Who We Are
The Nature Based Education Consortium is a network driven by its participants, leaders of all ages from across the outdoor learning sector. Meet the people driving our network's efforts below.
Steering Committee
The role of the Steering Committee is to distill and focus the direction of the Consortium, to approve and to grow its capacity. The Steering Committee is made up of 10-15 participants. Beyond the role of other participants in the network, steering committee members:
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Attend monthly Steering Committee meetings in-person or online
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Set yearly budget for the Consortium and associated working groups
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Establish priorities and oversee work plan implementation
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Represent the Nature Based Education Consortium at events
Members
Local Outdoor Learning Advocacy Working Group
This working group focuses on making a change at a local level, within schools, districts, and town government and is continuing to support outdoor learning and connect Maine educators with outdoor learning information and support as a continuation of its 2020 work on school reopening.
This group's co-chairs are Seal Rossignol and Lena Ives.
For inquiries about the Local Outdoor Learning Advocacy Working Group, contact coordinator Nathan Broaddus.
For general inquiries, contact network coordinator Nathan Broaddus
Members
Outdoor Equity Working Group
So far, the Outdoor Equity working group has supported the NBEC Thrive Outside 2022 initiative to distribute state parks passes to BIPOC in Wabanaki territory, and is currently supporting the Outdoor Equity Fund, co-hosted by NBEC and Maine Initiatives.
This group's co-chairs are Sikwani Dana and Brooke Bolduc.
For inquiries about the Outdoor Equity Working Group, contact network coordinator Nathan Broaddus
Members
Climate Education Advocacy Working Group
In 2020, this task force successfully advocated for the inclusion of climate education in the Maine Climate Council Climate Action Plan. In 2022, it successfully developed and helped pass a Climate Education Policy in the Maine legislature.
This group's co-chairs are Amara Ifeji and Elise Hartill.
For inquiries about the Climate Education Advocacy Working Group, contact coordinator Nathan Broaddus.
For general inquiries, contact network coordinator Nathan Broaddus
Members
Stories for Change Working Group
The Stories for Change working group is focused on strategic and equitable storytelling: sharing stories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who have deep and multifaceted relationships with the outdoors. Through an intentional, trust-rooted, storyteller-led process, the group will share nature-based narratives of BIPOC individuals as well as LGBTQ+ people, youth, and others with marginalized identities.
This group's co-chairs are Nirmala Young and Tessa Shanteler.
For inquiries about the Stories for Change Working Group, contact co-chair Nirmala Young or communications coordinator Emily Weyrauch.
Members
Network Support
Nathan Broaddus
Network Coordinator
With a background in community organizing, educational equity, and facilitation, Nathan supports the Nature Based Education Consortium’s many leaders in working towards systems-level change together in Maine.
Nathan works to help channel new ideas emerging from network process into equitable and sustainable working structures, seeking to reflect the network’s central goal of outdoor learning opportunities for all Maine youth in NBEC’s equitable process and shared leadership.
An avid farmer and gardener, you can find Nathan with his hands in the dirt in his free time.
Email Nathan here.
Emily Weyrauch
Communications Coordinator
In 2021, Emily joined the Nature Based Education Consortium to support the network by communicating a shared goal, telling stories about outdoor learning in Maine, and co-creating equitable practices for storytelling.
With a background in journalism and nonprofit communications, Emily enjoys collaborating with and learning from others in the NBEC network.
Emily’s greatest joys are spending time as a counselor at a summer camp for LGBTQIA+ youth, walking in unfamiliar places, and lounging in the sun with Odin and Freya, the best dogs in the world.
Email Emily here.