As the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Camping to Connect, Manny Almonte leads immersive hiking and camping programs for young men of color in New York, New York, and Denver, Colorado. Guided by adult mentors who share similar cultural backgrounds as the participants, these experiences provide urban teens with a newfound sense of confidence and belonging in nature.

Raised in the Dominican Republic, Almonte did not experience outdoor recreation in any formal sense — walking through the mountains with friends was just a way of life. At 20, he moved to New York City, and launched Mastermind Connect, a collective for men of color devoted to personal growth and development. The group discovered the outdoors as an outlet for bonding and collective healing, and began mentoring city kids as a way of uplifting the next generation of men of color. Founded in 2018, Camping to Connect introduces young men to nature — and in doing so, reshapes their understanding of what’s possible for themselves, their community and their futures. 

Almonte’s work and advocacy for outdoor access and inclusion earned him the 2023 Robert W. Crawford Achievement Prize from the National Recreation Foundation. Camping to Connect has also been featured by NBC’s “Today” show. Almonte produced the inspirational short film “Wood Hood,” which was awarded Best Short Film at the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival. The film, about race, identity and the power of nature to nurture and heal, frequently plays in festivals and to audiences worldwide. It was also screened at a member event for the Children & Nature Network, where it received high engagement and praise, and was profiled in Finding Nature News.

Camping to Connect
LinkedIn profile for Manny Almonte

Dina Buchbinder Auron is a Mexican social entrepreneur and visionary leader committed to promoting access to quality education and nurturing local and global citizenship values in children and communities around the globe.

As the Founder and President of Education for Sharing (E4S), Buchbinder demonstrates innovative approaches to creating equitable access to nature through the organization’s play-based methodology. E4S is an international nonprofit organization that uses the power of play to create interactive learning experiences. The methodology has been implemented in 13 countries and has reached more than 2 million participants, with 5 million through its online presence. 

The methodology’s mission directly ties to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to help children, youth and adults learn about the UN 2030 Agenda and why it matters to them, so they can contribute to the SDGs. Buchbinder’s work addresses immediate educational needs, such as ensuring access to quality education, promoting literacy and life skills, and facilitating inclusive educational practices that respect and celebrate student diversity. Through her innovative approaches and unwavering dedication, Buchbinder and her team continue to expand the reach of E4S’s methodology and programs, empowering children and youth worldwide to become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond.

The methodology’s mission directly ties to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to help children, youth and adults learn about the UN 2030 Agenda and why it matters to them, so they can contribute to the SDGs. Buchbinder’s work addresses immediate educational needs, such as ensuring access to quality education, promoting literacy and life skills, and facilitating inclusive educational practices that respect and celebrate student diversity.

Through her innovative approaches and unwavering dedication, Buchbinder and her team continue to expand the reach of E4S’s methodology and programs, empowering children and youth worldwide to become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond.

With a background in urban planning and public administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard and Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Buchbinder brings a unique blend of expertise in education, sustainability and community development to her work at E4S. Her passion for reimagining education and empowering children to thrive and become agents of change has earned her recognition as an Ashoka Fellow, a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and a National Geographic Explorer.

Education for Sharing (E4S)
LinkedIn profile for Dina Buchbinder Auron

Previously a teacher, Becks Fowkes left teaching in the city of London and moved to North Wales, U.K., to begin Campfire Cymru, a not-for-profit organization that aims to connect people with nature while overcoming barriers to participation. The program began with Forest Families sessions, providing forest school for families with disabilities, neurodivergence and anxiety.

Fowkes’ approach is innovative as she provides sessions for whole families, providing an environment that is non-judgemental, accessible and supportive. She ensures that all children in the family receive what they need, as well as the parents. The sessions are participant-led and include opportunities to connect with nature, try out sustainable woodland crafts, enjoy time together around the campfire and build relationships.

When parents attending Forest Families told her they wanted to be more involved, Fowkes listened and undertook instruction to deliver forest school training. Campfire Cymru now offers a range of courses related to forest school and well-being in nature — training for anyone who wants to take their work with children or families outside, including the parents and young people who have taken part in family sessions.

In the 15 years since Fowkes began leading sessions, children from earlier sessions have grown into young leaders and advocates in the nature connection arena, with program alumni volunteering as program leaders. This means almost every session includes at least one leader who really understands how the families feel — because they have been there.

At sessions, in camps and through training, Fowkes shares her understanding of the benefits of nature connection, marrying this with a resolve to improve access for all and an empathic ethos that runs through the organization from treetop to root.

