Naturalist education, travel, and photography by
Braelei Hardt.
Who is the Nature Maven?
Braelei Hardt is an evolutionary biologist, conservation educator, and naturalist currently based in the mountains near Estes Park, Colorado. With a deep passion for wildlife and storytelling, they serve as a Naturalist Educator and Content Creator for the National Wildlife Federation, crafting accessible narratives about wildlife conservation, climate change, and ecological stewardship.
Braelei has earned an Honors B.S. in Wildlife Science and Statistics from Oregon State University, followed by an M.S. in Biology from the University of Colorado, focusing on evolutionary ecology and bioacoustic physics.
Today, Braelei actively engages communities in wildlife conservation through innovative educational programs and interactive projects. They collaborate closely with CLAWS Lion Conservancy in Botswana, designing immersive educational games and workshops aimed at fostering coexistence between local communities and large carnivores like lions.
Through photography, writing, and hands-on environmental education, Braelei seeks to inspire a deeper appreciation and understanding of our planet’s intricate ecological connections, advocating for thoughtful, science-based conservation practices worldwide.
Tourist Testimonials
Reviews from past guests
Rocky Mountain National Park
“Braelei brings a great personality as a tour guide, plus a deep knowledge of wildlife explained in a way that I could actually understand. I mean, someone who knows about the different animals, their calls, their social habits, and has studied their individual personality traits– so fascinating and simply unforgettable.”
Breckenridge
Our guide, Braelei, was super knowledgeable about everything we did! It is apparent that they are truly inspired by what they do. That made the whole experience that much better!
Denver Foothills
Our tour guide was engaging and intelligent– I am a history teacher and LEARNED so much from Braelei. They made the group comfortable, which led to a really fun trip with giggles and views!
Mt. Evans
Braelei truly is walking talking encyclopedia, but interesting! They are conscientious, patient, enthusiastic, and seem generally interest in their work as a guide.