People

Emily has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Science Education. Her research interests are at the intersection of Climate Emotions and Environmental Education. Emily is an adventurous, friendly, outgoing person who calls the Pacific Northwest home.

Grew up on a Dairy Farm in Owego, NY, right along the Susquhanna River.  Been teaching for 11 years in Virginia.

Ethan Peters is the founder and director of The HART Center, a nature based hybrid microschool and 501c3 nonprofit in Red Rock, Texas, serving children ages 3 to 18 through relational mentorship, nature immersion, hands on trade skills, and project based learning. He brings more than twenty years in education, including work as a school principal and as a quantitative ecological researcher, and his approach draws on intrinsic motivation science and indigenous learning models. Alongside his partner Angela, he is growing a village model learning community built on real relationships, hands on skill, and time on the land.

I'm Mac! I'm currently working at a school where I get to teach kids about environmental topics from composting to gardening. My K-5 kids learn how to properly dispose of food waste, the benefits of composting, and how this applies to our hands-on work in the garden. 

Jenna North is a passionate leader, plagued by her own climate-induced anxieties that likely seeded into her psyche when she was a young girl living in Vermont in the late eighties and read Bill McKibben's "The End of Nature"(arguably the first book on climate change). 

North Carolina Naturalist

I am a third-grade teacher at Chinquapin Elementary School, located in Duplin County, North Carolina. I am responsible for teaching Language Arts, Mathmatics, Science, Social Studies and Health. I taught kindergarten for 18 years, and this year I was given the opportunity to teach third grade. My goal as an educator is to integrate environmental education and global awareness as part of my daily instruction.

Jill Rich is an educator and director of the Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability at Varina High School in Henrico County, Virginia. With extensive experience in curriculum development, GIS instruction, and project-based learning, she leads innovative, sustainability-focused programs that connect students with real-world environmental challenges. She coordinates capstone projects, field experiences, and community partnerships, preparing students to apply geospatial thinking in meaningful and impactful ways.

Anna Tari is the Founder and President of the Circular Economy Institute (CEI) and Club (CEC). The Institute offers the highest designations in the circular economy field. To shift from linear to circular, it is imperative to promote the highest standards of practice. A recognized voice in global sustainability, Tari's leadership and contributions to international circularity strategies earned her the 2018 Ibero-American Youth Award, presented by the Prime Minister of Spain, alongside a prestigious fellowship from the La Caixa Foundation. Additionally, her efforts in global advocacy—such as launching the international "Circular Cities Week"—led to her selection as a finalist for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Action Awards, the UN Champions of the Earth, and the edie Sustainability Leaders Awards. Previously, she managed relations with governments, companies and nonprofits through her experience at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). She also worked at the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

I am a retired Science teacher who is now working as an Outdoor Instructor.  I teach a wide variety of classes to all ages of participants.  Some of the classes include kayaking, canoeing, sailing, owl pellet dissection, archery, fire building and MANY more. 

Naturalist. Park Ranger. Interested in birds and jumping spiders.

Rachel Tidd is the author of the book Wild Learning: Practical Ideas to Bring Teaching Outdoors, the popular Wild Math and Reading Curricula. She is passionate about integrating the outdoors and natural materials in core academic areas such as reading and math.

I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida and moved to Virginia in the Summer of 2024.  I teach third grade at Hardy Elementary.  I have one daughter and a grandson and three cats.  I definitely miss the weather in Florida and realized quickly that snow is only pretty in movies and on television.  I hate how cold it is here!

I love sunflowers and being outside any time I can.  I like the beach, lakes and fishing.  I love going camping and gardening and playing cornhole.  I am a huge Florida Gator football fan and the Jacksonville Jaguars.  I like to watch Nascar and go to Langley Speedway as much as we can.