Jesse Davis, MEEd. serves as the Metro 4-H Youth Development Educator for Lake and McHenry Counties. Jesse is striving to improve the lives of youth through outstanding investigative learning, hands on exploration and environmental education programming. The goal is that through direct educational opportunities Lake and McHenry County youth will feel confident and inspired while developing the skills and abilities to be future leaders, community champions and successful and thriving adults.

Jesse comes to the University of Illinois Extension with extensive professional experience including program development, evaluation, environmental education, and interpretation, horticulture, biology, ecology, and research. He has also dedicated his career to fostering people's love for the natural world through work with the USDA Forest Service in Alaska, Pacific Whale Foundation in Hawaii, Center for Environmental Education in Duluth, MN, Kenya Institute for Organic Farming, Global Environmental Management Program and horticulture and nature programming with the Chicago Park District and its conservatories.

Originally from Minnesota, Jesse has lived and studied all over the world, including Kenya, Australia, Alaska, and Hawaii. Jesse started his educational career with Hennepin Technical College in the Twin Cities where he completed the Horticulture program.  Jesse then earned a bachelor’s degree in resource management: Environmental Education and Interpretation option at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, and a master’s degree in environmental education from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Jesse’s passion for the world’s flora, fauna and the environment were fostered at an early age through nature-minded parents, fishing, excursions to the north woods, local nature centers, and Boundary Waters adventures. Today he enjoys fostering the same sense of wonder for the natural world in his three young boys while hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, traveling, and exploring.

Jesse is a member of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals,  Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education and the North American Association of Environmental Education