Eric Essen

Eric Essen (He/him/his)

Enrichment Specialist

Environmental Nature Center

Costa Mesa,

Roles at NAAEE

Languages

Interests

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Conservation, Culture and Art, Ecosystems, Environmental Literacy, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Natural Resources

Hi, my name is Eric. I'm a curiosity-driven, efficiency-minded individual with a decade of experience working as a child educator in various capacities, including one-on-one tutoring, overseeing afterschool programs, providing game and arts and crafts to underserved communities, to now educating the visitors of the nature center I work at all about California flora, fauna, sciences, natural history, and local indigenous cultures.

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  • As Enrichment Specialist for the Environmental Nature Center, my duties are many. Some of these responsibilities include: teaching the various nature camps we provide following the Newport-Mesa USD break schedul, teaching field trip programs for grades K-12, train new employees on animal care and handling, train interns in the same way, processing payments for Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs, Birthday Party events, and gift shop purchases. I am also charged with researching methods to increase the Environmental Nature Center's credibility, teaching a monthly Liaison Program with our adjoining preschool, the ENC Nature Preschool, and have been approved ot provide a workshop at the upcoming AEOE statewide conference. Keep and eye out for "Knotty by Nature"!
  • My family has always been 'outdoors-y'. My brothers and I grew up in Boy Scouts, all three of us having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. We've been on numerous camping trips throught California through the organization, but even on our own, my family took trips to see the natural wonders around the western states. For a time, we had a tradition where all the dads and uncles in the family and their sons would go on a week long mountain biking trip. Our destinations were usually out of state. We've ridden the North Rim of the Grand Canyon twice and it's been my favorite.
  • I am an avid fan of the fantasy genre, preferring video games, books, tv shows, and more of that type. I play Magic: the Gathering and really enjoy imagining characters from the various media I consume as cards in the game. I also greatly enjoy D&D and other table top role playing games. I've gone so far as to create my own settings, races, classes, and more to experience with my playgroup of friends.

(I hope I've attached the photos correctly!)

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