Elise is the Education Coordinator for Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters. In 2017, she received a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism from the University of Maine and promptly moved to the Katahdin region to begin her career in outdoor education. She is passionate about connecting youth to nature and their community and believes that a strong connection to the natural world helps students build confidence, empathy and leadership skills. She feels most at home in a canoe on a remote river. Elise is a Wilderness First Responder, Registered Maine Recreational Guide, Leave No Trace Master Educator and Certified Interpretive Guide.

Email: Elise@friendsofkww.org

Kala is the Education Director for Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. Kala’s love for the outdoors and education began during her work as a Youth Crew Leader for the Montana Conservation Corps and continued while creating educational and volunteer opportunities as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the United Way of Greater Portland. She started her degree in Communications at the University of Montana and finished at the University of Southern Maine, which led to a teaching role in Northern Maine. Teaching in rural schools helped her realize that almost every opportunity can be an educational opportunity and is passionate about finding, facilitating, and sharing place-based learning experiences. Kala is certified in First Aid and Wilderness First Aid.

Email: kala@friendsofkww.org

Maggie is a Placed Based Educator for friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. She is a native of the Katahdin region and recently graduated from Katahdin High School. Throughout her year of high school, her passion for connecting with the outdoors grew. She is passionate about teaching youth in a hands-on way. She is excited to start teaching youth about the environment outside of their home and showing them how to connect with it. Maggie is certified in Wilderness First Aid.

Dan is the Katahdin Region Coordinator for Outdoor Sport Institute (OSI). He holds a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management from Northern Michigan University, but his abilities have been molded through a myriad of experiences working and playing in the outdoors. No stranger to hard work, Dan has lead conservations crews, served as an EMT, worked in commercial kitchens, operated Zamboni machines, and even participated in the world’s longest paddle race, the Yukon 1000.

His passion for teaching and working with others, however, has allowed him to make a career out of connecting people with the outdoors. He has guided canoe expeditions in Maine and the Boundary Waters, lead dogsledding adventures and winter camping trips in northern Minnesota and run backpacking trips in the desert southwest.  As an EMT Dan also serves as a wilderness medicine instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).  Dan brings a holistic perspective to outdoor access and education. His comfort teaching and supporting others allows him to instantly serve as an ally and advocate in building local capacity. Whether it’s designing youth programs, supporting community gear libraries, or teaching volunteers to build trail, Dan is able to humbly and effectively provide the knowledge and skill needed.  

Email: Dan@outdoorsi.org

Baileigh is the general manager for the Katahdin Gear Library in Millinocket. Baileigh was raised in Millinocket, however she moved away shortly after high school and discovered her passion for the outdoors and the desire to share it with others. After several years away she returned home to pursue an outdoor lifestyle, which then led to her career in outdoor education. Baileigh is a registered Maine Recreational guide and is Wilderness First Responder certified. In her free time, you can find Baileigh in the woods with her two dogs exploring all that our region has to offer.

Email: baileigh@katahdingearlibrary.org