Campfire Cymru
LinkedIn profile for Becks Fowkes

Since 2006, Gatti Pereira Rodrigues has used educational and cultural initiatives to foster the connection between society and the environment in Brazil. Rodrigues came to the movement with prior experience in sustainability and design, which she used to found Instituto Árvores Vivas (Living Trees Institute) to bring people closer to nature through art and information.

The nonprofit comprises several initiatives, including “Living and Learning in Nature,” through which they work in partnership with health, education and cultural centers to expand opportunities for nature connection from pregnancy and early childhood. The program also includes training for practitioners and biodiversity expansion in local communities. 

Instituto Árvores Vivas uses many other approaches to further its mission, such as a community science mapping project to identify and assess the endangered brazilwood trees; a touring exhibition of natural elements; local nature walks; and hands-on artistic activities, such as photography, natural painting, drawing, soundscapes, writing and sculpting to better appreciate nature. The nonprofit also leads a movement to declare love for planet Earth, with youth’s voices and vision helping to shape climate and health public policy.

Beyond the accomplishments of her nonprofit, Rodrigues has been involved in efforts on a global scale and has been recognized for her work as such. She was in the 2019 cohort of the Global Leaders for Young Children from the World Forum Foundation, holds a chair at the National Environmental Council, participated in the Coalition for Climate, Children and Adolescents, is a member of the Planetary Health Alliance and coordinates the Health and Nature Brazilian Network. She also organized and curated the annual Cultivar Festival in Brazil, a cultural event for trees and nature connection at public parks.

Instituto Árvores Vivas
Instagram account for Instituto Árvores Vivas
LinkedIn profile for Juliana Gattie Pereira Rodrigues

After a decade of working in conservation, outdoor recreation and to connect young leaders and their communities to nature, CJ Goulding used his experience to found Boyz N The Wood. The nonprofit uses nature as the tool and frame through which they support Black men to restore and reignite the best versions of themselves.

The nonprofit’s model removes barriers of access to nature and mental health services, centering four pillars of connection that allow participants to build community in a culturally relevant space for personal development and well-being. The organization aims to solidify nature as a tool for public health and to shift stigmas around mental health.

Previous to founding Boyz N The Wood, Goulding managed and mentored a network of over 450 leaders across 44 states in the U.S. with the Children & Nature Network’s Natural Leaders Network. During this time, he authored the Finding Nature News feature “Why I wear Jordans in the great outdoors: A natural leader builds bridges between worlds.”

In addition to leading Boyz N The Wood, Goulding also works to build equitable funding strategies and expand access to resources for community-led organizations. Over the past three years, one particular grant program with the National Recreation Foundation will have invested $3 million in over 50 organizations across 33 U.S. states. Eighty-seven percent of those organizations serve BIPOC youth, and 70% are BIPOC-led.

To Goulding, innovation means creating changes in an established system with new ideas or methods. “I strongly believe in creating new systems and ways of connecting, relating and being,” he says, “because the systems that exist were not created for and do not equally serve everyone.”

Boyz N The Wood
LinkedIn profile for CJ Goulding

A longtime early childhood educator, Jennifer Kollerup advocates for equitable access to outdoor nature-based learning experiences for children and families across Colorado. Recognizing the systemic barriers that limit such access, she has focused on legislative and community-driven solutions that are inclusive, safe and culturally relevant. Her efforts include organizing and leading the Colorado Collective for Nature-Based Early Education (CCNBEE), a collaborative statewide network with over 150 members, including educators, coaches and parents. The Collective led the way in passing state-level legislation in 2024, and continues to advocate within that framework to create licensing requirements that will allow outdoor nature-based (ONB) programs to operate freely and provide authentic experiences for children.  Kollerup also facilitates discussions across the U.S. to share best practices and lessons learned, including working with representatives from five other states, thereby magnifying the impact of her work on a national scale. To build the case for this work, she has initiated efforts to gather and disseminate data about nature-based programs. Her initiatives have the potential to impact thousands of children and families across the U.S.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kollerup’s dedication to nature-based education stems from a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of nature on children’s development, well-being and environmental stewardship. Her work is not just about legislative victories or the number of children reached; it’s about fostering a profound and lasting connection between children and the natural world — embodying a spirit of innovation, collaboration and leadership.

Colorado Collective for Nature-Based Early Education
LinkedIn profile for Jennifer Kollerup

Jessie Lehson is a visionary educator and advocate for equitable access to nature. As the Founder of Watershed Public Charter School (WPCS) in Baltimore, Maryland, she has reimagined environmental education, creating one of the U.S.’s only tuition-free, nature-based public schools — a striking achievement in an underfunded and overcrowded school district.

