B.A. Biology, Southwestern College, Winfield, KS
M.S. Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Amber is an outdoor girl at heart and is passionate about providing opportunities for children to experience nature. As a child growing up in rural Kansas, she had limitless opportunities to explore the gully near her house and pretend she was an paleontologist or other explorer. Her experiences in nature as a child gave her a deep love for the outdoors...a love that has affected her for life.
That love is what brought her to the BRIT Education program...the idea that she could help children connect to nature, especially urban children who might not otherwise have that opporunity, was incredible. Amber joined the staff at BRIT in August 2001 to develop and deliver science programs for students. For six years, Amber had the privilege of leading student field trips to BRIT and visiting school classrooms for hands-on science programs. She also assisted with delivery of professional development workshops for teachers at BRIT.
Changing circumstances at BRIT and the growth of BRIT's partnership with REAL School Gardens, gave Amber the opportunity to change the role she plays in helping students connect to nature. She now works to provide opportunities for teachers to experience ways of taking their students outside for learning. As the coordinator of the REAL School Gardens Professional Development Leadership Team, Amber works with the team to organize and implement REAL School Gardens conferences for teachers twice a year. Amber is thrilled with this new opportunity to provide a venue for teachers to share with each other ways that they are getting their students outside for learning.
Amber's ongoing interests include conservation biology, local and international environmental issues, mammalogy and techniques for interpreting our natural resources to children and adults. At the moment, Amber is passionate about helping people experience what science really is. She is a member of the Texas Association for Environmental Education, the National Association for Interpretation and the Informal Science Education Association of Texas.
Amber now works part-time at BRIT and spends the rest of her time exploring the outdoors with her 2 year old daughter and supporting her husband as he finishes medical school.
Phone: (817) 332-4441 ext. 43
Fax: (817) 332-4112
E-mail: akeller@brit.org
