Jody

Jody Ullmann has always been more at home outdoors, than indoors. She grew up in Minnesota camping and canoeing on the lakes. Her dream was to be a National Park Service Ranger. After completing her degrees in Biology and Theater, she launched her career at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. This was just the start of many adventures working as an informal outdoor educator across the country.

After moving to Virginia, she worked with the Education Departments of the Mariner’s Museum, The Botanical Gardens and then the Virginia Living Museum(VLM) , where she worked acquiring new objects and caring for the museum’s non-live collection. In 2007, Jody trained and became a Master Naturalist. As part of this program, she and Mrs. Suzanne Moss, designed and ran a Jr. Master Naturalist Program for 4 years together. In this program she helped train teen leaders in the skills of being both a naturalist and a teacher. In turn the teens worked with 8–12-year-olds, passing on their knowledge and skills during weekly meetings.

After 15 years with VLM, Jody went to work for Lynnhaven River NOW (LRNow)as the Education Coordinator planning and delivering pre-K through college age environmental programming. In 2017, she was named the Environmental Educator of the Year by the Virginia Garden Clubs and went on to develop national and international award-winning programs.

Jody just recently left LRNow to work as a contractor through her company Mud Puddle Science so that she can take all of her knowledge and skills and design even more adventures for children all over Hampton Roads.