MISSION
The Idaho Environmental Education Association is dedicated to the advancement of environmental education in Idaho. We support and promote the activities of all educators working to clarify our understanding of the natural world and our role in it.
IdEEA is a 501(C)3 non-profit and serves as a network for EE Educators across the State of Idaho.
MEET THE BOARD
JANICE ALEXANDER
President/Newsletter
Janice Alexander is the Environmental Education Program Coordinator at the Boise Urban Garden School. She has also worked at the Discovery Center of Idaho and the University of California managing STEM and environmental education programs. She grew up in Northern California and received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Environmental Science from U.C. Berkeley before beginning a career in outreach and education. She loves the outdoors, cooking, sci-fi, and laughing with her friends.
Director
Vice President/Grants
SUSAN WOLFE
Susan Wolfe, MAT, Ed.S, is a Gifted and Talented Specialist in Boise, Idaho. As an elementary student, Susan was fascinated by the stories of explorers, maps, and historic photographs, and identified with the insatiable curiosity and passion for exploration. Raised in Colorado and Idaho by an outdoorsman father and a mother with a love of animals, Susan was magnetically drawn to wildlife, outdoor photography, travel, and outdoor adventure. As a Title I public school elementary educator most of her career, Susan has been successfully teaching a 5/6 multi-grade, self-contained gifted and talented classroom for many years. She believes that understanding how our world works, our place in it, and actions that will keep it healthy are vital to educating and inspiring the future stewards of our planet. She teaches environmental education by looking for ways to connect global issues utilizing a local lens. Using inquiry, project-based learning, and community partnerships, her students apply a curiosity-driven, geographic perspective to solve real-world problems. Often this involves “boots on the ground” field experiences to collect data, and authentically practice what they learn in the classroom. Susan is a local, regional, and national presenter and the recipient of numerous awards including the Oregon Elementary History Teacher of the Year, Idaho - Association for Gifted Gem Award, numerous Boise Rotary Century Scholars Program Significant Educator Award. She was selected as a 2021 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow where she travelled to the Galapagos Islands on an expedition, and serves as a National Geographic Certification Facilitator, Geo-Inquiry Ambassador, and is a former National Geographic State Advisor.
Webmaster
MISHA SMITH
Misha grew up in the woods of North Idaho, and spent her childhood exploring the outdoors. She received her teaching degree from the University of Idaho, and earned her masters degree in Economics Education from Boise State University. She has taught 6th grade at Hawthorne Elementary in Boise since 1998 and loves to get her students outdoors and into the field as much as possible. Her mission is to inspire curiosity, critical thinking and problem solving in her students, as well as help them see their connection with the natural world. She uses a variety of inquiry projects, field experiences, and connections with local and global experts to empower students to take action. She won the IdEEA Elementary Environmental Educator of the Year award in 2020, was selected for the EPA Region 10 winner for the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators in 2023, and is a 2023 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions where she will embark on an expedition to Patagonia. In her free time she can be found exploring the great state of Idaho and beyond while camping, hiking, rafting, and visiting as many state and national parks as possible!
ALEX BROOKS
Secretary/Grants
Alex Brooks is the Education Manager for Boise Parks and Rec. She is passionate about offering outdoor exploration opportunities to the youth of the Treasure Valley. Her goal is to create a connection between community members and the outdoors to conserve this beautiful ecosystem. Alex received her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho and her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the McCall Outdoor Science School. She served as a Peace Corps environmental volunteer in Nicaragua and an Americorps member in Boise before entering her current position.
JOHN MAKI
Treasurer/Grants
Experienced, trustworthy, fun. These are just a few of the ways we describe this invaluable member of our team. John Maki's background in finance and banking are crucial to IdEEA's success.
TATE MASON
TERRY RICH
Communications
Terry has a BS in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MS in Zoology from Idaho State University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Policy from Boise State University. Terry worked for the Bureau of Land Management for 20 years and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 15 years. He coordinated the international bird conservation partnership, Partners in Flight, from 2000 to 2014. Terry currently writes a weekly column on birds for the Idaho Press, and has given a monthly program on birds at the Foothills Learning Center for the past six years. Hopefully, these in-person programs will resume soon. Terry is an Honorary Life-time Member of the American Ornithological Society. He and his wife, kids, and grandkids all live in the Treasure Valley.
Tate grew up in the Pacific Northwest devoted to the outdoors. He studied biology at Western Washington University and then earned a Master’s degree in Raptor Biology from Boise State University. In working as an ornithologist, primarily studying owls and songbirds, Tate recognized the critical importance of engaging the general public with the objectives of scientific research. With a passion to conserve biodiversity around the world, Tate now serves as Director of The Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho.
Programming
ERICA HERMSEN
Membership
Erica grew up riding horses in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains outside of Seattle, WA. Her love of nature and animals led her to pursue a B.A in Environmental Education from Western Washington University and an M.S in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England. Erica worked as an educator for Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo before spending nearly a year conducting cheetah conservation research in Kenya. Her work as an educator and conservationist culminated with the launch of EverWild Forest School in Boise, ID in late 2020. By providing critical education and nature connection opportunities to her community’s youngest residents, Erica hopes to help develop the next generation of engaged global citizens.
