MEET OUR TEAM

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

MARCIA GRIFFIN

Founder and Executive Director, Chair of the Board, Youth and 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.

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

TRENT GRIFFIN

Director of Facilities and Grounds, Youth Program Guide

Trent is a Father, Husband, Carpenter 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.

Trent’s Certifications:
25 Years Carpentry (including building his own home)
200-Hour Jaguar Path Yoga Teacher
3rd Degree Black Belt
Licensed Massage Therapist
First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)
Registered Maine Guide

JENN CASONI

Director of Youth Programs, Youth & Adult 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. Jenn is also a co-facilitator for Full Moon Circles in our adult programs.

Jenn’s Certifications:
Registered Maine Guide

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

KENDALL SCOTT

Director of Adult Programs, Director of Marketing, Adult and Youth Program Guide

Kendall is a nature enthusiast, homeschooling mom, a holistic health practitioner of over 10 years and co-author of the cookbook, Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen. Kendall is a Guide in our youth Nature Immersion programs and offers Full Moon Circles and classes on 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.

Kendall’s Certifications:
Registered Maine Guide

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

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.

Emily's Certifications:

First Aid & CPR (Adult & Pediatric)

NICHOLE CRANDALL

Adult Program Guide, Youth Program Guide (Maple)

Nichole is a homeschooling mom to her eight-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.

Nichole's Certifications:

Baptiste Power Yoga Teacher Training (2012)

Yin and Meditation Teacher Training (Sagel Urlacher 2014)

Restorative Yoga Teacher Training (Bernie Clark 2018)

PENNIE SCHWARTZ

Youth Program Guide (Beech)

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.

Pennie's Certifications:

Avalanche 1 Certification

National Ski Patrol Member

STACEY FETTERMAN

Youth Program Guide (Maple)

Stacey brings many years of experience and a love for working with children in art, nature, yoga, and mindfulness. She developed and led Peaceful Painting workshops and Mind-Body-Nature camps in California. Most recently, she was a preschool teacher in Yarmouth, Maine and offered youth and family yoga classes at Sundara Yoga in Brunswick. Stacey enjoys deeply connecting with the earth, making art, tending to her gardens, hiking, and being on or near the water (and has spent time sailing, working on private yachts and giving kayak tours). Stacey has six chickens, two Nubian goats (Peanut and Honey) and a two-year-old rescue dog, Dobby Roo, who loves to walk everyday with Stacey in the woods.

Stacey's Certifications:

iRest Yoga Nidra Teacher (Yoga Meditation 2020)

Certified Creative Fit Coach with Whitney Freya (Art Certificate 2018)

Smiling Monkey Kids Yoga (2014)

Core Power Yoga 200hr RYT (2013)

MATT DAY

Youth Program Guide (Beech)

Matt brings his love for nature and musical knowledge to Through the Trees. Matt grew up with endless woods to explore behind his house and a lake across the street where his family would row, sail, and canoe. He has fond memories of spending summers with his family in Cape Cod where they would play on the beach, swim, and fish for their dinner. He still loves to just sit on the beach, taking in the ocean. Most recently, and for many years, Matt has played the trumpet live a few times a week, following a busy schedule. He is now enjoying a slower, more relaxed and mindful lifestyle. Matt has three kids who are 8, 9, and 12 years old and has been a stay at home dad off and on.

Matt's Certifications:

Trained life coach

First Aid & CPR

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. This past school year, 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.

NAHUM STEVENSON

Youth Program Mentor (Beech)

For the past year, Nahum has been at Through the Trees as a Mentor-in-Training and has recently joined our staff as a Mentor in the Nature Immersion Youth programs. He enjoys art, woodworking and teaching wilderness skills. He has spent the last few years refining his knowledge and experience of woodworking, tools, fire building and shelter construction and is always eager to lead the kids in a project in these areas. Being active outdoors is Nahum's passion, and he regularly goes mountain biking, skiing, hiking, fishing, canoeing, participates in parkour (which basically creating your own impromptu obstacle course and challenges with what you see in nature). playing games and a ton of other stuff. I also like to do art and woodworking.

HAYDEN GUILIANO

Youth Program Mentor (Maple)

Hayden's kind and helpful demeanor seems to draw younger children to him, making him a perfect Mentor with our younger kids in Maple. Growing up in a family that loves being together outdoors has included adventures in skiing, snowboarding, swimming, kayaking and hiking. Hayden enjoys cooking and baking, spending summers at his family's lake house, and volunteering at a local organic farm doing farm chores, animal care and general farming. He also attended Kroka Expeditions for two summers participating in their white water II course.

Hayden's Certifications:

Boating Certification

Pilot license for paragliding,