People

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.

Shawn McCrohan is a seasoned leader in park management and environmental education, with 25 years of experience in strategic planning, public engagement, and conservation. She began her career with California State Parks and held roles with the National Audubon Society and Somerset County Park Commission, where she expanded environmental programs and stewardship. As Executive Director of the Arizona Association for Environmental Education, she advanced environmental literacy statewide. A Wilderness First Responder, Shawn studied Parks and Recreation Management at Northern Arizona University and has explored iconic landscapes from Patagonia to Borneo. 

Esther Wagner has been talking trash with PalmettoPride since 2011, serving as the education and awareness coordinator. She holds a BA degree in History from Bob Jones University. Esther is a certified Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) professional and created PalmettoPride’s CPTED training program. She also gives voice to Curby the Trash Talking Robot. 
Esther has picked up litter in every South Carolina county and six states. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking, thrifting and being the fun aunt.  
 

I’m an educator with a passion for environmental geography and sustainability. I currently teach college-level courses, including Environmental Geography and Physical Geography at Eastern Kentucky University, where I focus on the importance of environmental literacy, engaging students with real-world examples at various geographic scales and hands-on learning experiences. Growing up in Seoul and now living in Lexington, KY, I’ve seen firsthand how environmental issues affect different communities, which inspires my work in environmental education and advocacy. Outside of teaching, I enjoy exploring nature and spending time with family and friends.  

I am an environmental education researcher in the Civic Ecology Lab at Cornell University.

Blog: http://environmental.education

Website: http://alexkudryavtsev.org

I am an Iowa State Univeristy graduate. Have been the naturalist for Plymouth County Conservation in northwest Iowa since 2005. I enjoy connecting people with nature.