Centre professor’s research highlighted by environmental education documentary

An upcoming film screening will spotlight the work of a Centre College professor.

Ellen Prusinski, the Marlene & David Grissom Associate Professor of Education, is featured in a new documentary titled “In Our Nature,” which explores how environmental education — and the people behind it — can create positive change for others and the world around us.

The Kentucky premiere celebration will take place July 24 at the historic Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center in Lexington. The event kicks off with a reception featuring music by Jeri Katherine Howell ’16, who earned degrees in Environmental Studies and Spanish from Centre. Following the film, Prusinski will join the filmmakers and others for a panel discussion about the documentary.

“It’s inspiring to see examples of other people and organizations who are working to make sure that environmental education reaches everyone,” Prusinski said. “I think the overarching message of the film — that we all deserve opportunities to connect with the natural world, regardless of where we live, our politics or our income — feels extremely urgent right now.”

Prusinski was tapped by the filmmakers following the 2024 publication of her article “What is political about a tree? Grappling with partisan divides in environmental education” in the journal Environmental Education Research.

“We were so excited when we discovered Dr. Prusinski’s work about how environmental educators are navigating the political climate in Kentucky,” said “In Our Nature” co-producer Juliet Grable. “We came across Dr. Prusinski’s research early in our discovery process. We knew we wanted to make a film showing how environmental education can help connect people and transcend politics, but it was her work that really helped us understand what that looks like on the ground.”

In her article, Prusinski shares her findings from interviews conducted with 31 environmental educators in Kentucky. She explores how their experiences and ongoing efforts demonstrate the ways environmental education can thrive in diverse settings and may even bridge bipartisan divides.

“I think one of the challenges we face right now is how to find genuine connections with other people — including those with whom we might assume we have nothing in common — without compromising our core values or beliefs,” Prusinski said. “I love the way the film tells the story about our shared human yearning to connect to the natural world and how this shared desire can be a foundation upon which relationships are built.”

The documentary also highlights the work of Red Oaks Forest School, located in Powell County, Kentucky. Red Oaks is a nonprofit that provides hands-on environmental education and nature experiences for families and kids of all ages. All proceeds from the Kentucky screening of the film will be donated to Red Oaks Forest School and the Kentucky Association for Environmental Educators.

“For me, seeing examples of people doing meaningful work is a powerful reminder that we aren’t in this alone,” Prusinski said. “Ultimately, I find it energizing to realize that the work we are doing is connected to a larger movement of people who want to see change.”

The making of “In Our Nature” was sponsored by The North American Association for Environmental Education. The screening marks the launch of a nationwide campaign in which organizers aim to “elevate environmental education as a unifying, bipartisan force — and a vital part of what it means to be educated.”