Management
Blake Tenney
Director
Blake grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan and attended the OEC as a 6th grader. He began his teaching career in Vermontville, Michigan teaching 6th graders. In 2005 he left the traditional classroom to teach at the Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center. In the summer of 2009 he moved to Breckenridge, Colorado where he taught at the Keystone Science School.
While in Colorado he began a career in the hospitality industry where he ran restaurants and outlets in a resort setting. The last twelve years have been spent in Arizona as an Event Planner for Fortune 500 companies, NFL and NCAA.
He graduated from Central Michigan University with a BS in Education focused in Biology, Planned Programming and Reading. He enjoys, camping, snowboarding, off-roading in his Jeep and traveling with his dog Deja.
Email Blake: btenney@battle-creek.k12.mi.us
Hannah Hazewinkel
Program Coordinator
Hannah is from Mason, Michigan and started instructing at the OEC in 2017. She took a six year hiatus to teach in a variety of educational settings including public school and 4-H before returning to the OEC in 2023. She has a Bachelor's in Environmental Biology/Zoology from Michigan State University and a Master's in Environmental Studies and Sustainability from Unity Environmental University. She is also a certified Wilderness First Responder. When she's not teaching, Hannah enjoys creative projects, playing video and board games, and exploring the beautiful state of Michigan.
Hannah became the program coordinator in the summer of 2025.
Email Hannah: oeccoordinator@battle-creek.k12.mi.us
Matthew Santner
Events CoordinatorMatthew began working at Clear Lake Camp in the fall of 2009 as an instructor and became the Events Coordinator in spring 2012. Matthew graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Geology from Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin and a Masters of Education from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Previously, Matthew taught at outdoor education centers in Rhode Island and Illinois. Matthew directed the nature program at a boys camp in northern Wisconsin for 12 summers. When not teaching outdoor education, Matthew runs far.
Email Matthew: oecevents@battle-creek.k12.mi.us