Image
Sydney Gary is an educator and nonprofit leader grounded in the belief that access to nature is both a justice issue and a birthright. She holds a B.A. in International Social Justice with a minor in Environmental Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she began exploring environmental injustice in historically disenfranchised communities, and an M.A. in Environmental Humanities from the University of Utah. Her work is shaped by both research and hands-on experience with organizations like Shalom Farms and WWOOF, as well as her early years working in childcare—where she discovered her passion for nature-based early education.
Today, Sydney serves as Conference and Communications Coordinator with NAAEE’s Natural Start Alliance, advancing equitable access to high-quality nature-based early childhood education nationwide. She is also the Founding Executive Director of Earthkin Nature School, a Richmond, VA–based nonprofit offering preschool programming for children ages 3–5. Through this dual work, she bridges national advocacy with local, place-based practice—grounding big ideas in the lived experiences of children, families, and communities.