People

I have sixteen years' experience as a grade 7-12 science teacher, largely focused on biology and environmental science. I now work in student services in higher education. I am an EdD student, with plans to focus on sustainability education in my dissertation and scholoarly work. 

I have a BA in philosophy and history of science and mathematics and a MS in marine science. For over 25 years my work has focused on building ocean literacy, environmental literacy, and science literacy among K-12 and informal education audiences through grants and other partnerships.

YMCA Camp Bernie is a premier outdoor education and overnight camp facility located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As part of the YMCA of the USA, we are dedicated to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, offering transformative experiences that build confidence, leadership, and a love for the outdoors.

With year-round programming that includes overnight and day camp, outdoor education, weekend retreats, and community programs, Camp Bernie provides enriching opportunities for campers, school groups, and families. Our 350-acre property features a high and low ropes course, rock climbing walls, archery ranges, a natural creek, hiking trails, and more, creating an immersive environment for outdoor adventure and personal growth.

At YMCA Camp Bernie, we believe in the power of camp—where teamwork, resilience, and lifelong friendships are fostered. We are looking for passionate individuals who want to make a lasting impact through engaging, mission-driven work. Whether you’re an experienced educator, camp counselor, or program coordinator, joining our team means joining a supportive and dynamic community dedicated to creating life-changing experiences for youth and families.

For more information, visit www.campbernieymca.org

Megan Amaral has decades of leadership experience in mission-driven organizations. Her professional and volunteer work has spanned the arts, education, community development, and sustainability, often at the intersections of these fields and with a social justice lens. She previously managed UC Berkeley’s Energy and Resources Group, The Sunrise Project-US, and currently is program director of Future Framers Gap Year which has a climate and environment emphasis. Megan holds a BA from Goddard College and a MA in Community Development from UC Davis, with a focus on community arts and culture.

Emily Schaller's appreciation of the natural world started during her childhood in Connecticut playing in the mud with her brother, hiking in the woods with her dad, and picking flowers and berries with her mom. She was a dedicated Girl Scout for 10 years, which helped instill in her a love of exploration and a sense of civic responsibility. 

She pursued her interest in connecting people to the natural world and inspiring action to sustain it by earning her MS in Ecological Leadership and Education from the Audubon Expedition Institute of Lesley University. This unique program included 3 semesters of living and learning outdoors while traveling across different bioregions of North America in a retrofitted school bus. This transformational experience provided her with a deeper knowledge of herself as well as the role she could play in building connections between people, their communities, and their place. 

She has since developed and delivered a variety of environmental education experiences for all ages at Naturebridge Yosemite, Teton Science Schools, and the University of Michigan's Center for Education Design, Evaluation, and Research (CEDER). Emily currently supports professional learning programs offered through Shelburne Farms' Institute for Sustainable Schools, focusing on education for sustainability, climate education, and food systems education.

Ariel joined the NAAEE team in September of 2021 as a Senior Administrative Assistant. Prior to this role, she has over 15 years of administrative experience in a laboratory and office setting. She is originally from the suburbs of Illinois and moved to Washington DC in 2009, where she attended Howard University. She received her B.A. in Psychology at the College of Arts and Sciences with a minor focus in Administration of Justice. She aspires to travel the world to learn and experience cultures outside her own. Should Italy be next?

My name is Megan McKenna. I am currently serving as a California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) Fellow at my host site FoodCycle LA. FoodCycle LA focuses on food recovery and redistributing food to underserved communities in LA. 

My name is Eldino Henio, I am an Outdoor Recreation Planner and Marine Corps veteran with a strong passion for the outdoors. I enjoy hiking, working out, cats (I own two of them), and traveling.

I am Leilani Barnes and I love to giggle, eat yummy food, and play outside. Shooting stars, cold mango, community dancing, forrest camping, and connection brings life into my world.

Looking for a career change and take a deep dive into a career of environmental conservation!