Bringing Outdoor Education to the Masses
An EECP Capstone Project

By Diana Rohini LaVigne

A couple of decades ago, I made a significant shift in how I spent my time. While I had my professional life as a communications executive, my volunteer work in outdoor education was growing fast. After becoming a California Naturalist at UC Berkeley’s inauguration program, I dipped my toe more into the world of outdoor education. I found my space in the age zero to 6th-grade space with outdoor education. 

In 2021, I discovered AEOE. I loved their mission, their space, and the work they were doing in California. I signed up for their EECP training and got certified, joined their board, and now, AEOE and I are connected for life. In addition to sitting on their board, I chair their communication committee, which is a perfect weave between my 30+ years of experience in communications with my deep love of outdoor education and youth. 

For my capstone project, I saw an opportunity to bring understanding to the general public what outdoor education is and looks like and why we should all care about it. A discussion about the basics of Environmental Education: What is it? Why is it important? And how can one get involved or learn more?

Bringing together top leaders Estrella Risinger, Executive Director of the Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education, Laura Rodriguez, Former Chief Program Officer of Justice Outside, and Sheila Williams Ridge, Co-Director, of Child Development Laboratory School, University of Minnesota was essential to get different perspectives and voices into the conversation.

The video was sponsored by Children & Nature Network and produced by Steffen Kaplan, Spin It Social, LLC. As a journalist for decades, I moderated the discussion, which packed in so much within the 35-minute video. I hope you enjoy the video, which provides viewers with insight into the world of environmental and outdoor education. Please share this to help create a movement and let everyone know why getting involved is essential.

About the Author

With 25+ years of journalism/communications experience, Diana Rohini was the Chief Communications Officer for the health department, served as ED for several non-profit organizations, and held corporate leadership positions. With a BA from Harvard University (Psychology) and MA from Hebrew University (Theology), she has written 500+ articles. She's received several awards for her work, including the Distinguished Service Award by the California Legislature Assembly, Certificate of Recognition by the California State Senate, and Event Chair of the Year Award. Additionally, she was the co-host for a top Boston arts cable show and host of a Bay Area cable show on bikes. She lived in the Middle East (Israel) and Africa (Zaire) and traveled extensively in Antarctica, Australia, Asia, and Europe. She has been a speaker and emcee for hundreds of events. In her spare time, she is the chapter chair of the South Asian Journalists Association Bay Area, California Naturalist Planning Committee, and leads efforts to get youth and BIPOC families into nature. Diana Rohini joined AEOE's board in 2022.

Sarah-Mae Nelson accepted her award at the 2024 Statewide Conference for environmental and outdoor education at Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center. From left: Ryan Mayeda, AEOE’s Board President & Chair; Sarah-Mae Nelson, and Estrella Risinger, AEOE’s Executive Director.

It’s hard to imagine a time when climate change wasn’t a part of the narrative of outdoor education. With dire predictions for the Earth’s changing climate, climate advocacy, education, and engagement are more important than ever. Sarah-Mae Nelson remembers a time when climate conversations weren’t a part of the dialogue. She is one of the nation’s leading climate interpreters. Sarah-Mae currently works with the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) as the UC Climate Stewards Initiative Academic Coordinator.

Sarah-Mae Nelson was recognized as the California Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, an honor that celebrates her unique path and 28 years of service in the field of environmental education.

We sat down with Sarah-Mae Nelson to learn more about her journey as a trailblazer in climate education.

What was your connection to the outdoors growing up?

My dad's family was very much into hunting, fishing, camping, and being outdoors. I got my first fishing pole when I was two years old. We were constantly in state parks and national parks in California. We did RV camping every summer and went all over the place– North Carolina, South Dakota, Colorado, everywhere. My dad had an incredible love for nature. So did my grandparents and my great-grandparents on his side.

My mom's family came from North Carolina, and they grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains. My great grandmother was actually born in the mountains where the park is now, before it was a park. We were mountain people on my mom's side, and gardeners with a love for the dirt, animals, and being connected to the world around us.

That's how I was raised. I was also raised to be a steward. We were part of the world and the world was part of us, and it was our responsibility to take care of nature.

The climate predictions are dire. What keeps you inspired?

It’s my co-workers. My colleagues across the country and across the world, and my students.

