About Andrés
From an early age I’ve spent time in nature first with my family and siblings on camping trips, and later guiding teens and adults on extended outdoor adventures hiking, rafting, mountaineering, snow camping, cross-country skiing, rock climbing, and kayaking. These experiences have instilled in me a deep love for nature and a profound reciprocal connection with all living beings and the web of life.
An experiential educator at heart, I’ve worked as a: forest bathing guide; exhibit designer and developer for museums, zoos, aquariums and visitor centers; wilderness skills guide and instructor; researcher; writer; lecturer and workshop leader. In all of these roles, I’ve synthesized concepts and information and conveyed them in clear, concise ways so that people with different learning styles can understand.
In our fast-paced, tech-driven culture, stress and anxiety have become rampant in everyday living. I’m interested in sharing my science-based and experiential knowledge about the positive impacts of spending time in nature for reducing stress, anxiety and creating ways to support our health and well-being.
My Philosophy
My background stems from being curious about life and enjoying teaching and learning about what makes us human. As an educator I’ve worked with people ranging from middle schoolers to senior citizens. My topics of interest revolve around natural history, personal growth, health and well-being, cultural history, technology and sustainability. In the early part of my career I worked as a wilderness skills instructor and environmental educator. My love of creativity, research and writing led me to a career as an exhibit designer and content developer creating exhibitions for museums, zoos and aquariums in the US and internationally.
Through my work I developed an interest in writing and published several books on sustainability and the health benefits of our relationship to the natural world. My published work (see Books section) opened opportunities for me to teach classes and be a guest speaker and workshop leader at conferences, universities, businesses and non-profit organizations.
Since one of the best ways to learn is to teach, I’m currently leading workshops as a forest bathing (also known as forest therapy) guide engaging with individuals, college and university students, instructors and staff. During these workshops I focus on tailoring the experience to the participants' needs and sharing my interest in topics including science, personal growth, natural history, health and compassion.
My Approach
I approach my work with a yearning for curiosity and learning. I love the process of researching, writing, understanding, and finding creative ways to share the knowledge that I’ve gained with others. I believe that we’re all “experts” in different topics and areas of our lives. The beauty of learning comes when we share what we’re passionate about with others and then receive their gifts when they share their enthusiasm and passion about what they love. This exchange creates a synergy and relationship that ripples outwards and infuses joy and enthusiasm to others. In today’s world with global communication networks these ideas spread widely creating different perspectives and often helping people in their lives.
Nature is perhaps our greatest teacher since as humans we are integrally connected to her web of life which has been around for millennia and is responsible for our survival and well-being. Increasingly, biologists and social scientists are demonstrating, through their research, that re-connecting with the natural world benefits us physically and emotionally. Being outdoors helps us to reduce our stress, anxiety, loneliness, and brings us more joy, better health, and a desire to help others. Leading forest bathing walks and creating workshops on the human/nature connection is a powerful way of giving back and sharing these positive effects with members of my community.
Trainings & Awards
2023 - Applied Compassion Training (ACT). Stanford University, CCARE
2022 - Forest Therapy Guide. Association of Nature & Forest Therapy (ANFT)
2019 - Nautilus Book Awards. Gold Winner, Renewal
2016 - Nautilus Book Awards. Silver Winner, The Heart of Sustainability
2016 - Compassion Cultivation Training. Stanford University, CCARE
2011 - Living Now Book Awards. Gold Medal, Thriving Beyond Sustainability
2005 - Amazon Best Seller: Environment. The Sustainability Revolution
2004 - LEED® Accredited Professional. U.S. Green Building Council
1998 - The Four-Fold Way Program. Angeles Arrien
1996 - Permaculture Design Training. Bill Mollison
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS:
Renewal: How Nature Awakens Our Creativity, Compassion, and Joy
Gold Winner: Nautilus Book Awards.
Renewal explores the science behind why being in nature makes us feel alive and helps us thrive. Using personal experiences and cutting-edge research in cognitive science, this book weaves delightful stories that: Reveal nature's genius and impacts on our lives from physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual perspectives; explore how emulating nature is yielding design breakthroughs with biomimicry and biophilic design; highlight the importance of compassion and coexisting with wildlife in designing our conservation strategies; describe the significance of nurturing an ecological ethic that supports a reciprocal relationship with nature. New Society Publishers, 2019.
