Alex is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a B.S in Environmental Conservation & Sustainability. He enjoys backpacking, studying plants, and birdwatching. During the summer, Alex works as a Summit Steward protecting the rare alpine plant species in the Adirondacks. Working with all the other educators at the Ashokan center Alex hopes that through education he can inspire the next generation of stewards.

Alexis Perry loves hiking and the outdoors. After studying Public Administration at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY she has had many different types of careers throughout the years. When she is not at work, she enjoys exploring and traveling around the U.S; and spending time in her garden.

I grew up in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx. It was a great neighborhood at the time, a place where I felt safe to be outside all day using my imagination until I had to come inside. My imagination had no limits, but I was limited in the spaces I could exercise my body and mind. We weren’t really allowed to walk on the grass or touch the trees in the projects. If you got caught, you ran the risk of my mother getting a summons from the Housing Police. Fortunately for me there were places that I could go to connect with nature and have experiences in the outdoors. My relationship with nature has only deepened over time along with an understanding of the true value of access. I made my first trip to the Ashokan Center in 1997, as a teacher. We brought our 6th grade students from Monhagen Middle School in the Middletown City School District. Most kids had never been away from home before, let alone for four nights with their teachers. For the students, and for the staff that had the opportunity to accompany them, the trip always created an indelible memory regardless of meteorological season. For many students, a visit to the Ashokan Center was part grade level right of passage and part family multi-generational legacy trip, with whole families sharing experiences about the wiggly bridge, weighing their food waste or making a fire poker. What is not communicated in the tales but inextricably woven through them, is the sense of empowerment, community, and connectivity felt by those who have had the chance to come to this very special place. This past June, I joined the Ashokan Center after completing a career in education that numbered 27 years, my last two as school superintendent. I am proud to be working with schools to create experiences for their students. I intend to continue to collaborate on removing barriers to access so that opportunities for creating community and inspiration in nature abound. I look forward to working with you.

Born and raised in New York's Hudson Valley, Anthony brings a diverse background in non-profit management, arts marketing, and public relations to the Ashokan Center. In his spare time, you'll find Anthony outside hiking, learning a new instrument, or spending with his family and husky, Orion.

Bill is a school teacher, a paramedic, a wilderness skills instructor, and certified instructor of numerous medical certificate courses. He coordinates with school personnel before and during Ashokan School Field trips to help ensure students’ well-being and safety on campus.

Caroline grew up in Kingston, New York and is very passionate about outreach and engagement for children, teens, and families in the Hudson Valley. Caroline has a background in the creative arts as well as environmental education, and is driven by a community-building nature. She’s worked with a number of students from urban communities in Connecticut with schoolyard habitat programs and summer camps through her work with the Audubon Society before joining the Ashokan Center education team in 2021. Caroline is also passionate about outreach and providing accessible and inclusive experiences in nature for children, their families, and caretakers, and helping people connect around nature and build community with each other. Caroline is interested in shared educational experiences that incorporate nature and art together and provide mental health benefits and social emotional learning, as well as expanding people’s capacity for empathy. After the isolating experiences people were faced with during the pandemic, Caroline feels children need this support now more than ever, and has seen firsthand how critical immersive outdoor experiences are for youth development. Caroline also holds an MBA in sustainability, which she uses to inform her work, and is especially interested in the social side of sustainability.

Chris has a deep appreciation for the natural world and takes pride in his ability to inspire young minds to foster an enduring connection with it. Chris has experience teaching in a variety of outdoor settings and specializes in wildlife and ecosystem sciences.

Clara is a graduate of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, with a Bachelors of Science in Conservation Biology focus in Environmental Education. She began teaching as a camp counselor early on, where she discovered her passion for education and connecting people to the outdoors. In the future she looks to complete a Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology to become a Nature Therapist.

Del was born in Ithaca, NY and grew up in New England and now lives in the Woodstock area. He received his graduate degree in sustainability and land planning at the Conway School in Massachusetts and holds an undergraduate degree in science and mathematics. For 12 years he has worked as a consultant for landscape architects, wetland scientist, engineers in NY and CT with a focus on mitigation, restoration, and storm-water management. Del is a licensed New York State D.E.C. Outdoor Guide as well. He has been teaching as an on-call instructor here at the Ashokan Center since 2015. He shares his love for the natural world with everyone he meets. His deep sensitivity and commitment to sustainability and the health of both the environment and the community add an integral aspect to our teaching staff.

