Kaden Borseth

Kaden Borseth (they/them) is an informal science educator who spreads their love and curiosity of nature across the nation as the Manager of School and Teacher Learning at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. In this role, they spearhead Conservation Classroom, an innovative suite of virtual programs that leverages various digital media formats to engage K-5 students globally in wildlife conservation efforts. Conservation Classroom was awarded Smithsonian’s Digital Impact Award and Smithsonian’s Education Innovation and Access Award in 2024.

Drawing from their 22 years of experience working in informal science education, Kaden provides innovative, accessible, and science-standards-aligned learning opportunities that inspire young conservationists to become lifelong environmental stewards. They were recognized for their expertise when they were nominated by peers and awarded the 2020 Outstanding Frontline Interpreter for National Association for Interpretation’s Zoo, Wildlife Park, and Aquaria section. They also received Smithsonian’s Education Innovation and Access Award in 2022 for their Explore Beyond Your Door video series, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at connecting students with the natural world amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond their role at the Smithsonian, Kaden serves as a Board Member for both the National Association for Interpretation, representing D.C. and the Chesapeake Region, and for the LGBTQ+ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, where they are dedicated to advocating for inclusivity and representation within educational and cultural institutions. Previously, Kaden has worked in informal science education at the National Park Service and several different museums around the United States. They are a Certified Interpretive Guide, Certified Master Herpetologist, and D.C. Master Naturalist. In their free time they love to learn new things, tend to their plants, hike, paddle, go on long bike rides, hunt for fossils, and spend time with their spouse and cats.

Kaden Borseth will be speaking at the Digital Collections Summit 2025 :

Conservation Classroom: A Zoo’s Digital Education Collection

How does a Zoo create a digital collection? Find out as you explore Conservation Classroom, a digital education collection created at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Conservation Classroom is an innovative virtual school program that uses multiple modes of digital media to engage K-5 students around the world in wildlife conservation. The program combines short videos, live webinars, and activities to create a suite of accessible digital resources for educators to use both synchronously and asynchronously with their students in the classroom.