Lehson designed WPCS with the belief that all children deserve access to nature. She developed an innovative, culturally responsive curriculum that integrates environmental learning across subjects. From hands-on urban farming to studying the historical role of gardens in social justice, her approach fosters environmental stewardship, critical thinking and academic success. Under her leadership, WPCS students have outperformed county peers on standardized tests and become passionate advocates for sustainability, with 97% of students spending time outdoors learning and students lobbying elected officials for environmentally friendly policies.

Beyond the school walls, Lehson’s impact is far-reaching. She has led professional development programs to help educators integrate environmental education into their curriculum, contributed to state-level environmental education initiatives, such as Project Green Classroom, and secured national recognition for WPCS, including the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award. Now, through Growing Branches Educational Consulting, she is expanding her efforts to support more public nature schools across the U.S. with WPCS as a model.

A lifelong champion for innovation in nature connection, Lehson has earned accolades for her leadership, including invitations to share her work at national conferences and through coverage of her work in the Maryland State Department of Education’s “Promising Practices” report. Lehson also authored “Watershed School keeps kids connected to nature, at home,” a Finding Nature News guest column. She continues to inspire a future where nature is accessible to all children, every day.

Watershed Public Charter School
LinkedIn profile for Jessie Lehson

In 2016, Lesly Monrat founded Trilhas de Criança project (Children’s Trails Project) in Brazil. The project was inspired by her two children, with the vision of inviting children and their families to explore nature’s historical and cultural levels as well as the physical — transforming each trail into a journey of discovery. Every trail is different, and Monrat highlights each trail’s unique story and biodiversity. By allowing children to lead their own adventures, the project transforms the natural environment into a living learning laboratory, where teachings are acquired in an intuitive way. Through this approach, Monrat prepares participants to become citizens who are deeply connected and committed to the natural and cultural heritage bequeathed to them. This intersection between culture and nature, offered in an engaging and innovative way, makes the project an exemplary model of how relationships can be transformed by meaningful experiences in the natural world.

The project’s innovative approach has proven popular, with thousands of families registered for the opportunity to participate (the team continues to provide its programs free of charge). In 2024, the project became Instituto Trilhas de Criança. Having served approximately 10,000 people to date, the institute continues to expand, today traveling throughout the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, offering an online course, screening films outside via its Environmental Film Club, and securing an agreement with the local state parks agency to offer programming in areas that would otherwise be closed to the public.

Monrat dreamed of a world where children grow up with a deep connection to nature, and brought that vision to life in a tangible and impactful way. Her leadership at Trilhas de Criança reflects a combination of innovation, determination and compassion, characteristics that have attracted recognition and support from various organizations and the community.

Instituto Trilhas de Criança
Instagram for Trilhas de Criança
LinkedIn profile for Lesly Monrat 

Juliet Robertson is a trailblazer in outdoor learning, renowned for her work in making nature-based education accessible to all. A former primary school teacher in Scotland, she saw firsthand the transformative power of outdoor play and learning. As a teacher, she integrated outdoor activities into her curriculum, leading weekly student visits to local woods, a lunchtime Wildlife Watch Club and school grounds development work. During and after her teaching career, Robertson continued her international work with research visits to Canada, Sweden and Czech Republic that focused on outdoor, environmental and sustainable development themes.

In 2007, Robertson founded Creative STAR Learning Ltd., a consultancy dedicated to helping educators integrate outdoor learning into everyday teaching. Through this work, she has influenced national initiatives in Scotland and beyond, championing outdoor learning and helping it to become an essential part of the Scottish education curriculum.

Robertson is also a celebrated author. Her books, “Dirty Teaching: A Beginner’s Guide to Learning Outdoors” and “Messy Maths: A Playful, Outdoor Approach for Early Years,” provide practical guidance for teachers seeking to take learning beyond the classroom walls. These widely acclaimed works have shaped outdoor education globally, inspiring countless educators to embrace nature-based learning.

Her contributions to the field earned her an Honorary Doctorate in Education from Queen Margaret University in 2024, recognizing her lifelong commitment to fostering creativity, curiosity and well-being through outdoor play and learning — one of many accolades that she has received for her leadership in the movement. She has also been profiled in a Finding Nature News feature.

Creative STAR Learning Ltd

With a background in formal and informal environmental education, Mary Beth Sutton founded WaterWays, a nonprofit leading young people and their teachers in hands-on activities to care for the water and environments where they live. Originally established in 2004 as the Caribbean Student Environmental Alliance in St. Lucia, the organization has since rebranded and expanded, promoting watershed health and conservation on an international scale.

