Forrest grew up in Chicago enjoying nature in all its forms, from backyard gardens to forest preserves.

Forrest holds a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Management but often says that his knowledge stems from hitting the trail as often as possible, putting his hands in the dirt for habitat restoration, and spending time listening to the wisdom found in Chicago's communities. Forrest’s interest and expertise lies in urban ecology, volunteer program development, partnership building and community engagement. For his day-job, Forrest works as the Director of Community Engagement for The Nature Conservancy in Illinois, where he leads a team dedicated to connecting people with nature, primarily in the urban Cook County region.