Jayni Chase has worked to advance environmental education for over 37 years. She founded the Center for Environmental Education in 1988, providing resources to build environmental education programs in K-12 schools. Now operating out of Unity College, Unity, Maine, The Center is a resource for educators worldwide.
In 1995, Scholastic published Jayni’s Blueprint for a Green School, a compilation of environmental information, resources and ideas for schools to ‘Go Green.’ This guidebook empowers everyone to transform schools into safe, healthy places of enlightened learning.
Jayni spearheaded two ambitious green school initiatives: GREEN Community Schools, creating model green schools, and Energy Efficient Schools in a partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and Serious Materials.
Before joining the Mianus River Gorge board of trustees, Jayni served on several boards, including The Alliance for Climate Education (ACE), the US Green Building Council Center for Green Schools, the NY Harbor School, the Billion Oyster Project (BOP), Green My Parents, Friends of the Earth US and she chaired NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Green Schools Working Group.
Jayni credits her husband, Chevy, and their three daughters, Cydney, Caley and Emily, with providing the force behind her dedication to environmental health, safety and education.