Biography
Ruth Wilson currently works as an educational consultant and curriculum writer with a focus on early childhood environmental education and other initiatives connecting young children with nature. She recently worked with the Brookfield Zoo in developing their NatureStart program and served as a curriculum writer for California’s Education and Environment Initiative. Dr. Wilson also worked with Sesame Street in designing nature education programs and served as an evaluator for the Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool. Her career includes working as a classroom teacher in both regular and special education settings and as a teacher educator for over ten years at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.Dr. Wilson has several published books and numerous articles in professional and general audience publications including Environmental Education Research Journal, Green Teacher, Early Childhood News, Exchange, Teaching Tolerance, and American Forests. Dr. Wilson lives in Albuquerque, NM where she enjoys hiking in the desert, along the Rio Grande, and in the Sandia Mountains.
Education
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Ph.D. University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 1989
Areas of Research / Professional Expertise
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nature and young children
nature play
ecological identity
spiritual development of young children
Personal Interests
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hiking
poetry
creative writing
Books
Articles
Take It Outside
Published: Jun 01, 2015 by Teaching Tolerance
Authors: Ruth Wilson
Opportunities to interact with nature in an outdoor area fosters the holistic development of young children.
Care of the Commons, Care of the Soul
Published: Aug 11, 2014 by On the Commons
Authors: Ruth Wilson
Subjects:
Philosophy
Discusses how caring for the environment also equates to caring for our soul.
Beauty of the Bosque
Published: Jun 01, 2012 by American Forests
Authors: Ruth A. Wilson
Subjects:
Environment and Agriculture
Description of a bosque ecosystem and the author's reaction to discovering this living oasis in the desert in Albuquerque. Also described is the importance of cottonwood trees to this unique ecosystem and efforts to protect the bosque.
Becoming whole: Developing an ecological identity
Published: May 11, 2011 by Exchange
Authors: Ruth Wilson
Subjects:
Education
Describes the meaning of the ecological self and factors influencing the development of one's ecological identity, especially during the early childhood years.
News
Recent and upcoming publications and presentations
By: Ruth Wilson
Ruth Wilson will be the keynote speaker at two upcoming conferences: the Nature Preschool Conference in St. Paul, MN and the Nature Explore Leadership Conference at the Arbor Day Foundation in Nebraska.
Her recent publications includes blogs for Teaching Tolerance, Spirituality & Health, and On The Commons.
She has a new book -- Learning is in Bloom -- to be released by Gryphon House in Spring, 2016.