Join us in person at Woodend on Tuesday, May 8th at 6:30pm for an evening of star gazing, tea making, and self discovery. Nature is for everyone, and our three speakers will share their personal stories on how they have found peace, belonging, and themselves while in the natural world.

Although this event is free, please consider donating to support Nature Forward’s Conservation advocacy, outreach, and education work! You can give any amount by clicking here. 

Speakers Bios:

Mae Bergsman (she/her) – Mae Bergsman has found nature to be her sanctuary since childhood. Whether it was an afterschool walk in her local park or a kayaking trip down the Susquehanna, it was where she found peace and focus, away from a buzzing world. When she can, she still disappears into the mountains for a weekend.

Her interest in environmentalism ignited while studying engineering. She believed that technical problems could be solved with innovation. She worked on a project in Greece helping an agricultural school develop a green energy source for their campus lighting. It was this kind of passion for hands-on environmental problem solving that led her to first work as an engineering intern at Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Now her perspective has shifted. She believes that the environmental challenges can only be addressed by collective effort and resource management. This was part of her motivation for accepting a position at DNR’s budget office. She hopes that her work there can secure funding for the critical conservation projects being carried out all over the state. Beyond those lofty goals, she writes ecology inspired theology articles for local magazines, sculpts clay, and spends time with her wonderful husband and their two cats.

Ben Winstead (they/them) – Ben Winstead is a Maryland Conservation Corps Crew Member at Patapsco Valley State Park.

Briar Schuler (she/they/theirs) – Briar Schuler is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a major in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. She has pursued a career involving parks and the outdoors from Maryland to Washington State and has now worked for the Maryland Park Service as a classified Park Ranger for the last five years. She enjoys reading, writing, nature walks, and doing interpretive programming.