The Heart of Sustainability: Restoring Ecological Balance from the Inside Out
The Heart Of Sustainability: Restoring Ecological Balance From The Inside Out
Silver Winner: Nautilus Book Awards.
The Heart of Sustainability frames the conversation about consciousness and sustainability. The book illustrates the integration of the four Es: ecology, economy, equity, and education—the bedrock of the current sustainability framework—with the four Cs: conscious, creative, compassionate and connected. Describing concrete initiatives this work showcases visionaries whose leadership, activism and community engagement are helping to build a world that works for all. New Society Publishers, 2015.
Thriving Beyond Sustainability: Pathways to a Resilient Society
Thriving Beyond Sustainability: Pathways to a Resilient Society
Gold Medal: Living Now Book Awards
Thriving Beyond Sustainability draws a collective map of individuals, organizations and communities from around the world that are committed to building an alternative future — one that strives to restore ecological health, reinvent outmoded institutions and rejuvenate our environmental, social and economic systems. The projects and initiatives profiled are meeting the challenges of the day with optimism, hope and results, leading the way in: relocalization, green commerce, ecological design, environmental conservation, social transformation. New Society Publishers, 2010.
The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift
The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift
Amazon Best Seller: Environment.
The Sustainability Revolution has sold over 29,000 copies and was selected by Apple to demonstrate the educational potential of Ebooks when this platform was initially launched. This book analyzes the pedigree of the term “sustainability” as defined by the principles, declarations and intentions of five sectors -- community, commerce, natural resources, ecological design, and biosphere. The Sustainability Revolution explores common themes: stewardship, economic restructuring, equitable distribution, respect for the principles of nature, restoration of life forms, intergenerational perspective, and describes innovative projects throughout the world. New Society Publishers, 2005.
Tibet: Enduring Spirit, Exploited Land
Tibet: Enduring Spirit–Exploited Land, co-authored with Robert Z. Apte, examines traditional Tibetan ecological practices. The information for this work was gathered by conducting first-hand accounts through oral history interviews with Tibetan refugees living in India, Nepal, and the United States. AuthorHouse, 2004 (2nd Edition); Heartsfire, 1998.
ARTICLES
• Bridging Awe and Nature. Describes how nature acts as a catalyst for instilling awe in our lives. LinkedIn, June 14, 2016.
• Looking Within To Discover Our Leadership and Activists Styles. Describes the connection between individual temperament and leadership and activists styles. Trellis (formerly GreenBiz). January 23, 2016.
• Sustainability from the Inside Out. Describes the interdependence of the external Es of sustainability: ecology, economy, equity, education and the internal Cs: conscious, creative, compassion, connection). LinkedIn, October 22, 2015.
• How Do You Build a Regenerative Enterprise? Start By Going On A Camping Trip. Using a camping metaphor, this article describes the key elements for a successful enterprise including leadership, core values, branding and the soul of the business. LinkedIn, July 23, 2014.
• The Spirals Framework: A Trim Tab for a Livable Future And Excerpt from Thriving Beyond Sustainability. Describes how the “SPIRALS” framework acts like a trim tab by guiding initiatives towards a better world. Green Money Journal, Volume 18, Issue 4, Number 76. Summer, 2010.
• Using Spirals As a Lens to Envision the Next Economy. Describes how to move beyond "green" economics to a solutions-based approach through the “SPIRALS” initiatives: Scalable, Place-based, Intergenerational, Resilient, Accessible, Life-affirming, and involving Self-care. The Journal of Sustainability Education. Vol. 1. May 10, 2010.
• Explaining Green Materials. Describes the design and fabrication of the Green Building Resource displays currently used by cities interested in educating the public about these innovative building materials and techniques. Architecture Week, July 17, 2002.
Education
New College of California, San Francisco, California. M.A. Masters degree in Humanities and Leadership, Emphasis: Culture, Ecology, and Sustainable Community. Thesis: Sustainability Today: A Compass for the Future. 2000.
New York University, New York, New York. M.P.S. Masters degree in telecommunications from Tisch School of the Arts: Interactive Telecommunications Program. Award-winning Thesis: Farallon Islands Resource Atlas. 1989.
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado. B.A. English and Geography. 1982.