About Me

Backpacking in the Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming

For 19 years, I’ve been taking NJ kids outdoors to explore the natural world. I hold a NJ elementary teaching certificate, and spent a few years in the classroom before my love of nature called me outside.

I believe every school should have a garden or habitat area where students can investigate plants, insects, and other wildlife. For four years, I ran an urban school gardening program for a nonprofit organization in Newark. I worked with teachers, children, and community members to transform vacant lots into living laboratories. Now, as a Rutgers Master Gardener, I volunteer my time helping schools plan and plant gardens and wildlife habitats where kids can get their hands dirty doing science.

I’ve also worked as a park naturalist for Monmouth County Parks, and as a field instructor for the NJ Marine Sciences Consortium. I currently work with the NJ Tree Foundation, doing urban tree treks and other education programs to support their mission of teaching people about the community forest.

Bicycle touring, solo and self-sustained

I’m passionate about outdoor education, and I pursue continuing education opportunities that help me master my craft. I’ve earned a number of certifications that reflect my commitment to safety and professionalism in the field:

I love to write as well as teach, so I also write articles about wildlife and conservation issues. I’m personally quite interested in invertebrates – insects, spiders, and other arthropods in particular – and I’m currently the Guide to Insects on About.com.

In my free time, I’m usually outdoors as well. At home, I garden my acre lot with a mind toward supporting native wildlife. My yard is both a certified backyard habitat and monarch waystation. I love to go hiking and photograph wildlife. I’ve volunteered on numerous research expeditions through the Earthwatch Institute, doing field studies in Tonga, Brazil, Barbados, St. Croix, Trinidad, and here in the U.S. I’ve also spent time backpacking and camping, kayaking and canoeing, snorkeling and SCUBA diving, rock climbing, bicycle touring.