People

Hi I am Katie a small business owner and photographer.  I am an avid hiker, adventurer and explorer.  I have a BA in Anthropology and a MA in Environmental Studies.  I am a mother to two young boys and focus on providing them with educational opportunities to explore nature and our state and national parks.  I also run a trail group specifically for moms looking to opt outside and connect with other families that prioritize hiking, and being in nature.

Katie Boyd is a community engagement specialist at the Washington State Climate Office in the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington. Her background is in atmospheric science, ecology, and education research. She engages in climate education, communication and training, helping build more resilient communities. She also does research and evaluation on educational projects and helps develop educational materials.

I am a 5th grade teacher in National City, CA. I teach multiple subjects but my favorite subjects are Math & Science!

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

I am a Professor in Environmental Studies with a focus on place-based environmental education and healthy and sustainable communities, primarily through The Engagement Lab. I am interested in cultural inclusion and participatory practices with particular interest in coastal California and Mexico.

Renee Strnad is the Environmental Educator for Extension Forestry, housed in the
College of Natural Resources at NC State University.  She is the state coordinator for Project Learning Tree, has responsibilities for 4-H natural resource
programming statewide, and is a North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator. 

She has served on the board of Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC), the Southeastern EE Alliance's (SEEA) Leadership Team, and the NAAEE Affiliate Network Steering Committee.  She also works closely with the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education by serving on the Certification Committee and Environmental Literacy Plan Committee. Being at NC State University has allowed her to work with faculty with a growing interest in EE research, and helped create and pilot NC State's EE minor for students in any discipline.

Renee was awarded the Governor’s Award for Environmental Education from the NC Wildlife Federation in 2010, Project Learning Tree’s Gold Star Award in 2013, and the EENC’s Melva Fager Okun Lifetime Achievement award in 2014. She completed her Masters degree in Ecological Teaching and Learning from Lesley University in 2015. In her free time, she enjoys traveling (just one more state to go!), gardening, exploring, relaxing in her hammock, and spending time with family and friends.

Program Manager at Earth Force

Grace joined the NAAEE team in September 2021 and works as an Event and Executive Coordinator. She was raised in western Massachusetts where she developed a deep appreciation and love for the surrounding environment. Grace began her journey in Washington, DC by attending American University, where she earned both her BA and MPA in 5 years. She studied a combination of environmental studies, public health, public administration, and nonprofit management. She comes to NAAEE with a background in programming for youth development, education, and in-person and online farmers markets.

Dr. Firrdevs Burcak is  an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at Biruni University. Her award-winning doctoral research focused on enhancing the quality of outdoor learning environments in preschools and supporting teachers’ effective use of these spaces. As a Visiting Scholar at the University of Minnesota Duluth, she collaborated with Professor Julie Ernst on research into nature’s impact on young children’s resilience and curiosity.

Dr. Burcak’s academic interests center on supporting children’s development and learning through nature-based learning with a particular focus on fostering resilience in both children and educators as well as promoting social-emotional learning and emotional well-being. In addition to her research, she has completed the Compassion-Based Resilience Teacher Training led by Dr. Joe Loizzo at the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science and the Resilience Expert Training led by Dr. Michael Ungar at the Resilience Research Centre. Dedicated to advancing nature-based learning in early education, she engages with educators, school leaders, and families through seminars and workshops focused on nature pedagogy. She is the author of Outdoor Learning Environments in Early Childhood Education: Design & Effective Use.

Favour Eragbie is a leading global environmentalist who is driven by the principle that you can only protect what you know about. She strongly advocates for climate education, climate justice and youth development.

Sarada has a Masters in Ecology, and has worked in environmental consulting as well as environmental education.  She has worked in organizations such as Chicago Botanic Garden, Three Rivers Park District, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and Communitopia, where she developed and taught hands-on programs for all ages and helped design interactive exhibits and spaces.  She is passionate about increasing access to nature for everyone, especially for young people. She is a 2023 CEE-Change Fellow. 

Ecotherapist. Climate Psychology Speaker. Photographer. Writer. Teaching  people how to be resilient in an uncertain world.