SPEAKERS

Sandi Olek | Office of Outdoor Recreation

Sandi Olek is the Director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation at MD Department of Natural Resources. In that role, Sandi works to promote inclusive opportunities for outdoor recreation, expand programming and facilities across the whole Department and works with local outfitters, communities and partners to amplify the diverse and exciting ways that Marylanders can connect with nature, get outside and become stewards of our natural resources. With over 27 years at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Sandi Olek has been a leader in environmental conservation and education. As the Acting Associate Director of the Maryland State Forest Service and the Director of Conservation Education and Stewardship at CCS, Sandi championed multi-generational stewardship, access to nature and student engagement with environmental conservation. Her work has included sustainable community planning, integrating equity, health, and climate resilience at local, state, and federal levels. Key projects and leadership roles include the Project Green Classroom, the Maryland Park Equity analysis, and Co-Chair of the Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition. Sandi holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in Marine Ecology from Old Dominion University.