Katie Nicolato is an alluring and compassionate naturalist, educator, creator and adventurer with 18 years of experience in ecology. She is a traveling environmental and creative consultant providing a unique style of holistic conservation.
Services
She has received over $30,000 in personal awards for her leadership and education in forest, arctic, alpine, desert, grassland, aquatic and urban ecosystems.
Katie develops the precision forestry, uncrewed aerial systems, lidar, photogrammetry and surveying programs for one of North America’s largest environmental consulting companies and created its online UAS pilot training program. She has been an FAA-certified UAS pilot for 7 years with commercial hours in the forestry, utility, agriculture and real estate industries since 2019. Katie also instructs tree climbing, has received climbing certifications from the US Forest Service and Oregon State University, and created The Beginner’s Tree Climbing Database. She is a board member and advisor for several scientific organizations.
Her experience spans disciplines and includes environmental research, management and education roles in the private, government, academic and nonprofit sectors. She has specialized in forestry, botany, remote sensing, GIS, birds, wildlife, fisheries, hydrology and education with the US Forest Service, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, University of Alaska, University of Maryland, Oregon State University, Montana Natural Heritage Program, Davey Resource Group, Sierra Club, Alliance for Community Trees and Wolf Conservation Center. Her volunteer efforts are similarly extensive.
Katie creates videography content that celebrates nature, science, art, adventure and community, captures groundbreaking drone footage, and publicizes education. She enjoys many outdoor activities and integrates them into her videos. She is inspired by cinema and founded a film club in Oregon, viewing over 100 movies with the community as of 2026.
A classically trained violist and self-taught violinist, guitarist and singer-songwriter, Katie shares her soul through music. She has performed solo, in orchestral and choral ensembles, and in musicals and rock bands since childhood. Her magnetic band Queen Salmon has enchanted and inspired fans for 12 years since forming in the bush Alaskan community of King Salmon in 2014.
Katie practices and instructs lapidary, the meditative art of cutting and shaping stone, along with rockhounding and jewelry-making. She uses self and community-sourced raw materials to create a place-based connection to each piece, evoking geologic and personal memories for the wearer and maker.
Katie embodies ecology and art to channel her emotions and experiences into healing the world. She centers stewardship, learning, compassion, connection, nature and fun.
Contact