The Climate Stewards class is an adult education focused class. Our youngest student was 14, our oldest was 87. It's really important to me that we're working with adults because so much emphasis is put on K-12 or K-16 education, but in the United States, most people over the age of 30 did not learn about climate in school. It just wasn't part of the curriculum. So now we have this incredible opportunity with environmental education to reach generations of people.

There is this moment with students, it doesn't matter how old they are, when they get something, and you can see it in their eyes. It is a transformational moment where they go from being who they were to who they are going to be now that they've learned this thing. And that really is what inspires me.

What advice would you give an environmental educator who is starting their career?

The environmental education field has so much potential for support and camaraderie, even if that is not what you naturally gravitate toward. You can ask for help when you need it.

We know anecdotally that the environment is so important to us. But now we also know from scientific research that being outside fundamentally changes the chemistry of our brain. So we need to get outside when we can. We need to do a better job of understanding that nature isn't wilderness. If you're in the middle of a concrete jungle, nature's still there. Birdsong is still there. Water is there. Air is there.

So find your people. Make friends, look for nature, and know that we're all doing our best. The greatest gift that you can give to someone else is allowing them to change their mind. Not everyone has grown up with these opportunities, so seeing people change their mind is even more powerful than those lightbulb moments. 

Sarah-Mae Nelson was selected to be part of a Climate Education panel at the White House in recognition for her work and impact.

Sarah-Mae Nelson’s work has impacted thousands of people, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to be Climate Stewards. We are grateful for her contributions to the field of environmental and outdoor education. To nominate another leader in the future or learn more about the Annual Impact Awards, visit https://aeoe.org/awards.

Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District Receives Organization of the Year Award

(Berkeley, Calif.) May 18, 2024 – Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD) received the 2024 Organization of the Year Award at the California Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE)’s Annual Statewide Conference. Diana Ruiz, Public Affairs Manager for the District, accepted the award on behalf of her team in front of 250 environmental educators from around the state. 

The Organization of the Year Award is given to outstanding organizations that advance the impact of environmental and outdoor education in California by offering innovative programs, following research-based best practices, and promoting equitable access to environmental learning. AEOE, in partnership with Ten Strands and the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI), recognized the RCRCD for engaging the community through strategic partnerships and equitable programming. RCRCD aims to sustain natural resources and help others conserve resources so that high-quality water, land, soil, wildlife, air and plant life will be abundant in today’s changing environmental landscape. The district advocates that each acre of land be managed according to its needs. District programs foster the sustainable use of natural resources for each land use, including native habitats, urban/suburban areas, and agriculture. 

Diana Ruiz and her successor, Jennifer Iyer, pictured here with AEOE Board President and Executive Director. From left: Ryan Mayeda, Jennifer Iyer, Diana Ruiz, and Estrella Risinger at the Statewide Conference for Environmental and Outdoor Education in Orange, CA.

One such program is the Land Use Learning Center, a remarkable 3-acre plot of land that demonstrates sustainable practices in agriculture, urban areas, and native habitats. This demonstration garden is an educational tool for the community, with accessible trails, interpretive signs, and plant and animal treasure hunts. Visitors can check out a “community science backpack” for free from the center to enhance their experience. There is also a Seed Library on-site for free seeds and a Little Free Library full of natural history and gardening books. Ruiz said, “We've created a community that's more sustainable, that understands how they can be stewards. We've empowered our community to be good stewards of natural resources in a variety of ways and applications, whether it be by supporting local agriculture with our Fresh and Local Food Guide or [learning] how to plant and take care of urban trees.”

The RCRCD education team at the Land Use Learning Center. From left: Michele Felix-Derbarmdiker, Erin Snyder, Jenny Iyer, and Diana Ruiz.

RCRCD’s impact on the community is thoughtful and far-reaching, with an over 40-year history of outreach to the deaf community and the diverse cultures in their jurisdiction. The district is also intentional about acknowledging indigenous stewardship of the unceded land and building deeper connections with the local tribal leaders. They are updating their signage to include plant identification and use information in Spanish, Tongva, and Cahuilla, in addition to English. 

Diana Ruiz accepted the Organization of the Year Award on behalf of the education team at RCRCD. Ruiz is retiring this year after nearly 50 years as a conservation specialist. During her tenure with RCRCD, she developed publications on local birds and native plants, and secured partnerships with several other organizations including Inland Urban Forest Council, CalFire, and UC Riverside. These partnerships have transformed RCRCD into a local hub for learning and leadership and a model for sustainable practices in the region. Ruiz shared, “Everything we do on our site, we try to do it with the intention of demonstrating a conservation practice. Instead of paving our parking lot, we have a permeable material to allow water to percolate into the underground water basins.” 

“Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District does incredible work in their community and the surrounding region. I’ve had the great pleasure of getting to know several members of their team through involvement with the Environmental Education Collaborative and their participation in AEOE’s Environmental Educator Certification Program. Their dedication and commitment to providing engaging, relevant, and high-quality programming is evident,” said Estrella Risinger, Executive Director AEOE. 

“We’re thrilled to continue to support AEOE's Organization of the Year Award and especially to honor RCRCD this year,” said Ten Strands CEO Karen Cowe.

To learn more about the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District, please visit www.rcrcd.org. 

RCRCD serves the local community through field trips, public visits 7-days a week, and community events. Here, Erin Snyder shares about the local watershed.

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About the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE)

For seven decades, AEOE has served as the professional association for environmental and outdoor educators in California. AEOE strengthens environmental education in California by connecting providers, building professional expertise, and championing environmental literacy and outdoor learning. For more information on AEOE, visit http://aeoe.org.

About Ten Strands

Ten Strands is a California–based nonprofit established in 2012. Their mission is to strengthen the partnerships and strategies to bring climate and environmental literacy to all of California’s TK–12 students. They operate with a small, diverse, and nimble staff and strategic partners throughout the state. Ten Strands utilizes the largest and most diverse institution in California—the public school system—to impact 58 county offices of education, more than 1,000 school districts, approximately 10,000 individual schools, over 300,000 teachers, and 5.8 million children. For more information, visit http://tenstrands.org. 

About CAELI

The California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI), led by Ten Strands, works statewide with guidance from a leadership council to create systems change to support environmental literacy with a focus on access, equity, and cultural relevance for all students. For more information, visit http://ca-eli.org. 

Full circle. That’s the phrase that kept running through my mind as I drove into the Marin Headlands, eagerly anticipating the smiles I expected to see from the students I was tasked with meeting at NatureBridge’s Golden Gate campus. I had signed up as a driver to bring a group of 5th graders back to school after three days and two nights learning and playing together on the coast. The trip was a rite of passage, a cornerstone experience for their grade. As I came upon the group doing their final wrap-up and graduation ceremony on wooden benches overlooking the Pacific Ocean, there was one smile in particular I was looking for. “Mama! I love NatureBridge!” I heard as I was tackled by my ten-year-old in a huge hug. Growing up in a family that loves camping and regularly takes hikes in the East Bay Hills, this wasn’t a total surprise, but as a former NatureBridge staff member for nearly 10 years and a past participant myself, I couldn’t help but take a breath of relief. 

One of the educators asked the group, “What were some of your favorite memories of this week?” Students shared their memories enthusiastically, each one eliciting cheers and nods of agreement from their classmates: “Hiking!” “The food!” “Holding hermit crabs in the marine lab!” “Seeing all the wildlife!” “Rolling down ice plant hill!” 

Reflecting on my own NatureBridge experiences as a student at what was then called Yosemite Institute, I still remember the chocolate pudding in the cafeteria, the awe and wonder of hiking up the mist trail alongside Vernal Falls, and the pride at making it through the Spider Caves in the dark with the help of my friends. These experiences brought us closer together as a community; they introduced us to important concepts like glaciation and redwood ecology; they helped us to find inner reserves of strength, pushing us outside our comfort zones while holding us as we tried new things and climbed to new heights. 

My trips to NatureBridge were the highlights of my educational journey. These childhood trips were made possible by the efforts of dedicated and passionate teachers who insisted the trips were worth the time spent away from the classroom, and administrators who allocated the school’s resources towards the additional expenses. One of those teachers just so happened to be my dad, who was so inspired by outdoor education that he went on to found and operate Camp Chrysalis, a nature-based summer camp that takes Bay Area kids to Big Sur, Mendocino, and the Sierra. Camp Chrysalis is still in operation today, and my dad has been one of my greatest inspirations in this work.

How many of you have a similar story: early experiences that shaped who we are today, encouraged our love and connection to the natural world, and inspired us to share those same experiences with others? 

