People

Michael Zanetti grew up in Connecticut. He is an author and a proud environmentalist. He has been a member of The Nature Conservancy for almost 20 years. Michael enjoys creative writing and music. He taught piano for many years and studied literature at Fairfield University. Michael's stories reflect his love for animals and nature.

Joe E. Heimlich, Ph.D. is Co-Director for the COSI Center for Research and Evaluation, and a Senior Researcher in the Center’s Lifelong Learning Group.  His research and evaluation work focuses on projects related to informal learning and capacity building for zoos, nature centers, parks, gardens, science centers, and other museums.  He is also an Academy Professor Emeritus with The Ohio State University where he was an Extension Specialist in museums and organizational capacity building, served as Leader, Environmental Science for OSUE, and held appointments in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, the Environmental Science Graduate Program, and the College of Education and Human Ecology.  Joe has been engaged in environmental free-choice learning for over 35 years and is the author of over a hundred academic journal articles, chapters, and books, and has written more than 350 reports, fact sheets, bulletins, white papers, and popular publications.  

Experienced Science Teacher and Teacher Leader with a demonstrated history of engaging students, teachers, and community members in sustainability initiatives. Nature and Forest Therapy guide committed to healing connections with nature, others and ourselves. Interdisciplinary scholar at Antioch NE.

New Hampshire Environmental Educators is a network of individuals and organizations working to inspire connection to our natural world by supporting high quality environmental education and advancing environmental literacy.

I am Evan Willeke and I study Natural Resources Management at Ohio State

I am a lifelong advocate for the natural world and focus on building relationships between nature and humans to develop inclusive engagement, appreciation, understanding and respect.  As the Education Lead at the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, I work toward collaborative, inclusive engagement that catalyzes knowledge sharing, environmental awareness and love of nature. Our team is dedicated to  environmental education, nature play, experiential learning, UM student engagement and research and wonder.  

My name is Lisa Martinez Sammeta, and I am former school teacher, garden educator and founder of Garden Play Project. I work in and around urban gardens and outdoor spaces throughout the San Jose area, aiming to cultivate meaningful connection to the land and to eachother. The idea for Garden Play Project began to take root during the six years I worked at Santa Clara University, in the Center for Sustainability. Over the course of that time, my Bronco Urban Gardens food justice program was recongized with SCU Operations Staff Award and Spirit of Ignatius Award. Additionally my six years in K-8 education, as San Jose Diocesen teacher, informed my beliefs in the importance of community engagement and unique potential of experiential learning.