Bethany Kogut (she/her)

How are you using education to build more sustainable and equitable communities? Tell us about your EE work and impact. 

I use education as an invitation into creating more just and sustainable futures. The educational programs I’m involved with support teachers, youth, and community members in learning about ways to rethink our relationships with the natural world and identify actions they can take to make a difference.

In my role as a professional development provider in the Pacific Northwest, I guide educators in tying classroom science content to matters of consequence for students so that they are able to directly apply their learning to the future they want to be a part of. These professional development trainings also help educators develop a critical understanding of the world around them and learn how to rightfully present scientists whose knowledges and ways of knowing have been erased. These efforts develop cohorts of educators who are creating science classrooms that help students identify ways they can take action to improve our climate for the future.

Additionally, I believe that education can create a culture of care for our environment. As an interpretive services supervisor, I also support a staff of interpreters in creating and leading programs for community members so that they can develop connections to the water, land, and species they share space with. These public programs help folks find others with similar interests, deepen their passions, and connect to green spaces in their community. By creating these communities of care, we are reminded that we are not alone in the movement towards more sustainable ecological communities.

Tell us about your journey to where you are today. What inspired you? What has your path been like? 

My interest in the environment was first sparked while feeding pigs during my first weekend at college. I caught myself wondering, “How did I end up here?” That question led me to volunteer at an urban farm, where we grew produce—salad greens, tomatoes, and herbs—for the campus dining halls. It was the first time I had grown the food I ate, and my passion for the environment only grew from there.

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. But after discovering farming, I realized the four walls of a classroom weren’t for me. I wanted to be an educator outdoors. From there, my dream of working in school gardens took root.

My career journey has taken me from school gardens across New York City, to teacher professional development across Washington State, to nature centers around Metro Detroit. Along the way, I have had the honor of cultivating the Earth and supporting communities in becoming change makers.

From the East Coast to the West Coast and now the Fresh Coast, I continue to be inspired by the genius of youth, colleagues, and friends as we work toward more just and sustainable futures. 

How can people learn more about or support your work? 

The best way to stay connected to this work is to follow along on LinkedIn, where you can learn more about what I’m up to and projects I’m working on.

The best way to support this work is to stay connected with others doing similar work. Gather around a meal. Read a book together. Share produce from your garden. Build relationships, exchange ideas, and create opportunities to learn from one another.

Most importantly, stay open-minded. Be willing to think differently and ask yourself, “What am I designed not to know?”

We are all lifelong learners, and one of the most powerful ways to support more sustainable futures is to keep learning, stay curious, and take action in your community.

A Little More About Me

Where do you feel most at peace and why?
I feel most at peace when my hands are in the soil. Whether it's planting trees or tending a garden I feel at peace when I’m physically touching the earth. 

What book, film, or art piece has had the greatest impact on you?
A book that has had a great impact on me is Afterglow: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors. This book is a series of short stories published by Grist and has been an inspiration to think beyond what we believe to be true, especially when speculating our futures. 

If you could be any animal or plant, what would you be and why?
I would love to be a monarch butterfly! I am mesmerized by their migration patterns and relationship with milkweed so I would love to have a day in their wings.