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Corinne Goldman she/her

Corinne is one of the Core Teachers at Wren’s Nest Forest Preschool. After serving two years as an AmeriCorps , working and learning at Wren’s Nest, Corrine earned her Early Childhood Education Licensure.

She loves spending her days hiking through forests, climbing rocks, following tracks, creating art and learning about the workings of nature with young children.

Corinne graduated from Castleton University with a BS in Environmental Science & Chemistry— she is passionate about environmental education and conservation and hopes, in working with youth, to foster that same reverence for the natural world.

Camps: Into the Forest-Seedlings and Wren’s Nest Explorers Sessions One, Three and Five.

Emma Jackman she/her

Hello everyone! I am Emma Jackman. I use she/her/hers pronouns, and currently reside in a small home nestled away in the forest of Lincoln, Vermont. I am a full-time student enrolled in Vermont State University's online education program and am working to receive my B.A. in Early Childhood Education and Teaching Licensure come Spring of 2025. In my time away from school, my greatest passions are creative writing, making art, wandering in the forest, and finding a warm spot for a summer swim! I first became affiliated with the Willowell Foundation as a student in the Walden Project during my junior and senior years of highschool. I now am proud to be a member of the Wren's Nest Forest Preschool teaching team, and work part time with the incredible class of preschoolers and help lead summer programing.

Camps: Wren’s Nest Explorers Sessions Two, Four, Five and Six.

Ian Gramling he/him

Ian has finished his AmeriCorps service, working and learning from the Director and Core Teachers at Wren’s Nest Forest Preschool and through service in the New Roots Project. He is now a teacher at Wren’s Nest Forest Preschool.

Ian is a lifelong resident of Ferrisburgh, Vermont and graduated from Willowell’s Walden Project in 2017. He went on to study military history at Norwich University for some years, but loves teaching kids in the great outdoors!

In his personal time, he enjoys historical reenacting, bushcraft, metal detecting, and playing Irish music. He’s excited for another summer of camps, and is ready to explore and play in the woods!

Camps: Into the Forest- Saplings, Jedi Training and Jumping Mouse.

 

Illia Dennison she/her

Hello! I’m Illia Dennison. I’m from Lincoln and I love to hike, swim in the river, and be outside. I’m super excited for a Willowell summer! I have lots of experience working with children of all ages through substitute teaching at the Lincoln School and helping lead summer camps around Addison County. 

Camps: Jedi Training, Wren’s Nest Explorers Sessions Two, Four and Six, and Sports and Games

Reagan Dufresne she/her

I am so excited to be joining the Willowell Community! My name is Reagan Dufresne and I am 21 years old. In May, I graduated from Saint Michael’s College with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Art. During my last two years of college I worked as an Americorp member for DREAM, a nonprofit that works to close the opportunity gap within our community. Within DREAM, I found a passion for curating opportunities/moments of growth for myself and the youth I work with. I am so excited to continue exploring this passion as an assistant camp leader!

My childhood in Vermont taught me how to be aware in nature and how this awareness can bring the imagination to beautiful places. I cannot wait to see how creativity blossoms for the children attending Willowell’s summer camps and feel honored to be a part of it. I hope to bring my passion for new opportunities, art, nature, and the present moment to each day of camp! 

Camps: Into the Forest-Seedlings, Wrens Nest Sessions One and Three, Ninja Training, Pirates of Cedar Island, Jumping Mouse, Wild Art Creatures

Addison Tate he/him

Addison works with youth in ecology, agriculture, and social systems, all of which has taken him to the lakes and forests of the Champlain Valley and the Adirondacks, the Hudson Valley and the rocky coast of Northern California, landing him back home in Addison County.

He graduated Vassar College with a degree in Environmental Studies and then served as an AmeriCorps member at the Walden Project which led him to his current role as a lead teacher for Willowell’s Pond Brook Middle School.

He has spent past summers as a camp counselor at Willowell and Keewaydin on Lake Dunmore (where he honed his water-bending skills) and is thrilled to be leading a Willowell camp this summer.

Camps: Avatar

Noam Ben-Zacharia he/him

Noam brings a vibrant enthusiasm to the Willowell Foundation, driven by his desire to cultivate joy, connection, and empowerment among youth. After growing up in New York City for the first 18 years of his life, Noam embarked on a transformative journey across the United States and abroad, cultivating a deep bond with the natural world.

Immersed in earth-based exploration, Noam discovered his passions for permaculture, outdoor recreation, and bushcrafting. Drawing from his diverse upbringing and ongoing spiritual exploration, he channels these experiences to empower and forge connections with his students.

Over the past few years, Noam has dedicated himself to outdoor education, serving as a wilderness guide and teacher in both therapeutic and conventional settings. In this work, he applied principles of rewilding and connection to the natural world as a path to healing. Noam employs a strengths-based and trauma-informed methodology, focusing on nurturing the inherent resilience, courage, and ingenuity of young people. Through his commitment, Noam hopes to create an environment that fosters growth, play, and lasting impact.

