People

I became an educator because I love learning, and I'm on a mission to ensure that all students have access to engaging, experiential, and culturally responsive learning opportunities that help them find their sparks. I believe that learning should foster awe and wonder and strengthen connections to ourselves, the land, and each other. It should be place-based, interdisciplinary, and driven by learners' own curiosities. I have a comprehensive background in outdoor and environmental education, project-based pedagogy and design thinking, and in leading professional development on a variety of topics.

Certified public educator working within a local county government's Information & Outreach team to educate residents on the water utility. 

Adrian has enjoyed a lifelong career in environmental education. Starting out as a park ranger, he has since served as Statewide Director of Education at Massachusetts Audubon, Director of Operations at the Center for Whole Communities, in Vermont, and as NAAEE's Senior Director for Technology Programs. As the founder of eeMatters, an environmental education and interpretive planning consulting group, Adrian led professional and community-based teams that developed strategic plans, master interpretive plans, exhibits, and technology-based communication tools for clients as varied as NAAEE, Maine Audubon, Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Trustees of Reservations, Monadnock Media, Old Sturbridge Village, and New York Botanical Gardens.

Geometry Dash is a rhythm-based platformer developed and published by RobTop Games. It was first released in 2013 on mobile platforms and later on PC. 

Reclaiming the roots of education!

• We believe in the holistic benefits of nature-based learning for children.
• We endeavor to heighten awareness of the importance of understanding child development in learning environments.
• We seek to contribute to sweet communion through networks of support, inspiration, and collaboration.Our methods include: forming authentic relationships, offering LIVE online certification courses, facilitating on-site training, providing affordable consulting services, organizing regional retreats, and helping envision sustainable site development plans. 

FSTI training and certification is endorsed by the MSED in Outdoor Teacher Education at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee.

In 2021, Jean retired as Wauhatchie School Director to further her mission of training others to teach and establish Forest Schools around the globe through the Forest School Teacher Institute, which she founded in 2018. With in-person sessions and the online Zoom program, she has helped train over 1000 forest school teachers and directors from almost every state in the US, Canada, China, Thailand, Korea, Italy, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Dominica.

Jimena Cuenca supports NAAEE's digital presence, helping maintain and improve our websites like eePRO so that it serves as a welcoming and useful space for environmental educators. Jimena brings a deep curiosity about how online communities grow, connect, and collaborate. She enjoys learning new digital tools and is always looking to make our web spaces more engaging. When not at work, she's walking her huskies and birding.

I am a pediatric nature based occupational therapist. I like working with teachers and parents to help them see the developmental benifits of outdoor play. I work in person with children, and I provide online resources for parents, teachers, and therapist.

As the former Director of Technology, Mary served as the project lead for NAAEE online technology, including the NAAEE website and eePRO, the hub for professional development. Mary had been on NAAEE staff since 1999 and her extensive background in technology, website development, outreach, multi-stakeholder collaboration, security, systems support, and project management experience consistently provided the highest level of support to NAAEE’s team, leadership, and members. 

Mary is now acting in an advisory role, continuing to support the work of the association.

Born and raised in Costa Rica, I developed a passion for nature, which led me to earn a B.S. in Biology from the University of Costa Rica and an M.S. in Nat. Res. with an emphasis in Environmental Education and Interpretation from UW-Stevens Point. I am passionate about conservation and education. I'm part of the K-12 Education team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 

Carrie earned her B.A. in both Environmental Studies and Spanish, a dual major she explored hands-on while studying in the cloud forests of Ecuador. After attending Indiana University to complete her Masters in Public Affairs, with concentrations in Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management, she took on the role of Environmental Educator with the City of Bloomington. Here she connected with community members of all ages, teaching about habitats, sustainability practices, and conservation efforts. 

As an established marketing professional and award-winning public speaker, Carrie brings a variety of skills to NAAEE. Hailing most recently from the private sector, she is versed in planning complex marketing strategies for such names as REI, Icelandair, NPR, and The Weather Channel. A thought-leader in her industry, Carrie has developed and delivered training and audits to hundreds of participants, and prides herself on empowering those around her to excellence. She enthusiastically joins the NAAEE team to combine her creative innovation with her passion for environmental justice and education. 

Carrie has spent her life in the Midwest and currently resides in the rolling hills of southern Indiana. Outside work, Carrie serves on the Bloomington Environmental Commission and takes every opportunity to go hiking with her wife and two rescue pups.

Bridget Booth is an 8^th-grade science teacher at Haslett Middle School and a certified environmental educator in Michigan. She got her start in education at Woldumar Nature Center in Lansing and has been taking students outdoors to learn ever since. In addition to being an NAAEE CEE-Change Fellow, she is the past president and current board member of the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), and is chairing the Climate Education Committee. Bridget lives with her husband and two sons in East Lansing and spends her (scant) free time reading, playing in the woods, swimming in the Great Lakes and enjoying live music.

Love playing in the dirt and outdoors. Learning is such a great experience when attending the EE workshops.