People

I am interested in helping teachers and environmental groups form sustained partnerships. I am an Instructional Materials and Professional Learning Specialist at NSTA and I also teach Env Sci and Biology at Macomb Community College as well as Classes for pre-service teachers in the College of Education at GVSU.

Sydney spent the bulk of her childhood learning and growing under the canopy of the southeastern deciduous forests that make up her home state of Virginia. She earned her B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Following her undergraduate schooling, she began working as a youth environmental educator, leading her to eventually pursue her M.A. in the University of Utah's Environmental Humanities Program to study how nature-based programs can better support nature-connections across diverse groups. While in Utah, she also co-founded Camping in Color, an overnight program designed for black youth and their families in the Salt Lake Valley area to enhance a sense of belonging, appreciation, and engagement in the outdoors. She joins the Natural Start Alliance team excited to further her work in making quality early childhood environmental education more accessible to all.

I am a recent Environmental graduate that is just beginning her journey within the field. 

Research Interests: Environmental education of families, communities, and businesses on the importance of ecosystems and their services. Current Project: Conceptual understanding and practices that help guide present and future generations towards social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

The Campbell Creek Science Center engages all learners in outdoor experiences that increase appreciation, connection, and stewardship of Alaska’s public lands and natural resources. The CCSC supports statewide outreach for environmental education, interpretation, and youth engagement for BLM Alaska.

Drew Burnett is a retired Federal civil servant with 32 years of service in the U.S. Peace Corps, Environmental Protection Agency, Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service.  Beginning in July 2019, Drew began working part-time as a consultant specializing in meeting facilitation services focused on policy development, decision making, team building, and visioning and strategic planning. Drew is also interested in short-term (NTE 3 months) project leader work focused on environmental education and natural resource management and policy development. Current clients include the North American Association for Environmental Education, Project Learning Tree, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He loves practicing his Spanish, triathlon training, gardening at their weekend home in Garrett County, MD, and volunteering at the house museum Fallingwater.  Drew lives in Washington, DC with his husband of 22 years, and their kitty, Stella.

I hold over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, growing and managing education teams, programs, and partnerships. All of my work has centered around activating a wider community to be involved in conservation education and building community-based learning environments. STEM and environmental education are priorities for me and my present focus is to increase educational opportunities for learners in public parklands throughout Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway peninsula. I promote innovative, hands-on curriculum that drives critical thinking, creativity, and social action.