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Dr. William H. Thomas...Director of the NJ School of Conservation
...has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Arizona State University. His research interests include conservation/sustainable use and traditional ecological wisdom of indigenous people. He is a fellow in the Explorers Club, has been named "Explorer of the Year," and honored by Rolex and others for his exploration in New Guinea.
Dr. Thomas has worked in the most remote regions of Papua New Guinea to record local environmental knowledge. He is particularly interested in the potential for indigenous knowledge to provide a blueprint for the conservation of the earth’s remaining wild lands. Dr. Thomas hopes that by exposing conservationists to the possibilities of indigenous knowledge, they will be more willing to adopt local models of sustainability and involve local people in the conservation of their lands. He is currently working with Conservation International to develop a "Forest Stewards" program to conserve the largest and least explored wilderness in New Guinea.
Dr. Thomas has been recognized by the United Nations for the development of research methodologies in the use of indigenous knowledge. UNESCO‘s Management of Social Transformations Program (MOST) has recognized Dr. Thomas for his development of one of the planet’s “Best Practices Using Indigenous Knowledge.” In addition to being innovative, these Best Practices were chosen for their potential to make a difference and inspire others to develop sustainable use strategies for the environment. His work has been funded by Conservation International, The Indo-Pacific Conservation Alliance and the National Geographic Society.
Don Patricio Dominguez, Director, INTK
... has been active in fostering relationships between the Native American world and the mainstream world, as well as creating community within Native American culture. A unique bridge between cultures Don Patricio not only grew up in a traditional way, he also studied engineering and is proficient in various kinds of technology.
He has helped to form International Elders Council, has come forward to share knowledge as an expert in various books, and has spoken around the world as an Elder, a Leader and Shaman. He built a ceremonial kiva with his own hands and his community, and teaches ancient traditions to his students, regardless of their ethnicity or heritage. He initiated the Sustainable Food and Seed Sovereignty Conference in an effort to keep altered seed out of New Mexico, and to teach the world.
Dorna Schroeter, BOCES Developer of Environmental Programs
...this program serves some 35,000 students from schools in Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess and Orange counties each year. CEE's programs are diverse. They include; student programs at their nature center, Madden Outdoor Education Center and in schools, environmental kits, a summer program for kids, and marine ecology programs on Cape Cod for elementary groups and in the Florida Keys for middle and high school students. In addition, PNW BOCES is a program site for the JASON Project, an international telecommunication program that brings together students and scientist through live telecast.
Most recently she has been working with the schools to support their efforts toward developing a K-12 sustainability education curriculum. To that end, she co-founded the Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation. She is a graduate of the Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (ZERI) certification program, a systems-based approach that uses waste as a value-added resource.
Dorna has served on several boards, taught graduate-level courses, authored many articles and her passion for the ocean led her to write a children's story about the ocean.
Most recently she has been an advisor for the DoRight Leadership Corps and is working with the Biomimicry Institute's education program. In summer 2008, she organized the first ever Biomimicry kid's camp and is organizing a Biomimicry teacher institute next summer.
James Bruchac, Native American Storyteller, Ndakinna...
...a non-for-profit business, offering hands-on field trips on a 80+ acre nature preserve and educational center focusing on Native American history & culture as well as environmental education. As the director of Ndakinna Jim has offered outdoor related programs for thousands of people as well as numerous cultural events. In the Fall of 2006 Jim helped Ndakinna found and direct the Saratoga Native American Festival.
Jim has both authored and co-authored books for kids and adults alike. Childrens' books include How Chipmunk Got His Stripes, Turtle's Race with Beaver, and Racoon's Last Race, all by Dial books, When The Chenoo Howls from Walker books and Native American Games and Stories by Fulcrum Publishing. Adult and general public titles include three animal tracking pocket guides by Falcon Press, Scats & Tracks of The Northeast, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
As a Native American storyteller and youngest member of The Adirondack Liars' Club, Jim has offered programs for hundreds of schools and organizations across the United States, including The National Wildlife Federation, Defenders of Wildlife, Cornell Outdoor Education, Syracuse University Forestry School, Environmental Education Council of Ohio, SUNY Albany, Skidmore College, Miami University Ohio Outdoor Pursuit Center, Iowa Conservation Education Council, The National Parks Service, Ohio Metro Parks, YMCA of the Rockies, Pocono Environmental Education Center and many others. Along with his upcoming survival books Jim has also been featured on such television shows as Wild TV on PBS and Ray Mears Ultimate Survival Guide, on the Travel Channel. He has acted as a survival consulted for numerous local and National News Stations.
Jim is a member of the Trackers' Research Association (TRAcks), and The International Society of Professional Trackers (ISPT). He received a degree in American Studies from Skidmore College.
Linda Borghi, Biodynamic Agricultural Systems...
...Biodynamic farming dates back to 1924 and was conceived by Dr. Rudolf Steiner, a scientist that proved traditional methods through scientific documentation. Biodynamic farming considers a piece of land as a whole organism, complete and self-sustaining, includes manure, seed, flowers, herbs, forest. “SPIN” (Small Plot Intensive) farming was featured in the Wall Street Journal and on Good Morning America as a method of urban farming to help feed people in difficult times, and generates approx $50,000 of gross revenue per half acre per season. She has had abundant success with these techniques, including 11 foot sunflowers, and extraordinary quantities of produce.
Linda was recently featured as Orange County’s Queen of Manure (a great honor in the farming world!) by Who’s Who in Manure.
