Our Overnight Adventures Team
Meet our wonderful staff, each bringing their own unique knowledge and experience to Nature's Classroom Institute. All are CPR and First Aid trained, background checked and will undertake ongoing NCI training to ensure they deliver the best learning experience possible.
Wisconsin Team
Outreach Director
Carrie Benzinger
After joining our Montessori School in February 2018, Carrie also joined the NCI Lake Geneva WI team in October 2018. Carrie grew up in the Milwaukee area, is married, has 3 sons and currently lives in the Mukwonago area. She enjoys cooking, baking and spending time with her family. Carrie is interested in everything Nature’s Classroom Institute (and Montessori School) offers students and is eager to learn much more about the entire program. She loves working with our Wisconsin schools to handle all of the logistics for them. If you would like to book a field trip to Camp Lake Carrie will be your contact.
Education Educator
Sarah
Sarah grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and found a love for outdoor education through the High School Marine Biology program with the Shedd Aquarium. She then went on to teach environmental education in her time at Florida Gulf Coast University, through their Panther Posse program. These expanded her passion for the outdoors and desire to instill a sense of wonder in the community around her. In her free time Sarah enjoys paddleboarding, crocheting, and identifying mushrooms.
Environmental Educator
Jessica
​Jessica is from upstate New York and is a recent graduate of Binghamton University with a Bachelors in History and Biological Anthropology. She has spent her last 7 summers teaching swimming and the last 3 winters teaching skiing. She loves working with kids and discovering new things. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, cooking and exploring nature.
Environmental Educator
PK
PK is from India and has been in the outdoors since 2018. She is always determined and dedicated towards her work and is always open to learning new things and extraordinary experiences. She loves cooking and traveling. She has worked and traveled in India and UAE and is now ready to go on an exciting journey with us.
Environmental Educator
Charlotte
Charlotte recently graduated Marquette University with a bachelor’s in Journalism and Social Welfare and Justice. She’s passionate about finding healthier and alternative ways to live and learn in synchronicity with the planet. During the last few years, she’s worked with Milwaukee community centers and a health clinic to help provide resources and education to Milwaukee kids. She enjoys video games, reading, and walking in the woods with her dogs.
Environmental Educator
John
John grew up in northern Illinois and has always had a love for the outdoors. His enthusiasm for nature was fueled by family hikes at the local state park and by programs put on by the county’s conservation district. When he finished college John went to work at a summer camp in Wisconsin. He enjoys the outdoors and wants to help others enjoy it too. When not teaching John enjoys writing, hiking, biking, canoeing, and exploring the world around him.
Environmental Educator
Jordan
Jordan is an educator from Rockville, Maryland. Before this, he worked odd jobs around the country, allowing him to work in towns and national parks in Alaska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. He discovered a love for outdoors activities and environmental education during his first summer in Alaska. Before working for NCI he worked at the Hillel at the University of Wisconsin.
Environmental Educator
Eliana
Eliana grew up in Kenosha, WI and recently graduated from Beloit College with a Bachelors in Environmental Biology. During her education, she got to explore and learn in different environments and is excited to do the same at NCI. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, canoeing, and hiking. Eliana hopes to share her love of all things nature at Natures Classroom Institute as an environmental educator.
Texas and California Team
Outreach Director
Britta
Britta first discovered her love for nature while exploring the woods and creeks in her Texas hometown. Her passion for environmental education has led her to teach children in multiple, diverse ecosystems all over the world, including in Montessori classrooms from ages 1 through adolescence. Britta has been with NCI since 2015 and loves having the opportunity to ignite students' passion for learning, year after year.
Education Director
Matt
Matt has been working in outdoor education since 2018 and has been teaching since 2014. Matt has worked in conservation landscaping, invasive management, and education. A native of northeast Tennessee, Matt received his undergraduate degree from UNC Greensboro in English and History, and his graduate degree from Goshen College in Environmental Education. In his spare time, Matt loves to read, to hike, to bird, and to watch movies. His favorite animal is the whale, his favorite color is purple, his favorite band is the Avett Brothers, and his favorite movie is the Lord of the Rings.
Environmental Educator
Briza
Briza is from Denton, Texas, she recently earned her Bachelor’s degree in Ecology for Environmental Science from the University of North Texas. She is passionate about wildlife conservation and research. She enjoys taking her time exploring nature, which may involve crouching on the ground with a magnifying glass to see all the tiny creatures and plants. She intends on sharing her appreciation of nature and conservation with students through Natures Classroom Institute and is excited for this new journey.
Environmental Educator
Gareth
Gareth has spent many years in the outdoor adventure industry, from sailing, to climbing to building, he finds great joy in what surrounds him. He enjoys learning and excited to further his studies in nature down in sunny texas.
Environmental Educator
Courtney
Courtney is from a small town in Minnesota and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Natural Resources Management from the University of Minnesota Crookston in 2024. Her passion for educating and leading stems from her experiences in 4-H. Courtney loves the outdoors, her animals on the farm, and country music.
Florida Team
Outreach Director
Britta
Britta first discovered her love for nature while exploring the woods and creeks in her Texas hometown. Her passion for environmental education has led her to teach children in multiple, diverse ecosystems all over the world, including in Montessori classrooms from ages 1 through adolescence. Britta has been with NCI since 2015 and loves having the opportunity to ignite students' passion for learning, year after year.
Education Director
Nathaniel
Nathaniel is an avid outdoor enthusiast whose passion for environmental education began on his 6th grade EE field trip. He enjoys hiking, camping, and sharing the outdoor experience with others. He began working in Environmental education in Ohio and has loved it ever since!
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Environmental Educator
Tori
Growing up in rural North Carolina, Tori quickly developed a love of nature and a passion for being in it. After working with rehabilitated sea turtles, Tori discovered a call for teaching and educating the public on the environment. Tori found her passion for Environmental Education while working with children, and has continued to spread the love of nature everywhere she goes.
Environmental Educator
Zoe
Zoe is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies. She loves to explore natural areas and identify the species that she finds. She also enjoys traveling and taking in the different environments that she visits. In her free time she loves to read, roller skate, and go to the beach to explore.
Maryland and DC Team
Outreach Director
Britta
Britta first discovered her love for nature while exploring the woods and creeks in her Texas hometown. Her passion for environmental education has led her to teach children in multiple, diverse ecosystems all over the world, including in Montessori classrooms from ages 1 through adolescence. Britta has been with NCI since 2015 and loves having the opportunity to ignite students' passion for learning, year after year.
Education Director
Matt
Matt has been working in outdoor education since 2018 and has been teaching since 2014. Matt has worked in conservation landscaping, invasive management, and education. A native of northeast Tennessee, Matt received his undergraduate degree from UNC Greensboro in English and History, and his graduate degree from Goshen College in Environmental Education. In his spare time, Matt loves to read, to hike, to bird, and to watch movies. His favorite animal is the whale, his favorite color is purple, his favorite band is the Avett Brothers, and his favorite movie is the Lord of the Rings.
We would love you to explore the idea of working at one of our many sites as an Environmental Educator.