Resume — Sheri Amsel
EDUCATION
1987 M.S. Biomedical Illustration, M.S. Anatomy and Physiology, Colorado State University
1983 Internship at the Smithsonian Institute in Scientific Illustration
1980 B.A. Botany and Zoology, University of Montana
WORK AS NATURALIST AND EDUCATOR 1998 TO PRESENT
Director of the Exploring Nature Educational Resource An environmental education organization that consults on developing nature trails, running educational field trips for schools and environmental groups, and presenting science programs in schools, libraries and science museums. With accompanying website (below) ENER reaches students and educators worldwide in ten countries. This project is funded by school subscriptions, grants and honorariums. (2005 - present)
Science Education Website Developed the www.exploringnature.org website, a science education website for K-12th grade students and educators. Developed science text, over 5,000 illustrations and hundreds of educational science activities based on national curriculum standards. Developed 50 short wildlife films for the site. More than 2,000 schools and 750,000 students use the site worldwide. (2006 present)
Nature Trail Development for schools, museums, interpretive centers and outdoor education facilities. Identification of species, development and illustration of site map, printed guide and trail signage. Clients include: The Adirondack VIC, The Eddy Foundation, Lake Placid Peninsula Trail, and more than a dozen schools. (1998 - present)
The Making Track Challenge Website - Created the www.makingtrackschallenge.com website, a permanent and growing collection of hiking trails throughout North America input by citizen naturalists nationally and including a comprehensive list of the most common species found on each trail. Also includes resources for schools to make their own educational nature trails.
WORK AS AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR 1995 TO PRESENT
Author and Illustrator of nonfiction science and nature picture books for children and field guides for adults. Twenty titles with publishers, including: Raintree Steck Vaughn, Millbrook Press, Nystrom Science, Adams Publishing, Appleton and Lange Publishing, North Country Books, etc. (1990 - present)
Visiting Naturalist - Presenting environmental programming to schools, libraries, science museums, conferences and environmental events. Programs include: Habitats of the World, Adirondack Natural History, A Closer Look at Wetlands, Bird Journaling, Drawing Wildlife, throughout New York, Vermont, and other states by invitation. Funded by New York State Arts and Education programming, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Adirondack VIC, etc. (1995 - present)
WORK IN COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION 1990 TO PRESENT
Design, Illustration and Text Development for books and support materials for science, environmental education, conservation and nonprofit organizations. Clients include: The Nature Conservancy, DEC, Plattsburgh State University, The Adirondack Council, Lake Champlain Basin Program, ECHO, North Country Books, etc. (1990 - present)
Educational Murals designed and illustrated for science museums, conference centers, outdoor educational facilities and schools.
Adjunct Faculty at Plattsburgh State University, Clinton Community College and North Country Community College as teaching classes in Biology and Anatomy and Physiology. (Between 1990 - 1999).
SAMPLE OF KEYNOTES, HONORARIUMS, AND GRANT AWARDS
2009: awarded the 2009 Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Environmental Education of Youths, by the National Garden Club.
2008: Speaker at the 2008 NYOEA Conference in Lake Placid, Developing Educational Nature Trail for Schools.
2008: Received a grant from the Adirondack Garden Club to develop and implement two educator workshops on integrating outdoor education into classroom science.
2007: Speaker at the 2007 NSTA Conference in Denver, Developing Educational Nature Trail for Schools.
2007: International Paper Conservation Grant, Eddy Foundation Nature Trail Education Grant, Garden Club Environmental Education Grant, Three (3) Adirondack Education Partnership Grants
2006 : Vermont Library Conference on Enhancing Elementary Curriculum with Picture Books.
2005: Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting on, Alternative Careers in Science.
2004: Medialle College Graduate Program for Elementary Educators on, Science Education Supplements.
2004: National Association of Interpreters Conference on, Educational Murals.
2004: Iroquois Reading Council Meetings on, Accuracy in Trade Books for the Classroom.
2003: Genesee BOCES Featured Author Series on, Nonfiction in Children's Literature and Publishing.
2001: Keynote Speaker at 2001 SLIMS (School Library Media) Conference on, Writing Nonfiction for Children.
1997: NYS ACE (Artist Community Effort) Grant funded by the Arts Council of Northern New York to provide library programs throughout Essex and southern Franklin County on writing and illustrating children's books.
Some Published Books
Simon's Bug(Nystrom Press, 1992)
A World of Insects (Nystrom Press, 1992)
A Wetland Walk (Millbrook Press, 1993)
Cecil's Montana Adventure (Falcon Press, 1993)
Habitats of the World 4 Book Series Rain Forests, Deserts, Grasslands, Mountains (Raintree-Steck Vaughn, 1993
Cecil's Great Northern Adventure(North County Books, 1995)
Adirondack Alphabetand Adirondack Counting Book (North County Books, 1997, 1998)
Adirondack Nature Guide (Pinto Press, 1997)
Vermont Nature Guide (Pinto Press, 1998)
Drawing Adirondack Wildlife (N.K. Burns Press, 2001)
Finger Lakes Almanac (North Country Books 2005)
The Kids Everything Kids Environment Book (Adams Publishing 2007)
365 Ways to Live Green for Kids (Adams Publishing 2009)