School Crew Leader Profiles
Erin Seward, Center for Technology - Essex
Erin is originally from Wallingford, Vermont and is a past Corps Member from the 1997 and 1998 seasons. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Education from Warren Wilson College located in Asheville, North Carolina. During her time at Warren Wilson she worked on the college’s Natural Resources Crew, helping to manage over 600 acres of forest. She also volunteered with the local Buncombe County Forest Service and a local food bank. Erin has worked as an Assistant Park Ranger at Green River Reservoir State Park, been an intern with the Student Conservation Association at North Cascades National Park, and she has also worked for the Forest Service in Colorado as a Forestry Technician. Even though she has left Vermont several times to explore, she always seems to find her way back. Most recently she has worked at Paquette Full of Posies Nursery until making it full circle back to the VYCC. Erin joined the VYCC as an instructor for the School Program and to continue building and implementing the framework for the Farm and Nursery at the West Monitor Barn.
George Deane, Center for Technology - Essex
George grew up in Springfield, Vermont, however, because he was born in New Hampshire worries that he'll never be fully accepted as a Vermonter, harkening back to the old saying, "You can put kittens in the oven but that doesn't make them muffins." He graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 2001 which focused on History, and in 2003 earned his Master of Arts in Education from UVM in Educational Studies. George has had two great passions in his professional career, education and ice cream. Recently education has been the career path front runner for George as he left a fantastic job with a well known Vermont ice cream company to teach Social Studies at South Burlington High School for the '07-'08 school year, where he is currently the Head Track and Field Coach. George is very excited to have joined forces with the VYCC to explore the educational possibilities of the School Program. When not working, George can usually be found outdoors, running, biking, hiking, skiing, and enjoying the Vermont landscape.
Tim Birmingham, Mount Mansfield Union High School
Tim is a born and raised Vermonter. He graduated from Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont, with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and has just finished his Master of Arts in Education with a self-designed focus in Adventure Learning from Plymouth State University. Tim has experience working with the public school system and has also taught and run programs for private schools and at the college level. Tim has a passion for the outdoors and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School, the Tom Brown Jr. Wilderness Survival School, and is also a recognized Long Trail thru hiker. This is his first year as a Crew Leader at the VYCC and he is very excited to be working and teaching with students in the outdoors. When not leading crews Tim spends his time fly fishing, skiing, hunting, hiking or playing with his dog, Otter.
Hillary Boone, Champlain Valley Union High School
Hillary Boone grew up in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. She attended Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geology in 2007. During her time at Northeastern, Hillary was actively involved in student activities, working towards equality on campus and to change university energy policy. Her research took her through the Boston Harbor Islands, and as far away as Egypt and the Bahamas. Since graduating Hillary has gained work experience in environmental organizing and environmental education. Hillary has been involved with the VYCC since 2005, when she was a Corps Member on a Wilderness Crew. Her passion for the environment and outdoor work led her back to the Corps during the summer of 2008, when she served as a Crew Leader for the Wilderness Crew based on Stratton Mountain. This year she is excited to be continuing work with the VYCC and co-instructing the Champlain Valley Union School Crew.
Matthew Walker, Champlain Valley Union High School
Matthew arrived to Vermont in 1995 as an undergraduate student at Middlebury College. In 1999, he completed a Sea Kayak Course with the National Outdoor Leadership School in Muluge, Mexico, where he was trained as a Leave No Trace Trainer. After a life changing car accident in 1996, Matthew transferred to the University of Vermont, where he studied Wilderness First Aid, and also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. After college, Matthew applied his outdoor educational experience as a white water kayak guide and instructor with Clearwater Sports in Waitsfield. He also worked as a snowboard instructor at Bolton Valley Resort, and as a volunteer guide for the Green Mountain Club. He worked as a ropes course facilitator at the Bolton Adventure Center and the University of Vermont. In 2007, Matthew completed an Master of Arts in Health Arts and Sciences at Goddard College in Plainfield, where he wrote his thesis on adaptive yoga. As both a yoga teacher and outdoor educator for the past 5 years, Matthew's passion for conservation, complementary and alternative health, and world views of the natural world spring forth. He is very excited to join the VYCC as a School Crew Leader in 2008 and looks forward to sharing and learning new perspectives this year.
Lindsay Bloxham, Lamoille Union High School
Lindsay was born in Ft. Myers, Florida and attended Stetson University where she studied Political Science and Religion. In College, she rowed for the university and enjoyed playing intramural sports, taking an active role in student government, and volunteering for social causes. Traveling abroad was a highlight of her years as a student. She was able to travel to such countries as; Cuba, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, India, South Korea, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, and Japan. These experiences inspired Lindsay to finish up college writing her thesis on the impact of microcredit programs on women in developing nations. After college, was when she decided to make a big move to wintery Vermont, where she spent the following year working on her graduate degree in education and obtaining a teaching certificate. Summer camp has been an influential part of Lindsay’s life. Spending many summers singing camp songs, braiding gimp bracelets, and drinking bug juice, she developed a love for the outdoors. For the past seven summers, Lindsay has worked as the waterfront director at YMCA Camp Abenaki in North Hero, Vermont. The combination of teaching classes like sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, and canoeing to students in a beautiful setting inspired her to seek a job working with youth outdoors. Before joining the VYCC team, Lindsay worked two years at Grand Isle School. At Grand Isle, she taught reading on the elementary level, and worked with middle school students that had specific learning challenges. In her free time, Lindsay enjoys hiking, riding the mountain bike trails in her back yard, and playing volleyball. Photography and graphic design are budding interests of Lindsay’s, as well. Lindsay lives in South Burlington with her partner Will, and their cat Shark Attack.
Jeremy Krohn, Lamoille Union High School
Jeremy came to VYCC from the state of Washington, where he worked as an Environmental Engineer for Parametrix, Inc. He brings extensive trail maintenance skills from his experiences in the Monongahela National Forest and Mt. Hood National Forest. Jeremy holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with an Environmental Focus from Ohio University. While he began his career at VYCC as a Crew Leader for Roving 2 and 9, he now works as the School Crew Leader for Lamoille Union High School. Jeremy is also an avid mountain biker, backpacker, and pursuer of all things local.