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
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 for engaging children and a deep connection with the natural world. She began working with children in a variety of settings in her early teens. When her own children came along, she chose to homeschool them, which has turned out to be a life-changing experience for her. She is passionate about supporting others on their unconventional and self-directed learning journeys and loves creating environments that support children in being in charge of their own growth. Jenn guides children to discover their passions, develop a strong sense of self, and discover their intuition and emotional intelligence. She is passionate about creating respectful and reciprocal human ecosystems. Jenn’s passion for nature has been a grounding force throughout her life and she spends as much time as possible outdoors in all the seasons. She feels that being immersed in natural spaces is the perfect way for humans of all ages to grow into the best versions of themselves.
Certifications:Registered Maine Guide
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 directs classes, events, communications and marketing at TTT. She is also a Guide in our youth, family and adult 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
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 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
First Aid / CPR (Adult & Pediatric)
Guides
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.
and later transitioned to public school. In his younger years he spent
his free time exploring in the forest and streams which fostered his
love for nature which he enjoys fostering in youth. He has spent time
working as a naturalist in Colorado and Idaho; exploring the beauty of
the mountains with camera in hand. More recently he worked as a
wilderness therapy guide in Maine where he practiced attunement with
teens. He enjoys spending time backpacking, sharing nature facts with
others, playing his accordion, hammock camping, foraging wild
mushrooms, skiing, contra dancing, cooking local sourced food, and
trying new things.
Certifications:
Wilderness First Responder & CPR
Mentors
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 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.
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.