Board of Directors

Erika Eschholz, Board Chair

Erika grew up gardening and surrounded by farmland in rural New England. She received a B.A. from Hope College, MI in 1990 and a M.S. in environmental education from Aurora University, IL in 1992. She has been working with a broad range of ages in outdoor and environmental education ever since. Erika has been involved with local organic farming since 1997, first with The Cosmic Apple Garden and currently with Snowdrift Farm. Erika feels it is wonderful to share the joys of growing ones own food with the children and inspiring them to live more sustainably in their daily life. In 2006 she founded Full Circle Education.

Kevin Taylor 

Kevin has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Botany. His biological research experience includes being involved with several wildlife research projects as well as mapping distribution of rare plant species and the effects of global warming on mountain plants. He believes that it is critical to include modern humans when discussing natural history and ecology.  Kevin studies, practices, and teaches ethnobotany (how people use plants) and ethnozoology (how people use animals) as much as he possibility can.

Mike Mayer

Mike is the International Training and Translation Coordinator for The Institute for Earth Education and is a member of the University of Arizona’s Earth Education Research Evaluation Team. As a camp administrator, center director, naturalist, classroom teacher, and long time earth educator, he has used these opportunities to introduce earth education programs and methods since 1976. His articles on earth education and the natural world have appeared in several journals and newspapers over the years and he has presented at local, state, and national conferences. Mike has led dozens of earth education and program leadership workshops throughout the world and has helped coordinate the translation of earth education materials into nine different languages.  Mike currently resides in Tucson, Arizona and is an avid desert gardener, collector of precious rainwater and abundant solar energy, and enjoys hiking, camping, biking, traveling, family and chocolate – any time of day.