People

My name is Kris Hunter. I am a Marine Mammalogist and am switching from my small business, the Naturalist Company, to starting my own nonprofit Marine Education and Conservation Organization, Ocean Planet Academy.  I have led over 6000 whale and dolphin watches in three different oceans.  I have gone into countless schools and worked with tens of thousands of homeschoolers in Hawaii, California, and now Florida, giving presentations and engaging in fun learning activities about marine life and conservation.  I have worked on cruise ships and with Elder Hostel.  I have received three small grants for environmental and marine education and conservation over the years.  I have engaged in quite a bit of marine research throughout my career. However, I firmly believe that if the research doesn't get to the masses, it does not serve much purpose. I believe education is the key to changing how we treat our planet and, thus, ourselves.  The Ocean Planet Academy's website is  www.oceanplanetacademy.org 

I am a 14 year teacher in middle school. I have taught the last 10 years in middle science and social studies. I have done multiple teacher trainings in environmental education mostly in the area of water. I have a bachelor's degree in middle school education and a master degree in Instructional technology.  

I'm a lifelong learner and informal naturalist, with a fascination for the world of science and sharing the wonders of the natural world with others.

I’m the co-founder of Nature Bathing, a Hong Kong social enterprise using nature-based programs to uplift people’s well-being. Living in one of the world's most stressed cities, we provide nature-based wellness programs for citizens to de-stress, learn and connect deeply with nature. Science has shown that a 20-minute nature break can effectively reduce our stress hormones for 2-3 weeks. We help people experience nature's power in improving well-being, so as to inspire intrinsic motivation for environmental conservation. Since 2017, we have partnered with 70+ schools, 40+ non-profits and 20+ corporates to co-create impactful programs and community resources, serving more than 10,000 people.

I am an environmental educator with 10 years of experience in childhood development and elementary education. A former gym teacher, kindergarten science teacher, and instructional coach, Milan's broad array of experience helps inform her understanding of how to best serve our community.

As a former zookeeper at the San Diego Zoo, I have transformed my passion for conservation into a focus on field research and conservation education. My research encompasses conservation education, sustainable land use, and rainforest fragment ecology. With over ten years of experience in the zoo field and hands-on work in Borneo, Costa Rica, Belize, and Laos, I founded Green Dragon Conservation Education (GDCE) to bridge the gap between field researchers and conservation education, integrating mindfulness practices into curriculum development.

Additionally, I teach botany, general biology, and biodiversity courses at Cuyamaca Community College and CSU Dominguez Hills. I firmly believe in the power of multidisciplinary collaboration to create research and education programs that foster mindful, curious, and lifelong global stewards.

I am an outdoor educator and play advocate for my community in Nayarit, Mexico. I work with children from 2 years through adulthood, cultivating their connection with the natural world.

I am a 9th grade Earth and Space science teacher taking courses at Notre Dame of Maryland University.