Aha! Moments for people and the planet

Eco Aha! provides educational and consulting services to schools, community based organizations, businesses and communities. Let us help create Aha! moments with your team as you explore creating a sustainable future.

Earth and Wind

In Japan it is said there are people of the earth and those of the wind. People of the earth have taken root where they live.  They are experts of their own place.  People of the wind travel far and wide.  They carry with them seeds of new thoughts gathered from their sojourns.

It is a healthy exchange of the experiences, wisdom and knowledge of both types of people that allows us to create wise and vibrant communities. Eco Aha! embraces this philosophy as we work with you on your project.

Gregory Michel, Founder Eco Aha!

After graduating from high school in the United States Greg embarked on a journey that would lead him to pursue environmental education and creating positive change in communities worldwide.

The adventure started as an exchange student in Sapporo, Japan.  It then led him to propose and carry out Exploration for Wisdom, a 4300 kilometer trek and international environmental education program.  He worked as an education program director for World School Network and led place-based environmental education programs for Eco-Club.

Greg has been well publicized in Japanese television, newspapers, magazines as well as books.  He has coordinated programs for the Japan Cabinet Office Discussion Session, designed exhibits for the World EXPO 2005 AICHI Global Village, and been guest speaker for multiple symposiums and events.

After over a decade in Asia, Greg relocated to Central New York in 2006, Greg took on leadership of the Onondaga Earth Corps, a youth employment and development program focusing on community and environmental service. Under Greg’s supervision, the youth in the Corps worked on the implementation of community and environmental service projects including community tree planting, community orchard planting, rain garden installation, rain barrel building and installation, vacant lot beautification projects, etc. Greg has also been involved in the launch of the Urban Agriculture Corps a youth program in collaboration with Jubilee Homes focusing on urban farming, healthy foods, and food security.

Greg is also the Chair of GreeningUSA’s Sustainability Academy, a neighborhood-based educational workshop series devoted to sustainability. As Chair, Greg coordinated delivery of the Sustainability Academy with contributors from universities, neighborhood agencies, Syracuse City School District, and non-profit organizations. In 2008-2009, the program reached 871 Syracuse residents on the Near West Side of Syracuse.