People

I am a nature-based educator, advocating for the right of every child, from preschool through high school - and the grownups who guide them - to have meaningful experiences learning in, about, and with nature.

My name is Ryan Mannion, and I am a rising sophomore student-athlete at Batten University, formerly Virginia Wesleyan University. I am a double major in Earth and Environmental Science and Biology, and a part of the Jane P. Batten Honors College. I am currently an intern with the Friends of the Rappahannock.

I have been in the EE field for over 27 years. I am currently the Education and Outreach Manager and I oversee our classroom and adult education programs, website, social media, and marketing efforts. 

I am a retired teacher and spend much of my time volunteering for Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards in Philadelphia County, PA. I have always been interested in environmental education and enjoy working outdoors with peers and student groups. 

Madeline is an international programs specialist at NAAEE, supporting the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), youth leadership programs, and other global initiatives.

I am the Director of America Adapts Media and host of America Adapts – The Climate Change Podcast. I previously worked on climate adaptation issues with the National Park Service, FL Fish and Wildlife Commission and in Queensland Australia. I'm dedicated to highlighting the issue of adaptation.

I am a certified environmental educator with more than 25 years of experience in both informal and formal settings. 

Growing up on a working farm in the North Carolina mountains, I developed an early connection to nature through exploring the woods, learning about plants, and building lean-tos as a child. Those experiences inspired a lifelong passion for environmental education, ecology, conservation, and experiential learning. I am especially interested in helping others understand the deep and often overlooked connections between humans and the natural world — from plants and pollinators to forests, wetlands, soil, and ecosystems. Through curiosity, observation, and stewardship, I hope to encourage a greater appreciation for the living systems that support and connect us all.