Andrew McMartin is a long time educator and outdoor enthusiast. He founded The Pine Project in Toronto, Canada in 2009. He has since been learning about nature connection in the urban context, and how to be an Executive Director of a quickly growing not for profit organization. His favourite times are spent outdoors with his young family, or outdoors all by himself (likely trying to bring home food for the family).

Atiya Wells is a pediatric nurse and Executive Director of Backyard Basecamp, Inc. – a nonprofit with a mission to (re)connect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to land and nature. By diving into research and history, Atiya learned that historical trauma is a key player in the lack of diversity in environmental programming. She has since dedicated her time to (re)introducing her community to nature by starting in their own backyards and eventually embarking on a journey into the many wild spaces across Baltimore.

Devin grew up in suburban Virginia, leading his childhood friends into the woods for hide-and-sneak battles, and on bravery missions into large, pitch-black storm culverts. He currently directs programming at Flying Deer Nature Center, where he’s been continuing his childhood passions (basically), and slowly encouraging, with his wife Michelle, community to grow like a forest. He loves mayonnaise, and the eternal source that guides vision and purpose.

Sacred Activist, is a wife, mother, and grandmother. A traditional Yoruba priestess, Afin chief and member of the Egbe Moremi, National African Women’s Society in the Kingdom of Oyotunji African Village, located in Sheldon SC.. North America’s oldest, authentic African community, Sangoma met Oyotunji’s founder and Father of the Cultural Restoration movement in 1969 at the age of 12. A Sangoma speaks of a tribe of healers and diviners with indigenous gifts of ancestral medicine from South Africa. Sangoma graduated from Clark University, Worcester, Mass in 1977 with a BA in Theatre Arts, After a 20 year career in broadcast journalism , television, radio and cable…life presented the opportunity to explore shamanism, women’s history, movement, pan-Africanism and Wise woman Traditions. Sangoma has taught at numerous summer camps and Earthskills gatherings, including as Director and primary instructor for 180 “at risk” youth between 9-14 in the Camp Champion, summer program in Thomson, Ga. Sangoma has more than 30 years in her priesthood, female rites of passage programs, women’s wisdom councils and weekend empowerment retreats. An artist, facilitator, and cultural preservationist, we are honored to have Sangoma’s leadership.