From Belize to St. Lucia, the organization’s efforts to promote environmental conservation, sustainable development and youth empowerment resonate globally, inspiring individuals to prioritize equitable access to nature. Past projects in countries such as Curaçao, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Dominica demonstrate WaterWays’ commitment to fostering environmental stewardship and community resilience across the Caribbean basin.

Closer to home, Sutton has championed immersive education experiences for students in Title I schools, bridging the gap between classroom learning and environmental stewardship. Programs like Stream Teams engage students in water quality testing, flow measurement and macroinvertebrate sampling — hands-on activities that inspire curiosity and scientific inquiry. In 2023 alone, WaterWays provided programming for over 7,000 students, many of whom had never explored a local park before.

The resilience and success of WaterWays can be attributed to Sutton’s exceptional leadership and infectious enthusiasm for water sustainability. Beyond education, Sutton has led urban revitalization efforts, transforming neglected spaces into accessible green areas and securing funding to sustain these initiatives. Her work fosters a sense of belonging in nature, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, can experience the transformative power of nature.

WaterWays
LinkedIn profile for Mary Beth Sutton

Growing up in an urban environment near Boston, Massachusetts, Jim Tolstrup had to “look hard to find nature.” This background led to a strong sense of empathy for people, and children in particular, who don’t have access to the restorative qualities of nature in their daily lives.

Today, Tolstrup is the Executive Director of the High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) in Loveland, Colorado, a unique model for preserving native biodiversity in the midst of development. Located within Centerra, a mixed-use development, HPEC is a 275-acre park with extensively restored natural areas and ponds. HPEC features native plant gardens and nurseries that draw inspiration from local Plains Indian Tribes, a children’s nature area called “the Wild Zone,” community garden plots, wetlands, an heirloom fruit orchard and bird watching areas.

A collaboration among developers, city planners and local government, HPEC is the nerve center for Centerra’s mosaic of multiuse: suburban homes, businesses, office parks nestled among beautifully preserved and restored natural environments. Tolstrup envisions similar transformations of suburban habitats into thriving, balanced habitats that incorporate native plants and support biodiversity. He shares this vision in his book, “Suburbitat,” which offers detailed strategies to reimagine the possibilities of the suburban and urban environments.

Tolstrup is a landscape designer by training, and his past work experience includes founding Cankatola Tiospaye, a nonprofit that provides material assistance to Native American Elders; serving as Land Stewardship Director of Drala (formerly Shambhala) Mountain Center; and running his own landscape design business in Maine, where he installed gardens at George and Barbara Bush’s “Summer White House.” He holds a Certificate in Gardening Arts from the Landscape Institute of Harvard University and the Arnold Arboretum, and has been recognized with awards by Denver Water, Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, American Society of Landscape Architects and the Sustainable Living Association.

High Plains Environmental Center
LinkedIn profile for Jim Tolstrup

Rina Zampieron brings more than a decade of experience teaching and developing curriculum for Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Community Preschool. Now, in her current role as Mass Audubon’s Statewide Early Education Manager, Zampieron works with early education centers across Massachusetts to support early educators in taking learning outdoors.

Inspired by a need that she saw arise during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zampieron set out to establish Mass Audubon’s reputation as an authority in the field of early environmental education. This began with a workshop series about the possibilities nature holds as a vehicle for standard curriculum, followed by a series on accessible ways to safely enjoy the outdoors, in any weather.

A consistent thread in Zampieron’s work is partnerships. She participated in a grant with the Mass Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to co-create four preschool STEM units, which are free and downloadable on Mass Audubon’s teaching resource page in both English and Spanish. A partnership with volunteer organization Catchafire allowed Mass Audubon to translate resources into languages frequently spoken by early educators, while funding support by the Alaveras Foundation allowed them to provide ASL translation services for certain trainings.

Zampieron’s work is also unique in its integration of specialized “tracks” for educators in select pedagogies, such as Montessori, farm-to-school, religious-based programs and more. She works directly with schools to understand their unique models and needs, and helps them to integrate nature-based learning in a way that is meaningful and additive to their program.

Her work has been recognized widely, and she has reached hundreds of early educators, serving thousands of students in Massachusetts and beyond. Her next big project is to secure funding so Mass Audubon educators can provide year-long partnerships in nature and farm-based coaching and training for early educators working in underserved communities across Massachusetts.

Mass Audubon
LinkedIn profile for Rina Zampieron