Ruth Ann earned her BA in Outdoor Experiential Education and MSM studying deep nature and ancestral connection to increase well being and a sense of belonging. She spent a year living semi=primitively in the woods, building her shelter, foraging, brain-tanning hides for clothing, weaving baskets, and practicing survival and tracking skills before teaching for nearly a decade at the Tracker School, mentoring students in the arts of survival, awareness and tracking. Ruth Ann has designed programming and mentored wilderness skill for various venues and ages, for nearly thirty years. She is an outdoor adventurer, mountaineer, marathoner, midwife and faculty at the Midwives College of Utah. She has lived for 25+ years on a homestead, homeschooling and raising three children in the art and science of providing for themselves from the land. Ruth Ann deeply values the process of learning through experiential methods and mentoring, the integration of skills and understanding through experience and reflection, and the building of human relationships through cooperative learning and growth.
Read MoreLuke grew up in rural upstate New York. He attended Colorado State University where he studied Natural Resource Management and Watershed Science. Luke has worked for several federal, tribal and non-profit organizations on river and forest habitat restoration projects. He currently resides in the Champlain Valley region where he works for the Ruffed Grouse Society in partnership with the Vermont Natural Resource Conservation Service. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking outdoors, fishing, hunting and working with various farms and watershed organizations.
Read MoreVideo Documentation—B.A. University of Illinois at Chicago. Jim has extensive experience as a professional videographer, teacher and Technical Director at Kartemquin Films. Jim is a long time veteran of Art and Science in the Woods, both teaching and doing video documentation.
Read MoreSue graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Special Education. She holds a certificate in Sign Language Interpreting from Illinois Central College. She is a mom and a science lover. She currently lives in Nashville, TN and works as a freelance sign language interpreter.
Read MoreDamion spent most of his childhood outdoors, starting a lifelong passion for all things nature. Growing up, Damion's parents instilled in him not only rules of hunting, but the importance of wildlife control and general conservation knowledge. He also learned and started an obsession for fishing at a young age. Damion has been attending Sun Foundation for 20+ years from student, to TA, to instructor.
Read MoreJulia has literally grown up at Art & Science in the Woods. Originally from Central IL, she is a life-long ASIW camper, turned teacher, and credits camp for igniting her drive to follow her creative passions. Julia is now a fiber artist, jewelry maker, and small business owner currently residing in Chicago, IL. She finds inspiration for her work from the beauty of nature around her urban home as well as from her more rural travels. When she is not traveling or working, Julia is also an avid gardener, writer, hiker, baker & dog-mom.
Read MoreShannon has been an avid outdoor-girl since childhood. In her twenties she attended over 25 classes at Tom Brown’s Tracking Nature and Wilderness Survival School. She also spent a year and a half living semi-primitively as a caretaker at the school’s camp in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. She has worked in wilderness field programs, taught survival skills & bush craft, and lived semi-primitively for extended periods of time. She successfully completed the Naked & Afraid Challenge in 2013. Her episode, Mayan Misery, was filmed in Belize and aired in the second season. She brings her relationship with nature and the land into the heart of everything she does and is excited to share at ASIW.
Read MoreJason has been a geologist with the Illinois State Geological Survey at the University of Illinois for 18 years. He studies the geologic history of North America, particularly the Ice-Age history of Illinois and how that history sculpted the landscapes and created the soils that we see today. He enjoys helping people learn and visualize how geologic processes impact their lives. He received an undergraduate degree in geology from Bradley University and graduate degrees in geology from Illinois State and Iowa State Universities.
Read MoreDr. Wilcoxen is Chair and Professor of Biology at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. Travis is also the President of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences and President of the Illinois Raptor Center. His current research focuses on immune defense and disease in Illinois songbirds, birds of prey, and amphibians. Travis is originally from Lewistown, IL and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Eureka College and Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Memphis.
Read MoreElisa teaches art at Northern Arizona University, School of Art + Design. She holds a MA in Sustainable Communities and an MFA, Fine Arts, Post Modern Practice. The Woodford County Native works to integrate science and creative writing across her curriculum. She was a student within the inaugural Sun Foundation Art and Science in the Woods program. Elisa loves teaching children and connecting with her Central Illinois Roots.
Read More(Dr. Z) is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and sustainability at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. He earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University. He regularly teaches courses in Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Systems, and Renewable Energy Systems. He has performed a variety of research on polymers, two-phase flow and energy resilience for ANL, DOE and USGS.
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