Mike Feller, Nancy Slowik, Ken Chaya

Teaches at New York Botanical Garden

Mike Feller
Program Coordinator Mike Feller spent 31 years as Chief Naturalist for NYC Parks Natural Resource Group (NRG), where he led a team of 25, supervised the design and execution of myriad ecological restorations, and oversaw NRG's environmental education program. Mike spearheaded the creation of the Forever Wild Program that established 51 nature preserves throughout New York City. His photos of urban nature have appeared in many books, magazines, and corporate offices.

Nancy Slowik is a research associate with Hudsonia Field Station, working on biodiversity assessment and research projects, and serves as a lead consultant, facilitating a native plant propagation and restoration project in the Ramapo Mountains for a private land owner. Previously, she was the director of Greenbrook Sanctuary in the New Jersey Palisades and co-founder of the Green Belt Native Plant Center—the first native plant propagation program for the New York City Parks Department. Slowik has taught natural history programs and led guided walks in the metropolitan area for 35 years and is the author of two books on local flora, including A Naturalist's Guide to the Southern Palisades.

Ken Chaya is an artist, art director, cartographer, and urban naturalist who has produced numerous books on travel, American history, and nature. He has extensive experience working on projects in the New York City area, and recently created Central Park Entire, The Definitive Illustrated Map, which locates over 19,000 trees and identifies them by species