The People Making it Happen
We come from many walks of life and contribute in many different ways.
We are teachers, principals, naturalists, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, college professors, consultants, parents, board members, students, donors, volunteers, and advocates. We bring our expertise, creativity, time, leadership, resources, and encouragement to a shared purpose.
Together, we are making nature-based learning an essential part of every Title I public school.
Sulaf Hatab
Curious mind. Hopeful spirit. Cat enthusiast. Finds joy in the people she loves. Fascinated by cosmetics chemistry and movie magic. Wandering New York whenever she can. Happiest when nature reminds her she's part of something bigger.
Angeoline Piguave-Cowan
Believes nature is the foundation of life. Happiest in the woods, by the ocean, or learning something new. Artist at heart. Explorer by nature. Completed three full Ironman races because apparently one wasn't enough. Endlessly curious about the power of the human mind. Usually found wandering a new corner of the city in search of inspiration.
Eileen Plotitsa
Believes kindness, empathy, and education make the world better. Endlessly curious about everything from fingerprints to redwood trees. Finds joy in family, friends, and conversations that somehow last for hours. Usually found with a book, a rose vanilla latte, or her dog. Finds peace where birds are louder than worries—and never seems to run out of questions.
Joshua Cohen
Happiest around a home-cooked dinner with family. Loves that no two days in nature are ever quite the same. Has called 11 different places home and never seems to run out of places to explore. Endlessly fascinated by birds—and remarkably confident the rare one is about to show up if everyone waits just one more hour. Finds joy in sharing his love of the outdoors with others. Believes nature is a place meant for anyone and everyone.
Suzy Hanafy
Happiest exploring somewhere new with her family. Loves how nature centers her and puts what truly matters back into perspective. Endlessly curious about different cultures and how people shape the world around them. Usually on a trail with her family—and rarely without the next adventure already in the works. Finds joy in watching her kids and students discover a new place, reminding her why she loves teaching. Believes nature is a place to find peace, reflect, learn, and simply enjoy.
Maya Breckenridge
Happiest in the sunshine, in good company, and with a body of water nearby. Finds peace in nature's quiet ability to ground, regulate, and remind us we're part of something vast and wise. Curious about how nature connects us and how increasing access to it can help heal modern challenges. Usually hiking, learning, or spending time with her community. Finds joy in the ocean, heart-to-heart conversations, music, dancing, and cooking for the people she loves. Believes nature is a commonality between us all, despite our differences—a wise teacher and the gift that keeps on giving.
Michelle Plotitsa
Deeply believes everyone deserves clean air, water, and accessible green spaces. Happiest when with her friends, family, and a good book. Endlessly curious about all the life around us and the complexities of nature. You’ll usually find her reading in the woods, singing, or dancing.
Alex Mintz
Believes we're part of nature's community—not separate from it. Endlessly curious about how wildlife adapts to changing environments. Fascinated by the small interactions that keep ecosystems functioning. Walks the same trail often enough to know it's never really the same twice.
Rich Fernandez
Firm believer that the best walks don't have a destination. Thoughtful observer and a great finder. Drawn to growth, change, and meaningful relationships. Experiences nature as life's purest expression.
Rouba Dabbagh
Believes education is one of the greatest acts of love. Endlessly curious about what shapes people. Carries Lebanon and her Arab heritage wherever she goes. Happiest in the kitchen with her children, where love is usually louder than order. Feels like winning the lottery when the stuffed zucchini filling runs out with the very last zucchini.
Yen Chen
Always creating—ideas, projects, connections, and possibilities. Drawn to beauty, wonder, and life's biggest questions. Endlessly curious about truth and the universe. Finds joy in bringing an original idea into form. Believes nature is the source of creativity, compassion, and the ultimate home that holds us all.
Maysaa Bazna
Happiest in the company of children in nature. Believes inequality doesn't have to be permanent. Drawn to wisdom from every corner of the world. Former aspiring physicist with a soft spot for peaceful spaces. Usually found wherever the sun is shining.
Blaze Lightfoot Jones-Yellin
Loves nature's creativity. Deeply believes the solutions to our greatest challenges will be found by people with childhood experiences in nature. Endlessly curious about patterns, change and adaptation. Enjoys quiet observation in wild places. Usually found forest bathing in upstate New York.
Lima Alghoul
A critical thinker and problem solver with a creative, dreamy side. Deeply believes in protecting children and teaching them love to create a kinder, better future. Drawn to nature for its wildness, freedom, and unapologetic individuality. Usually planning the next trip, event, or gathering that brings people together. Happiest surrounded by people, family and friends.
Steve Ricker
Believes nature is our greatest teacher, healer, cheerleader, disciplinarian, etc., for all ages. Encourages everyone to immerse themselves in the outdoors, where miracles happen every day.
Amy Lui
Never says no to an invitation to spend time with animals. Curious about behavior, cultures, geography, and technology. Finds peace where human-made noise fades and nature takes over. When the teacher asked, "Who has a question?" it was almost always Amy.
Linzi Cora
Loves nature's divine intelligence—the way it moves, adapts, and knows. Endlessly curious about our oneness and the interconnectedness found in nature. Still treasures the day a tiny hummingbird landed on her daughter's shoulder and chose to trust. Usually found with her 100-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback, who teaches her presence and unconditional love. Believes nature is a precious gift we're not separate from.
Liliana Doyon
Happiest surrounded by people she loves—laughing, learning, and fully herself. A bit of a mystic, and not particularly interested in hiding it. Drawn to ancestral wisdom, ritual, and what makes us human. Usually with her kids, exploring New York, moving her body, or finding her way back to nature. Never far from laughter, music, dancing, beautiful spaces, delicious food, or a moment of genuine wonder. Believes nature is medicine, teacher, and home—a reminder that we belong to something larger than ourselves.
Nathan Shultz
Lives by the 3 Ds: Dips, Dancing, and Dogs. Teaches 5Rhythms, a global moving meditation practice. Believes everyone deserves to feel free—in mind, body, and society. Happiest wherever there's wild water, music, or a dog nearby. Trusts nature to do its thing—you just have to show up.
Sanae Krabita
Happiest when reconnecting with the child within. Usually found wherever there is water, flowers, or butterflies. Finds joy in witnessing children experience the magic of nature. Believes nature is our greatest teacher. Still amazed that one of life's greatest healers is completely free.
Alice Roosevelt
Happiest exploring new places with the people she loves. Loves nature's biodiversity and how slowing down reveals so much more life. Endlessly curious about the web of connections between everything in a forest. Usually responsible for unexpected mushroom detours and spontaneous twig-sniffing. Finds joy in knitting and embroidering inspired by plants and animals. Believes nature is a home filled with wonders.
Join Us
To restore children’s connection to nature, belonging, and wonder.
To address systemic inequalities that limit access to these experiences for many children.
To help build a future where every child can grow and thrive through regular access to nature.