Claire Elliot was YEA! program manager in the early days after the BAA+PCCF merger and formation of Acterra.

“Growing up in LA County, I had few chances to be in nature, but I do remember two experiences that helped direct my career path,” Claire wrote in a 2023 article for Grassroots Ecology. “One was finding water penny beetle larvae on a trip with my mom to the sycamore-shaded creeks above Pasadena. The other was at age 14 when I was in school in Scotland for most of the year. My class went on a field trip to a wastewater treatment plant. The clear water coming out was such a contrast to what came into the plant. I still remember the awe I felt as a beautiful great blue heron lifted off and flew away downstream of the discharge pipe.”

Claire’s career has been marked by her dedication to environmental stewardship and education. After earning a masters in Environmental Engineering at Stanford and working with the Environmental Protection Agency, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector to focus on nature restoration and community engagement. She joined Acterra and was Director of the Acterra Stewardship program when it was spun off to become a new nonprofit, Grassroots Ecology. She remained there for 17 years and retired from Grassroots Ecology in 2023.