Programs and Services
Earth Energy Natural Spraying Service offers Biodynamic spray commercially for any size plot, and through a field research study from Hawaii, has been shown to diminish 81% of DDT contamination in just the first year, and increases yield by 30%, and decreases water consumption by 50%. Eat Local Virtual Farmstand – goal is to keep Orange County’s food in OC, making whole unprocessed food from local farmers available, ensuring that local farmers get fair prices on their product and that local people are minimizing the carbon footprint on their consumption. Gardening with Children – Connecting children with nature and showing them how farming is an admirable and acceptable profession.
Linda Borghi was the 1st intern at Chestnut Ridge, NY to the Pfeiffer Center Garden. She also partners with a global alliance of Spin farmers for centralized sources of information around this practice. Linda is now breaking ground to establish an Orange County Food Council, which will be the local chapter of a national coalition managing food distribution and consumption.
Hank Snyder, Social Psychologist...
...during this time, he has learned to conduct and implement several different adventure- based as well as traditional therapy modalities. Included among them are Guided Group Interaction, Restorative/rational emotive, Adventure based, Challenge by Choice, and Breakthrough therapies to name a few. In many cases, the entire milieu of the treatment center as well as the residential component were based around these therapies. Currently, Hank is pursuant of a PhD in Organic Psychology which emphasizes healing through reconnecting with nature as well as the popular Nature Deficiency school of thought.
He has plied these therapies at: the Young Adult Conservation Corps, the Accept Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, the Albert Elias Highfields Residential Group Center, Quakertown, Fair Oaks, and Doylestown Hospitals, New Vitae Partial Hospital, The Bonnie Brae School for Boys, The Terraces Center for Addictions Medicine, The Werner Erhart Six Day Center, the Hunterdon Learning Center, and the Lehigh Learning Academy working as a Special Education Teacher/counselor and a Psychiatric Social Worker.
Courtni Hale, Northeast Coordinator, INTK, CNTK Council...
...her position deals with education on natural and traditional knowledge, such as sustainability, healing through nature, and community farming. Central point person for connecting partners, liaison for the gathering and assimilating of knowledge around sustainable coexistence.
Interpreter, teacher and practitioner of traditional arts with experience in government, legal systems, international studies, yoga, freelance writing and fine art.
Programs and Services
The Interactive Silk, Red Hawk Native Arts Council, University of Utopian Directions
World Womb Lecture Series, Harmony Farm/ Empowerment Center lecture series including Susun Weed and Charles Eisenstein
Exploring Confirmation through Art, Monroe Temple Beth El Silk Painting class for name confirmation, using Hebrew name to stimulate creative understanding
Self-Knowledge through the Medicine Wheel, Ananda Ashram Painting and Yoga retreat using ancient technology for artistic vision
American University School of International Service, Presidential Scholar, Class of 97,
- BAS, International Relations School of International Service, BAS, Latin American Studies School of International Service - Special courses in Politics, Economics and History at Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile - Nationally Certified Simultaneous Interpreter, Translator - National Merit Scholar
Yolanda Maldonado, CNTK Council...
...as a Conservation Biologist she has travel to Panama, Peru, Italy, and England to conduct field research on various species and ecosystems. As co-project leader she was involved in designing ecological corridors for the Province of Milan’s North-Eastern region. Her research finding on the a conflict between the Maiella National Park, Italy and the local community, and her involvement in assisting park officials to bridge the communication gap lead to a resolution of the conflict. Yolanda believes in an interdisciplinary approach to conservation, where the scientific community, the business community and the local community all come together to find solutions.
Her passions for conserving species lead her to an understanding of the need to share scientific knowledge with other so as to create awareness of the impact each person has within our global ecosystem and to explore actions necessary to create a system for sustainable co-existence.
Nikki Garrett, Founder Maria's Garden Montessori...
...her career began in 1997 in rural Thailand, where she developed an English program for students from kindergarten through eighth grade, using the arts as a vehicle to teach in a culturally isolated area. She returned to the U.S. in 1998, where she joined The Academy of New Paltz, an alternative middle/high school.
At The Academy, Garrett built a holistic education for at-risk teens which included practical life experiences, wilderness expeditions, independent study, and internships. In 2002, Ms. Garrett began her study of the Montessori approach. In 2003, she founded Maria’s Garden Montessori School, a school for students age three through third grade. Here, using the Montessori model as a foundation, she explored other approaches to education such as Waldorf, Reggio-Emilia, and Bank Street, incorporating elements of them into her own program.
She also brought digital technology into the classroom as a documentation tool, communicating the vibrancy of their learning to parents in a blog which included photographs, child artwork, and transcribed conversations. Ms. Garrett is currently researching and writing on connections between Montessori’s schema of child development and those of other methods, tutoring privately, and working in diverse educational settings. Ms. Garrett is certified by the Center for Montessori Teacher Education, an American Montessori Society accredited program. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Purchase College.
Sherry Fischer, Treasurer...
...For the past eight years she has been the account and Purchasing Coordinator for Montclair University School of Conservation. During this time she has been responsible all accounting functions, the annual budget and adhering to all State purchasing laws.
Sherry graduated with a Science in Business Administration and an Associate of Science in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She was elected as a member of Delta Mu Delta 1996 - the National Honors Society of Business Administration and named in the Who’s Who amongst students in American University and Colleges 1996-1997. She was also a member of Phi Omega Epsilon Honor Society of Fairleigh Dickinson University.
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