Our Mission: To catalyze everyone to make a meaningful difference for the environment.
Our Vision: To be a next generation conservation organization, leveraging new media and technology, employing the insights of behavioral science to revive people’s support of nature through uplifting and motivational communication strategies.
The Story: Jumpstart Nature leverages technology, behavioral science, and communications best practices to empower people and organizations to make a difference.
Jumpstart Nature serves as a catalyzer and connector for everyone who wants to do something for the environment. And while we may not reach “everyone” on day one, every program and product we create will have scalability and measurability in mind.
When Michael Hawk founded Jumpstart Nature, he noticed an unfortunate theme: many people he knew felt defeated by the enormity of the biodiversity crisis and climate change. They wondered “What can I do? I’m just one person”, or “How do I even start? There is so much conflicting and misleading information.” Michael wanted to do something about this.
As a result, Jumpstart Nature is designed to catalyze action through innovative media. It’s also designed to scale – allowing us to create more offerings that meet the needs of a wide variety of people, continually reaching new audience.
Current offerings include:
- An entertaining narrative podcast – The Jumpstart Nature Podcast
- A interview podcast that goes deep – Nature’s Archive
- A bi-weekly newsletter – It’s All Connected
- And a variety of social media content and webinars
- And more coming soon!
About Our Founder and board president
Founder Michael Hawk knew that he wanted to take his Silicon Valley technology know-how and do something for the environment. He’d witnessed first-hand the steady decline of the natural places he loved, as well as a disconnect from nature among his friends and colleagues.
In 2017, Michael decided to make a 5 year plan, allowing him to exit his Silicon Valley engineering management job and devote his efforts to the environment. This plan included college courses, volunteering with numerous organizations, starting Nature’s Archive podcast, and developing and honing those transferrable skills from his workplace.
In 2022, Michael made the jump, leaving his job at Google to start Jumpstart Nature. At the start of 2023, we have a team of volunteers, and are actively seeking a co-founder.
About Our Directors, Volunteers and Affiliates
Board of Directors
See our bios below.
volunteer bios
Tracy Apperson – Social Media Coordinator
Tracy Apperson is a NAI Certified Interpretive Guide, Advanced Indiana Master Naturalist, herbalist, writer, teacher, and scientist. She lives in Indiana with her husband Ryan, where they teach wilderness and bushcraft skills. Tracy is a contributing writer for “Backwoods Survival Guide” and “Prepper Survival Guide” magazines. She is passionate about nature and the environment. She spends her free time volunteering for environmental agencies and programs which help people connect with and appreciate nature.
Gina Genduso – Jumpstart Nature Partner
From a young age, Gina was captivated by biology, a passion that led her to earn a Master’s degree focused on birds. As an ornithologist, she conducted research on bird migration and the impact of habitat management on bird populations. Fueled by her strong commitment to conservation, Gina now volunteers her time and expertise, serving as a docent for Friends of Edgewood, supporting Jumpstart Nature’s mission, and contributing to eBird and iNaturalist.
Griff Griffith – Affiliated Media Creator, Podcast Host, and Edutainer
Griff’s lifelong commitment to wildlife and people includes stints as a field biologist, wildland firefighter, ecological restorationist, commercial fisherman, Animal Planet show host, author, and a seventeen-year career as a supervisor in a youth development program called the California Conservation Corps, where he led groups of young adult to restore natural areas and wildlife populations in a process he calls “rewilding.” Griff is currently a natural and cultural resource interpreter for the state of California and a continuous advocate to get everyone connected to the outdoors.”
Kat Hill – Podcast Editor and Producer
Kat Hill is a life-long Californian with a passion for all wild spaces. She studied Anthropology and Park Management at UC Davis and West Valley College respectively, and turned her passion and talents toward Parks Interpretation. Kat lives in the Bay Area with her ginger cat and husband, where she leads educational walks and stewardship activities. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike, backpacking, nature journaling, folk dancing, caring for her herp friends at Guadalupe River Parks, and looking at little things with her camera.
Michelle Kemmer – Finance and Accounting
Michelle grew up in Minnesota but has called Los Angeles home since 1987. She started her career in entertainment, but ultimately obtained her CPA license and moved into public accounting. She has a long track record of assisting non-profit organizations, including as Treasurer of the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council from 2008 to 2016.
Michelle’s passion for nature and the outdoors is considerable and wide-ranging. She has hiked, backpacked, rock climbed, rappelled canyons, horseback ridden, and paddled in many places, but primarily Southern California and the Sierra. She is a life-long cat lover, and is currently a Coexistence Ambassador and serving on the Finance Committee with the Mountain Lion Foundation.
Some Inspiration
It’s not just an education issue, but a connection issue. People need to connect the importance of the environment to something they care about.
-Unknown
There is so much diversity in nature that by spending time in nature, you are guaranteed to find your meaning reflected back towards you.
-Adapted from Soulcraft, by Bill Plotkin, PhD