Dennis is from Ridge, New York, a hamlet on Long Island. He grew up with seven brothers and a love for sports and the outdoors. His enjoyment of math and science inspired him to attend SUNY-ESF where he earned a B.S. in Wildlife Science while producing his thesis on Piping Plover ecology and management in New Jersey. He has worked at a number of wildlife refuges and conservancies protecting wildlife while educating visitors. Just before joining the Ashokan Center team, Dennis worked as a shorebird technician in Massachusetts. He is passionate about wildlife and nature and finds it very rewarding to inspire that enthusiasm in others.

Emily graduated from Stony Brook University with a B.S. in Environmental Biology. Having grown up in the Hudson Valley, she has always felt at peace in nature. After joining the Ashokan Center in 2022, Emily quickly fell in love with being an outdoor educator. Her personal teaching philosophy is to meet students where they are at, regardless of their backgrounds. In her spare time she enjoys encountering wildlife, discovering new music, blacksmithing, and napping in hammocks.

Hailey grew up in the Hudson Valley and lived in Stone Ridge, NY for most of her life. She attended the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse NY and earned a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Biology. While there she educated students as a teaching assistant for general biology lab and as a tutor for biology. After graduation she went on to work on the detection and tracking the of this emerald ash borer with different state organizations like the NYS DEC and NYS DAM. She loves working at the Ashokan Center and is passionate about environmental education!

James graduated with a B.S. in environmental science from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and is currently working on his masters in education at SUNY New Paltz. He enjoys spending time outside, hiking, running, and rock climbing in the Mohonk, Catskills, and Adirondack mountains. He loves the opportunity to share his passion for the outdoors with students and families during education field trips and the various public events.

I was born and raised right here in the Hudson Valley. After finishing high school, I jump right into the construction trade wanting to learn anything and everything there was to being a carpenter. I've always LOVED the great outdoors and traditional roots music, that's what really drew me to this wonderful place. My roots run deep on this land/campus, as my Great-great-great-great-great-great Grandfather (Lemuel Winchell) built the Inn that's onsite here. It's a real honor to walk, work, and live in my ancestors footsteps. It's also a wonderful place to raise my growing family!

Jay was born to Hungarian and Macedonian immigrant parents and raised in the Bronx, NY where he developed a rich appreciation for music and art, and a longing for time in nature. In 1980 he started Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camps at Ashokan, then SUNY New Paltz's Ashokan Field Campus. Inspired by the camps, he composed the fiddle tune "Ashokan Farewell" in 1982, which he recorded with Molly Mason and their band Fiddle Fever. Taken by this haunting melody, filmmaker Ken Burns invited Jay and Molly to provide music for many of his PBS specials, most notably The Civil War, in which "Ashokan Farewell" became the main theme. The sound track won a Grammy, and earned Jay an Emmy nomination. In 2006, when Ashokan was unexpectedly being sold, Jay and Molly formed the Ashokan Foundation and with community and state support preserved the land and Ashokan’s important programs. Read the full story here. Jay is president of the Ashokan Foundation and Ashokan Center boards, and is acting CEO. He and Molly have been married since 1991. They co-direct Ashokan Music & Dance Camps and tour nationally spreading their authentic, acoustically-rooted music and the story of Ashokan wherever they go.

Hi I’m Katie! I love spending time outdoors learning new things about nature and animals as well as spending time with my 2 dogs! I am a housekeeper at the Ashokan Center. I believe cleaning is therapeutic and I enjoy doing it!

Raised in a military family, Lisa was born in Frankfurt, West Germany, and has lived in Virginia, New Jersey and Kansas before finally settling in New Hampshire while in high school. She briefly studied Business Administration at the University of New Hampshire and Accounting at New Hampshire College before marrying and starting her family. Lisa and her husband relocated to the Hudson Valley in 1992, where they have raised their four children. After an 18-year career in retail, she joined the staff at The Ashokan Center in June 2016.

Marni Pasch joined the development team in the fall of 2023. With an MA in School Counseling from University of Central Florida, she previously worked as a private academic coach, helping students embrace their unique strengths, turn challenges from stumbling blocks to stepping stones, and navigate school with confidence. Now at Ashokan, Marni is happy to channel her passion for education and student empowerment to the development team at Ashokan, contributing to a mission which creates a much needed safe sanctuary for children and adults to explore their creativity and build confidence through its diverse programs. Marni is delighted to support the Ashokan community by playing a role in growing the future of the Ashokan Center, a place known for the transformational impact it has on its visitors and the surrounding communities. Outside of work, Marni enjoys spending time with her family at concerts, attending theater productions, dancing to 80's music, and expressing herself through creative writing, including poetry, fiction, and reflective essays.

