Hi. It is so nice to meet you.
Marram Collaborative
Emily Bretl, Ed.D.
Founder, Director
Dr. Bretl is the founder and managing director of Marram Collaborative. She has been working in the field of education in different capacities for fifteen years including as a middle school science and math teacher, school founder and teacher leader, science specialist, project-based curriculum designer, and environmental educator.
Dr. Bretl started her career as an environmental scientist and conservation technician and quickly realized her passion for sharing ecological knowledge and cultivating care for the earth and one another through hands-on, project- and place-based education. Many of her interests are found at the intersection of place-based curriculum design, ecological education, educational research, and artistic expression.
Dr. Bretl has lived and taught all around the country and world. She currently lives on the southern shores of Lake Michigan, a place that inspires her daily to care for the earth and the people who dwell on this planet. Curiosity is her superpower.
Collaborative Partners and Projects
University of Chicago’s Ecological Field Station at Warren Woods
Marram Collaborative works with the University of Chicago to oversee land management and program development at UChicago’s Ecological Field Station in Warren Woods, Michigan. The Field Station is a place for scientific research, educational programming, and community outreach on diverse topics such as ecology and environmental science, land use history, ecological aesthetics, climate change, social justice and advocacy, place-based teaching and learning, and action-based community research.
Jibek Mbwakawen
Jibek Mbwakawen is a nonprofit established to create and implement environmental educational programs focusing on sustainability and land management practices through an Indigenous lens in the Great Lakes Region. Marram Collaborative works with Jibek Mbwakawen to support their mission to bridge Western Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to broaden perspectives, knowledge, and understanding in fields of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) with both indoor and outdoor learning. Jibek Mbwakawen and Marram Collaborative are currently working on program development and land-based learning through seed-saving and traditional indigenous gardening projects in Southwest Michigan.
Wild Bee Learning
Wild Bee Learning guides students in discovering and nurturing meaningful connections between their actual lives, local places, and academic learning. Together, we cultivate wondrous curiosity, imaginative diligence, and courageous action to create a more sustainable, just, and compassionate world for all beings. Our services include individual and small group tutoring, nature-based mentoring, and college and career coaching with an ecological approach.
Past Projects and Collaborations
Fearless Farmers
Marram Collaborative worked with Fearless Farmers on a long-term curriculum design project from 2020 through 2023. Dr. Bretl, founder of Marram Collaborative, spearheaded the design, creation, and implementation of Fearless Farmer’s interdisciplinary youth and educator training programs that develop ecological literacy through farm-based learning, place-based inquiry, and personal-professional reflection and growth. These educational programs annually serve hundreds of youth, educators, and farmers around the United States and globally.
Peralta School Gardens and Sustainability Education
Marram Collaborative joined hands (and hearts and minds) with Peralta School in Oakland, California, during SY 2021-22 to develop a garden-based curriculum serving grades K through 5. The garden experiences focused on place-based learning and social-emotional expression through garden stewardship and ecological curiosity. The curriculum integrated arts-based learning, science education, and environmental action to make the school and its gardens even more beautiful and accessible. Peralta School’s garden and educational programs continue to offer beauty and delight to all.
Interested in being a part of Marram Collaborative?
We are building a diverse, passionate, and exceptionally talented network of individuals and organizations committed to transforming communities - from schools to businesses to families and neighbors - through artistic expression, ecological education, and sustainable systems design. Please email Dr. Bretl if you are interested in learning more about career and partnership opportunities.