Hi, my name is Sandi Schwartz and I am an award-winning environmental author and freelance journalist specializing in nature, sustainability, home and garden, and green living. I want to help your family build a nature habit to feel happier and calmer. I believe that happy, calm children turn into happy, healthy, kind, passionate adults that will lead to a kinder, safer world for all of us.
Through my education, writing work, and personal battle with stress and anxiety, I have discovered how several science-backed natural tools can help minimize stress and increase happiness. My books, articles, blog, and other projects explore these positive psychology tools–including mindfulness, gratitude, awe, kindness, and creativity–through a nature lens. I am dedicated to sharing tips, resources, and activities about these tools to bring happiness and balance to your family.
I love painting nature scenes, going for peaceful walks and bike rides, picking berries, and seeking out natural sites when traveling. I am a passionate environmentalist, fighting for a healthier planet every day through my words and actions. I love driving my electric car, choosing organic products, and greening my closet.
My book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, has been honored with numerous awards and received rave reviews. Learn more about that here.
My work has been featured in The Washington Post, USA Today, National Geographic, Library Journal, Booklist, Yahoo!, Good Housekeeping, MSN, mindbodygreen, Authority Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, BobVila.com, Family Handyman, Scary Mommy, Verywell Family, Senior Planet from AARP, Environmental Defense Fund’s Moms Clean Air Force, The Gottman Institute’s blog, Green Child Magazine, Green Teacher, Your Teen for Parents, and over 70 regional parenting and women’s magazines like NY Parenting, Washington Family, MetroKids Philadelphia, Bay Area Parent, and Calgary’s Child.
I am also an Executive Producer for the films As They Made Us written and directed by Mayim Bialik, which is about mental health, and Space Oddity directed by Kyra Sedgwick, which has an environmental theme. IMDb listing.
My prior experience includes communications positions in the environmental field at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Academy of Sciences, and an environmental consulting firm. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies at The George Washington University, a Master of Arts in Government with an Environmental Focus at Johns Hopkins University, and a Specialization Certificate in Foundations of Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. I also completed The Science of Happiness course offered by the University of California, Berkeley and served as a Community Teaching Assistant. I recently completed the Level 1 Ecotherapy Training course with the EcoPsychology Initiative.
I am a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Editorial Freelancers Association, National Center for Science Education, Children & Nature Network, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Sierra Club.
Please join me on this journey as we make new discoveries together. I welcome your questions and feedback along the way. Through knowledge and a constructive exchange of ideas, we can lead the next generation in making the world a happier, healthier place. Do not hesitate to reach out to me at sandi@ecohappinessproject.com.
