Biography
Kristi Backe is the Associate Director for the OSU Extension Outdoor School program. After earning a B.A. in Elementary Education at Purdue University, Kristi spent six years teaching environmental education programs and coordinating curriculum development at the Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. While earning her Ph.D. in Entomology at North Carolina State University, Kristi organized outreach events in schools, camps, and community centers to support students in connecting to their local ecosystems. In her role as the Outdoor School Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator from 2020-2025, Kristi worked with the Outdoor School team, the Oregon Natural Resources Education Program, formal and nonformal educators, and many other partners to support meaningful outdoor learning experiences for students throughout Oregon. As the Outdoor School Associate Director, she provides leadership and support to the Outdoor School team as they work together to build strong relationships with Oregon communities and connect schools and districts to funding and resources for their programs.
