Our Overnight Adventures Team
Meet our wonderful staff, each bringing their own unique knowledge and experience to Nature's Classroom Institute. All are CPR and First Aid trained, background checked and will undertake ongoing NCI training to ensure they deliver the best learning experience possible.
Wisconsin Team
Outreach Director
Carrie Benzinger
After joining our Montessori School in February 2018, Carrie also joined the NCI Lake Geneva WI team in October 2018. Carrie grew up in the Milwaukee area, is married, has 3 sons and currently lives in the Mukwonago area. She enjoys cooking, baking and spending time with her family. Carrie is interested in everything Nature’s Classroom Institute (and Montessori School) offers students and is eager to learn much more about the entire program. She loves working with our Wisconsin schools to handle all of the logistics for them. If you would like to book a field trip to Camp Lake Carrie will be your contact.
Education Director
Jack
Jack has an interest in the connections between natural and human history sparked by the glacial-industrial landscape of their native Cleveland, and a love for teaching that began as a college student, where they taught classes on building giant puppets. When not working, they enjoy opera, collecting vintage perfume, and the occasional foray into research geology, studying the rock record of ancient earthquakes. Jack’s favorite part of teaching at NCI is working with so many different and amazing students as the landscape changes through the seasons.
Environmental Educator
Ashley
Ashley has always had a love for nature and the outdoors since she was born, growing up they could often be found outside exploring and learning as much as she could about nature. While they loved the outdoors, they didn’t know what to do with this love till they entered college where she pursued a degree in biology. After she graduated, they were presented with an opportunity to work as an environmental educator and since then has been teaching outdoor education for a year now using her knowledge in biology and love of nature to provide the best outdoor experience possible for her students.
Environmental Educator
Ben
Ben's prior work experience is in counseling at sleep away summer camps for 6 summers since 2018 and is dedicating a full year to youth outdoor education through Nature's Classroom Institute. Ben looks to build his professional life through learning and teaching others what he knows. In his freetime he runs, plans trips and plays solitaire. He is open and excited for the new opportunity Nature's Classroom offers
Environmental Educator
Sachin
Sachin is an experienced camp leader and educator with more than 10 years of experience. He has done his Masters in Plant Science and Bachelors in Education. He loves to be in nature and interact with young minds in the outdoors. His zest for knowledge, research and outdoor education has led him to shores of Madagascar to study bisprospects of forests, Taiwan for Burn Foundation camp training, and now to USA as an Environmental Educator. He has published papers in plant science journals.
Environmental Educator
John
John grew up in northern Illinois and has always had a love for the outdoors. His enthusiasm for nature was fueled by family hikes at the local state park and by programs put on by the county’s conservation district. When he finished college John went to work at a summer camp in Wisconsin. He enjoys the outdoors and wants to help others enjoy it too. When not teaching John enjoys writing, hiking, biking, canoeing, and exploring the world around him.
Texas and California Team
Outreach Director
Britta
Britta first discovered her love for nature while exploring the woods and creeks in her Texas hometown. Her passion for environmental education has led her to teach children in multiple, diverse ecosystems all over the world, including in Montessori classrooms from ages 1 through adolescence. Britta has been with NCI since 2015 and loves having the opportunity to ignite students' passion for learning, year after year.
Education Director
Jordan
Jordan was born & raised in Queens, New York. However, his passion for nature originates in upstate New York, where he would attend summer camps catching frogs, salamanders, and snakes as a child. After graduating high school, he chose to study Conservation Biology at SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse. At SUNY ESF, Jordan spent a ton of time travelling the United States with wildlife photographers looking for reptiles, including in states such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, and New Mexico. Over the summers, he spent time going back upstate like he did as a kid, working as an environmental educator at summer camps, which he continues even as an Education Director for Nature's Classroom Institute.
