Eileen Prendergast

Eileen Prendergast, director of education at the Chicago Botanic Garden, has dedicated 23 years to encouraging children to view the natural world as a joyful place where they can indulge their curiosity. Programs that are often intergenerational serve 130,000 people each year. Weekend family classes target children aged four to ten. Nature Nights, Little Diggers, and Leave No Child Inside are other popular programs. Prendergast’s Inspiring Nature Play Conference is a highly valued resource for preschool teachers.