About
Wild Rose Education
At Wild Rose Education we teach people 'how to see', to become better observers, and how to take action in the world through our participant-centered learning experiences. We go beyond what has been and facilitate becoming what can be with environmental education program design, climate change empowerment, and experiential education trainings and workshops.
Our work is done collaboratively with larger institutions as well as independently through our own projects. Programming occurs in-person as well as virtually. Regional projects are common, yet national collaborations have become a staple product of Wild Rose Education.
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Wild Rose Education is a lean and nimble, effective, small business practice, woman-owned, Colorado Public Benefit Corporation established in 2015.
Wild Rose Education Successes
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Years of excellence expanding nationally and beyond reaching students around the globe since 2015
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2020 Innovative Environmental Education Program Award for Youth Water Leadership Program from Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education
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Each year reaches hundreds of learners through variety of programs and workshops.
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Established strong relationships with numerous partners, funders, collaborators, and participants.
Our Team
Sarah R. Johnson ventured into freelance education and training after working as a watershed educator in Western Colorado for nearly a decade. Before that she was a park interpreter and educator at Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Shenandoah, and North Cascades National Parks. And before all that, she shared wild places with youth through wilderness expeditions and working at Girl Scout camps in-between semesters at Missouri State University where she studied Biology and Geology. Coming from a rural background Sarah brings a unique perspective and a deeply personal connection to her work. She earned her MA. Ed in Natural Science and Environmental Education from Hamline University in Minnesota.
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Today, she designs and facilitates educator professional development workshops, trainings, and graduate courses. Her commitment to climate justice education was solidified as she served as an observer delegate at the UNFCCC COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021. Upon returning from the Arctic Ocean twice with PolarTREC, she now designs and coordinates Arctic STEM programs. Sarah has been an adjunct environmnetal science faculty at Western Colorado University since 2016. She is on the Fulbright Specialist Roster until April 2026. She has created and facilitated numerous environmental education programs including the award winning Youth Water Leadership Program, and Project Learning Tree Canada's Climate Change and Forests curriculum.
Sarah volunteers as a global facilitator and mentor with the World Association for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and serves in a leadership role on the Girl Scouts of Colorado Global Action Team completing recent travels to World Centers in Ghana and Mexico. She recently completed her time in the Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation. Sarah has been based in western Colorado working to protect rivers and public lands through education since 2004 where she enjoys playing outside during all seasons, gardening, and making music.
Sarah R Johnson, MAEd
Mathieu F Brown, MS
Beginning in 2024, Mathieu Brown joined Wild Rose Education contributing his 30+ years of expertise and experience connecting people with landscape, people with people, and people with ideas. His expertise are in curriculum design, educator training, and program development. He approaches each project as its own unique entity applying principles of responsiveness, adaptability and flexibility. Pedagogically, his teaching philosophy embodies a balance of content, application and reflexivity. He has worked as an outdoor guide, naturalist, educator, facilitator, recreation manager, and liberal arts professor; and holds degrees in Business Economics, Southwest Studies and a Masters in Recreation and River Management all from Northern Arizona University.
Associates
Amanda E Berlinski, MA
Amanda joined Wild Rose Education in 2024 with over 15 years of experience in interpretive management, planning, and training—specifically for sites dedicated to wildlife conservation and welfare. Through authentic co-creation, she helps teams develop and design experiences that engage audiences, encourage curiosity, and engender action. She believes in the power of listening and centers the principles of dialogue: trust, openness, honesty, and equality in all collaborative work. Amanda has worked as a program director, professor, tour guide, and trainer, and is a proud National Parks Passport holder who is two-thirds of the way to visiting all our National Parks. She has an MA in Zoology from Miami University, a BA in Studio Art and Psychology from Hope College, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Education with a focus on Heritage Leadership at the University of Missouri - Saint Louis.
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Virginia R Miller
Virginia joined Wild Rose Education in 2024, coming with 20 years of experience in outdoor education and youth leadership development. Virginia works with educators, families, youth, and everyone in between to develop lifelong learners and stewards of our world. Most of her career has been in Yellowstone National Park as a Park Ranger, Naturalist Guide, and Guide Trainer. She is a skilled facilitator of leadership development for young adults in both virtual and in-person international venues; especially through Girl Scouts. Virginia is also a Certified Interpretive Guide, a Leave No Trace Trainer, and a Wilderness First Responder. After the initial shock of her first -30° Yellowstone winters, this California gal now thrives in the winter and lives for summer hikes and paddle trips. She uses her degree in theater to make science and the outdoors come alive for students of all ages!
