15 Minute Field Trips™ is dedicated to environmental advocacy through art and environmental literacy through physical and online resources, training, and creation of “field trips” to get children, classrooms, and families outdoors.  Through art, kids learn about and advocate for the environment., with the hope that through frequent exposure to nature we will create responsible citizens as well as provide a way to reduce anxiety through the enjoyment of nature.

Melissa Guillet works in many mediums, including paint, print-making, collage, nature craft, clay, and the occasional time machine.  She is also an avid hiker and nature photographer, using her images to create the upcoming "15 Minute Field Guide to the Northeast."  Her most recent artwork has appeared at the Rhode Island Natural History Survey building in North Kingston.

Melissa became a URI Master Gardener in 2011 and was involved in the pilot Eco-Exploration Camp.  She was also in ASRI's pilot Schoolyard Science for an Urban Eco-System and was named Environmental Educator of the Year in 2012.  She started and maintains a school garden where she teaches interdisciplinary art (art including science, math, and literacy).  She continues to be recognized for her program development and dedication to environmental literacy, speaking at the RI Environmental Education Association's annual meeting on STEM to STEAM enactment, presenting and workshopping "Art & Design to Engage Kids in STEM Subjects" at the New England Association of Technology Teachers 2014 conference, presenting on how to start and maintain a school garden at the 2015 "School Gardens 101" conference at RIC, and ran workshops at the 2017 and 2018 conferences.  She's given lectures on insects, citizen science, school gardens, sustainable garden practices, and STEM to STEAM projects throughout Rhode Island and has received multiple recognition awards from the East Providence School Department.  She has developed her programming over years working with elementary students and started an Eco-Warrior program to encourage environmental leadership at home.

Teaching Experience:

        • East Providence Public Schools (August 2002 - present) - Art teacher K-5, integrating with          

          history, science, math, cultural studies, and environmental literacy  

        • RIMOSA (2017) Teaching STEM to STEAM in fall and summer programs, including animation.   

        • RISD (Jan 2002) - Eskimo art workshop for 6-8 year olds, including dance, music, and storytelling

        • St. Vincent’s Home (July 2001-August 2002) - teaching and implementing an interdisciplinary art            

          program K-12 for behavior-disordered and learning disabled students

        • Cranston/Warwick Public Schools (August 1999 - 2000) - Daily and long-term art/math sub

        • Attleboro Museum (1997-1999) - Children’s workshops, developing programming, creating 

          children and families museum guide for post-modern exhibit

Website: 15minutefieldtrips.blogspot.com  Youtube: 15 Minute Field Trips

Publications: STEM to STEAM and Citizen Science in Green Teacher, Fall 2017; HOW TO HELP GROW RHODE ISLAND'S SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM, Natural Awakenings 2016, Around the World in 100 Miles (World Cuisine Recipes Using Local New England Ingredients 2015.

Awards/Exhibits/Grants:

Artwork in “Drawing Conclusions” 1995 • College Honors Project: “Echoes from Babel: Interpersonal Isolation in a Postmodern Era” (artwork and thesis paper) 1998 • Artwork at AS220, Attleboro Museum,  Bannister Gallery, Cafe Mondo, Frontier Gallery, Kraus Gallery, URI Feinstein Shepard Building • International Women’s Day Festival 2002/2003 • Deans List • Published poetry in magazines/anthologies • Cirino Education Grant 2001 • RIPIN Grant 2006 • Rhode Island Foundation Arts in Academia Grant 2007, 2016 • ArtsReach Grant 2008 and 2009 • ABC6/Audubon Poster Contest winner (student work) 2008 • The Power of Art Scholarship 2008 • YAM and RI Alliance for Art Education participant (student work) • PS2013-2017 • ASRI Environmental Educator of the Year 2012 • Whole Foods Garden Grant 2014 • Seed Savers Grant 2016 • Black Belt 2016 • Wheels to Woods 2017 • Loraine Tisdale Award 2017 • Eco Schools Silver Award 2018 • Carter Spark Grant 2018 • USFWS Schoolyard Habitat 2018