We are the lucky ones. The unfortunate truth is that while these experiences are common in the outdoor and environmental education community, they are not the norm for most students in California. With increased emphasis placed on test scores and what are considered core academics, the high cost of transportation, and strained resources on schools and families alike, field trips – and especially overnight experiences – are rarely prioritized. 

At AEOE, we’re trying to change that. Immersive, experiential learning outdoors shouldn’t be optional, only available for those who have access to resources, but a cornerstone of EVERY young person’s educational journey. That’s why we work to strengthen environmental education in California by connecting providers, building professional expertise, and championing environmental literacy and outdoor learning. We are guided by our members: individuals and organizations across the state that are committed to using environmental and outdoor education as a tool to create lasting environmental change. 

Are you a member of our community yet? If not, we hope you will join us! If you’re not a provider yourself, but believe in the power of nature-based programming and care about a more sustainable world, become a supporter of our work today. Together, we can ensure that future generations have access to meaningful learning experiences outdoors – whether it be at NatureBridge, or at any of the other amazing programs across the state – because it’s not just a field trip, it’s the foundation for our collective future.

Deepak 'Deeps' Dathari is a veteran of the environmental education field, having served for over 20 years as a naturalist, outdoor educator, and, most recently, as a program director for Camp Cambell. He worked for NatureBridge as a field instructor and mentor teacher, and has helped thousands of students connect with nature through a careful emphasis on self-confidence, storytelling, and a genuine enthusiasm for the outdoors. We sat down for a conversation with him to learn more about what has sustained him through a career that has stretched from the granite-clad Sierras, to the capital of New Zealand, and back again.

Deeps shares wilderness-informed ABC's. Photo courtesy of Kim Lazier.

What has sustained you in the field of environmental education?

Community. There are a lot of careers in the outdoors or environmental field. I've done bird research, for instance, for a number of years, and you tend to be in very isolated crews that are in really remote places. Your crews are small, so your community is extremely small. 

But in environmental education, your community is large and it's very like-minded young people who are super driven about the work that they're doing. They're fun people that you want to be around, people that work hard and play hard. It's rare to find the combination of those two things: incredibly beautiful wilderness and a very vibrant community coupled with it. You're instantly welcomed into this community as though you've been part of it for years. I don't get paid very much, but because of these people I'm around, I want to keep coming back so I can keep building those relationships, deepening those friendships. [There is] a sense of solidarity that we're all on the same mission, together. 

The other piece is the work itself. It's so special to work with a kid who has lived near the ocean for their whole life and has never actually seen a beach. Their first time touching sand and they're just in this pure, exploratory, sensory overload. I feel privileged to be near that energy. When people are teaching in the classroom, it's very rare to have those moments of awakening. We see it regularly. 

Those two factors are the big ones for me [and] why I've been able to stay in it so long, despite it not being the most lucrative. The people I work around are so inspiring, too, because you can learn from them as well. They're always being creative. They're adapting what they do. They're finding new ways to do what they do, and there's a lot of collaboration that goes on. In your professional life, you're being stimulated quite a bit and you're learning so much, always.  Whether it's in the field with the kids, or outside of the field when you're planning and having meetings, you're always learning. 

Deeps in his element with NatureBridge at Yosemite. Photo courtesy of Kim Lazier.

What excites you about the future of environmental education?

We live in a society that has become much less interactive with nature. We spend so much more time on screens. Social media is the place where people pour all their energy. There's almost a value of shying away from discomfort that we cultivate in our society. Getting people outside in nature: touching a tree, getting in water, seeing birds. Knowing how valuable that is, how important, how cool and interesting. It’s so needed because that time away from screens is so rare. That time away when you have to interact with people on a personal level and work together as a group, as opposed from a distance. 

We really need to create an anti-racist effort in all aspects of society. Because the places we work are on land that has been taken from Indigenous people, and where certain groups have historically felt excluded, the importance of building in anti-racism and cultivating a greater sense of belonging in environmental education are so pertinent right now. It excites me because we’re on the cusp of bringing that in a more robust way into environmental ed. I think people have been tinkering with how to do it well, but now we've gotten a lot of things figured out and [are] implementing it in the field on a regular basis. That really excites me because it makes us feel like agents of change in a broader way. 

Jenna Cobb is an environmental educator and leader who is committed to equity and inclusion in the field. She has served with various organizations in Southern California, at the intersections of urban ecology, culturally-responsive teaching, and justice. Jenna inspires her colleagues, students, and community to create opportunity and increase access to outdoor learning for all students. We asked Jenna about her start in environmental education, and what has kept her committed to the field. 