Environmental Educator
Ashley
Ashley is from San Antonio, Tx, but has lived the past few years in College Station where she went to school and majored in Wildlife and Fisheries. Some of her hobbies include: kayaking, canoeing, crocheting, and anything art! Ashley is really looking forward to leading an outdoor classroom and learning from the children herself, especially witnessing their creative minds and growth throughout their stay. Gig ‘Em!
Environmental Educator
Dave
Dave is an outdoorsman from New Jersey, who studied wildlife management at SUNY Cobleskill. He spent the first part of his career traveling the country while working in the field with birds, moved to environmental education, and then taught middle school science for a stretch. He is now part of the NCI team and is thrilled to be back in the environment where he originally discovered his passion for education.
Environmental Educator
Rachel
Rachel is from Scotland and has always enjoyed the outdoors. This love blossomed during lockdown with nature walks becoming a solace for her. After graduating with a bachelors in medical science, Rachel worked in school for young people with additional support needs. This is how she discovered her passion for education and how it can be tailored to the individuality of every child. Rachel loves to read, enjoys creating different forms of art and spending time with friends and family.
Environmental Educator
Genevieve
Genevieve is a recent graduate of Coastal Carolina University (chants up!) with a Bachelor’s in marine science and a certificate in marine mammal biology from University of Alaska Anchorage. Her interest and love for nature and science came from growing up going to environmental education programs at her local parks. Now, she looks forward to helping a new generation learn to love and appreciate nature! In her free time she enjoys yoga, journaling, reading, and listening to music.
Florida Team
Outreach Director
Britta
Britta first discovered her love for nature while exploring the woods and creeks in her Texas hometown. Her passion for environmental education has led her to teach children in multiple, diverse ecosystems all over the world, including in Montessori classrooms from ages 1 through adolescence. Britta has been with NCI since 2015 and loves having the opportunity to ignite students' passion for learning, year after year.
Education Director
Jordan
Jordan is originally from Kentucky but lives in the UK now. He started at NCI in 2018 and stayed there for 3 years working as an instructor and a director for the Texas branch before making his move across the pond. He is so excited to be welcomed back for another season! Jordan fell in love with the outdoors at a young age and teaching about it has been a passion of his since he can remember. He is looking forward to getting to know your students and hopefully pass some of that love of the outdoors on to them. See you in Florida!
Environmental Educator
Vita
Vitaliya is a mixed media artist who loves working with various materials, both organic and inorganic. Her educational background is in environmental management in agriculture and natural resources, with a minor in soil and water science. She has experience working with the endangered gopher tortoise and burrowing owl in central Florida, and proudly continues her work with Nature's Classroom Institute as an environmental educator.
Environmental Educator
Katie
Katie is an outdoor enthusiast that has spent the last few years rafting and climbing around the world, finding adrenaline in the elements! She is also an environmental activist, and specializes in renewable energy and physical sciences, with a particular passion for solar power and astronomy. In her spare time, you can find Katie in nearly any body of water (without alligators), reading, slacklining, or scaling a mountain! Katie finds her purpose in connecting people and the planet, and helping others to understand how interdependent that relationship is.
Environmental Educator
Prajeet
Prajeet, a Himalayan mountain guide and outdoor educator, seamlessly combines his passion for nature, adventure, and travel to ignite a profound love for the great outdoors in others. Beyond his adventurous pursuits, he delves into spirituality, maintains his fitness, and enjoys the occasional game of snooker. Prajeet is unwavering in his commitment to creating inclusive outdoor experiences, recognizing the transformative power of connecting with nature, where moments of reflection and realization abound.
Maryland and DC Team
Outreach Director
Austin Wood
Austin has been with Nature’s Classroom Institute since 2016, he has worked across all NCI states and believes he has the most important job in the world, reconnecting our future leaders to nature! He has brought his passion for education and the outdoors to Florida and soon Maryland. Austin started with us in Texas and then helped with the first California season. In 2018 Austin then moved to Florida to help develop the program in the sunshine state. D.C Field trips are next on his agenda as he continues to help the growth of NCI.
We would love you to explore the idea of working at one of our many sites as an Environmental Educator.