Valerie Lantz
Executive Director
(530) 233-5085 or vlantz@modoccoe.k12.ca.us

Valerie Lantz, Executive Director for The River Center, has a background that includes previous experience in parks and facilities management, community programs, natural area restoration and grant projects. Her experience involved many community programs, grant projects, park planning, community education and project implementation.

Valerie works with the River Center Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, agency partners and the community in fulfilling The River Center’s mission of fostering natural resource stewardship and promoting the sustainability of the local community. Valerie develops River Center educational programs, grant proposals, fundraising and marketing programs. She prepares publications, presentations, website updates and performs other public relations duties. Valerie manages the River Center facility, exhibits, grant projects, budget, and contracts. She supervises staff and works with stakeholders to insure timelines and goals meet or exceed expectations.

On her time off, you will find Valerie on horseback, training a young colt or riding the mountain trails and high desert range country. Valerie especially enjoys horse camping and packing in the Warner Mountains. She and her husband also help an Uncle on his horse and cattle ranch in Adel, Oregon.

Give her a call or come to The River Center as she likes visiting with community members and would enjoy meeting you!

Laura VanAcker
Adopt-A-Watershed Coordinator (Contractor)
(530) 233-4656 or vanacker@hdo.net

Starting June of 2005 Laura became the project coordinator for the Pit River Watershed Adoption Project at the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge for Alturas Elementary and Modoc Middle School grades K-7th. Previously, Laura served as the River Center’s Education Coordinator. Her current focus is field trip planning and development of curriculum and kits that build up to the spring Adopt-A-Watershed field trip activities. Laura has been a resident of Modoc County for 25 years. She has a degree in Environmental Planning and Management from UC Davis and enjoyed a 17 year career with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in resource management. She has been a teacher throughout the community for the last 10 years and is pleased to have Brad Cooke, an outdoor education specialist, helping with the Adoption Project this year, both in the classroom and on the field trips.