Jenna explores the outdoors with students on a scavenger hunt.

What brought you into a career as an environmental educator?

I grew up in Torrance, which is near the coast of LA County, between LAX and Long Beach. I got to spend a lot of time in nature with my family. We'd do some habitat restoration at the local vernal marsh, do walks and clean ups at the local beaches, go hiking up in the mountains. From an early age, I felt like, “Oh, like these places are so special. I feel a sense of peace here that I don't at school or at home watching TV.” So I knew I wanted to do environmental work. 

I didn't really step into environmental education until my last year of college. I did an internship with Grades of Green, which does a lot of student-led environmental action projects. I worked with the trash free lunch challenge around Los Angeles County. It was so great talking to elementary school students who were leading the charge to make their school lunches trash free, whether it was setting up a sorting system or advocating for the elimination of Styrofoam trays at their schools. I love the relational aspect of this work, as well as the direct impact of saying, “Hey, I'm not just doing this work from afar. I get to be with communities as we're working towards this better future together.” 

My first full-time environmental education job was at Chino Basin Water Conservation District. My supervisor at the time, Becky Rittenberg, who's now at Parks California, nominated me for this award back in 2017 when I was a 22 year-old. Feeling that support and being surrounded by great educators there, as well as within the Environmental Education Collaborative of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, has been such an encouragement for me. I can see some really great things ahead. 

Jenna presents on soil to a classroom of curious youth.

What has sustained you in this field?

The people I've worked with. I had some great partners in this work. 

During the Environmental Education Certification Program with AEOE, I got to work on my project with an old colleague, Monica Curiel, where we did a trilingual environmental education field trip for adults in our community. It was such a positive experience working together to achieve a common vision we've had for a while. Throughout my career, and currently at Community Nature Connection, I’ve had great colleagues who are inspirations in how they connect with the community of Southern California. 

Last week, Save California Salmon, the 2022 Organization of the Year announced that the new Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Science and Management Junior High Curriculum is out! It can be found at https://www.californiasalmon.org/curriculum. The press release can be read in its entirety below. 

PRESS RELEASE: New Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Science Curriculum Aims to Teach California Students About Native People, Science and the Environment

For immediate release: Nov. 28th 2022

New Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Science Curriculum Aims to Teach California Students About Native People, Science and the Environment

Nov. 30th online curriculum event will feature Native Educators, Scientists, and Families, Teacher’s Trainings to follow in February 2023   

For More Information:

Charley Reed, Education Director, Save California Salmon 707 458-5205 charley@californiasalmon.org 

Regina Chichizola, Save California Salmon 541 951-0126 regina@californiasalmon.org 

Klamath River, California- A free new curriculum released for Native American Heritage Month aims to teach California middle school students about Northern California’s environment, and how Native American people use cultural practices and science to care for the environment and the people. Lessons focus on issues such as climate change, oceans, estuaries, fire, and rivers along with keystone and culturally important species, such as salmon, abalone and fire adapted plants. 

The curriculum meets junior high school standards in sciences, history, language art, visual arts, and social studies and fills a critical need for Native American studies and climate and environmental sciences curriculum and lessons, in public schools. 

“As a Hupa, Yurok and Karuk person living in the mid-Klamath basin, I always felt as if I lived in two parallel worlds.One being immersed into cultural worldviews and another in western education.” explained Save California Salmon’s education director Charley Reed. “There was separation between who I was and what I was expected to learn. It has, and continues to be, a lifelong effort to Indigenize educational spaces so that Indigenous students can see themselves, their history and examples of resilience in classrooms. I believe that this TEK and Science Curriculum is a step to achieve that effort.”

Proponents of the curriculum identify California’s state standardized curriculum as it relates to Native American people in California is not only exclusionary, but factually incorrect. Existing Core Curriculum frequently teaches about Native Peoples in the past tense instead of recognizing the critical role that Indigenous Knowledge plays in environmental and other sciences. 

For over a hundred years, Native people have largely not been able to manage the land and water, or practice their cultures. This exclusion of  traditional practices from the landscape has contributed to California’s climate and water crises, and created social injustices and health issues for native people. In the past, the school systems, and particularly boarding schools, have been a big part of oppressing Native cultures. Today schools have the opportunity to embrace Indigenous Knowledge, thereby supporting climate resilience, healing and social justice efforts.

