Staff of Earthbound Productions

Earthbound staff and volunteers have envisioned, produced and coordinated numerous public events and programs. As an organization, they have extensive experience in community-based and place-based education, volunteer coordination, project development, project management, grass-roots communications, and video production.

Meet the director

Eli Sterling holds a Master's degree in Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College, where he founded the annual Rachel Carson Environmental Forum in 1991. In 1991, Eli created Earthbound Productions as a community non-profit organization committed to advancing effective environmental education through creative cultural events and community partnerships. From 1991-1995, Eli produced over 130 community radio and television programs that engaged area-wide leaders on a broad range of environmental and social issues.

With an early background in construction as a journeyman carpenter and a business in environmental landscape construction, Eli brings a studied range of leadership capabilities, pragmatic organization, problem solving skills, sensitivity of the natural world, a keen sense for aesthetics, and exuberant energy to advance community partnerships.

Eli's vision is to engage communities in greater appreciation, understanding and action for environmental protection by creating cultural exchanges that enhance people's relationship with each other and the natural world around them.

The most significant project of Earthbound Productions has created thus far is the annual Procession of the Species Celebration. With its beginnings in 1995, the Procession has become the largest annual Earth Day event in the Puget Sound area.

Eli's work with his Earthbound TV series, the Procession of the Species Celebration, and continual involvement with local conservation issues has earned him numerous awards. They include: ten 1992-1995 and 2002 Best of the Northwest Awards of Excellence in public access television from the Alliance for Community Media; the 1996 Educator of the Year Award, from the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; the 1998 Endangered Species Act Partnership Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the 1999 Jack Davis Conservationist of the Year Award from the Black Hills Audubon Society; the 1999 Distinguished Community Service Award from the Kiwanis Club; the 2002 Founder of a New Northwest Award from The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of the President's Council on Sustainable Development.