Although Lucy Coleman grew up camping a lot, it wasn't until after college that she discovered a lifelong passion for helping others appreciate and understand the natural world. For a few years, she spent summers as an interpretive park ranger in Glacier National Park and the school years teaching environmental science at outdoor schools in California. From there, it was a natural transition to settle into a very rewarding teaching career that has spanned two decades.
When not teaching, Ms. Coleman makes fast tracks for the wild and roadless places of our planet. In addition to backpacking, her favorite pastimes include hiking, cross-country skiing, gardening and reading.
Lincoln, CA
United States
My career is built on igniting students’ passion and appreciation for the magnificence of our natural world. I began this journey as an interpretive park ranger in Glacier National Park where I designed interactive experiences to transform sightseers into explorers. As an outdoor educator at 6th grade science camps in California, I led students on their first hikes and introduced them to their first game of "camouflage." Now, as a seasoned middle-school science educator, PolarTREC represents a substantial opportunity for enriching and deepening my professional learning about scientific research, allowing me to contribute to a research team, learn the cutting-edge techniques and tools of scientists, and give all that back to my learners, colleagues and community.