"Tribes have been long advocating to bring back Indigenous land management practices but it hasn't been until recently that traditional burning has been back on the landscapes" explained Reed. "We have been impatiently waiting for the opportunity to have a prominent role in stewardship. Now, unfortunately we are having to fix big problems that we were originally excluded from voicing concerns about, like dam removal, massive fires, and restoring estuaries."

Currently, the only standardized curriculum in California related to Native peoples glorifies violence and painful histories, such as the California gold rush and mission system. These histories gloss over California’s genocidal history and erase the fact that Native people are still here, practicing their cultural traditions, protecting the land and combating climate change. In addition to having detrimental effects on Native students, this creates a situation where politicians and agency employees who are tasked with protecting the environment, and working with Tribes, know nothing about the Tribes or their practices. 

This situation is particularly challenging to native youth who are studying to be future leaders such as Hoopa Valley Tribal youth Danielle Frank. Frank, the former president of the Hoopa High School Water Protector Club, has been featured as an up and coming climate leader by Vogue Magazine. 

“If we are going to have an equitable future in California we need to deal with climate change, fires and dwindling water supplies, but we can not tackle these issues without changing our way of thinking,” explained Frank. “California's people largely don’t understand how to care for, and not exploit, the land. Native People hold this knowledge. Teaching this curriculum in schools is a way to get students to care for the land and make learning about the climate and science relevant to them.” 

Frank explains that for instance, California Tribes have always burned the forest with low intensity burns. This was not only to protect their communities, but for the health of the forest and traditional foods such as acorns and weaving materials. The loss of this practice, coupled with climate change, has led to higher intensity, larger fires along with unhealthy acorn trees and basket making materials. “This is a classic feedback loop that students can see for themselves.” 

Save California Salmon will host a zoom webinar on Wednesday Nov. 30th. at 6pm featuring Native American scientists, Traditional Practitioners, parents and educators that either helped design the curriculum, or are teaching TEK and Native American studies and sciences.

The public can join at https://tinyurl.com/TEKCurriculum. A TEK curriculum teachers training will be held in February 2023. Schools can sign up to get Save California Salmon’s youth centered newsletters and curriculum poster packets. 

The curriculum can be found at: https://www.californiasalmon.org/curriculum and the videos from the series are at www.youtube.com/@SaveCaliforniaSalmon . 

All curriculum, online classes, and newsletters are currently free, however SCS is holding a holiday fundraiser, and is always looking for funding sources. Donations can be made at https://www.californiasalmon.org/ or through facebook. 

On behalf of Ten Strands, the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI), and AEOE, we are pleased to award Save California Salmon as this year's EE organization of the year. Save California Salmon (SCS) is dedicated to policy change and community advocacy for Northern California’s salmon and fish dependent people. They support the fisheries and water protection work of the local communities, and advocate effective policy change for clean water, restored fisheries and vibrant communities. SCS also supports youth-led action centered on cultural and educational advocacy, which is intertwined with watershed action in California’s salmon-dependent Tribal communities. Click here to access the full press release. 

Sama Wareh, M.S – Southern California 2021 Environmental Educator of the Year

Note from AEOE’s Executive Director: Sama and I had a chance to connect over the phone, where I learned more about her story – what brought her into this field and what has sustained her. What follows are the notes from our conversation. Please join me in celebrating Sama’s contributions to the field of environmental and outdoor education and the many lives she’s impacted over the year. 

For us (practicing Muslims), environmental stewardship is supposed to be a part of our religion. When I started 16 years ago, I felt as though I was among the minority in my community who was trying to learn more about the environment and sustainability. It’s been really cool to see the progress and number of community members interested in also making it their educational and lifestyle goal. Communities who have struggled just to make a living and fit into society have had a disconnect with barely just trying to get acquainted with a new culture and get by. It’s a privilege to go camping or hiking, or even to have a car to get you to the trail. This next generation are the ones starting to bring back the older generation into it. Budding naturalists, they take an elderly community (largely refugees and immigrants) out on hikes once a month. While the elders may have never been on the trail before, they recognize some of the plants from their home countries. It’s such a wonderful cross-generational opportunity to share knowledge and connection. 