George retired after a career in academic medicine. He has lived in Northern Idaho for 2.5 years, and has been supportive of conservation efforts, and nonprofits. He
organized the City Nature Challenge in Bonner County, Idaho in 2021 and 2022, and then created the Northern Rocky Mountain Biodiversity Challenge (NRMBC) in 2022 that encompasses the Yellowstone to Yukon ecoregion. The NRMBC was created to connect people at the landscape level to raise awareness of biodiversity.
GEORGE GEHRIG
North Idaho Regional Director/Membership
Programming
Augie is a Water Education Coordinator at the WaterShed Environmental Education Center. He is committed to delivering and developing environmental education programs in Idaho. He has a BS in Environmental Science and an MS in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho. Prior to working at the WaterShed, Augie worked for the Boise School District, did water quality research in South America, attended the McCall Outdoor Science School as a graduate student, and served as an AmeriCorps member for the City of Boise. He was born and raised in Idaho and loves skiing, golfing, hiking, and hanging with his dog, Tessa.
AUGIE GABRIELLI
CURTIS EVANS
Membership
Curtis Evans is the Education Coordinator with the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey. He is passionate about science, education, and nature. Find Curtis at your local Scottish jam session where he plays accordion.
CHRIS TAYLOR
Awards
Chris Taylor has been in education as either a teacher, principal or district administrator for the last 25 years. He has taught all grade levels from 2nd - 9th grade, taught as adjunct faculty at Boise State University, and served as the science, sustainability, and computer science curriculum supervisor for the Boise School District. He has been an active board member of many organizations, such as the Idaho Science Teachers Association, Boise City Club, and Idaho State Museum. He was an integral member of the state committee that wrote and passed the new state science standards, and has worked with both in service and preservice teachers throughout the state helping them implement phenomenon based inquiry in science. Chris has also worked with many community partners throughout the Northwest to help students in the Boise School District be actively involved in topics such as climate change, civility, and sustainability. He has a master’s in
Educational Administration, recently completed his Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership at Boise State University, and has completed his doctorate in education. He hopes to continue to help all districts in the state of Idaho effectively implement the new Idaho State Science Standards and bring more STEM opportunities in their K-12 classrooms.
BECKY FEEKES
Programming
Becky Feekes is the Secondary Science Academic Coach for the West Ada School District. She previously spent 16 years teaching high school science and now works with science teachers to help move science education forward in the Treasure Valley. She holds a BS in Biology and Masters degrees in Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Leadership. Becky is married to a veteran of the Air Force and has two step daughters, one son, and two granddaughters. Her family has been in Idaho for six generations which has helped foster her deep love for the state and all of its wild places.
TIERNEY BALL
Membership
Tierney is a native Idahoan and grew up enjoying all the Treasure Valley and surrounding areas have to offer. She is currently the Director of Education at Zoo Boise and is passionate about instilling a love of nature in everyone and providing future leaders with an opportunity to become involved with wildlife conservation. When not working, she enjoys paddle boarding, hiking with her dog, and time on the river.
MARI RICE
Programming
Mari Rice grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is a life-long environmental/outdoor educator and nature enthusiast. In her current role as a faculty member of the Environmental Studies program at Boise State University, she teaches field-based experiential learning courses, coordinates internships/ experiential learning, and coordinates an environmental education certificate. She holds an Ed.D in with an emphasis in STEM education and experiential learning from Boise State, an M.S.in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and a B.A. from University of Oregon. She loves adventuring in the outdoors with her husband and two kids and gardening in her backyard.
CAMILLE PLATTS-McPHARLIN
Membership/Fundraising
Camille Platts-McPharlin is the Education Program Coordinator at Foothills Learning Center. Growing up in Southern California, she loved the availability of natural spaces within and around cities. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Forestry from Northern Arizona University and her Master’s degree in Science Communication and Public Engagement from the University of Edinburgh. Camille’s experience includes a variety of education-based roles from being a formal science teacher to developing informal recreation opportunities for all ages.
JAMIE BRUNMEIER
Programming
Jamie Brunmeier is an Idaho native that grew up riding horses in 4-H and rodeo. She married her high school sweetheart who, like her, loves being outside. She has three kids and spends her free time helping them with their 4-H & FFA projects; attending their sporting events; traveling; and keeping up with their small farm. Jamie earned her undergraduate in Education from Boise State University, and her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Northwest Nazarene University. She spent her career teaching science in the Vallivue School District, Thomas Jefferson Charter School, and College of Western Idaho. She is currently teaching science, ornithology, and photography at Vallivue Middle school. She is a big believer in bringing the outside into her classroom or taking her classroom outside. Her classes are part of the Idaho Bird by Bird program and the Trout in the Classroom program. She also teaches science and digital photography to online students at Idaho Digital Learning Alliance. She was the recipient of the IdEEA Educator of the Year award in 2021.
TRICIA GALER
South Idaho Regional Director/Social Media
Tricia Galer wonders frequently if there’s ever a better day than one spent outdoors. Exploring the woods and creeks of southern Ohio was a serious childhood undertaking and one that kindled a lifelong curiosity about the natural world. Tricia strives to invite her fourth grade students to also cultivate wonder by creating outdoor experiences and solving environmental problems using place based solutions. Tricia has taught students from kindergarten to university during her career, but finds her current work in a self-contained gifted and talented classroom her most rewarding. Discovering the history, geography, and science of the wild state of Idaho with her students has illuminated the intersections of the human and natural world. Tricia loves spending time with her family, reading, hiking, traveling, and making connections with a diversity of people who lend interest and understanding to the human experience.