Camps: Into the Forest-Saplings, Avatar

Zack Smithwood he/him/they

Zack grew up on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, NH. He spent many years at summer camps as a camper and as a counselor and has taught several different activities through those mentorship roles.

Zack came to Vermont in 2013 to attend St. Michael's College, where he graduated with a degree in Environmental Science. Since then, Zack has completed three AmeriCorps terms, the last of which was with The Willowell Foundation. He loved his time at Willowell and has stayed engaged with the programs through the years.

Zack is now a Student Support Specialist in the Harwood Union Unified School District, where he works with elementary school students, playing as many games as possible throughout the school day!

Camps: Into the Forest- Shade Trees

Casey Burger she/her

Gardener, musician, craftsperson, and carpenter, Casey has worn many hats throughout her career as a human being and is dedicated to sharing her passions and knowledge with children. She has been running nature-based craft and cooking camps with the Willowell Foundation for the last 5 years. Originally from the Northern Catskills of New York, she has taught in the NYS Public School System working with children with special needs and went on to co-create a full time nature-based elementary curriculum at Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School in Columbia County NY, working as a teacher there before moving to Vermont in 2015.

Casey holds a B.A. in Integral Sustainable Development from Warren Wilson College, a Certificate in Biodynamic Agriculture, and has training in Inclusive Social Development through the Camphill Village Academy.

Camps: Art, Pageantry and Play and The Great Willowell Cooking Camp

 

Aidan Gardner he/him

Hello all! My name is Aidan Gardner, and I am an Americorps member serving with the Willowell Foundation. Most of my time spent serving with Willowell is with the high school program, The Walden Project. Having attended The Walden Project as a highschooler, I have a deep connection with the program and the Willowell Land. I am so thankful to be back and helping the students and faculty in any way I can and I look forward to joining the Willowell summer camp team!

My partner and I currently live in the beautiful town of Lincoln. It has been such a blessing to be living somewhere where I can connect with nature, and do some of my favorite outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding. 

Camps: Into the Forest- Shade Trees, Sports and Games, Pirates of Cedar Island

Ethan Mitchell he/him

As New Roots Co-Director, Ethan Mitchell brings over 15 years of teaching experience to the program through his involvement in the Walden Project and with various other programs throughout the state. Ethan’s focus is on history and mathematics, but he likes teaching a wide variety of subjects and is particularly skilled at pivoting from traditional teaching modalities toward more integrated and embodied approaches to learning. Ethan is an innovator; he's also a dad, an essayist, a researcher, and a dreamer. When not working with children, he spends a lot of time cooking, canning, coding, and doing construction.

Camps: Numbers in Nature: STEM on the Stem

Katrina Alden they/them

From teaching young women about menstrual care in Northern India to founding the first female high school soccer team on Borneo island of Malaysia, Katrina finds passion in creating communities that empower and lift each other up. Katrina has a background in neuroscience, yoga, crisis response for gender-based violence survivors and wilderness emergency medicine. She has worked with young adults in outdoor therapy and therapeutic agriculture, fostering well-being through connections to nature. From all these experiences Katrina believes loving every part of oneself is key to creating a cultural revolution. We need more communities that break apart our oppressive conditioning and allow for authentic expression. Rebels of the Moon has been created to combat a culture that tells us we are not enough.

Camps: Rebels of the Moon

Greyson Ersick they/them

Greyson comes to Willowell with 15 years of experience working with kids in a variety of settings—from teaching students in public schools grades K4 to 5, to leading outdoor education groups in the woods and offering hands-on STEM programming, Greyson enjoys working with kids in any capacity, but especially loves sharing in the joy of getting dirty in the forest! 

When they aren’t teaching they can be seen running a yarn shop in Bristol, VT with their spouse.

In their free-time, they can usually be found wandering around the forest, reading strange books, drawing with fancy art supplies, playing guitar, obsessing over their day planner, and writing mediocre poetry in their notes app.

Camps: Art, Pageantry and Play, The Great Willowell Cooking Camp

Georgia Michalovics

Hiya ! My mission as an artist is to ignite play and inquisition for myself and others through the evolutionary principles of adaptation and variation. I bring experience in performing arts, rural and emergency medicine and leatherwork.

To me, being a rebel means dedicating time and energy to the practice of self love while promoting stewardship for the biodiversity that surrounds us. Rebels know that when we care for ourselves & the natural world, we are more empowered and capable of building and uplifting our communitie

Camps: Rebels of the Moon

Kimari Collins

My names Kimari Collins, along with helping out through summer camps at Willowell, I’m also a Walden student XXIV. Being connected to the program has given me a love of the environment around us along with working with children, both which I’m planning to pursue this year at Vermont State University, studying Outdoor Education, Leadership, & Tourism. Despite living in Vermont my entire life, I’ve always loved traveling around the country, my favorite trip consisting of hiking & swimming in the Montana Yellowstone area. 

 

Assistant Camp Leader to be Announced