​Philly Naturehoods

Christina began her Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (formerly Fairmount Park Commission) adventures at the Tree House Maple Sugar Day 2006 as a volunteer. In the following years, she assumed many roles- seasonal educator, camp counselor, communications volunteer, and Recreation Specialty Instructor- in addition to her work as an educator for The School District of Philadelphia, and non-profit agricultural and environmental education organizations.

 

Twelve Sugar seasons and one Wineberry season later, Christina joined the Tree House team full-time as an Environmental Education Planner. In 2022 she returned the park of her youth, Pennypack Park, and is the EEP at Pennypack Environmental Center just in time for the paw paws to ripen.    

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Before her Parks & Recreation adventure, she studied at Abraham Lincoln High School's Environmental Technology Academy. There she also worked as the Student Farmer at Fox Chase Farm, and taught school groups about the farm and its animals. She continued her education at The Pennsylvania State University, where she earned her bachelor of communications, while living and working at the Dairy Science Facilities. However, it wasn't until she became a Head Start teacher that she knew education was her calling, which connected all of her other studies and interests, especially her passion to get children in nature. From there she earned her masters of education, and Instructional I certifications in special and early childhood education from Chestnut Hill College, and has been a dedicated educator ever since.    

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She is excited to continue her passion and purpose of guiding Philly youth on their adventures in learning about the natural world, and their deeper connection to it. And she is ecstatic to do so with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.    

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When she is not teaching, Christina enjoys working in her native plant garden, going on "Auntie Adventures" with her niblings, creating art, and exploring life through adventures with family and friends.