Celebrations

This page celebrates individuals in the community who are giving their time and talent to connect youth to nature.

Interview with Lorene Wapotich, manager of Thorne Nature Experience preschool: listen to her thoughts on nature experience versus nature connection, the importance of nature programming for neurodiverse children and why she loves spring in particular.

Interview with Neil Ritter from Laughing Coyote: listen to his thoughts on teaching primitive skills to children, taking teens on extensive expeditions, access to public and private land, and the nature books that inspired his young imagination.

Interview with Curry Rosato—Education Manager for Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP): listen to her thoughts on how OSMP manages and stewards 45,000 acres of land in the county and uses these areas for field trips for public and independent schools. Listen to her commitment to spending time outside each day as her "daily vitamin", a practice which started in her youth when her mother encouraged her to play outside in the dirt until the fireflies came out.

Interview with Kasey Schelling—co-founder of the Kiva Center. Listen to her thoughts about how the Kiva Center focuses on building relationships between people and nature with the overarching belief that "we are nature as well". Listen to Kasey talk about the Kiva Center's family programs, their focus on survival skills, herbalism, and crafts, and their addressing of the mental health crisis in teens.