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Our Origin Story
Rolling Through America’s National Parks.
Sparking Curiosity and Care in Every Child.
In 2022, inspired by our love for the outdoors and education, we began writing a children’s book series about a tumbleweed named Tripp who is on a journey to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks. After co-authoring eight books with students in elementary schools and after-school programs across the country, we saw firsthand how Tripp’s adventures sparked curiosity, empathy, and environmental awareness in young minds.
Yet we recognized a gap - while many children are eager to explore and protect nature, those in underserved communities often lack access to outdoor education, creative learning opportunities, and representation in the environmental movement.
To bridge the gap, we founded the Nature Scholars Foundation in 2025 to bring the wonders of America’s national parks - and the lessons of local environmental stewardship - to children who might never experience them firsthand.
Today, the Foundation empowers children to become co-authors, nature scholars, and protectors of the natural world. Through immersive storytelling, interactive school assemblies, and hands-on workbook experiences, Tripp the Tumbleweed leads young learners on journeys of discovery, inspiring them to protect the environment starting in their own communities.
Meet the Team
Ed Bray aka “Dr. III“
Co-Founder, Author, and Adventurer
Christy Bray aka “Christy B.”
Co-Founder, Author, and Educator
What do you get when you combine a lifelong educator with a deep love for the great outdoors? You get Christy Bray - an elementary school teacher and author who has spent more than 30 years inspiring students to read, write, explore, and care for the natural world!
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For Christy, teaching extends far beyond the classroom walls. Her favorite time of year is the week-long outdoor science education camp, where students immerse themselves in environmental science, teamwork, and problem-solving. Through these hands-on experiences, they build creativity, critical thinking, and a lasting connection to nature.
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Christy brings those lessons back into her classroom, turning everyday objects like rocks and twigs into teaching tools for math, science, and writing, all while emphasizing ecology and sustainability.
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After surviving breast cancer and reflecting on her lifelong connection to nature, Christy was inspired to create Tripp the Tumbleweed, a children’s book series that brings the adventures of America’s national parks to life.
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Through the Nature Scholars Foundation, she now leads school assemblies, develops interactive videos, and creates workbooks that empower children everywhere to see themselves as protectors of the environment - starting right in their own communities.
What do you get when you combine a lifelong learner with someone who’s explored 41 of America’s 63 national parks (and counting!)? You get Ed Bray - an adventurer, educator, and outdoorsman who loves learning as much as he loves exploring the natural world.
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Ed’s appreciation for nature began in childhood, spending countless hours outdoors with his grandfather, where he first discovered the joy of curiosity and discovery. That same curiosity carried into his academic journey, earning him a B.S., MBA, J.D., and Ed.D. - a true testament to his belief in lifelong learning.
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While traveling across the national parks, Ed realized he could merge his passion for education and the outdoors by helping students experience the wonder of these special places.
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Today, through his work with the Nature Scholars Foundation, he’s dedicated to inspiring young learners to appreciate, respect, and protect the natural world - starting right in their own communities.
Nature Scholar Foundation Cheerleaders
"Ed and Christy's focus on enlightening and inspiring students to explore and protect the great outdoors is very important as we experience the serious impact of climate change. The way they are doing it, engaging students to determine Tripp the Tumbleweed’s adventures in our country’s national parks, is spot on.”
Atif Qarni - Virginia Secretary of Education (2018 – 21)
"I love everything associated with Tripp's national park book series - the artwork, the layout and design, the humor, the language level, the weaving of facts with the story, the way the authors tease the next book at the end of the previous one, donating profits to schools, etc. Keep doing what you're doing!“
Chris Harris - NY Times Best Selling Children's Book Author, Emmy-Nominated Writer and Producer of How I Met Your Mother and Frasier
Donate to the Nature Scholars Foundation
$250 → Puts 25 Tripp the Tumbleweed National Park books into the hands of young readers.
$500 → Brings the “I’m a Tripp Planner” 15-day video and workbook experience to an after-school program.
$750 → Empowers after-school students to co-author Tripp’s next National Park adventure.
$1,000 → Delivers an interactive school assembly that brings environmental learning to life.
$2,250 → Funds the "I'm a Tripp Planner" experience, co-authoring opportunity, Tripp's books for each student, and interactive assembly for an after-school program.
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If you would like to support a specific school's after-school program, please reach out to us at info@naturescholars.org.
