Meet Our Team

Tara Schroder believes connecting children to nature is vital because it fosters curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong appreciation for the world, shaping them (including her own two girls) into healthier, more compassionate individuals.

Sara Nelson deeply values the heart in our work and all the people who carry our mission forward. She is driven to help build strong teams, solve challenges, and create systems where people and their ideas can grow into something truly meaningful.

Chief Information Officer 

Jeff Lindstrom believes that helping facilitate a relationship between people and nature at an early age has lifelong implications and makes the world a better place, because we cannot expect people to be stewards of something they do not have a relationship with.

Jill Primak believes in the ripple effect - when we improve one child’s experience or inspire one educator, that impact radiates outward, multiplying across the thousands of lives we touch every day.

Through outdoor classroom design, Gavin Ludovici connects children (and adults who support them) with nature and inspires learning through wonder and exploration.

As an Educator, Heather Fox is in it for the wonder—the moment when a teacher sees their ideas play out in a nature-rich space and the connections we can make with the earth, the people, and places along the way.

Educator Kirsten Haugen shares that taking play and learning into thoughtfully designed natural outdoor spaces opens up possibilities for children who typically struggle with indoor settings, heavily programmed activities, and restrictive schedules.

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Kara Ficke is passionate about the impact daily connections to nature have on children, families, educators, and communities, and channels that passion in Nature Explore communications and collaborations.

Genesis Gibson's work at Nature Explore is important to her because she knows that the care and environmental experiences children receive in early childhood can shape who they become and influence the trajectory of their future.

Lana Gilson has a deep love of nature, finding peace and joy in the beauty of being outdoors. Through the work of Nature Explore, she knows we are helping to create spaces for children to develop this same love, along with all the benefits of being in nature.

Natasha Drake's work matters to her because it gives her the opportunity to find solutions, create meaningful relationships, and positively influence people's daily experiences.

Jason Kelly believes all the hard work benefits so many children and educators around the world.

Nature Explore is important to Miranda Hild because of the positive impact it has on children's lives!

Bob Okamoto believes all children should have supportive communities that allow them to discover the world around them.

Through Design, Stacy Hawthorne strives to tell the powerful stories of our work. Her ultimate goal is to communicate information clearly while evoking emotions and building connections.

Brittany Cernic finds purpose in helping support and uplift educators and families who bring the joy and wonder of the natural world into children’s lives by sharing stories and inspiration.

Working on Nature Explore's website gives Kaitlyn Nelsen the chance to connect our community with resources using beauty and clarity.

John Nimmo is a Professor of Early Childhood Education at Portland State University.

Kim Nall is the Executive Director, of the Tribal Child Care Association of California

Kristin Tynon is a CPA and Tax Managing Director for Foruis, LLP.

Deanna Briley is the Chief Financial Officer at the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties.

Deb Buhro is the former CEO of Oxbow Animal Heath.

Sarah Karle is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Michael Brown is the Sr. Director of Community Engagement at Hilltop Children's Center and Podcast Creator and Co-Host of Napcast.

Stan Howard is the Founder and CEO of the Law and Civics Reading and Writing Institute.

Chris Kiewra is an Assistant Professor of Practice, Child, Youth and Family Studies at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

Iris Chin Ponte is the Director of Henry Frost Children's Program and Co-Author of Complementary Curriculum Approach.

Michelle Suarez is a former elementary school Principal and serves as an Early Childhood Developer for Prosper Lincoln.