In the spirit of building connections among the nature and environmental education community in Madison, this Directory is maintained to offer people a means for reaching out to one another. Keep your in-person conversations going and stay connected!
Does your information need updating? Would you like to be added to this Directory? Just reach out to info@naturenet.org!
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I’m an occupational therapist, NatureLed practitioner, and deep nature connection guide who has worked with individuals and groups across the lifespan to share knowledge and practices that support healthy child development and human wellness. As a parent of two young children, I also bring compassion and knowledge from my own personal experiences. My practice is deeply influenced by the science and wisdom that we need a relationship with nature to be healthy, because we ARE nature! I am passionate about letting this truth guide the path to thriving individuals, families, and communities. I also work with Wild Harvest Nature Connection as a nature connection mentor for both kids and the adult immersion program, Mentoring Through the Seasons. Most recently, I collaborated with local artist Kati Lambert (Coyote Fire Arts) to facilitate a workshop called Wild Women* Create, which offers deep nature connection experiences to nourish creativity and community.
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Citizen Science/Community Youth Engagement
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restoration, management, education at Pheasant Branch Conservancy
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environmental education (after school, in school, field trips, all FREE)
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2023- present: Assistant Professor: Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture, College of Letters and Science 2020-2023: Assistant Professor: Division of Landscape Architecture, College of Architecture, the University of Oklahoma Director, Microclimatic Landscape Architecture Research Lab, the University of Oklahoma 2016-2020: Instructor: Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University
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Children’s picture book author, photographer, writer, marketing specialist, former journalist and nonprofit magazine editor
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Former teacher and camp counselor
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Naturalist Guide, Interpretation and Educational Specialist at Cave of the Mounds, Director and teacher at a nature based childcare
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Citizen Based Stream Monitoring Program
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Restoration Ecology
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BS in Kinesiology with emphasis in Physical Education from UW-Eau Claire Teaching Certifications in Health Education and Adapted Physical Education from UW-Eau Claire Level II Ropes Course Facilitator through the ACCT Level II Sea Kayak Instructor through the ACA First Aid/CPR/AED Certified 200-hour Yoga Certification through Yoga Alliance with Breathe for Change 30-hour Rainbow Kids Yoga Trained Level 1 Reiki Practitioner certified by Reiki Master Practitioner Teacher Krista Pfohl Adult Nature Connection and Coyote Mentoring/8 Shields training with Wild Harvest Nature Connection 8 Shields Principals Master Class with Living Connection First
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Kati is a children’s illustrator and artist and the founder of Coyote Fire Arts (Nature+Art Outdoor Studio). She has a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a background in Nature Connection mentoring, outdoor and arts programming for people across the lifespan, as well as a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kati enjoys working with gouache, watercolor, colored pencils, ink, and digital tools to create pictures that include story-telling, diversity, nature, faith and wonder. If she’s not painting or drinking coffee, she’s tracking animals with her family at the pond behind their home on occupied Ho-Chunk land.
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Energy research and education (K-12, higher ed, and nonformal)
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Retired from MMSD where I taught 4K, Kindergarten, first grade and was a Library Media Specialist
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garden-based education
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Game-based learning, VR for education
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Team Building and Challenge Course Facilitation since 2016; Outdoor Guide since 2012, MN Green Corps Member 2013-2014, Worked in for profit, non-profit and government organizations.
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Environmental education, all types of outdoor learning, STEM
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Before joining the Rooted team in 2020, Erica worked as an elementary school teacher on Madison’s Northside where she helped to create a curriculum for the school’s outdoor classroom and garden. She holds a strong belief that children deserve the opportunity to spend lots of time learning–and playing–outside and is excited to share her love of doing research and creating curricula. Erica has also worked on farm crews, as a kayak guide in Yellowstone, and as a freelance writer.
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nature center programing; early childhood programing; STEM
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Emily has been working in the outdoor industry since 2001 at camps, universities, international programs, and training organizations. Originally from NC, her BA is in Outdoor Recreation and MA is in Women and Gender Studies. She is also an adjunct instructor with Madison College in their Fitness and Recreation Department, teaching courses on facilitation and outdoor pursuits.
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outdoor ed, non-profit programming, service learning
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CJ Ryan has been in the parks and recreation industry for over 15 years. CJ is currently the Assistant Parks Superintendent at the City of Madison Parks Division, where she has overseen the operations, community services, and public information office sections of the agency since 2022. Prior to her position at the City of Madison, CJ served at the City of San José as the Administrative Officer for the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department. CJ has been active in the City of Madison’s efforts to advance racial equity and ensure that parks are a place that everyone can access and enjoy. CJ has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Portuguese with a Certificate in Environmental Studies from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology from San Jose State University.
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Victoria supports educators in the classroom and those working with PK-12 students to integrate environmental education into any subject an help learners connect, explore, and engage with our world.
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Aaron Seligman is a Madison native who publishes MacaroniKID Madison, a go-to parent resource for family-friendly activities, events, and businesses in the Madison area. Aaron is also the senior advisor for academic and student affairs at the Universities of Wisconsin. He was previously assistant director at UW Hillel, helped educators become civically active at Leadership for Educational Equity, practiced commercial and political law at a large Wisconsin law firm and taught Spanish with Teach For America in Washington, DC
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I was previously the WPCRC Program Coordinator and prior to that I spent 13 years working for the Goodman Community Center in a variety of Youth Education and administrative roles.
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Virginia began working at ALNC in 2007 and oversees all of the education programs. She grew up exploring the prairies of North Dakota and holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Concordia College and a graduate certificate in Environmental Education from University of Minnesota Duluth. She enjoys all outdoor activities, but canoeing, camping and gardening are at the top her list.
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Earth science and environmental programs for school class room, after school, home school groups, youth groups and adult learners. Glacial geology of Dane County field trip is adult level.
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energy education, renewable energy education, energy efficiency, STEM
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