Chris Widmaier

Executive Director, Rochester Ecology Partners

Years in current role: 4

What sustainability initiative or environmental goal has your organization made the most progress on in the past year?

Rochester Ecology Partners formally launched our WildWonder nature-based learning program in the fall of 2024 and we have seen substantial growth in the number of students we serve. During the 2024-25 school year we facilitated 281 nearby nature lessons and 78 field studies with 19 schools across Greater Rochester. These experiences contributed to the academic success, well-being and sense of community for the thousands of children who participated. This success has also moved us closer to demonstrating that nature-based learning is a necessary (and fun) educational strategy for a well-rounded education.

What gives you confidence about how Rochester businesses and institutions are addressing environmental challenges?

New connections and collaborations are addressing the interconnected challenges our community faces. An understanding that economic prosperity, education, health and the environment are linked has created new opportunities for our institutions and businesses to address them at their root cause. The growing efforts to work across sectors in service to a hopeful future are encouraging. Our recent partnership with Foodlink, the Rochester Area Community Foundation, and several other organizations to offer summer enrichment programming at the Foodlink Community Farm is an example of efforts that give me confidence in our ability to make progress as a community when we work together.

What area do you think needs more attention or collaboration to strengthen Rochester’s environmental future?

Leaders from all corners of our community — business, health, education, government — need to invite community members with an environmental perspective to decision-making tables. The inclusion of people who understand how our natural, social and built environments connect to the rest of our lives leads to a systems-based perspective that we badly need in Greater Rochester. Creative solutions that align with everyone’s priorities become possible when we look at whole systems rather than the individual parts. A healthy environment now and in the future will require a more environmentally informed approach than we currently have.

What advice would you offer to individuals or organizations that want to start making a measurable environmental difference?

One of Rochester Ecology Partners’ guiding principles is “Dream big and act with intention.” I think this is a good mindset for anyone looking to create change. We need to believe that great things are possible, as they indeed are, but our actions need to be thoughtful and grounded in the reality of the situation if our greatest hopes are to be realized. This means being patient and looking for the levers of change that lead to the most change with the least effort. Small changes can set a chain of events in motion that have significant impacts over the long term. Once the ball starts rolling, success leads to more success.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Rochester area?

Any time I can get to a park with one of our programs is a great way to spend time outside. Being with children as they experience the awe and wonder that accompany looking under logs, tasting wild berries, or paddling along the Genesee River is a magical experience.