Ellen Messerly

Background

About Ellen Messerly

As an environmental educator, I am passionate about getting people outside to find community and wonder in our natural world. I grew up in Maryland and went on to Virginia Tech to earn dual degrees in Wildlife Science and Animal and Poultry Science. After spending a year abroad in Botswana working as an educator with a nonprofit, I decided to pursue my passion for working with people in the outdoors. During my two years in the Master’s in Environmental Education program at Southern Oregon University, I taught students both in and out of the classroom while earning a teaching credential for middle and high school science. I then moved to Santa Cruz, CA to work as a naturalist at an outdoor science school, where I helped students explore the natural world and experience personal growth during week-long camp visits. I then served as a 'Principal', or Program Manager, for two years, overseeing the day-to-day functions of Outdoor School. After relocating to Nashville in 2018, I worked with preschoolers in Metro Nashville Public Schools and at The Land Trust for Tennessee before joining The Cumberland River Compact as the Education and Outreach Coordinator.