Our alumni are doing amazing things! Read below to hear Mia Nelson, a 2024 graduate of the Program on the Environment, share about her work with Nature Adventure Trek in Seattle’s Discovery Park.

Hello PoE community! I am hopping on here to reflect on my experience as the Director of Nature Adventure Trek, an 8 week long environmental education program that operated out of the beautiful Discovery Park, Seattle’s largest public park. Over the course of 7 months, I worked alongside talented professionals dedicated to Seattle’s recreational communities within the Associated Recreation Council and Seattle Parks and Recreation partners. The goal of this position was to create a space for youth to engage with the outdoors in an urban environment, gain knowledge on Washington’s ecological systems, and create memories in nature that inspire further stewardship and protection of Washington’s natural spaces and occupants.

As I developed and adapted the Nature Adventure Trek curriculum, I had the privilege of hiring, training, and collaborating with six talented educators over the course of three months. Together, we served more than 300 campers ages 6–12, exploring the forests, meadows, shorelines, and ponds of Discovery Park. Behind the scenes, I managed weekly schedules, activities, and staffing, while also communicating with parents regarding program requirements, attendance, and other needs. On site, I regularly checked in on three age-based den groups to ensure smooth operations and a positive experience for both campers and staff.

As my first leadership position, I learned valuable lessons in team management, organization and as is required in any educational field, flexibility. Each day on site within the park presented new challenges and was an opportunity for growth. In the face of conflict and stress, I quickly realized the significance of staying present, patient, and professional. To be successful in this role, I pulled extensively from my past work experiences in education and from my academic experience at the University of Washington’s Program of the Environment. This position was the perfect opportunity to blend my professional and academic skills and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to prove my value in sustainability work.

I am returning as the Environmental Education Director of Nature Adventure Trek this summer at Discovery Park and I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to return to such an ecologically diverse environment and help build a new team of educators for the summer! I am also a recipient of the Rising Leaders Fellowship through Justice Outside and part of the 2026 cohort. Over the course of seven months, I, alongside 50 fellows based in the U.S. will engage in interactive workshops, peer coaching, mentorship, and impact projects designed to strengthen our leadership and mobilization skills. My hope is that this fellowship will equip me with tools to analyze power, organize for change, and advance justice-centered strategies within organizations and communities.