Project Manager Qualifications and Organization Description 
 
The St. Croix River Association (SCRA) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to protect, restore and celebrate the St. Croix River and its watershed. SCRA is the official friends group for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (Riverway). The SCRA has a long-term commitment to protecting the vibrant ecological, cultural and recreational value of our great river. We also recognize that we must engage new Riverway stewards, and the importance of bringing children and non-typical park visitors to realize the health and inspiration that comes from time spent on the river.  
 
The SCRA has worked with the national park service staff at the Riverway to deliver the “Rivers Are Alive” since 2016. That year we reached 1,628 students and 266 teachers in 17 schools, growing to 3,421 students with 15 new schools in 2017/18, and included all four seasons. For this project we will hire one additional FTE Environmental Educator and one part-time River Connections Guide as part of the team that manages and coordinates this project.  
 
Jaime Souza, Education and Outreach Coordinator 
15 years environmental education and non-profit program management experience  
  
Jaime graduated from the University of Wisconsin River Falls with a M.S. Education (Elementary Education, grades K-8). Starting with SCRA on July 6 in 2017, Jaime has been instrumental in growing the Rivers Are Alive K-12 environmental education program in partnership with the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (National Park Service). The number of students nearly doubled during the 2017-18 school year from 1500 to 3,421 total students under Jaime’s leadership. Jaime has worked hard to develop a strong framework for the Rivers Are Alive program, and has made many curriculum improvements.  
  
Role: Rivers Are Alive program coordinator and grant project manager 
 
Deb Ryun, Executive Director  
24 years conservation education and watershed stewardship experience    
  
Deb Ryun, has been the Executive Director of SCRA since October 2009. She has extensive experience with management and coordination of multi-stakeholder initiatives; environmental education methods; watershed-level planning; and implementation of on-the-ground projects to protect land and water. Deb is responsible for carrying out the Association’s mission by ensuring the development, implementation and monitoring of goals, policy and strategic initiatives and by developing sufficient human and financial resources for organizational growth and stability.  
  
Role: Rivers Are Alive program oversight and grant project guidance (no project funding requested) 
  
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Education Program Manager will be intimately involved in planning and implementation of the Rivers Are Alive project:  
- Michelle Blees, Education Program Mangaer for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverwa, <1 year environmental education experience with the Riverway, out of St. Croix Falls and Trego, WI 


Role: Assist with the project development and program delivery (NPS staff time is in-kind match)