The DRW Show

Ellen Bashor, 29, is the Education Director for an intergovernmental agreement between Prescott Unified School District and the City of Prescott's Community Nature Center, and has been an Environmental Education instructor at Prescott College for 5 years now. She holds both a Bachelors and Masters in Education, with emphases in Early Childhood Education and Environmental Education. In addition, Ellen serves as board president for the Arizona Association for Environmental Education, and as a board member for the Greater Prescott Outdoors Fund and the Prescott Audubon Society. In 2019 they were selected as an ee360 Fellow by the North American Association for Environmental Education, in 2020 they were awarded Arizona Environmental Educator of the Year, and in 2021 they were honored with the international Environmental Education 30 Under 30 award. Ellen's career and service work is deeply embedded in her commitment to equitable access to the outdoors, environmental learning, and opportunities that cultivate a more healthy, just, and sustainable world for all. @pinyonpineranger @communitynaturecenter @natureniñosprescott www.prescottcommunitynaturecenter.org www.prescott-az.gov/recreation-events/programs-special-events/programs/nature-ninos/ Diona Reese Williams Edited Production: Angel Productions DRW Guest: Ellen Bashor Facebook Page: @dionareesewilliams Instagram DRW Personal Brand: @drw_dionareesewilliams Instagram Out Back Learning LLC: @outbacklearning2019 Facebook Page: @outbacklearning2019 Podcast: https://anchor.fm/diona-williams Children's Book: Sweet Potato & Mud Pies https://a.co/d/hRu3fvP

Megan Gessler is the Little Trees Program Supervisor for The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, United States. She has over a decade of experience directing and teaching in a nature-based preschool. Megan founded the Northern Illinois Nature Preschool Association (NINPA), and serves on the Executive Leadership Team of the North American Association of Environmental Education’s (NAAEE) Natural Start Alliance. She holds a M.Ed. from Antioch University New England (AUNE), a Certificate in Nature-based Early Childhood Education from AUNE, and is a certified Master Naturalist. Megan contributed to The Sky Above and the Mud Below, published by Redleaf Press. Diona Reese Williams Edited Production: Angel Productions DRW Guest: Megan Gessler Facebook Page: @dionareesewilliams Instagram DRW Personal Brand: @drw_dionareesewilliams Instagram Out Back Learning LLC: @outbacklearning2019 Facebook Page: @outbacklearning2019 Podcast: https://anchor.fm/diona-williams Children's Book: Sweet Potato & Mud Pies https://a.co/d/hRu3fvP

Atiya Wells is the Founder and Executive Director of Backyard Basecamp, Inc. - a nonprofit with a mission to (re)connect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to land and nature. By diving into research and history, Atiya learned that historical trauma is a key player in the lack of diversity in environmental programming. She has since dedicated her time to (re)introducing her community to nature by starting in their own backyards and eventually embarking on a journey into the many wild spaces across Baltimore. Website: https://backyardbasecamp.org/ Diona Reese Williams Edited Production: Angel Productions DRW Guest: Atiya Wells Facebook Page: @dionareesewilliams Instagram DRW Personal Brand: @drw_dionareesewilliams Instagram Out Back Learning LLC: @outbacklearning2019 Facebook Page: @outbacklearning2019 Podcast: https://anchor.fm/diona-williams Children's Book: Sweet Potato & Mud Pies https://a.co/d/hRu3fvP

I work for Prairie School of Dupage as not only the lead Forest Preschool teacher, but also I work with our Lower Elementary program for recess and am the tour guide for the school. I would love to talk about how we work with challenging behaviors in our program--particularly since we are a "classroom without walls", what tools do we have access to? Also, discovering that some of these challenge behaviors may stem from sensory overload (wet boots, wet socks, something causing discomfort) or needing some extra sensory stimulation (impulsive behavior) and working with children and parents to support them. https://prairieschoolofdupage.org/ Diona Reese Williams Edited Production: Angel Productions DRW Guest: Kelin Fulkerson-Smith Facebook Page: @dionareesewilliams Instagram DRW Personal Brand: @drw_dionareesewilliams Instagram Out Back Learning LLC: @outbacklearning2019 Facebook Page: @outbacklearning2019 Podcast: https://anchor.fm/diona-williams Children's Book: Sweet Potato & Mud Pies https://a.co/d/hRu3fvP

