Everyone has a place in the outdoors. We all belong. 

As a kid, I was privileged to spend my summers and weekends on my grandparent's farm, playing all day outside at the small creek down the road, around the barn, and in the pastures. As I grew older, this connection with the outdoors grew in depth as I worked with dad and grandpa on the family farm. Those experiences made it easier for me to see and accept, as a professional within the AEC Industry, the mental and physical health benefits that come with creating connections to the natural world in our built environments. Connections that EVERYONE can access.

Those experiences made it easier for me to recognize the design implications of the Biophilia hypothesis (the innate connection we ALL have with nature and other life forms), the importance of biomimicry (using nature as an inspirational source for design), and the need to mitigate the impacts of our built environment on biodiversity as well as climate change. They made me more curious about the world around me.

Because I believe every kid should have access to positive outdoor experiences and environmental education, and that KACEE is an important source for that education in our state, I joined their board. I wanted to help ensure KACEE can equitably facilitate this connection to nature for our state’s youth. It doesn’t just help individual kids thrive; when equitably multiplied across society it collectively increases our mental and physical health, our curiosity about the world around us (while decreasing our fear), and the likelihood of meaningful climate action.

During KACEE's fall fundraiser, I hope you'll consider joining me in supporting KACEE in their mission - to show our youth that everyone has a place in the outdoors through environmental education.