About | Greentime

Origins

We've worked for decades in environmental and place-based education because we love nature and we love community. We have always believed that the antidote to the world's problems is to get students and teachers creating learning in nature and in their communities. And that feels more true than ever, actually.

The idea behind Greentime is as well-known as it gets: humans need more green time, less screen time. Access to nature is healthy. Everything we know about excessive screen time tells us it's not great for kids or adults.

And then AI showed up, and even in the dinosaur era of AI 2 years ago, we saw that it was powerful. And questions emerged for us that we felt we had to explore: Could technology actually help us get away from technology? Could AI be so useful for both tedious and creative parts of teaching that it could free up educators to do more of what they came to the profession for: hands-on, authentic learning that helps students understand how to be in their worlds?

We are here with those questions.

What is Green Time?

Our initial definition for Green Time was time spent outdoors, in nature if possible.

But through our first experiences in teaching people to use AI, the notion of what Green Time could be started to grow.

We have a friend who's an early childhood educator. She was taking a puppetry course (she loves to make puppets!) but was struggling with the writing part (she just has a hard time getting started on paper). After we showed her how to work with AI, she stopped worrying about that part. She knew she could figure it out when the time came. What she really wanted to do was make puppets, and AI helped free her up to get started on that right away.

We realized Green Time was a much bigger concept, like our happy place, our flow state, the thing we are put here to do. The time to elevate what really matters to us.

We Believe

1. There's a future where AI amplifies human creativity, helps solve big problems, and increases opportunities for human flourishing. Because we believe that's possible, we want to work toward it.

2. Green Time is when humans do what we are uniquely here for. Work that is essentially human can't/shouldn't be replaced by AI. But if AI can help us make more time for doing that, we should use it.

3. AI should serve humanity, not the other way around. We're not just sources of data and consumers of content. The fundamental purpose of AI should be to augment human capabilities.

Team

Andrew Powers,

Mad Scientist

Andrew brings curiosity, creativity, and systems-thinking to his work at the intersection of AI, education, and environmental resilience. With a background in mechanical engineering and a lifelong drive to understand how things work, he has spent the past 15 years at PEER Associates helping organizations unpack complex challenges and turn big questions into useful frameworks (and sometimes, spreadsheets). Based in Vermont’s Green Mountains, Andrew stays on the cutting edge of AI integration in education—focusing on how it can free up time, reduce cognitive overload, and support deeper, more joyful learning. When he’s not tinkering with code or curriculum, he’s usually on skis, building something, or enjoying a good Vermont cheese.

Aaron Cinquemani, Ed.D

Education Visionary

Aaron Cinquemani is a co-founder of Greentime.ai, an innovative platform delivering augmented intelligence solutions for environmental education and climate action. His doctoral research on nature-based learning and contributions to environmental education guides inform Greentime.ai's approach. With extensive experience as a school leader and educator, Aaron understands the practical challenges of implementing climate initiatives.

Aaron's background in competency-based learning, instructional coaching, and place-based education uniquely positions Greentime.ai at the intersection of sustainability education and artificial intelligence. Through this venture, he continues his commitment to equitable climate action, helping organizations navigate environmental responsibility with intelligence and purpose.

Michael Duffin, Ph.D.

Insight Cultivator

Michael is passionate about bridging research and real-world impact, especially when it comes to climate, education, and systems change. With advanced degrees in environmental education and organizational leadership, he brings a rare combination of rigor and heart to his work. At Greentime.ai, Michael helps educators and partners think more clearly about what’s working, why it matters, and how to amplify their impact—often through thoughtful evaluation tools that connect practice with purpose. He’s been rooted in New Hampshire’s Monadnock region for over two decades, and when not supporting schools or facilitating learning networks, you’ll likely find him on stage, on a trail, or working from his treehouse office 25 feet above ground.

Joan Haley. Ed.D

Curious Learner

With over 30 years of experience designing transformative programs for schools, parks, and communities, Joan co-founded Education for Climate Resilience to help educators reconnect students with their local landscapes and communities. Her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful, place-based actions can build collective power for a more sustainable and just future. She brings deep expertise in curriculum design, educator professional development, and climate action partnerships to help educators reclaim their time and energy for what matters most: joyful, relevant, and relationship-rich learning. Joan holds a doctorate in education and has led innovative international and national programs with the National Park Service, the North American Association for Environmental Education, and the Smithsonian Institution.