YES! is welcoming a new member to our staff and a new program partner for the central region of the state– Sarah Gainey is the newest YES! coordinator, working out of Saint John’s Outdoor University. We are excited for Sarah to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with the YES! Program as a Coordinator for the Central MN teams!
Here is what Sarah has to say:
In some ways, a partnership between YES! and Outdoor U seems almost too good to be true. Outdoor U currently hosts more than 8,000 students on outdoor field trips each year, with the majority from elementary and middle schools. Our education committee has been actively seeking ways to not only serve more high school students but to serve students at a deeper level. Partnering with YES! teams in central Minnesota is a great way to do just that.
I have worked in education for more than 15 years, mainly teaching environmental education to students of all ages in Minnesota. I have spent the last 10 years at Outdoor U where I am currently the Environmental Education Coordinator for pre K-12th grade programs. I have a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the U of MN Twin Cities and am also a licensed middle school science teacher. While I enjoy teaching kids about all topics related to the natural world, I am especially passionate about biomimicry, maple syruping and owls.
Working with motivated groups of middle and high school students and their teachers to bring change to their schools and neighborhoods is very exciting. I am excited to watch what our teams in central Minnesota will accomplish!
When I’m not working I like to spend time with my family at our rural home near Holdingford. I can be found gardening, camping, canoeing, reading, and seeing the world anew through my young daughter’s eyes.
Sarah will be working at and representing the newest YES! partner, Saint John’s Outdoor University. Saint John’s Outdoor University provides environmental and outdoor education through classes, events and initiatives with the Abbey Arboretum, Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict. Using more than 2500 acres of lakes, prairie, oak savannah and forest of the Abbey Arboretum, Outdoor U seeks to create environmentally-literate citizens connected to the natural world.
Sarah looks forward to meeting everyone in her region and beyond! Reach out to her and say hello via email.
