People

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. 

My name is Maria Asan and I am a STEAM teacher in Bristol Township School District. This is only my second year teaching STEAM but have been teaching in BTSD for twenty years. I love nature and science and hope to bring that love to my students. 

EcoRise is a nonprofit that empowers the next generation of sustainable leaders to tackle real-world challenges. We partner with K–12 educators and enliven conventional classrooms with resources supporting STEM edu, environmental literacy, green careers, and the development of 21st-century skills.

I am a conservation educator passionate about helping people connect with wildlife and the natural world through meaningful, inclusive experiences. With over three years of professional interpretation experience and more than eight years of volunteer leadership, I strive to inspire curiosity, empathy, and stewardship in every interaction. I currently work at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, where I mentor staff and volunteers and create opportunities for learning and growth through storytelling, conservation, and community engagement.

I am the Adopt-A-Stream Director for the state of Mississippi. I am also the Chairman for the MS Environmental Education Alliance (MEEA)

I am the Director of Education at The Raptor Trust, and love to share the beauty and intricacy of nature with students, young and old. I love all creatures, whether soft or scaly, and am always ready to learn more!