Year end review - taxes & joy

I admit, I am not a fan of pulling together tax stuff. But I do enjoy looking through all of the work over the past year. Even though our whole world was upside down, I am so grateful for my clients and colleagues, family and friends and all of the great adventures in nature. Every year, I learn so much and am grateful for all of the opportunities to support our schools, community and kids. Thank you to my clients who make the world a better place.

Another trip around the sun

So many great things about February. I made another trip around the sun, we had snow for my birthday and celebrated another anniversary. I spent lots of great time with my family, counted birds for Cornell, and made some new recipes. Yes, always grateful to see another February. They are different every year.

Light at the end of the tunnel

What a year it has been. One year ago, I started keeping my kids home waiting to see where the pandemic will take us. What an honor it was to help one school plan a moving restart on the 1-year anniversary. EPS Illahee ES planted 19 new trees on their campus. A new fresh start to the school year....for shade, learning, color and joy! (Photo: EPS)

Changing the world for birds

If you know me, you know that I will stop mid-sentence to notice birds (geese flock overhead, the sound of a nearby nuthatch, glimmer of yellow of the warble hiding in the bush). So grateful for partners that have programs to educate about birds and habitat. CLT & Portland Audubon

"Easily distracted by birds"=me​

Donors who give their land

Many of the lands that my family and I like to hike were generously donated to be protected for generations to come. Thank goodness for the people who are protectors of the natural areas. Betty Swanson, pictured here, was a gem in our community and forever shares her 33 acres with all of us. The barn owls are grateful, too.

Gratitude for all the critters

I have always been drawn to animals and love to share my joy with students and families out on the trails and forests. So much to learn and see. Even at home, our pets bring so much joy. 

So, here is to Nattie, the matron of the house.

Mentors from Univ. of Michigan

​Maybe it is the fall air with Thanksgiving on the horizon, but I can't help but remember all of the valuable lessons these two professors taught me. I had a lot of great and impactful experiences in grad school, but Rachel Kaplan and Terry Brown set my course for the work I do today.

Thanking our veterans

Growing up in a military family, we learned first hand that freedom is not free. Thank you to all of the veterans and those who currently serve. This is the sketch used for my dad's enshrinement into the MIchigan Aviation Hall of Fame, shortly after he passed in 1999. 

Kids still want to climb trees

I know that it is not allowed on playgrounds and in many parks, but I am so grateful that we have trees around that kids can climb. They want to climb. We adults need to stand back and let them climb. This maple has hosted many kiddos in the last 15 years. Thank goodness!

John Muir Laws...a new perspective

• I notice

• I wonder

• It reminds me of

Wow....I took an online course from this amazing teacher and it has really changed my thinking to environmental education and GOSY projects. If you work with kids, get a sketch book, watercolors and some pens......go check it out! Thank you!!!

New visioning takes shape

After so many years of working with partners from the Intertwine Alliance and around Clark County, we are about to embark on a new journey with the CCNN. So grateful for all of the partnerships and leaders over the years. Thanks Mesha and Josie for having faith in me to help lead the way!

Old fashion thank you notes...

I was taught from a young age to be grateful (hence this page). After a crazy year and many projects are wrapping up, I make sure to find time to thank those who have partnered to get amazing projects in the ground. Some might be a little late, but I am so grateful for the leadership, support and partnership to connect kids to nature.

Children & Nature Network!

It was truly an honor to support the C&NN Greening of Schoolyard partners at last week's leadership summit. While it is always amazing to meet and chat throughout the conference, I was grateful that we could still meet online. Truly amazing GOSY work going on around the world!

Grand openings of new spaces

So when a new project opens to the public, I am pretty stoked to take my kids and check it out. While at EPS Emerald ES, lots of kids ran to the nature play with big smiles...cool, right? Well, it really made my day with this cute pup also enjoyed hopping up and over the logs. Go Roxy!

Nature play is everywhere...

If you are patient and look hard enough. My 8 year sees EVERYTHING. How in the heck he saw this praying mantis in the mint, I don't know. And then he found the male too. So awesome! I want to say I walk the walk with my kids everyday, but some days more than others. This was cool!

Webinar series for CCNN

Well, the amazing partners for the Clark County Nature Network have pulled together a great webinar series to connect schools to learning on their campuses. We have talked about this for years! So grateful to all of the presenters who donate their time and expertise to share their knowledge.

Responsive collaboration

I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the largest charette in my career. I worked with GOSY colleagues from around the world to help pull together pages for the Infrastructure section of the new GOSY COVID-19 response program. Thanks to Sharon, Claire and Nancy!

Learning from Craftsmen/women

Every time I enter a construction site, my first thought after safety is "be ready to learn." I always look forward to conversations with contractors on what worked, what didn't, what would help them in the future....etc. I sure do appreciate learning from contractors with 10, 20, 30 years of experience!

Illahee Elementary

During an interview today with the garden coordinator, I learned about so many great program ideas, such as this home garden kit. Complete with seeds on paper to plant and grow. She learned from a dear colleague in Battle Ground. Brilliant!

Back to school during COVID

Super excited to partner with GOSY professionals around the country to help create guidelines for creating safe outdoor spaces for students headed back to school. US did it in 1915, as this Library of Congress image shows.....we can do it again.

Scouts partnership

Inspiring conversation with local scouting partners who want to help build features at schools. From landscape projects to enhance beauty, to outdoor classrooms like this one built by an Eagle Scout at Camas Woodburn ES. Thanks partners!