Michelle Byron is excited to make nature a regular part of your life!​

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She grew up in rural northeastern Pennsylvania, when children played outside unsupervised every day. Michelle’s backyard was key to so much in her life. It’s where she first explored nature, began studying plants and animals, learned to cooperatively play with neighbors, and escaped into nature’s solace.​ 

 

She moved to New York City and was shocked that so many people ignore nature here. Michelle created Our Backyard to help urban folks see, hear, feel, and connect to nature and all its benefits.​

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Michelle has a master's degree in Environmental Education and Interpretation from the University of Wisconsin. Her thesis was “Adapting the European Model of Forest Kindergarten to Urban Areas.” She has written and co-written several e-book chapters about urban environmental education for Cornell University's Civic Ecology Lab and for Green Schoolyards America and Lawrence Hall of Science's National COVID-19's Outdoor Learning Initiative. She spoke at Chesapeake Nature Play Conference and at Sarah Lawrence College's Child Development Institute.​

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Michelle designed and led indoor and outdoor education programs in state parks and national historic and recreational sites, public and private schools (preschool through 12th grade), after school programs, and summer camps. Plus she operated a forest and garden preschool co-op in a community garden and Central Park. Michelle currently teaches gardening and environmental education at preschools in the Bronx and runs a forest exploration class for a homeschool group.

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She enjoys learning and regularly pursues professional development classes on education and anything related to our natural environment and sustainability. She loves bird watching and nature photography.​

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Michelle is a member of North American Association for Environmental Education and Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools.  ​

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She would love to share the wonders of city parks with you!