About this Event
How can we help children and teens care deeply about the world without feeling responsible for fixing it all?
Our panel discussion will focus on practical ways that connecting with nature, finding community, and taking meaningful action can help children and teens develop a sense of belonging and confidence in their ability to make a difference. We’ll also explore how to help young people understand environmental challenges in context, including how decisions are made, and develop caring relationships with the natural world.
We'll leave time for questions and conversation, with ideas families and educators can bring into everyday life.
Meet Our Panelists
Meg Barrow (she/her)
Wild Harmony Nature Connection | Wingra Parent
Meg Barrow grew up among the bluffs and marshes of La Crosse in Wisconsin’s Driftless region. She has worked for nearly a decade with Wild Harmony Nature Connection, a local nonprofit offering deep nature connection programming for youth, and is trained as an occupational therapist with a pediatric focus. In 2019, she completed Nature-Led certification with occupational therapist Kathleen Lockyer. Meg is passionate about nature’s role in child development and well-being. A parent of two current Wingra students, she enjoys playing outside with her family and working on handcrafts.
Ami Eckard-Lee
Host, Field Notes on Climate | PBS Wisconsin Education
Ami Eckard-Lee is the host of PBS Wisconsin Education’s Field Notes on Climate and a lifelong Wisconsinite and nature lover. She spent her childhood living in and helping build an eco-house with her family, exploring nature and science, and studying the arts. Ami is also a licensed pilot specializing in antique airplanes, the creative director of the Kelch Aviation Museum in Brodhead, Wisconsin, and a certified professional coach with a focus on mental health.
Chris Kilgour
Founder, Color in the Outdoors | Community Outreach Manager, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, UW–Madison
Chris Kilgour is the founder of Color in the Outdoors and the community outreach manager at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, he works to connect people with nature and with one another, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through Color in the Outdoors, he brings together outdoor experiences, education, stewardship, sustainability, and mentorship to broaden participation and help build more welcoming outdoor communities.
Amanda Latham
Climate Outreach Specialist | Wisconsin State Climatology Office
Amanda Latham is a climate outreach specialist for the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, where she designs and supports educational programming and outreach that help Wisconsinites understand and adapt to weather and climate challenges. She holds a degree in atmospheric and oceanic science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and worked as a television meteorologist for five years before joining the State Climate Office. Amanda is passionate about making weather and climate information accessible to people of all backgrounds.
Megan Willig
Program Director, Environmental Education | National Environmental Education Foundation
Megan Willig is the Environmental Education Program Director for the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), where she leads the Greening STEM and climate emotions initiatives. A former high school science teacher, she brings experience in environmental science and education to her work. Megan is a graduate of Brown University and earned her master’s degree in educational studies from the University of Michigan. She lives in Madison and enjoys exploring the outdoors with her two children, husband, and dog.
A conversation inspired by Colin
In planning this gathering, Colin Elder Davis’s father, Bill, shared that Colin felt he needed to be the “Manager of the Universe.” That reflection raises an important question for this evening: How do we help young people find purpose and ways to contribute while reminding them they don’t have to carry the world on their own?
Colin attended Wingra during his middle school years, a time his family remembers as some of his happiest and most hopeful. Building on last year’s gathering with Dr. Peggy Scallon, this evening continues our partnership with Colin’s parents, Jane Elder and Bill Davis, and the work of the Colin Elder Davis Memorial Gift Fund to support young people’s mental health and deepen our community’s understanding.
Current and former Wingra families, parents and caregivers, educators, interested students, friends, and neighbors are all welcome. Whether you knew Colin or are joining this conversation for the first time, we hope you’ll be part of the evening.
Hosted by Wingra School in partnership with Jane Elder and Bill Davis.
Event venue & nearby stays
718 Gilmore St, 718 Gilmore Street, Madison, United States
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