ABOUT US

Founder and Program Director

Dra. Contreras is an ecological physiologist and educator with a passion for connecting students to science through hands-on, place-based learning. As a faculty member at California State University, San Bernardino, she teaches biology and leads research on water quality, insect physiology, and animal behavior. Her work focuses on how organisms interact with their environments in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

With years of experience mentoring students in the lab and in the field, Dra. Contreras brings academic expertise, creativity, and deep curiosity to every Nature Unmuted program. She founded this initiative to give young learners the opportunity to do real science, ask big questions, and experience the joy of discovery in Southern California’s incredible wild spaces.

Creative Sound/Music Educator

Adrian is a passionate music educator and sound artist with a talent for helping students explore the world through rhythm, melody, and sound design. With experience teaching students of different ages, he guides our campers in turning field recordings into expressive audio compositions—blending science, art, and storytelling.

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At Nature Unmuted, Adrian leads campers in listening deeply to the environment, experimenting with natural sounds, and composing original pieces that reflect their experiences in the field. Whether it’s layering bird calls into beats or building ambient soundscapes from rushing rivers, Adrian helps students find their creative voice while learning the basics of sound editing, music-making, and collaborative expression.