Staff Spotlight: Drew Gallant

Asked why he initially got involved in environmental education, Drew quickly responds that it’s because “I never had the chance to participate in a ‘formal’ environmental science program when I was younger.” He recalls spending most of his childhood outdoors, “making mud pies and searching for critters.” Not only did he search for creatures, he cataloged those he found and spent time “inventorying the data”—not a far cry from the experiential learning he now leads hundreds of students in every year as a NatureBridge educator. 

After experiencing environmental education activities at his summer camp, Drew began directing a chapter of Project WILD, a nationwide wildlife conservation-focused program led by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. From there, he began teaching environmental education at various sites across New England before coming to NatureBridge. Why NatureBridge? “I wanted to tie my love for national parks into a full-time job,” Drew says. His passion for national parks spurs Drew to travel in his free time; he is on a quest to complete his personal goal of visiting all 63 national parks (so far he has visited 23)!

Program participants immediately pick up on Drew's love for nature and parks and his zest for exploration. Writing after a fifth grade class trip to Prince William Forest this spring, one teacher remarked:

I appreciated Mr. Drew's ability to convey his love of nature in a way that was easily accessible to my students. Whether through the reading of books, the completion of water pH experiments or redirecting students to be careful while they were laying down on the floating dock, Mr. Drew showed patience as well comedic timing when necessary. One of the most important things Mr. Drew did was to make sure the students acknowledged nature. He asked for quiet time when we stopped during our walks. He asked for the students to distinguish the different sounds they were hearing and how they were different from city sounds. I cannot imagine how we could have had a better experience during our time while we were there in April, but our stay would not have been the same without the added expertise of Mr. Drew.           
                      —Winfred Thomas, Fifth grade teacher at Randle Highlands Elementary, Washington, D.C.

Thank you, Drew, for sharing your love of environmental education and national parks with so many students across multiple NatureBridge campuses every year!