People

Nina grew up on the island of Martha's Vineyard and spent her twenties travelling the world, while living in the South Pacific. After teaching middle and high school, both at home and abroad for a decade, Nina settled on Martha's Vineyard with a Masters in Library and Information Science. While raising two young boys with her husband, Nina joined the Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group as an Educator in 2022 following a six-year tenure in public libraries. Passionate about the environment, the ocean, and broad access to resources and education, Nina brings the people to the ponds and the ponds to the people. Celebrating and sharing aquaculture's myriad benefits makes every workday fun.

Steven Greenleaf is President of Fundación Esperanza Aplicada (Applied Hope Foundation), a non-profit dedicated to supporting people and projects focused on restorative and sustainable practices, and entrepreneurship in Costa Rica, Latin America, and beyond. Steven Greenleaf is also Director of Greenleaf Education Costa Rica S.A. (GECR). GECR offers courses in environmental leadership, environmental project planning and management, and environmental problem-solving. Steven is originally from Northern California and has worked in construction and natural resource management as well.

Alissa is an outdoor educator and summer camp director turned university instructor.  She uses her relationships with students to create passionate recreation professionals.

As a Basin Coordinator, I work with local communities in my area (Western KY) to develop watershed plans aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution.

Allison Rogers is the Education Director for Friends of Rye Nature Center. She holds a Master’s degree in Education from Manhattanville College, specializing in social studies and special education. While earning her degree, she would spend her summers as a group leader for the Rye Nature Center Day Camp, engaging middle schoolers and inner-city campers in ecology lessons and teambuilding opportunities. Passionate about place-based learning and developing connections to nature, Allison accepted the position of Education Director and Camp Director in 2013. She continues to co-teach in Forest Preschool and oversees the administration of our education programs. She works closely with the Environmental Education team to develop curriculum that is based on STEM concepts and is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and our strategic planning initiatives.

Dedicated to providing opportunities for life-changing experiences on the water

Aurora Cortes was born and raised in Santa Ana, CA. Growing up, she worked with her dad, un jardinero, and helped weed plants, rake debris, and mow the lawn. Aurora went on family camping trips to the Angeles National Forest. She celebrated many birthdays with her family amongst the trees, in the snow, and under the stars. As she grew older, she loved listening to stories that her mom and dad shared from their own experiences back home in Mexico from el ahijadero and la florenia. All the family stories and childhood experiences planted the seed of adventure and love for the outdoors for Aurora.