Our Board
Eric - he/him
Founder / Wild Foods Taste Tester
Program Director / NYS DEC Guide / Archery Coach
Eric is the Program Director for The Rewilding School. He develops our programs, trains staff, and much, much more.
Eric graduated from SUNY Environmental Science magna cum laude with a B.S. in Natural History and Interpretation and minors in Environmental Writing and Rhetoric and Recreation Resources Management.
Prior to founding The Rewilding School in 2016, Eric had a decade of teaching environmental summer camps in New York, residential outdoor education in California, ancestral skills in Oregon, and teambuilding in Massachusetts and right here in Westchester. He also founded and directed the Muscoot Naturalist Summer Camp. When not out in the woods Eric enjoys cooking, swing dancing, and trying not to buy everything in used bookstores.
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You can see more about Eric at his LinkedIn account.
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Devyn - she/her
Administrative Manager
Devyn joined The Rewilding School in Spring 2021, where she provides vital administrative support to ensure the well-being of staff and participants. She currently holds a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing and English, alongside a minor in Professional Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. She gained valuable experience as an administrative professional in educational organizations prior to joining The Rewilding School, making her a critical asset behind the scenes. In addition to her role, Devyn also serves on the board for our co-op, guiding strategic initiatives. She currently works remotely in Florida and enjoys quality time with her family, along with outdoor activities like kayaking and camping. Devyn and her husband welcomed their first child in Spring 2023, adding to their joy and adventures.
Jessie - she/her
Forest Preschool Director
Jessie’s naturalist passions jumpstarted in 2016 as Program Director Eric’s mentee. When we started The Rewilding School in 2017 she joined us as an instructor. Together they spearheaded most of The Rewilding School programs. Jessie combines her love of nature with her enthusiasm for teaching and is continuously inspired by the way kids and nature teach her as much as she strives to nurture them. She aspires to continue her path as an Outdoor Educator specializing in Ethnobotany, Wildlife Biology, and Child Psychology.
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Deirdre Jahn - she/her
Outdoor Educator - Preschool
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Deirdre has been working at educational summer camps for over ten years, where she has taught programs in nature, outdoor living, nature crafts, fishing, campfire cooking, and more. Deirdre has a masters in Education from SUNY New Paltz, and has been working in childcare and early childhood education since graduating college. Deirdre moved to the Hudson Valley after working at summer camps here and falling in love with the area. When she isn’t teaching Preschool at The Rewilding School, Deirdre enjoys hiking, swimming in the Hudson, discovering local towns, attending festivals and events, and watercolor painting.
Jon - he/him
Digital Strategy Director
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Jon started a year ago at the school as the staff photographer and social media coordinator. Over the last year, his role has expanded to include oversight of the website, marketing and advertising, and social media outreach. While most of his duties place him at his laptop, his favorite part of the job is going onsite to assist with education and, most importantly, documenting the lessons and laughter that each child experiences on a daily basis.
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Oh, if you're looking for a media contact, email me at media@rewildingschool.com to chat.
Our Team
Elijah - he/him
Outdoor Educator - Preschool
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Elijah’s naturalist interest came from years of participating in science research programs and field studies of super organisms. After learning about The Rewilding School through his little brother's impactful experience with nature, he knew he had to be a part of it. His great experiences with The Rewilding School have directed him towards studying psychology and childhood education in order to be the best teacher he can be. Joining the team in the summer of 2022, Elijah has been given the unofficial title of “games master” for his constant desire to keep things fun. Since joining, his favorite skills to share with students have been fishing, camouflage, friction fire, and sword fighting.
Haley Cooper she/her
Outdoor Educator - Preschool
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Haley joined the Rewilding School in Fall 2022, but has been working with children in a school, camp and coaching setting since 2012. She was born and raised in Stamford Connecticut, and is currently studying psychology at Norwalk Community College. She’s inspired to become a child psychologist with her passion for learning more about the brain and making a difference in children’s lives. Her love of nature and the woods began when her parents brought her and her brother hiking as babies, and continued when she became a girl scout throughout elementary school. Her hobbies include playing piano, hiking with her dog, camping, gardening, and cooking.
Lucas Palmer
Outdoor Educator / Content Creator
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Lucas is an avid outdoorsman and lifelong naturalist that is constantly learning more about the nature of the Hudson Valley and the ecosystems that exist here. He's an integral part of our team, leading school age programs and summer programs alike.
Outside of the school, Lucas enjoys videography, motorcycles, and DIY projects. As of Fall 2024, he's a member of our social media team, creating great video content of the skills we teach on site, and a bunch of things he's learned in his own time.
Gary - he/him
The Archery Guy
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Gary began meeting and working with Eric around 2017, and officially joined The Rewilding School in 2019. He grew up in the Bronx and ended up in Yonkers where his outdoor experience began. His neighbor taught him how to shoot a shotgun and handle hunting dogs. Those experiences got him into archery, fishing, camping, and hiking.
Gary teaches our traditional archery program and guides both young and old archers into this wonderful sport. Along with archery, his other interests include fishing, hiking, and camping. You’re just as likely to see him on one of our campouts as on our range. As he slows down he’s looking forward to more fly fishing. Even if there's not a bite, he gets to enjoy the outdoors.
Trevor McGinn - he/him
Admin
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Trevor joined The Rewilding School in Spring 2024, serving as a support for our instructional team and participating families alike. With a wealth of administrative and communications experience from his previous work experience, Trevor also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theater and a Master's Degree in Education, both from Bard College.
Trevor's daughter is enrolled in The Rewilding School's Forest PreSchool, and as such brings a parent's perspective to our customer service team, marrying that with an educator's understanding of the core concepts that make the Rewilding School so special. In his personal time, Trevor enjoys hiking in nature with his family, sailing, and most of all - being a dad.
