People

My name is Savannah Sartin and I am an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at South Caldwell High School in Hudson, NC. I grew up on my family's farm where I still live. My dad actively farms corn, wheat, soybeans, and raises beef cattle. I have loved the outdoors and agriculture from the time I can remember. I took agriculture classes in high school and fell in love with the field and FFA. I love creating meaningful relationships with my students and reconnecting them with nature!

Bug Hartsock is a graduating Master's student in an Entomology lab. When he's not staring at small critters, he spends his time reading, making art, and going on hikes (as well as playing plenty of Dungeons & Dragons). Bug is passionate about scientific outreach and communication, creating zines and comics designed to make science accessible to everyone. He's also spoken at conferences, on public radio, and at a variety of school outreach events. It's his hope to encourage the rest of the world to fall a little bit more in love with its tiny, many-legged residents.

I contribute to participatory R+D and continuous improvemement process focused on environmental stewardship, justice, and advocacy learning opportunities.

Our mission is to connect homeschool families to nature and each other. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are a low-cost forest school program currently serving 6,000 students across 22 states! Check out our website: https://barefootuniversity.org

I’m passionate about connecting people—especially children—with the outdoors through hands-on, engaging education. I manage a team of five interpreters at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, where we lead desert ecosystem programs that incorporate the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) along with science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). I believe that empowering kids with knowledge builds confidence and helps set them up for future success. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring nature through birding, running, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, skiing, and snowshoeing.

I have been based on the Eastern Shore of Virginia since 2010 providing public interpretation and environmental education programs to tourists and local community members. I love working among our pristine barrier islands and salt marshes and taking people out in these areas to learn more about the plants and animals that call them home. Our education program currently focuses on providing Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences for 5th, 7th, and 10th grade students as well as professional development for all teachers from Accomack and Northampton Counties.

I'm a 9th year teacher who loves lemurs & her family. 

Caleb Nyatuame is an aspiring researcher and educator who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology at the University of Florida. With an undergraduate background in economics and a Master’s in Sustainable Communities from Northern Arizona University, his work focuses on environmental and place-based education. His previous research examines how teacher educators, particularly in Ghana, integrate environmental issues like climate change and place-based education into their teaching practices. Caleb has presented at national conferences such as AERA and has held sustainability leadership roles, including serving as a graduate representative on NAU’s Green Fund Committee. He brings an interdisciplinary perspective to his teaching and research, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to support environmental education. Through education, policy, and community collaboration, Caleb aims to promote just and sustainable futures.

I am an elementary general education teacher.  I have taught for approximately 8 years and enjoy sharing experiences with my students that promote an understanding and foster a sense of responsibility and ownership within their community.  

Victor Ayegba Mathew is a Nigerian environmental educator and founder of the Vikipedia Initiative. With a background in environmental sciences and over seven years of experience, he designs practical, locally relevant climate and sustainability education programs for schools. Through experiential learning and youth-led environmental action, he equips young people to become environmentally conscious leaders in their communities.

Jill Rich is an educator and director of the Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability at Varina High School in Henrico County, Virginia. With extensive experience in curriculum development, GIS instruction, and project-based learning, she leads innovative, sustainability-focused programs that connect students with real-world environmental challenges. She coordinates capstone projects, field experiences, and community partnerships, preparing students to apply geospatial thinking in meaningful and impactful ways.