Audubon Alumni

AEI 2008 Reunion

Thank you so much for making the 2008 AEI/Trailside Country School Reunion such a success. Check out the photos in our photo gallery. We look forward to the next alumni gathering.

Alumni In The News

Jeff Kagan (AEI Graduate 2007) has been entertaining and educating children and parents with his mountain-inspired nature music for nearly a decade. Now, at the age of 28, Kagan makes his home and his music in Boulder, CO. Kagan's first album "Rocky Mountain Tunes for Rocky Mountain Kids" was released in April 2008. Most of the songs on the album were written while learning and traveling with the Audubon Expedition Institute, where Kagan recently completed his graduate work in Environmental Education. Kagan's music has been described as "a cross between: (1) John Denver – Almost Heaven, Rocky Mountain High, nature loving, feel-good, joyful music, (2) Dan Zanes – totally hip, fun, down-home, family music, hangin' out and singin' with the peeps, and (3) The Wiggles – silly, creative, super engaging for kids, wildly popular, and, well, wiggly!" – Cate Colburn-Smith - Boulder, CO Mother of Two http://rockymountainmusic.info/ .

In July 2008 Jesse Pyles (AEI Graduate 2004), Green Mountain College Sustainability Coordinator, was featured in the Association for the Advancement in High Education Campus Sustainability Perspectives. Check out his interview.

AEI and Trailside Alums on Facebook

AEI alum Mieko Ozeki has started an alumni group on the online social networking site, Facebook. With more than 50 members and growing every day, the Facebook group is a great way to keep in touch with old friends and meet other AEI and Trailside alums in your area. The group page allows members to post photos from their AEI/Trailside years, carry on online discussion, and post relevant announcements. To join the Facebook group, simply search for "Audubon Expedition Institute/TCS Alum" within the groups directory.

Job and Internship Link to Environmental Education Opportunities

AEI students and alumni can now access internship and job opportunities via Lesley Joblink, the Career Resource Center's online database of job openings. A new category of job listings has recently been added for Environmental Education opportunities. The site is password protected to ensure that all positions posted on the web site are viewed by AEI/Lesley students and alumni only. Please contact the contact the Career Resource Center directly for the password. If you have a job listing or internship that you think an AEI student or alumni would be interested in, you may email it to their office at crcjobs@lesley.edu. For questions about the Lesley job link or other career services offered, please visit their website at http://www.lesley.edu/crc/. If your questions are not answered through the website, please call them at 617-349-8550.

AEI Regional Alumni Coordinator

The alumni on the AEI Advisory Board are working on ways to serve its alumni more effectively. To that end we are currently looking for AEI alumni who are committed to helping build an alumni network in different regions of the U.S. AEI Regional Alumni Coordinators would bring together other AEI alumni for special events, projects, and to reconnect with buses traveling in their areas.

We know how busy our lives can be, so the following is a list of possible ideas:

• Plan and/or host activities for AEI alumni; e.g. hikes, picnics, potluck or have lunch/dinner out.
• Attend local alumni events and activities and recruit other alumni to support regional activities;
• Share ideas and feedback from alumni to identify ways that AEI can continue to support its alumni;
• Collect and update alumni office with contact information you receive from other alumni;
• Recruit prospective students to the AEI program, by posting materials, giving presentations, staffing an AEI booth/table at a school fair, etc.

Current Regional Coordinators:

• Florida: Kurt Rowe, kurt@rowehouse.org
• Maine: Katey Branch, creatrix@megalink.net and Kirstin (George) Edelglass, kirstingeorge@hotmail.com
• Minnesota: Chris Brandt wsn02@usfamily.net and (Hagee) Brightwell, kelly_hagee@yahoo.com
• New York City area: Julia Reich, jreich2@earthlink.net
• Washington: Cheryl Brush, seattleceebee@aol.com

AEI Alumni on the AEI Board of Advisors

• Jenn Brown (87-89) jennbrown@gwi.net
• Diano Circo (99-01) diano@nrcm.org
• Brian Johnson (96-98)bcjnyc@mindspring.com
• Coleen O'Connell (84-86) oconnell@lesley.edu
• Julia Reich (88) jreich2@earthlink.net
• Jeff Rogge (95-97) jrogge@lesley.edu
• Katie Tremblay (99-01) ktremblay@chewonki.org
• Melanie Wallace (alumna of ski camp that preceded Trailside) melanie_wallace@WGBH.org
• Ayala Galton ('06) ayala_galton@brookline.mec.edu

Connections: AEI'S Alumni Magazine

Connections is AEI's newsletter that is published twice a year by Lesley University. It is sent to friends, parents and alumni of AEI and serves the AEI at Lesley community at large. Each issue has a topic or theme that is decided in advance. Stories, updates from AEI alumni, current students and faculty are welcome. To submit a story, idea or alumni update, email Lily Fessenden lfessenden@lesley.edu. Submissions deadlines are December 1st and June 1st.

Online Directory/Submit New or Changed Personal Data

In addition to Connections, AEI alumni can keep in touch with former classmates by searching the Lesley Online Directory. This page also includes an online form that allows alumni to update their contact information.

Benefits for AEI at Lesley University Alumni

AEI alumni are considered members of the Lesley University Alumni Association. This allows AEI alumni to receive the benefits that Lesley University offers to all of their alumni, with the exception that AEI alumni receive Connections and Lesley alumni receive the Lesley Magazine. These benefits include access to the Career Resource Center, tuition discounts, library privileges, eligibility for auto, home, and renters insurance through Group Savings Plus® from Liberty Mutual, and eligibility for the Lesley University MasterCard with MBNA.