Morgan's Bio: I am the director of education at Bluestem Hall Nature School. We serve 3-5-year-old students at a tallgrass prairie preserve and restored machine shed. We spend 75%+ of the school day outside. Enrollment is ongoing during the current school year, and enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year will begin soon. Bluestemhall.com Diona Reese Williams Edited Production: Angel Productions DRW Guest: Morgan Duerksen-Balk Facebook Page: @dionareesewilliams Instagram DRW Personal Brand: @drw_dionareesewilliams Instagram Out Back Learning LLC: @outbacklearning2019 Facebook Page: @outbacklearning2019 Podcast: https://anchor.fm/diona-williams Children's Book: Sweet Potato & Mud Pies https://a.co/d/hRu3fvP

My name is Kendra Beeley. I am an early intervention speech therapist in Sierra Vista. I have an upcoming website for parents of kids under 3 years old. I am very interested in your podcast and Julie Siddens tagged me on Facebook and told me a bit about your preschool. She knows I am an enthusiastic gardener, though I still am learning! I also very much believe in kids having time outside and time to play. Interest led learning has highly influenced my approach to speech therapy since I discovered unschooling years ago. I have been cheering the neurodiversity movement and the increased awareness of interest led learning, as well as feeding sensory needs and how important it is for really everyone, but especially young children. Diona Reese Williams Edited Production: Angel Productions DRW Guest: Kendra Beeley Facebook Page: @dionareesewilliams Instagram DRW Personal Brand: @drw_dionareesewilliams Instagram Out Back Learning LLC: @outbacklearning2019 Facebook Page: @outbacklearning2019 Podcast: https://anchor.fm/diona-williams Children's Book: Sweet Potato & Mud Pies https://a.co/d/hRu3fvP

Allison Houtz Experiential Education Program Coordinator Bio: Allison is a passionate, lifelong advocate for young children, families, and early educators. She’s worked in early education at large for the past 17 years, through teaching, directing, child advocacy, parent training, coaching, and higher education leadership. Allison currently serves students, faculty, and community members as the Experiential Education Program Coordinator within the Education Department at Prescott College. One of her many hats is leading the Center for Nature & Place through community building and professional development. She’s dedicated to bridging the gap between early education and much needed family resources in rural communities like Yavapai county. Allison believes wholeheartedly that we have a moral obligation to not only support children, but we owe it to our community and future together. One of the most profoundly true quotes I have found elevates the life work I hold so dear, as consultant, trainer, and advocate for children and families: “What we do early in life lays the foundation for all the rest. Early preventive intervention can be exceptionally valuable” (Shonkoff, & Meisels, 1990). This is my philosophy on early childhood education: I believe that early experiences are pivotal to human development, and as such, should be a focal point in our society when it comes to funding and resources for the public. Early Childhood Education runs in my blood – I do what I do because of the foundation my mom laid as an early education leader and advocate for community access to quality care. She’s a mover and shaker and I’ve found myself following in her footsteps and digging my heels in the field we both care deeply about. Below is the content requested for our upcoming DRW Interview: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NPECEcenter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterfornatureandplace/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thePCCenter4Nat Website: https://www.centerfornatureandplace.org/ Summer Institute dates: June 4-6, 2021 Online Modules coming early 2021 Ask us to host a workshop for your team! Email @npece@prescott.edu Diona Reese Williams Edited Production: Angel Productions  DRW Guest: Allison Houtz  Facebook Page: @dionareesewilliams Instagram  DRW Personal Brand: @drw_dionareesewilliams  Instagram Out Back Learning LLC: @outbacklearning2019  Facebook Page: @outbacklearning2019 Podcast: https://anchor.fm/diona-williams

In today's interview, I had the pleasure of meeting with Nikki Julien from the Arizona Wildlife Federation. She took a moment to share how she entered Environmental Education and discussed her work with the Arizona Wildlife Federation. If you want to learn more about AWF and the field of Environmental Education, this is the interview to watch. Thank you, Nikki, for taking the time to stop by the DRW "show." If you are interested in supporting this podcast, please check out my latest product called the Goal Development Plan. 

You can find this plan on my website  http://www.dionareesewilliams.com

Thank you all for your support, and remember to continue to be blessed in nature. 

Nikki Julien Information:  

Facebook: Nikki Julien 

Instagram:  nikki.julien  

Twitter:  AZWildlifeFed 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Nikki.Julien