About
About | Wild Rose Education
A laboratory where every thing belongs: Shift perception, inspire change
At Wild Rose Education, we teach people "how to see," to become better observers, and to take purposeful action in the world.
Established in 2015 as a Colorado Public Benefit Corporation, we design hands-on learning experiences, customized curriculum, and community-centered evaluations. Our work bridges the gap between complex environmental issues and local leadership, helping communities navigate the transition from "what has been" to "becoming what can be" for a resilient and just planet.
Our Philosophy: Presence First
We believe that authentic action is always preceded by authentic presence—the ability to slow down, show up, and see the world clearly as it is, without the filters of fear, panic, or polarization.
We don't just teach solutions; we teach seeing. Whether we are exploring local watersheds or translating Arctic climate systems, we draw on the power of deep, slow observation. By helping learners refine their vision and connect with their unique talents, we ensure that the action they take is rooted in purpose, personal joy, and a deep commitment to our shared planetary home.
Our Core Commitments
-
Embracing Complexity: We reject simplistic "either/or" or "us vs. them" arguments. We view climate, culture, and community as a single, interconnected system where every element belongs.
-
Focusing on Root Causes: We train participants to move past surface-level symptoms and look deeply at policy, history, and systemic causes to find where meaningful change can happen.
-
Serving the Common Good: We use critical thinking and rigorous inquiry to build cooperative, practical solutions that support environmental equity and local community resilience.
What We Do
We co-navigate complex projects with academic institutions, school districts, non-profits, and federal partners.
-
Climate & Environmental Education: We design place-conscious learning experiences—treating landscapes as "Living Textbooks"—including the Colorado Youth Climate Program and international polar science initiatives. (Explore our Portfolio of Projects to see our educational programs in action.)
-
Evaluative Praxis: Through the WRE Transformative Praxis Lab, we deliver specialized, culturally responsive program evaluations that measure real shifts in environmental knowledge and community action. (Visit our Evaluation page to learn more about our methodologies like Data Walks.)
-
Contemplative & Spiritual Ecology: We design supportive group spaces—including the Climate Wayfinding program with The All We Can Save project—to help professional cohorts navigate the transition from climate anxiety to collective courage and action.
Wild Rose by the Numbers
-
10+ Years of professional program design, capacity building, and public service.
-
30+ Regional & National Partners co-navigating climate, water, and public lands initiatives.
-
Thousands of secondary students, educators, and community leaders reached across North America and polar science networks.
-
Award-Winning Impact recognized statewide and nationally for pioneering achievements in environmental education and youth leadership.
Our Team
Sarah’s expertise in translating complex scientific and socio-ecological systems has earned her widespread international recognition. Appointed to the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Specialist Roster (2023–2026) to consult globally on curriculum and instructional design, she was also recruited by Fulbright Canada as a candidate for the prestigious 2027–2028 Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Health and Environmental Education at the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education. Her commitment to global capacity building and environmental diplomacy is evidenced by her service as an official UNFCCC COP26 delegate observer and host of a U.S.-Russia Social Expertise Exchange. Additionally, as a capacity-building facilitator for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), she supports leadership development across Europe and the Asia-Pacific, building on years of leading workshops in Ghana and Mexico and mentoring young women from the Global South.
A dedicated climate educator, graduate faculty member, and program developer, Sarah has called the Roaring Fork Valley home since 2006. Her career spans over two decades of environmental leadership—ranging from guiding wilderness expeditions and serving as a National Park interpretive ranger to conducting polar science campaigns and deploying research buoys alongside scientists on Arctic sea ice.
She holds a Master of Arts in Education in Natural Science and Environmental Education from Hamline University and a B.S. in Biology from Missouri State University. Sarah is an alumna the Aldo Leopold Foundation's Land Ethic Leader program, the Center for Action and Contemplation’s Living School, and is also a facilitator of the Climate Wayfinding program in partnership with The All We Can Save project. When she isn't teaching graduate courses for Western Colorado University or undergraduate environmental classes for Colorado Mountain College, Sarah resides in Basalt, Colorado, where she enjoys gardening, playing music, and spending time on public lands and rivers she works to protect.
Sarah R Johnson, MAEd
Let's Co-Navigate Your Next Project
Are you looking to design transformative learning experiences, evaluate environmental programs through an equity lens, or train leaders? We specialize in turning complex environmental and climate issues into structured, participant-centered action.
-
Get in Touch: Contact Wild Rose Education