and down time with family and friends.
Julie Woodruff
Program Coordinator
Julie is an experienced educator and program developer who has spent over a decade designing and leading impactful PreK–12 learning experiences rooted in environmental education and equity. As the former Manager of K–12 Education at DoGoodery, Julie oversaw the Cal Water H2O Challenge, working with teachers to develop projects focused on water conservation and education. Julie has led educational initiatives at TreePeople, the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and Wildwoods—creating programs that supported student exploration and teacher development, including a seven-part video series exploring the crosscutting concepts of the Next Generation Science Standards.
Raised in Los Angeles and shaped by summers spent in Oklahoma, Julie developed a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature in both rural and urban spaces. She holds a Master’s in Education and believes education should be inclusive, empowering, and accessible to all. Julie works remotely from MA while raising her six year old daughter.
Ashley Lopez
Urban Ecologist / Jardinera
As a native Angeleno, Ashley grew up in an urban landscape but with a deep appreciation for the environment. She earned her Bachelors in Environmental Science and Anthropology, focusing on food systems in upstate New York.
She returned to Los Angeles and began working with Wildwoods where she runs two garden programs. These programs focus on building community and fostering resilience through urban gardening. As an avid gardener, Ashley enjoys spending time in her own garden and growing native California wildflowers.
