People

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.

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. 

Jen Johnson is an informal environmental educator, licensed clinical mental health counselor, mindfulness teacher, writer, and photographer in North Carolina. She offers a monthly workshop online --Ecological Grief: Practice and Presence with the Living World ---a gentle opportunity to practice praise and presence with the living world through mindfulness, writing, and ritual.Jen is a Regional Coordinator for the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America and a mindfulness instructor for University of North Carolina's Program on Integrative Medicine. 

Camp Skyelmar's mission is to be a positive difference in the world. We provide tranformative educational experiences to children across the world by instilling values of kindness, friendship, and respect. Located in Maine's Sebago Lakes Region, Skylemar's 220 acres are the perfect site for summertime-memories. 

I am currently a non-formal education working as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. I have a BS in Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and am working towards a MS in Natural Resources from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point. I have experience teaching high school environmental science and chemistry.

I am the Sr Director of Operations at Heritage Conservancy. Through partnerships with schools and educators as well as through direct community engagement, we promote Heritage Conservancy’s mission to protect and care for the lands of our region and to engage with and share the history that unfolded on these lands.

Professor at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo (IFSP) and a permanent professor at the Graduate Program in Science and Technology Teaching (PPGECT) at the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR).

Educator, Yoga Alliance, National Park Geek. My goal is to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and inspire community among the underserved. Proud Latina mom.