Briane Willis

Experience

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  All-In Blues Band/ Kings, Queens, and Lovers

  May 2007 - Nov 2009

  Drummer

  I rocked the drums and sometimes sang.

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  Green Guy Recycling

  Jul 2009 - May 2011

  Office Assistant

  My roles included maintaining the online records at the Texas Department of Public Safety Metal Recycling Program, preparing weight tickets for customers, and attending to customer questions.

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  Honors College at Texas State University

  Aug 2010 - May 2012

  Student Coordinator

  My responsibilities included preparing public receptions registration and events, maintaining the community coffee forum, and attending to student and faculty questions.

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  San Marcos River Rangers

  Jun 2011 - Aug 2012

  River Ranger

  As a citizen scientist, I monitored the dissolved oxygen content, pH, turbidity, and conductivity in a specific reach of the San Marcos River.

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  San Marcos River Foundation

  Jun 2011 - Jun 2012

  Intern

  I was a liaison between the Hays-Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and SMRF Director Dianne Wassenich. I also participated in invasive species removal, river clean-ups, event preparation, and assisted Dianne Wassenich in her duties as Director.

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  Persona Literary Magazine

  Aug 2011 - May 2012

  Poetry Editor

  My responsibilities included editing poetry for publication in the 2012-2013 Persona Literary Magazine at Texas State University.

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  Jacob's Well Natural Area

  Apr 2012 - Sept 2012

  Interpretive Guide & Restoration Ranger

  As a volunteer, I led interpretive tours of the Natural Area, participated in restoration of native species, removal of invasive species, and co-led environmental education camps from Austin Nature and Science Center.

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  Hays County

  Sept 2012 - Jan 2014

  Parks Attendant

  As a Parks Attendant my duties included designing and implementing the environmental education program at Jacob's Well Natural Area (including summer camps and field trips), scheduling and leading interpretive tours of the JWNA, and planned an outreach event called National Kids to Parks Day at JWNA. Most of the time I did maintenance for Hays County Parks and enforcement of rules for JWNA in Wimberley, the Winter's Mill Parkway trail to Blue Hole, and the public parks at the 5-Mile Dam Complex in Kyle, Texas. I also worked to develop education and outreach for Hays County's Habitat Conservation Plan. Show less

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  Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

  Jan 2014 - May 2014

  Education Intern

  I helped with the development of educational programming and interpretative media for the Luci and Ian Family Garden.

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  The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

  Jun 2014 - May 2017

  Nature Program Specialist

  I managed the interpretive signage project, including grant writing, writing interpretive content, overseeing a group of colleagues, working with artists to create the visuals for the signs, and installation. For the Texas Aquatic Science project, I adapted activities for our site, trained staff, completed the site certification process, connected with schools and non-profits across Central Texas, and evaluated the program through informal surveys. As the education and outreach specialist for Texas Stream Team (a network of trained citizen scientists) I demonstrated activities relating to water quality, watershed awareness, nonpoint source pollution, stewardship, and citizen science. In the last year, I also designed and implemented a preschool program and created a natural playscape plan for Spring Lake. Show less

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  The EmilyAnn Theatre and Gardens

  Jun 2014 - Jul 2015

  Environmental Education Coordinator

  I designed and led the first two nature summer camps at EmilyAnn Theatre and Gardens. I also created a natural playscape plan with open-ended play features that encourage unstructured nature play, as well as cooperative and imaginative types of play, while encouraging full-child development.

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  Briane Willis Consulting

  May 2017 - Feb 2019

  Owner

  I worked with non-profit organizations to further their goals relating to nature-rich experiences, STEAM+ educational programming, and connecting people of all ages to the natural world. My experience includes developing programming, adapting and aligning curriculum, designing interpretive media, creating natural playscapes, engaging the public in citizen science, as well as community outreach and research. I recently worked with the Early Childhood Center at San Antonio College on adding natural play elements to their current site as well as consulting on the design of their future natural playscape. I have also worked with the the Hill Country Science Mill in Johnson City and Families in Nature in Austin. Additional consultation has included Blue Hole Regional Park, Jacob's Well Natural Area, and The Circle School. Show less

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  William R. Sinkin Eco Centro

  Jan 2018 - Jan 2019

  Education & Design Associate, Camp Director

  In this role I designed and implemented a comprehensive education program including preschool and toddler programs, after school program, family events, special events, and other informal activities. Responsibilities also included designing a natural playscape for Eco Centro, crafting interpretive signage, and other educational resources. Additionally, I was the Director of the first EcoKids Camp exploring gardening, food preparation, sustainability, and creativity.

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  Wild Wonder Program

  Feb 2019 - May 2022

  Owner & Facilitator

  Wild Wonder Program was a nature-based early childhood program located on a ten-acre homestead outside of Wimberley, Texas. With an emphasis on unstructured nature play, the children engaged with sensory-rich investigations in the Montessori approach and open-ended provocations in the Reggio Emilia approach, as well as developing environmental connection in the Waldorf approach.

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  Self-employed

  Feb 2022 - now

  Author
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  Wimberley Montessori School

  May 2022 - Oct 2022

  Interim Lead Guide - Toddler Classroom