People

I hold a master's of didactics in Outdoor and Sustainability Education. I have 2 years of a experience as a Forest Kindergarten Teacher. I have 3 years of experience as a nature and science camp instructor.

I am a Va Master Naturalist, a long-time teacher from pre-K to college to adult.

In my 15+ years at the Garden, I have passed on my passion for nature and the environment to thousands of students. My position has grown and evolved so now I have the pleasure of managing a team of 5-15 educators that teach our programs.  Our work with 2 year olds to adults keeps me on my toes and constantly looking for opportunities for growth. 

Jen Bruening is the Education Manager for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. She develops and facilitates interactive and inquiry-based programs for K-12 grade students. She brings a positive and compassionate perspective to her work and always strives to be as inclusive as possible.

Jen is a Native Arizonan and grew up in Cave Creek. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, with many credits from Scottsdale Community College. Her professional experience includes10+ years as an Environmental Educator, 8+ years contributing to wildlife research and local conservation efforts, and 2 years as a Registered Behavior Technician, working with individuals with autism.  She has worked with diverse populations throughout Arizona including those with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and underserved communities. Previous organizations include the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Phoenix Zoo, Liberty Wildlife, and the National Audubon Society.

When she is not collaborating with Stewards or interacting with students, she spends her time hiking, birding, kayaking, or simply just sitting in nature with her dog.

Mountain Watershed Association began its life around a kitchen table. The organization was founded in 1994 to oppose an underground coal mine proposal in the Indian Creek Watershed in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern Pennsylvania. MWA’s input and organized opposition resulted in the denial of the permit. MWA’s board of directors and dedicated community members realized that to restore the watershed to a viable community, they would have to address the legacy of more than 150 years of extraction and disinvestment in our rural Appalachian region. Since then, MWA has restored more than 70 percent of the Indian Creek Watershed and prevented countless sources of additional pollution in the broader Youghiogheny River Watershed. The organization has expanded to eleven full-time employees, a 17-person volunteer Board of Directors, and more than 2500 members and supporters.

Katilyn is passionate about curating hands-on, inquiry-based teaching with a commitment to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. Their work exemplifies the power of education in addressing local conservation challenges while connecting students to the broader environmental landscape.