MEET OUR TEAM

A group of like-minded individuals who share a deep love of nature and a commitment to Through The Trees' mission

Leadership

MARCIA GRIFFIN

Founder, Executive Director, Chair of the Board, Teen & Adult Program Guide

Marcia has a unique blend of life experience - she is a Mother, Wife, Lover of Life, Entrepreneur, and has spent the last 15 years directly leading and Consulting in Business operations for multi-functional teams. Marcia grew up immersed in the natural beauty of Maine spending her childhood drenched in backpacking local mountains, swimming and paddling off the coast and on the pristine rivers, lakes, and waterfalls throughout Northern New England. Marcia brings her love of nature, fun, focus and intuition into creating magic for all who come into contact with her.

Certifications:
Registered Maine Guide
CTI trained Life Coach
200-Hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher
2nd Degree Black Belt Belt
First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

TRENT GRIFFIN

Founder, Co-Director of Youth Programs, Youth & Teen Program Guide

Trent is a Father, Husband, Carpenter of over 25 years (including building his own home) and Natural Teacher. He has been a practitioner of the ancient healing and protective arts for over 20 years. Much of his youth was spent trekking through the Maine woods which is the foundation for his natural, patient and calm teaching style. Trent has a way of bringing his connection to nature into all that he does and is Through the Trees' go-to person for wilderness skills.

Certifications:
Registered Maine Guide
200-Hour Jaguar Path Yoga Teacher
3rd Degree Black Belt
Licensed Massage Therapist
First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

JENN CASONI

Founder, Co-Director of Youth Programs, Youth Program Guide

Jenn has a natural gift of engaging children. Jenn began working with children in her early teens. Her compassion, intuition, mindful interaction, and skill has grown exponentially over the years. Whether she is facilitating team-building challenges, assisting in wilderness education programs for teens, or designing and planting a garden with homeschoolers, Jenn guides children to discover their passions and develop a strong sense of self.

Certifications:
Registered Maine Guide

Serve Safe (Food Preparation Certification)
First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

KENDALL SCOTT

Founder, Director of Community Relations, Adult & Youth Program Guide

Kendall is a nature enthusiast, homeschooling mom, holistic health practitioner of over 10 years and co-author of the cookbook, Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen. She also has over 6 years of experience in marketing and sales. Kendall is a Guide in our adult, family and youth programs, focusing on topics such as wild edible plants, herbal & plant spirit medicine, forest mindfulness, and wilderness survival. Kendall believes as technology becomes more prevalent in our lives, it is vital to foster a connection with the Earth, especially for our children, so they may carry this healing relationship with nature into the future.

Certifications:
Registered Maine Guide

Forest Therapy Guide
Holistic Health Coach (American Association Drugless Practitioners)
First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

MAGGIE STARR

Enrollment Manager

Maggie is a homeschooling mama to two, who enjoys traveling and going on outdoor adventures with her family. She especially enjoys hiking and paddleboarding. For the past several years, Maggie served as Admissions Director for a private cooperative school in California. Before that time, she was a birth educator and doula. Maggie grew up in Northern Virginia and although she has lived in different places in the US, she has always felt the most at home here in Maine.

CARA SACKS

Development and Volunteer Manager

Cara is a midcoast Maine native, community organizer, and social worker who is currently homeschooling two nature lovers. She brings extensive nonprofit experience in program development and direction working with at-risk children and families impacted by violence, trauma, and loss. Most recently Cara has worked in leadership and community organizing on statewide environmental referenda. She brings a love of working with volunteers and a passion for making outdoor learning and play accessible to all children. Cara grew up cross-country camping, hiking, skiing, and swimming. She can be found with her family enjoying nature walks and spending time by any body of water in the summer.

Certifications:

LCSW

PENNIE SCHWARTZ

Teen/Preteen Program Manager & Youth Program Guide (Aspen & Oak)

Pennie grew up in Acadia National Park, hiking and swimming, which fostered her love of nature. She is an outdoor adventurer, member of the National Ski Patrol and thrives on the challenges of inclement weather. Skiing, mountain biking, surfing, sleeping outside, wilderness medicine and a good cup of campfire coffee are all things Pennie enjoys. Pennie once ran a Waldorf-inspired preschool, inviting adventure and curiosity into daily activities. With a passion to learn freely and create a life that involves plenty of play, Pennie follows a self-directed homeschooling approach to education with her own three sons.

Certifications:

First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

National Ski Patrol Member

Outdoor Emergency Care Certification

Avalanche 1 Certification

Registered Maine Guide License

MOLLY MALLETT

Youth Program Manager (Maple, Sprouts, Nurturing Seeds) & Youth Program Guide

Molly grew up in the woods, fields and waters of Piscataquis county. Years in early childhood as a director and teacher taught her that kids are at their best when given time and freedom to explore the outdoors. She loves nothing more than giving the littlest learners the tools they need to do this by inspiring confidence and curiosity. When not teaching, Molly can be found with her family exploring Casco Bay by boat, knees deep in the stream behind her house or reading a book by the woodstove with her toddler in her lap. She brings an authentic, approachable, attitude and a knack for reading the needs of those around her, tall and small. The joy she gets from working with kids is contagious.

Certifications:

B.S. K-8 Education, Minor in Theatre
First Aid / CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

Guides

NICHOLE CRANDALL

Youth Program Guide (Maple)

Nichole is a homeschooling mom to her nine-year-old daughter and enjoys spending time on her paddle board and exploring outdoors. Nichole has been practicing yoga for over a decade and has first hand experience as to how yoga helps to meet the challenges and demands of every day life. She sought her first certification in 2012, completing the Baptiste Power Yoga Teacher Training, in order to share yoga with others. Nichole brings her yoga experience, mindfulness practices, creativity and a sense of adventure to Through the Trees.