Molly grew up in Battleground, WA with a fondness for traditional fiddle music and ’30s and ’40s popular tunes and the jazzy sound of the Swing Era. She studied environmental education at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA and cut her musical teeth playing in clubs and colleges. In 1978 she became the bassist in the house band for Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion in Minnesota then continued east making New York state her permanent home in the 1980’s. Here she saw the beginning of the Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camps, a world-renowned destination for enthusiasts of American music and dance traditions. Molly’s passion for history, nature, and music found a home at Ashokan. In 2006, when the property was unexpectedly being sold, Jay and Molly formed the Ashokan Foundation and with community and state support preserved the land and Ashokan’s important programs. Read the full story here. Molly is vice president of the Ashokan Foundation and Ashokan Center boards. She and Jay have been married since 1991. They co-direct Ashokan Music & Dance Camps and tour nationally spreading their authentic, acoustically-rooted music and the story of Ashokan wherever they go.

Patty is a seasoned educator, outdoor enthusiast, practicing artist and a yoga instructor. Having taught art for 20 years at Saugerties High School, upon retirement she returned to the place where she first experienced teaching as a summer educator; the Ashokan Center. Patty digs deep with her students, encouraging them to learn by using their senses, asking questions and to "discover" the many lessons nature has to offer. Patty is as eclectic in her downtime as she is in her professional life, hiking, mountain biking, creating art, teaching yoga, stacking bluestone or walking her dog Skeeter on the Ashokan Rail Trail.

Peter was born and raised in the Catskill Mountains/Hudson Valley area. He received a BA in History from Hartwick College. After serving as Director of Technology for a Boston-based law firm, he attended UMass Boston and obtained a Masters in Secondary Education and taught History in the Boston Public School system. In 2011, he returned to the area and worked with at-risk adolescents at Family of Woodstock. Peter has been the Volunteer Coordinator for the winter and summer Hoots since 2013. In the fall of 2015, Peter joined the staff at The Ashokan Center where he is able to bring together his love of music, the environment and history.

Rochelle Victor blends her background in art and technology with a focus on non-profits. After leaving a career in animation and teaching in NYC 25 years ago to raise her family in the Hudson Valley, Rochelle has specialized in developing and managing custom management systems. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature especially late-night hikes with her husband and dog.

Rose has always felt most at home whilst submerged in nature. She started working in Environmental Education while studying Geosciences at the University at Buffalo. She began by teaching students about renewable energy and how to build solar vehicles while working with New Yorkers for Clean Power. She has also worked as a Naturalist with the Appalachian Mountain Club and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Nowadays, Rose enjoys exploring waterfalls, researching botany and hiking as much of the Catskills as possible.

Ruth was raised in West Hurley, NY and attended Onteora High School. She graduated from Bard College in 1997 with a BA in Drama/Dance, and has spent over two decades as a touring musician and recording artist in the band The Mammals. She co-founded the Winter & Summer Hoot, Ashokan's bi-annual community music festivals, with her partner Mike Merenda in 2013 and began to work full time at Ashokan in 2018. She leads the Public Events team in curating and producing cultural and educational workshops, concerts, camps, and festivals throughout the year. These include our Music & Dance Camps, originally founded by her family in 1982. She is passionate about inter-generational experiences in nature and art, loves connecting with our rich local community, and is excited to make all of Ashokan's public events accessible to as many folks as possible through initiatives like free or flexible pricing and Pay it Forward scholarships.

Sara Trapani has worked in nonprofit fundraising or small business development since 2010 and believes in the power of philanthropy to create lasting change. After completing her BA with a double major in Journalism and English at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Sara served in the United States Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa where she developed community projects such as a girls leadership seminar, an educational radio broadcast, health/yoga programs and more. After her early career in development and institutional gifts at Omega Institute, Sara founded and directed a small business, Whole Sky Yoga, which still serves many hundreds of Ulster County residents every year. Sara lives just fifteen minutes from the Ashokan Center with her husband Ryan and their four energetic kids Metta, Maple, Tanner and Magnolia. Together they enjoy their backyard orchard, maple sugar shack, chickens, and taking long walks. Sara is an experienced fundraiser, grant writer, advanced yoga teacher, avid reader of nonfiction, and a personal wellness enthusiast.

Tammy, a native of Kingston, NY, brings a wealth of experience to her role as a finance manager, with a decade-long dedication to supporting non-profit organizations. Tammy is also wife and mother, having married her high school sweetheart. Joining the Ashokan Center a year ago, Tammy's commitment to community and nature shines through. She finds solace and joy in her cabin upstate.

Tom is an Ulster County native who has spent a lifetime exploring the Catskills with a particular love for the Ashokan Reservoir watershed. Graduating from SUNY ESF with a degree in Forest Biology, he worked many years in the Bureau of Wildlife with the New York State DEC. He is honored to have the opportunity to share his love of the outdoors and the natural world with today's youth.