People

I am a mom of an energentic 6 year old, a lover of the outdoors, and a interpreter by passion. I have worked for Arizona State Parks and Trails for over 11 years and am currently the manager of Oracle State Park which is a center for environmental education. 

Sheila Williams Ridge is the Director of the University of Minnesota Child Development Laboratory School. Sheila has worked in the field of environmental education since the early 90s and is the mother of four adult children. She has an EdD in Education Leadership, an MA in Education, and a BA in Biology. Sheila teaches courses at the University of Minnesota and Hamline University including Nature-Based Learning in Early Childhood, A Sense of Wonder, Equity and Inclusion in Environmental Education, and Student Teaching Seminar in Early Childhood. She is also co-author of the book, Nature-Based Learning for Young Children: Anytime, Anywhere, on Any Budget, and several other publications on nature-based learning. She is passionate about encouraging nature-based play and the lasting developmental benefits of a relationship between children and nature.

I am the Director of the Nature Center Preschool at the South Shore YMCA's Natural Science Center.