Jennifer Kleinbaum
Jennifer Kleinbaum works for the National Audubon Society running an environmental center in Pensacola, Florida. Previously, she served as the Assistant Director of Education for Cornell Cooperative Extension at Atlantis Marine World aquarium. After graduating from Cornell University, she earned a Masters degree in Educational Technology with Long Island University. Jennifer has spent time doing field research in Akumal, Mexico, Appleldore Island, Maine and various places in New York; she has also traveled to St. Kitts, Curacao, Israel, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Mexico City and the Pacific coast of Mexico. She has developed and taught professional development programs including nine 15-hour courses for teachers on topics such as local marine life, food chain, reptiles, corals, sharks, rainforests, live animal care, salt marshes, water quality, beach walks. Her interests include hiking, SCUBA diving, and taking care of her pet snakes.
Jennifer has fun at work every day. She describes her best day on the mud flats of a Long Island salt marsh with 12 teenage boys in summer camp; “We all got muddy, someone lost a shoe, and we had to hose ourselves off afterward. I couldn’t believe I got paid to do that!”
“Enthusiastic teacher,” is how most people describe Jennifer. While traveling to Akumal, Mexico, mother and daughter pair, Grace and Liz were worried about snorkeling. They described their fear of swallowing water, and flailing around in the waves. After just 30 minutes with Jennifer, teaching them snorkel on land and in shallow water, they ventured off on their own. “They swam so far I had to shout for them to come back! Apparently they were chasing a sea turtle.”