RxOutside - Kathleen Lockyer, OTR/L
Kathleen has been an occupational therapist for 23 years, trailblazing new paradigms of therapeutic intervention and working with children in the outdoors for even longer. She has raised two highly spirited daughters who are forces of nature in their own lives. Kathleen is a visionary; founder of RxOutside, the NatureLed© Approach to growing and healing humans, co-founder of the Central Coast Village Center (DBA as Outsidenow.org) a non-profit organization, she consults with public and private schools, she works privately with families and offers training to professionals and parents. Her NatureLed© training was the most formative professional learning experience of my career, and I am honored and grateful to be working with and learning from her.
Wild Harvest Nature Connection - Heather Hutchinson & Alex Britzius
Wild Harvest offers youth (school year and summer camps) and adult nature connection programs with the core mission of building regenerative culture by growing individuals' relationships to themselves, each other, and the land. Alex and Heather are experienced nature connection mentors of the highest quality, sharing a wealth of wisdom and skills. I am deeply grateful for their mentorship, which has been fundamental to my practice. I have had the joy of mentoring with Wild Harvest youth programs on and off since 2016.
Outdoors We Learn (OWL) - Weslie Cymerman
OWL offers outdoor after-school programming and summer camps for preschoolers - high-schoolers, born out of the need and desire for healthy, in-person connection during the pandemic. Weslie is an experienced, talented, and supremely fun teacher and nature connection mentor, and her programs fill an important gap in nature connected programming for youth in the Madison area.
Hike & Heal Wellness - Moira Farrell
Hike & Heal offers youth, family, and adult wellness programming rooted in nature connection and mindfulness practices. I have had the honor of working with Ms. Mo on a variety of nature connection offerings for kids and families. She is a skilled, joyful leader who inspires growth and healing in others with playfulness and a deep love of people and the earth.
Coyote Fire Arts - Kati Fernandez Lambert
Kati is an artist, illustrator, and self-described nature nerd. She has publicly exhibited both her fine art and her illustrations, and her creative work is infused with her deep connection with nature. Kati also offers camps and classes at the intersection of creativity and nature, including making art materials out of natural materials, creating art with nature treasures, and engaging in nature connection practices to spark creative energy.
NatureWell - Mary Davis Michaud, MPP
Mary grew up "free range" in rural Wisconsin. For more than a decade, she has advocated for increasing opportunities for nature connection, especially among children and families. Combining training and experience in public health with a certification in horticultural therapy, Mary serves as an advisor to Green Schoolyards America, most recently co-leading the Health Working Group for the National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative. Drawing on more than 20 years working in the health sector, she teaches health policy and has the privilege of advising undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin's La Follette School of Public Affairs. I had the privilege of co-facilitating the NatureWell Series with Mary, where we are all enriched by her brilliance, deep listening, and authenticity.