ECO Stewards

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Kathy quit her full-time job in July 2011 to become a stay-at-home/homeschool mom to her two children. On November 7, 2022 tragedy struck and Kathy, Gwyn, and Rowyn were in a car accident that took the lives of Gwyn and Rowyn. One of Kathy's saving graces is that she was able to homeschool Gwyn and Rowyn for almost 12 years and explore, learn and grow with them. It is because of Gwyn and Rowyn that Kathy found her passion for environmental education.

Kathy has been teaching, organizing fieldtrips, and supporting the homeschool community since 2012 through various homeschool groups. Kathy is passionate about getting children outside and immersed in nature which she has been doing with her own children since they were just a few days old. It is this passion that has driven her to create ECO, so that all children can become immersed in nature and learn more about the natural world around them.

Kathy is an AZ Certified Environmental Educator, NAI Certified Interpretive Guide, USNPN Certified Phenology Leader Outdoor Wildlife Leader, Conservation Leader, Master Naturalist (in GA and AZ), GA Master Birder, National Geographic Certified Educator, Audubon Volunteer, Keep Nature Wild Ambassador, Friends of the Tonto volunteer, and Treekeeper with Trees Atlanta. She is certified in Project Wet, Project Wild, Project Learning Tree, Aquatic Wild, Wilderness First Aid and CPR Certified.  She has completed over 2,000 hrs of professional development training in the subjects of science and outdoor/environmental education. Kathy was awarded the Outstanding Environmentall Education Program award in 2021 by AAEE and the Educator of the Yaar award in 2022 by AZGFD.

She is also a public speaker and has presented at conferences and webinars about environmental education.  You can view her credentials here.

When she is not teaching, and running her businesses, Educating Children Outdoors and USA Homeschool Fieldtrips, she enjoys volunteering, birding, blogging, hiking, geocaching, creating art, traveling, and watching movies. Read more about the Balman family's homeschool journey on their blog, Kathys Cluttered Mind.

In Memory of  Gwyndolyn 1/20/06-11/7/22

Gwyndolyn is a nature-loving unschooler who hopes to one day work in wildlife conservation. When she graduates she plans to get her bachelor's degree in biology. She was born and raised for most of her life in Georgia and moved to Arizona in 2018 with her family. She has been an integral part of ECO since the beginning, because ECO was developed with her and her brother in mind. Gwyndolyn completed the ECO Explorers and ECO Navigators programs and is a current ECO Teen Naturalist. So naturally, it makes sense for her first official job to be an ECO Steward. In her free time she enjoys art, reading and listening to music.

Gwyndolyn has attended several AZ Fish and Game Workshops and completed many online webinars relating to natural world. She has also volunteered with numerous organizations, including Audubon, Save The Horses, Maricopa County Parks, and Keep Nature Wild. Gwyndolyn is CPR/First Aid Certified.

In Memory Of Rowyn 6/23/07-11/7/22

Rowyn is a bird and lizard loving, cacti and tree hugging unschooler who wants to be a video game designer. He was born and raised for most of his life in Georgia and moved to Arizona in 2018 with his family. He has been an integral part of ECO since the beginning, because ECO was developed with him and his sister in mind. Rowyn completed the ECO Explorers program and is a current ECO Navigator. In his free time he enjoys playing video games, watching YouTube, playing with his bearded dragon, and reading.  

Rowyn has attended a couple AZ Fish and Game Workshops and completed many bird related webinars. He has also volunteered with numerous organizations, including Audubon, Maricopa County Parks, and Keep Nature Wild. Rowyn is CPR/First Aid Certified.