How do you build bridges between Rockbridge County and communities in Michigan, California, St. Croix, Texas, the Bahamas, Massachusetts, and beyond? Earlier this month, four members of the Boxerwood team found out.
With help from a grant, Executive Director Emily Kohl, Program Director Elise Sheffield, and Educators Ginny Johnson and Catherine Epstein traveled to Pittsburgh from November 7 - 9 to participate in the annual North American Association of Environmental Educators (NAAEE) conference, whose theme this year was “Building Bridges.” In addition to learning from a wide range of colleagues and projects, the Boxerwood team presented on two of our exciting recent initiatives.
“It was a real honor to be invited to share Boxerwood’s work with this national – and international – community of environmental educators,” noted Catherine. “We know our work has an impact, and it was a joy to share what we’ve learned with such a wide range of colleagues – and to hear their feedback.”
In the first presentation, Catherine gave a 10-minute overview on Boxerwood’s annual Backyard Compost Challenge, slated in spring 2025 for its fifth iteration. She shared the project’s central question – “How many pounds of food waste would Rockbridge County households keep out of the landfill if given the chance?” – and explained how our project successfully converts non-composting households into active and enthusiastic stewards of the Earth.
Following her presentation, attendees asked questions about how the generated compost is used, whether the project could be viable in an urban setting, and more. “I felt so inspired by the engagement and curiosity of our colleagues from across the country,” reflected Catherine. “It’s really meaningful to know that the practices we’ve cultivated at Boxerwood might help others apply them in their own communities.”
In keeping with the “Bridge Building” theme, NAAEE also invited Boxerwood to present on our new initiative with Buena Vista, BV Cool Trees, a 3-year grant-funded initiative to plant 250+ trees while also empowering community members and promoting both economic and ecological well-being.
During the 40-minute session, Catherine and Ginny explained Boxerwood’s “community ally” model and Boxerwood’s leadership in linking local needs with opportunities to advance local earth stewardship. Speaking to a full room, Ginny delved into the three branches of connection that BV Cool Trees has generated so far: with BV City partners, with high school youth, and with elementary students. She described in detail the practices that have made these connections work – including building long-term and trusting partnerships, listening attentively to community members’ desires and needs, and enlisting young people who are often eager to support their communities.
Following the presentation, Ginny and Catherine spoke with a number of attendees wanting to learn more about the program’s logistics and what future partnerships might look like with other tree-centered initiatives.
“That idea of bridge-building really was palpable throughout the whole conference,” said Catherine. “It was such a privilege to be part of that process – forging connections with other educators and learning from each other’s creativity, determination, and care.”