Guides & Partners

TENAFLY NATURE CENTER GUIDE

When Tenafly Nature Center’s Executive Director, Jennifer Kleinbaum saw her first sea star 70 feet underwater she completely forgot about being immersed in 54° arctic water in the Gulf of Maine. She was hooked. For the next 14 years, she studied biology and ecology and followed her love of flora and fauna on land and sea. Now, Jennifer is eager to share her enthusiasm about the natural world with you.

Before moving back to Bergen County, Jennifer Kleinbaum worked for the National Audubon Society helping to run an environmental center in the pine forests of Pensacola, Florida. Previously, she served as the Assistant Director of Education for Cornell Cooperative Extension at Atlantis Marine World aquarium teaching hundreds of education programs to kids and teachers alike. Even as an undergraduate at Cornell, Jennifer led the Herpetological Society (reptiles & amphibians) in teaching at the local schools. She earned a Masters degree in Educational Technology with Long Island University and an NYU certification from the Heyman Center for Philanthropy & Fundraising.

Jennifer has spent time doing field research in Akumal, Mexico, Appleldore Island, Maine and various sites in New York; and although she has traveled to Brazil, St. Kitts, Israel, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Pacific coast of Mexico, she keeps returning to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.

“Enthusiastic teacher,” is how most people describe Jennifer. In 2002, while traveling with her to Akumal, Mexico, mother and daughter pair, Grace and Liz were worried about snorkeling. They described their fear of swallowing water, and flailing around in the waves. After just 30 minutes with Jennifer, teaching them snorkel on land and in shallow water, they ventured off on their own. “They swam so far I had to shout for them to come back! Apparently they were chasing a sea turtle.”

LOCAL PARTNERS & LINKS

Ocean Encounters

Lions Dive & Beach Resort

Sea Aquarium

Dolphin Encounters

Ostrich Farm

Mt. Cristoffel

Carnival

Curacao Tourist Board