Steve Van Zandt

Although Steve Van Zandt's most public persona is as "Solar," a troubadour with the Banana Slug String Band, he is a nature educator at heart. For 25 years he has been an elementary and science teacher, curriculum writer and natural science workshop presenter. He received the Howard Bell Award for Outstanding Contributions to Outdoor Education, and the Parent's Choice Award. Currently he is Principal and Site Director of San Mateo (California) Outdoor Education. He's a founding musician and...See more

Although Steve Van Zandt's most public persona is as "Solar," a troubadour with the Banana Slug String Band, he is a nature educator at heart. For 25 years he has been an elementary and science teacher, curriculum writer and natural science workshop presenter. He received the Howard Bell Award for Outstanding Contributions to Outdoor Education, and the Parent's Choice Award. Currently he is Principal and Site Director of San Mateo (California) Outdoor Education. He's a founding musician and songwriter for the Slugs, who have been touring for over 20 years - a remarkably successful record of bringing environmental awareness to children, and creative teaching techniques to teachers. Throughout, Steve has kept a foot in the water; he's a river rafting guide and avid surfer. He lives in Bonny Doon, California with his wife Laura and his teenage sons, Nathan, Colin and Skyler See less