Maria Lipkina - she/her

Ms. Lipkina

Adventure/PE and Elective Teacher, Fieldwork Coordinator

Mlipkina@sierraacademy.net

Maria is away from SAEL at the start of the 23/24 school year. We look forward to her return to SAEL.

Maria is an Adventure/PE and Elective Teacher as well as a Fieldwork Coordinator at SAEL. Maria's passion for outdoor education and experiences started on a 9-week immersive backpacking program in college, and she has pursued outdoor adventure ever since. While earning her B.A. at UC Santa Cruz, Maria volunteered at the Recreation Department and explored California through backpacking, river rafting, snow camping, and sea kayaking.. 

After graduating, Maria became a Backpacking Leader and Wilderness Guide, and worked with children and adults of all ages throughout California. She has summited peaks with Camp Tawonga, taken outdoor science education on the road with Naturalists at Large, delved into whitewater and brackish bay water with Environmental Traveling Companions, and lifted up women in the outdoors with Trail Mavens. Most recently, Maria joins SAEL after a 4-year stint working in the Student Life department at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco (fun fact: Maria was also a student there!). She looks forward to continuing to share her love of the outdoors, connection-building, and deep experiential learning with the SAEL community.

In her free time, Maria loves to forage wild mushrooms, cook up a storm for friends and family, host community events, and, of course, constantly explore wild spaces.