Sama Wareh is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Art and Wilderness Institute, where she guides the organization’s vision and leads the development of immersive programs that blend environmental education, storytelling, and artistic expression. As a lead naturalist, she has spent over 20 years helping students cultivate curiosity, creativity, and a deep connection to the natural world through meaningful outdoor experiences.
She holds a Master’s in Environmental Studies from California State University, Fullerton, along with a Bachelor’s in Filmmaking and a minor in Art. Sama has taught learners from early childhood through the university level, led over a thousand hikes, and facilitated workshops for arboretums, nature centers, and museums across California and beyond.
Sama is the author of How to Draw 60 Native CA Plants and Animals: A Field Guide and The Legend of Redwood Raven (2023). She has spoken at the United Nations, delivered a TEDx talk, and led trainings for OC Parks and interpretive centers. Her certifications include wildlife tracking through The Tracker School, as well as facilitation credentials in Project WILD and Project WET.
Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the OC Register’s 40 Under 40, OC Weekly’s People of the Year, Access California’s Humanitarian Heart Award, and the Top Southern California Educator Award from the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education.
At AWI, Sama brings a philosophy that every encounter with nature holds a sense of wonder and story—an approach that shapes the institute’s programs and inspires students to see themselves as part of the living world.
Contact Sama at sama@awicommunity.org