Nature Mentors
Diversity in nature
The fields of wildlife and conservation are dominated by white voices. Our Nature Mentor series is a small step towards changing that. These scientists, naturalists, and nature lovers want to share their love of nature with your kids! Our Nature Mentors are Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), folks from the LBGTQ+ community, or people with disabilities. We want kids to know that no matter who you are, nature is for YOU!
Use these short videos (about 5 minutes each) to spark discussion with your kids or send them exploring down a new nature path.
There are only a few videos now, but we’re working on gathering lots more! If you would like to be a Nature Mentor or know of someone who would be a good fit, send us an email: education@swibirds.org.
Gervis Myles: Wisconsin DNR and Milwaukee County Zoo
“If you see something, just go get it. You want to work in nature? Go! Go find somebody who can help you do that.”
Taylor Franklin: International Crane Foundation
“Don’t be afraid to be [yourself]. Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t do something because it’s weird or different. Just keep doing what you’re doing and what you love to do.”
Kassandra Ford: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
“Google it! You might find out somebody knows the answer, but you also might find out that nobody knows. And that’s the beauty of science, that’s why it’s so cool.”
Rae Wynn-Grant, large carnivore ecologist (if/then® collection)
“I wanted to do exactly what those nature show hosts did. However, I didn’t necessarily see myself represented in that... I was so different from those nature show hosts I saw. But there are no rules. For me, I applied that message to my career path.”
Triet Tran: International Crane Foundation
"The more you spend time with nature, the more you feel inspired, the more you feel your life is fulfilled"
Juita Martinez: University of Louisiana at Layfayette
“With all the information that I get, I get to share that with other people, like you watching this and other scientists, and we can work together to try and make this a better world.”
Corina Newsome, Georgia State University, Georgia Audubon and co-founder of black birder’s week
“My approach is to plug people who are part of these marginalized communities into the natural world because it’s going to be better for them, it’s going to be better for us.”
Cover photo by Drew Harry
