Laurie Seeman is an artist, naturalist and educator known for her pioneering work in the field of place-based art and environmental education. With founding Strawtown Studio in 2002 she combined her 20 years of experience as an artist, curator and creative entrepreneur in NYC with a passion for nature and spending time with children. She draws from her education in communications, experience in filmmaking, and ongoing study of the natural and ecological sciences with regional environmental experts, and time with indigenous peoples to work for environmental stewardship and justice.

Through Strawtown Studio, Laurie trains educators today in the methods and principles behind engaging in nature, art and science discovery and mentoring youth outdoors. Her hope is for more children to experience all the joys and self discovery that come from being creative and nature-connected.

Joanna has 20 years of experience curating and installing local and regional art exhibitions. She has collaborated on many community art projects, including murals, printmaking, and environmental art. Her artwork has been shown in many exhibitions, locally, in New York City, and as far as Bucharest, Romania. In 2008, Joanna co-founded and served as Secretary of the Garner Arts Creekside Plant Committee, which formed to ensure sustainable restoration of the banks of the Minisceongo Creek that runs through the Garner complex. Since 2010, she has trained in aquatic science monitoring and has co-led citizen science projects on local waterways with youth and community members.

Ali came to Strawtown in 2013 as an intern and is now developing and leading programs. She has a Master’s degree in Applied Community Change focused on Conservation, along with a Bachelor’s degree from Amherst College in Psychology, with minors in Art and Education. Ali’s experience in the field includes working as a teaching assistant with children at Earthwork Wilderness Program in Massachusetts, and many years of experience trekking around the world, working on community service projects. She is currently a board member of the Peabody Preserve Outdoor Classroom in Sleepy Hollow, NY.

Growing up in Vermont, Lorraine has always felt a deep connection to the natural world. She is a lifelong art maker and loves to work with children in deepening their connection to nature through art and science.  It was through the experience of helping Laurie Seeman to launch a hiking club that she began to understand the urgency and importance in helping to connect all ages with the natural world. Lorraine has her undergraduate degree in Communications with a concentration in art, and a masters degree in Special education.  During the school year she is a teacher at a small private progressive school.  If asked of her favorite way to spend a day, doing art with children in nature would be her answer any season of the year.