Authors and Other Contributors

Laura Johnson is an educator with over 25 years of experience in outdoor, environmental, and geospatial education. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a BS and MS in Forestry. Throughout her career, Laura has worked with all ages of learners from preschoolers to adults. She is the lead teacher and founder of Forest Friends nature preschool in beautiful Idaho. She is interested in the research and practice of connecting people of all ages with nature through hands-on learning, scientific thinking, and creativity. She is a proud mom of three and 4-H leader who enjoys hiking and chicken wrangling in her spare time.

John A. McGee is a Professor and Geospatial Extension Specialist in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech. John has led the Geospatial Extension Program for ~20 years. Through this role, he provides workforce development opportunities to an array of stakeholders, including local, regional, state, and federal government employees, the private sector, non-profit groups, and educators (including K-12, 2-year college, and college/university faculty and staff). John serves as the PI and coordinator of VirginiaView, serves on the AmericaView Board of Directors, and is a Co-PI for the program An Experiential and Data-driven Approach to Agricultural Education (ADVANCE). John enjoys hiking, sailing, and traveling ‘off grid’.

Acadia Lewis is a senior in Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment with an academic focus on the geospatial applications of natural resource phenomena. Passionate about making science accessible, Acadia enjoys creating engaging resources that spark curiosity and foster a deep appreciation for the natural world among youth audiences. She believes that learning should be an adventure and strives to inspire a lasting connection to nature in young learners. Graduating in the spring of 2025, Acadia is excited to continue making valuable contributions to serve others in the environmental sector. In her free time, Acadia enjoys trail running and craft nights with friends.

Other Contributors