Certifications:

First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

Baptiste Power Yoga Teacher Training (2012)

Yin and Meditation Teacher Training (Sagel Urlacher 2014)

Restorative Yoga Teacher Training (Bernie Clark 2018)

In-Training for Registered Maine Guide License

EMILY LETOURNEAU

Youth Program Guide (Maple)

Spending time outdoors with her two young, homeschooled children is what Emily is most passionate about, no matter the activity. She enjoys identifying and foraging for wild edible plants and fungi and outdoor mushroom farming. Hiking, camping, and swimming are favorite summer activities, and in the winter you can find her cross country skiing through the woods and alpine skiing with her family. Emily's childhood included being involved in her mother's daycare center, and she has been been providing childcare since she was a certified “Safe Sitter” at age 12. Emily's kind and gentle nature with children and her love of the great outdoors help create a supportive and fun experience for children in our Youth Nature Programs.

Certifications:

First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

In-Training for Registered Maine Guide License

SAL CLARK

Youth Program Guide (Maple & Beech)

Sal is a mama, banjo player, yogi and youth soccer coach. She grew up in Portland, Maine with the Stroudwater River in her backyard. Her earliest memories are of canoeing, skating and looking for turtles by the river bank. As an adult her passion for outdoor exploration grew to include hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and skiing. Sal lived and worked out west for over a decade, adventuring through the Sierra and Rocky Mountains. Her current adventures include homeschooling her two children and raising a puppy. Sal enjoys working with young children and is excited to share her love of the outdoors with the next generation of earth stewards.

Certifications:

First Aid / CPR (Adult and Pediatric)

200-Hour Boston Yoga School

100-Hour Summers School of Yin Yoga

NAYS Certified Soccer Coach

NATHAN LANCASTER

Youth Program Guide (Beech)

Nathan brings his love of the outdoors, spirited sense of humor and open mind and heart to Though the Trees. He is a Guide in our Beech cohort and handles much of the day to day facilities and grounds work. Over the years he has delved into various interests and hobbies including survival techniques and wilderness skills, farming and gardening, aquaponics and ecosystems, living machines, fruit trees, permaculture, cooking and scuba diving. Past work includes Oyster Farming and Natural Pool and Pond Construction. Nathan lives with his wife and young son in the greater Freeport area.

Certifications:

First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

ALEXIS JACKSON

Youth Program Guide (Sprouts & Maple)

Alexis is following the path of her young son; with him and his father, she strives to be out with Earth as much as possible, learning, listening, and practicing relationship. Alexis has a long history of body movement and awareness as a former dancer. She has a degree in Fine Arts; her work involves drawing, painting, ceramics, weaving, and quilting. Simultaneously, Alexis has long been involved in food service and hospitality, where her interest in foodways had her visiting farms, studying botany, and interning at permaculture sites. Alexis is currently studying herbalism.

Certifications:

Pediatric First Aid / CPR

CHELSEA BELIVEAU

Youth Program Guide (Sprouts)

Chelsea has a broad professional background spanning early childhood education, coordinating youth afterschool programming, yoga teaching, athletic coaching, F&B and retail industries. This eclectic breadth of experience has enabled her to gain insightful perspective for people of all ages and walks of life. Chelsea is passionate about making people feel seen and loved and feels it’s of great value to instill these awareness tools in our youth. Chelsea’s enthusiasm for imaginative play, place based learning, travel, and her love for the outdoors has inspired her to be on a homeschooling path with her two children. Chelsea believes in fostering a way of life that aims for interbeing. She enjoys swimming in wild waters, practicing yoga, skiing, hiking, biking and adventuring with her family.

Certifications:

Pediatric First Aid / CPR

Mentors

WALLACE THOMPSON

Youth Program Mentor (Maple)

Wallace has been with Through the Trees since the beginning, starting as a participant in the nature immersion program, then moving on to a Mentor-in-Training. Wallace has joined our staff as a Mentor with our youngest children in Maple. The children and staff love Wallace's sense of humor, pirate stories, fiddle playing and creative group games. Nature has been foundational for most of Wallace's life, spending time outdoors with friends, skiing, surfing, and visiting the ocean.

ISAAC CASONI

Youth Program Mentor (Beech)

Isaac has grown up spending time outdoors, surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, camping, hiking and farming. He began as a Trough the Trees participant and has moved into a leadership role as one of our Teen Mentors. Isaac loves supporting kids in deepening their engagement and connection with nature, and especially enjoys helping with shelter building and campfire cooking. He is grateful to be homeschooling, which has allowed him adequate space to pursue his interests of engineering, robotics and coding.

OTTO BISWELL

Youth Program Mentor (Maple/Beech)

Otto spends plenty of time outdoors surfing, skiing, hiking and backpacking. He is also a member of Through the Trees' Oak Outing Club for Teens, which adventures around Maine. He has grown his wilderness and woodworking skills through his years as a TTT participant and on his own, and enjoys sharing these activities with the kids in the Maple cohort. Otto is a reliable and supportive part of our team and we are grateful to have him with us.

ZEV STEVENSON

Youth Program Mentor (Maple/Sprouts)

Zev has been a participant and Mentor-in-Training at TTT for several years and is now one of our Teen Mentors. He has honed many wilderness skills and loves to share his knowledge with the kids at Through the Trees. Woodcarving and foraging are two of his favorite skills to teach. He also enjoys playing TTT field games and hiking and exploring the land both at TTT as well as various spots around Maine.