Who is The Wild Dryad?

Shane Alden is a self-taught illustrator, botanist, and educator who has been featured on the Chicago Tribune, the Wild Edible World Podcast, and more. Shane has recently collaborated with the Conservation Foundation and the Chicago Mycology Club as an instructor teaching about edible wild plants.

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At the age of 10, he began studying acting and improv, which has allowed for a steady transition into teaching and on-camera work. Since then, Shane has had an interest in the outdoors; and through his passion for botany, he has garnered a following of over 400,000 across his platforms.

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Shane has traveled to several countries and cities for his research on plants and ecology. In addition to North American ecology, he also studied Southeast Asian plants during his three-month hiatus in Indonesia.

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He believes that creating a healthy environment through hands-on learning and research can aid anyone who is willing to learn about the natural world around them.