My parents are immigrants and they came here from Syria. They didn’t have time to take us camping, or even know how to do that. We didn’t go hiking, but we did picnic. We really knew how to picnic! Now I’m teaching in these same parks, but out on the trails farther out. I never knew that there were trails there. Now I take my mom out to these places. 

My uncle in Syria was my main inspiration to be a naturalist. He was a healer, a homeopathist. He healed my eye once with white sage. When I was out of college, interested in working with animals, I applied to work with Inside the Outdoors. Based on my interest in animals they thought I could be a naturalist. My first day of training, they walked me around the site, teaching me about the native plants. I learned that the Tongva used white sage as an eye wash. It all came together for me in that moment. I knew that I had found my calling for the rest of my life. And that’s what I’ve done since. 

I worked at Inside the Outdoors for several years, and then at the Environmental Nature Center. I then went to Alaska, hoping to study glaciology and learn the landscape. When I returned, I was still connected with my previous students. I was encouraged to start a school by some of the parents. I was concerned about having to be in an administrative role and not wanting to be disconnected from students. Dr. Khadeeja and Syma were so encouraging, we decided to found Art & Wilderness Institute together. During Covid, we got a lot of interest from the community and women in particular. They wanted to get outside, but were afraid and didn’t know where to start. We’ve familiarized more than 100 women with our trails and wildlife and have trained 10 women to be hiking leaders. 

There is a saying of the Prophet: “The earth is green and beautiful and God has appointed you his stewards over it.” There’s a word in Arabic, khulafa. It means inheritors/stewards and many times in the Quran it is alluded to. When they’re reminded of that it’s a different mindset. I’m going on a hike and I’m protecting this trail because it’s who I am to do this. At a lot of our mosques they’re still using styrofoam and our students are speaking up and trying to reduce waste - it’s coming from them! The kids are so awesome, they are going to take care of this earth. Hearing them talk about nature and learning about the native plants and animals is so inspiring. 

I created these trading cards with my art hoping to get kids excited that you have to earn. And some are harder than others to earn, like octopus: you have to spot it and conduct a stewardship project. It’s been a really fun learning tool, a resource that these kids love. We have 70 cards now. We even have a contest where kids can submit their artwork to be added to the connection. [Editor's note: You can purchase them through our partner Acorn Naturalists.]

The Art and Wilderness Institute has been a snowball effect. We’ve been fundraising for scholarships to get more kids involved - it was actually spearheaded by one of our students, a 9-year-old, who wanted to support a family’s involvement. It’s provided an organic space for the community to get together, have these amazing experiences, and take ownership. It’s been beautiful to watch. I am so grateful, I learn so much from the parents and kids and am so grateful to be part of this humble community. We got to adopt a state park, work on the maps for it, how we would incorporate trails, and replant it. One of our students is stepping into a management position of stewarding this place. This is our earth, we’re trying to save the planet. We have so much work to do. Kudos to all the environmental education organizations out there doing this work – it’s going to take all of us, working up our sleeves. We’re up against consumer culture. Part of why I do what I do is because of how much I didn’t know when I was younger. The earth is a great teacher and the earth’s pace is slow and forth going, and that’s the pace we’re trying to keep up with and be consistent. One project we have is to plant a plant for every kid who signs up for a class - that they get to plant - to help offset the carbon impact of their attendance. Our next step is to do bigger trees. But you start small. If everybody brings their A-game we have a whole lot of awesome going around. 

We really just have this one Earth that we’ve inherited. It’s our responsibility and we will be held accountable for what we do on this Earth, how we treat community, and what we teach these kids. I know we all have habits that can be bad and it’s hard to live a zero waste life, I know it’s not easy, but every day we can try to do a little better. We can all make a big difference in how we live. Consistency is key. And we’re running out of time with what we’re up against in the carbon mess that we have. I don’t know what this next generation will face, we have a limited time to make a difference in our communities and the environment. The question to ask ourselves every day is: did I learn something new and was I kind to the earth today? And if I wasn’t, what can I do tomorrow to make up for today?

When I worked at Inside the Outdoors and Environmental Nature Center, I learned a lot from my co-workers. On every journey we’re on, it’s important to look around and see who you can learn from. I’ve learned a lot from my co-workers and I’m so grateful for every step of my journey. 

Learn more about Sama’s organization at:

https://www.artandwildernessinstitute.com/

https://www.instagram.com/artandwilderness_institute/