People

Promoter in the “Formación para la Sustentabilidad” program at Centro de Información y Comunicación Ambiental de Norte América (CICEANA). Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sustainability from Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, with experience in both academic and civil society settings across different regions of the country. Particularly interested in environmental education, community development, conservation, and environmental governance.

Preethi Mony is a specialist in the field of environmental education, program evaluation and grants and has a wide range of experience from developing resource matierials, conducting programs with children and adults, as well as evaluating programs and grant reporting.

Growing up in the busy metropolis of Mumbai, she quickly recognized the importance of the social aspects of conservation in protecting the natural world. She has worked with organizations in India and the US to help with environmental education program planning and resource development. She has over 20 years of experience working with zoos and museums to evaluate programs and exhibits and recommend strategies to improve the overall visitor experience. Over the last 2 years, she has worked at a local community college to support grant work (federal, state, and private) as well as to inform data driven decision making in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. She brings all of these experiences to her current role of EE Grant and Program Manager at NAAEE.

Preethi holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University. She earned her M.S. in interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida, and a B.Sc. in Life Sciences from the University of Mumbai, India.

Spark Montessori provides a high-fidelity, authentic Montessori program that also considers the needs of today’s family living in the city. Our Outdoor Program brings kids outdoors, year round and in all weather, to foster a lifelong appreciation of and relationship with nature.

Bora Simmons serves as the founding director of the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education. The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) initiated the Project in 1993 to help educators develop and deliver effective environmental education programs. The Project has drawn on the insights of literally thousands of educators across the United States and around the world to craft guidelines for top-quality environmental education.

High-Angle Specialist, Outdoor Instructor & Safety Professional

I am an experienced high-angle specialist, outdoor instructor, and safety professional with a background spanning specialized arboriculture, technical rope access, and outdoor leadership. I combine hands-on field expertise with advanced instructional skills to deliver safe, high-standard recreational and technical outdoor programs.

As a certified Tree Climbers Malaysia Trainer and member of the Global Organisations of Tree Climbers, I specialize in canopy navigation, complex rigging systems, and tree-climbing mechanics. My outdoor leadership portfolio is backed by qualifications as an Outrec 1 graduate, CCA Recreation Instructor, CCA Coordinator, and Camp Supervisor, along with affiliate status with ICF Camping. 
Complementing my recreational background is a strong technical foundation in high-risk operations and emergency response. I hold **IRATA Level 1** rope access certification, **MCRC Level 2** high-angle training, and specialized **SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) Civil Defense** training.
Whether I am directing camp operations, training climbers, or managing risk in technical terrain, my focus is on bridging the gap between adventure sports, urban forestry, and professional safety management.