When Lynne Stietzel walked into Hidden Villa for her first day of work in 1978, she had no idea what was in store. Hired sight unseen by Eric Joergenson, Lynne was brought on as one of the educators for the Hidden Villa Environmental Education Program (HVEEP). She had a degree in Chemistry, experience as a science teacher, and volunteer work with Environmental Volunteers in Palo Alto, so she was certainly qualified. Yet, as she recalls, “I still don’t know why they hired me.”

On Lynne’s first day she dressed to impress. She showed up in professional attire, complete with blue eyeliner and carefully styled hair. Lynne was ready to make an impression. Her first assigned group was full of rambunctious boys. When she asked what she was supposed to do, the only guidance she received washer HVEEP team replied with, “You’ll figure it out.” It was a trial by fire, but Lynne was no stranger to Hidden Villa. Her two sons, Eric and Andrew, had been on field trips to the farm, and the family often treated the place as their backyard.

That first day, Lynne started by showing the boys the animals, then let them crack open a bale of hay for them to jump around in. The boys seemed to be having a blast but the ranch manager, David Boissevain, wasn’t too pleased with this particular activity. After jumping about in the hay, the boys still had energy to spare, so Lynne led them on a hike up Elephant Mountain, hoping to tire them out. They raced down the trail to Adobe Creek, and when they reached the water, Lynne shouted, “Everybody in the creek!” It was far more adventure than what was usually expected, but it was the start of something special. Lynne indeed “figured it out”.

Over time, Lynne learned the ropes of HVEEP—the dos and don’ts of farm life, like “Don’t mess with the hay” and “Don’t milk the cows without permission.” But more importantly, she discovered the shared passion for nature that bonded the HVEEP team and the children that visited. “Everybody had the same attitude about caring for nature,” Lynne recalls, and it made her time in the program unforgettable.

In those early years, HVEEP’s office was nothing more than a little hut behind the Hostel. On cold mornings, the first person to arrive would fire up the potbelly stove to warm the space for the volunteer guides as they sipped hot chocolate, waiting for the students to arrive. It was a humble setup, but it fostered a deep sense of camaraderie among the team.

Lynne’s contributions to HVEEP were significant. She created the artwork for the first edition of “Manure to Meadow to Milkshake,” helped start the intern program and a special initiative to bring handicapped students to Hidden Villa, She trained future generations of HVEEP guides, including Elizabeth Bowden-Smith. She even taught a for-credit HVEEP tour guide training class at Foothill College!

After nearly a decade with HVEEP, Lynne transitioned to a private high school in San Jose, where she discovered a talent for counseling and group therapy. She eventually earned a Master’s degree in Psychology with a focus on Group Psychodrama Therapy. Throughout it all, Lynne and her husband Eric remained loyal supporters of Hidden Villa. Today, Lynne volunteers with Hidden Villa’s History Group, helping to identify the faces in the organization’s extensive photo collection from the 1970s and 80s.

Lynne’s journey with HVEEP is a testament to the power of nature education and the lasting impact of a community dedicated to preserving the environment. Her story is just one of many that make up the rich tapestry of Hidden Villa’s history.