People

I am a retired teacher and spend much of my time volunteering for Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards in Philadelphia County, PA. I have always been interested in environmental education and enjoy working outdoors with peers and student groups. 

I am a 5th grade teacher in National City, CA. I teach multiple subjects but my favorite subjects are Math & Science!

I received my Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Sciences from NC State University with a focal area in Behavioral Ecology and a minor in Zoology. I have a passion for conservation of biodiversity, particularly through ctiizen science and public involvement. I have been involved in environmental education for the past four years. 

This is my 39th year in the classroom. Unfortunately, I do not have 30 years in any 1 school district due to my husband's 20+ years of military service. I have taught in grades pre-K, 2, 3, 4, & 5 for 27 years), and 12 years in middle school in the states of South Carolina, Deleware, California, Hawaii, Indiana, and Virginia.   

I am an ecologist and educator, working primarily in public outreach related to plant conservation, sustainability and southeastern ecosystems. My research interests are in nature play, science literacy, biodiversity, and disturbance. I want to connect with others who have similar jobs/interests.

Tina Harte Ballinger is a Project Support Specialist for the NASA Langley Science Directorate's Education Team. She is also the founder and Project Manager for the NASA GLOBE Goes to Camp Project providing informal outdoor environmental education opportunities to communities across the United States. She has over 30 years of experience in STEAM based instruction and curriculum development with a M.S. in Secondary Science Education from the Univeristy of Tennessee at Martin with an emphasis in Geoscience.  

Being raised on a Pennsylvania farm near Lake Erie, Rhonda developed a deep connection to land and water. She earned a BS and MEd from Penn State University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction with an environmental focus from UNC Wilmington, where she now teaches. Rhonda is also a freelance environmental journalist in the Wilmington, NC coastal region. Her work has appeared in Black Warrior Review, American Submariner, Coastal Review, storySouth, among others. A former Brauer Fellow, she was a semifinalist for North Carolina Literary Review’s 2024 Alex Albright CNF Prize. She is working on a memoir exploring brain injury and the healing power of trees. With five grown children, Rhonda, her beloved, and their dog savor sunrise beach walks.

Sarah Barrow- Program Manager: 

Sarah lives in Hollis, NH with her family, and many animals. Sarah has been an educator for over 20 years, sharing her love of art and nature in every experience. Sarah is the Program Manager for Beaver Brook, where she enjoys engaging with the community and creating enriching experiences for children and families. She loves animals, hiking, sketching wildlife, and collecting inspiration from the great outdoors. Sarah holds a degree in Fine Arts from Alfred University and a master's degree from Wheelock College in the field of child development. 

 

With over 20 years of experience as an outdoor educator and a background in Environmental Education and Conservation Biology, I’ve taught in diverse settings—from U.S. nature programs to cheetah conservation work in Kenya. In 2019, I founded the National Outdoor Learning Alliance (NOLA) in Boise, Idaho, where I serve as executive director. Through programs like EverWild Forest School, NOLA empowers children to thrive through place-based outdoor education. I'm also a speaker, business coach, and passionate advocate for equitable access to nature.