• Jordan Bantuelle is the founder of the Burrow Nature Center and lead teacher of its unique Forest School program, which has been nurturing children's connection with nature since 2020 through hands-on exploration, play-based learning, and outdoor skill development.

    Jordan's dedication to environmental education began at LSU where he earned his degree in biology while becoming a campus leader in conservation. At the Burrow, he manages 111 acres, focusing on restoring uplands to pine savannah through prescribed burning and sustainable forestry practices that feed his on-site sawmill.

    As an educator and practitioner, Jordan teaches the diverse skills he uses, including foraging wild foods, growing vegetables and mushrooms, raising chickens, composting, natural building, permaculture design, water management systems, and various survival and outdoor skills. His teaching philosophy emphasizes that humans can be members of their ecosystem by providing for basic needs in ways that improve habitat and build community

    Beyond education, Jordan oversees the land's homestead and farming operations, working alongside volunteers and residents of the Burrow's intentional community to create a living example of sustainable land stewardship.

  • Lauren Lee (aka larale) is a visionary entrepreneur who finds her flow through music, movement, curating community gatherings, and mapping strategies that inspire healing, prosperity, and innovation. 


    With a background in environmental organizing and an education in economics and business analytics, she has built a career in strategic planning for clean energy technology development. As a lifelong poet, songwriter, and musician, she finds creative expression through her band, la’ra’le. As a dreamer who is motivated to “do,” she has founded several businesses and initiatives, including the Empowered Entrepreneurship coaching program and  the Gulf Coast Ecstatic Dance event series.  


    Her deep connection to nature and belief in experiential learning led her to become a founding board member of the Burrow Nature Center, where she plays a key role in expanding educational programming, fostering partnerships, and shaping strategic initiatives. She is particularly passionate about supporting immersive, hands-on experiences like the Forest School, ensuring that nature-based education remains accessible, inspiring, and deeply rooted in community.  


    Her roles also include being a philosopher’s wife and the mother to a spirited 6-year-old son, a 13-year-old rescue dog, and a magical tuxedo cat.

  • Darryl Finkton Jr. envisions a future where self-sustaining villages, grounded in freedom, ecology, and collective well-being, thrive for generations to come. As a strategist, educator, and long-term member of land-based projects across the U.S. and the Caribbean, Darryl is laying the groundwork for these communities today. His work focuses on regenerative food systems, sustainable development, and intergenerational learning.

    With a background in neurobiology, public health, and high-level finance, Darryl transitioned to community-based work, founding the End Poverty. Make Trillions. campaign and authoring the book of the same name. The campaign calls for a universal basic income set at the federal poverty line to eliminate poverty and unlock shared prosperity. He is also the author of The Language of Liberation: A Story and a Critique, a personal and political exploration of how language shapes freedom.

    After four knee surgeries during his time as a Division I basketball player, Darryl turned to meditation, mindful movement, and body-based practices as tools for healing and self-awareness. For him, movement is spiritual—an ongoing conversation between body, mind, and the divine. Drawing from many traditions he’s encountered around the world, he shares what has helped him work through trauma, manage pain, and deepen his capacity for presence. His approach isn’t about mastery—it’s about staying in the work, and offering what he’s learned in service of healing and connection.

  • Zach leads the wildlife monitoring and observation efforts.

  • Ben Broughton is a seasoned finance executive with expertise in rail car manufacturing, oil and gas, shipyards, and public accounting. He has spent over fourteen years leading financial strategy, operational budgeting, and long-term capital planning. As a Director of Finance, Ben has consistently delivered impactful results by aligning fiscal management with organizational growth and efficiency goals.


    Beyond his corporate leadership, Ben brings a longstanding commitment to community service. He has served in nonprofit advisory and governance roles, where his financial acumen and strategic oversight have strengthened transparency, sustainability, and mission-driven impact. His pragmatic approach to fiscal stewardship is balanced by his collaborative style and dedication to fostering strong nonprofit operations.


    A passionate advocate for environmental conservation, Ben is an avid hiker who believes in the transformative power of nature. His alignment with The Burrow Nature Center's mission is both professional and personal, and he is honored to support its work in preserving natural habitats and promoting outdoor education.

  • A native of Mississippi, Anne grew up immersed in the outdoors. Playing outside, birdwatching and exploring nature contributed to developing a lifelong connection to the land. This early love for the natural world now influences the way she raises her children and fuels her commitment to conservation and environmental education.

    With over a decade of experience in the sustainable forestry industry, she considers it a privilege to support the individuals and communities dedicated to responsibly managing our forests.  Her recent work focuses on advancing natural climate solutions by identifying opportunities to use working pine forests across the U.S. South to sequester additional carbon and help mitigate the effects of climate change.

    This passion extends beyond her professional work into her community life. She is proud to support local efforts like The Burrow Nature Center, whose mission to restore a pine savanna and deeply resonates with her. She is especially grateful for the presence of a Forest School in the region, where her children can engage in meaningful, guided experiences in nature fostering respect, ecological awareness, confidence, and a deep connection to the land they call home.