Our Story

Earth Stories was born in the mud in Central Park, New York City. Living in NYC and working with children most of her adult life, ESI Founder, Lisa Kitchens, often sought opportunities to be in nature, even in the big city. As a child, she had grown up in rural Georgia. The forest, the dirt, and the stars were her playground as well as instrumental in shaping the person she would become. She found herself asking: can children living in cities also develop meaningful relationships with nature? And how can we support those relationships?

In early 2018, she was nannying for a family, and the children were playing in Central Park. The children were digging in the mud, finding worms, and giggling with delight in their play. At this moment, Lisa recognized that children already know how to connect with nature–they do it instinctively in their play. Even smack dab in the middle of one of the biggest cities on the planet, children find ways to connect with the natural world if given the opportunity. So how can we help support these experiences with the natural world throughout daily life? That’s when the idea of Earth Stories was planted.

Lisa began creating artistic and educational experiences for young children (filled with lots of play!) nurturing what they already instinctively know–we are connected to and belong with nature. She wasn’t teaching them anything new, but rather providing them with opportunities to deepen their curiosity and deepen their relationship with Mother Nature.

Earth Stories Initiative was officially formed in 2019, and it continues to grow! From live performances to digital resources, ESI is here to help you, your families, and your classrooms connect to this place we all call home, meaningfully.

 Our Beliefs

We believe that all living beings are deserving of love and respect. By nurturing meaningful connections with the natural world, we grow to care for and love our natural neighbors making way for a greener, more compassionate future.

We believe children enter this life as whole, full beings; and we honor a child’s rightful place on Earth. By approaching education through child-driven inquiry and play, we aim to instill values of curiosity, wonder, and compassion.

We believe that art–in all its creative forms–has the ability to move us, transform us, and inspire us; and by connecting to nature through artistic experiences, we are connecting more deeply to ourselves, each other, and our planet.

We believe that stories are powerful and help shape us into the people we become; and that storytellers hold a great responsibility in promoting stories of intersectionality, inclusion, diversity, compassion, and hope.

Our Team

 
  • Lisa is a New York-based theatre artist and teaching artist with over ten years of professional experience creating and making plays as an actor, writer, and director. She has been a professional teaching artist for the past eight years working with children as young as a few months old all the way to high school. She has over ten years of experience working as a caregiver, particularly with toddlers and newborns, where she takes great joy in witnessing the child’s growth and development in those formative years.

    Lisa was a 2018 recipient of the Voices of the Wilderness Artist Residency through the USDA Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska. She was a 2022 artist-in-residence with The Arctic Circle Residency in the international territory of Svalbard, Norway. She is currently an ensemble member with Spellbound Theatre. She received her Nature Based Education Teacher Certification from ERAFANS and teaches with Brooklyn Forest School in Central Park, Manhattan. She holds an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater and a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville. She holds her Childhood Development Associate (CDA) Certificate through CUNY School of Professional Studies and New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute.

  • Earth Stories’ deviser, artistic associate and collaborator. She is a Brooklyn-based theater-maker, actor, and educator. She collaborates with New York City Children’s Theater, Park Avenue Youth Theater, DOROT, Trusty Sidekick Theater Company, Bluelaces Theater Company, AMIOS, and Hook & Eye Theater Company. Meghan is also a co-founding member and facilitator of the Defrost Project where she creates community-based art with residents of small towns in Minnesota. She is a Moth StorySLAM winner and GrandSLAM performer. Meghan graduated from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program and is currently getting her MA in Applied Theatre at CUNY. Meghan is extremely grateful to be a part of Earth Stories Initiative to create art that offers connection to nature, storytelling, and self-expression! 

  • Earth Stories' puppet maker, performer and collaborator. She is an actor, teacher, writer, painter, and puppeteer/puppet maker. Recently, she assisted Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn in their latest mounting of The Designated Mourner. She also regularly does a cow puppet show for kids called “Moo Nork” because she’s a good Vermonter. BFA: University of Evansville, MFA: The American Conservatory Theater.

  • Earth Stories' sound designer, technician and collaborator. Originally from Cincinnati, he is a musician, actor, and sound producer based in NYC. Ben was nominated for the Planet Connections award for Best Actor in a Musical for his roles in "Close Your Eyes and Sleep" and "Rusalka". He recently released a new album with his Americana outfit, The Good Morning Nags, in which he plays the mandolin and guitar. B.S. in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville, MFA in Acting from The American Conservatory Theater.

Want to join the team?

Are you passionate about connecting young children to our planet through interactive storytelling and community engagement? Got an idea for a project? We love working with artists, educators, activists, and citizens of the planet committed to creating a greener, more compassionate planet.

Introduce yourself at
earthstoriesiniative@gmail.com,
and let’s find a way to connect!

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