SOBEL, David T. 1949-

PERSONAL:

Male. Born December 10, 1949, in New York, NY; married Wendy Elliott (divorced April 9, 2002); children: Tara Elliott, Elijah. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Williams College, B.A., 1971; Antioch New England Graduate School, M.Ed., 1972. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Buddhist Hobbies and other interests: Skiing, canoeing, biking, New England exploration, children's games, "finding swimming holes."

ADDRESSES:

Home—116 Brown Rd., Harrisville, NH 03450. Office—Center for Environmental Education, Antioch New England Graduate School, 40 Avon St., Keene, NH 03431. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Antioch New England Graduate School, Keene, NH, director of teacher certification, 1975-2002, and codirector of Center for Environmental Education. Consultant to National Park Service and to schools and environmental organizations.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Education Press Award, 1991.

WRITINGS:

Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education, Orion Society (Great Barrington, MA), 1996.

Mapmaking with Children, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1999.

Children's Special Places: Exploring the Role of Forts, Dens, and Bush Houses in Middle Childhood, Wayne State University Press (Detroit, MI), 2002.

Standing Strong in My Rightful Place, Orion Society (Great Barrington, MA), 2003.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Preserving the Nature of Childhood.

SIDELIGHTS:

David T. Sobel told CA: "My motivation for writing is to create a body of literature that documents the importance of connecting children to the natural world and provides guidelines for supporting this relationship. My work is influenced by my relationship with my children and a few seminal thinkers such as Joseph Pearce, Edith Cobb, and Paul Shepard. I am inspired by seeing recurrent, unarticulated themes emerge over and over in my work with children and teachers.

"I write in short, intensive periods, usually week-long retreats three or four times a year. I enjoy the process of unfolding that occurs when I write; that is, watching the unexpected connection emerge. I also like to intersperse writing with periods of biking, swimming, and exploring."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Library Journal, October 15, 1992, Kay Brodie, review of Children's Special Places: Exploring the Role of Forts, Dens, and Bush Houses in Middle Childhood, p. 86.

Science Activities, fall, 1999, review of Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education, p. 45.

Whole Earth, fall, 1999, review of Beyond Ecophobia, p. 81.