Nature Camp Staff
SARAH STREW
MEET SARAH
Sarah has been the Director for Nature Camp and Adult Programs at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science since 2014. Sarah feels deeply connected to VINS, and its camp program specifically, as she can recall being a VINS camper when the organization was at its original site in Woodstock, Vermont
During college, Sarah spent summers as a counselor and backpacking instructor at an overnight camp in Fairlee, returning eventually to manage the camp-craft department. For four years, she moved between Big Sky, Montana, where she taught skiing, and Hartford, Vermont, where she held various positions with VINS as a Lead Counselor for camp and also as an Environmental Education Intern, providing educational programs at the Nature Center as well as handling and training the raptors.
Prior to stepping into her current position, Sarah was involved with various educational efforts in the Upper Valley. She earned her MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England where she concentrated in Education. Sarah loves living in the Upper Valley and the lifestyle it affords her. She is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, gardening in the summer, and hiking with her dogs all year round.
KELLY MARQUA
MEET KELLY
Kelly has been a Nature Camp and Family Programming Coordinator at VINS since 2025. Before joining the team, she was a STEM Educator and Nature Camp Supervisor with the Montshire Museum of Science. She is a 500-hour registered yoga teacher with specialty training in accessibility, trauma-informed practices, and children's yoga.
Kelly enjoys creating fun and welcoming programs for families and children that help them connect with each other and the natural world. She feels incredibly honored to be part of VINS and lucky to be able to do what she loves most, working with children outdoors.
MADISON ALDERMAN
MEET MADISON
Madison is a born and raised Vermonter who grew up playing in the woods and exploring nature. As a child, she visited VINS on school field trips and has always loved the mission of VINS, connecting people with the importance and beauty of the natural world. This will be her 6th, year working at VINS Nature Camp.
She earned her B.S in Biology from Castleton University where she worked as a tutor and lab TA for several courses in the Castleton Natural Sciences Department. She studied a wide variety of wildlife, including insects, arachnids, salamanders, birds, and mammals. In her spare time, Madison explores and volunteers at Merck Forest in Rupert, Vermont. Along with loving the outdoors, she spends her time photographing and documenting the wildlife she comes across.
During the rest of the year, Madison works as a science teacher at Fair Haven Union Middle School. She hopes to grow her career in education by inspiring others at nature centers like VINS and in middle school science classrooms. This summer, she looks forward to sharing her passion and excitement for nature with campers and hopes to teach them something new while bolstering their love for nature and wildlife.
NOAH BANTHIN
MEET NOAH
In his free time, Noah enjoys bouldering, running, skiing, and just about any other outdoor activity he can get his hands on. Outside of these pursuits, he is also an avid reader. He is looking forward to joining the VINS team and is confident it will be an amazing summer for the entire VINS community.
ALINA SCOTT
MEET ALINA
Alina graduated from Middlebury College in 2025 with a B.A. in Conservation Biology and Spanish. Since then, she has built a wide range of experience in both education and hands‑on conservation work. She has worked as a preschool teacher in New Hampshire, served as a Peace Corps Community Environmental Conservation Promoter in Panama, and worked in educational roles at the Squam Lake Natural Science Center and Keene State’s Kids on Campus Summer Camp. She has also supported college students as a teaching assistant. Across all of these roles, Alina has loved helping people connect with nature and understand the importance of protecting it.
Alina has participated in a variety of field projects, from building beaver dam analogs (also known as Beaver Deceivers!), to scuba diving for coral reef restoration, to monitoring sea turtle nests in South Carolina. She’s happiest when she’s learning something new, diving into hands-on work, and collaborating closely with both community members and the natural world.
In her free time, Alina enjoys traveling, running, hiking with her dogs, reading, yoga, and spending time with friends and family. She’s always looking for new trails to explore and new places to discover!
Alina is excited to spend the summer in Vermont and to join the VINS community. She looks forward to sharing her love for the natural world with campers and helping them build their own sense of curiosity, confidence, and wonder outdoors.
BRYN OSBORNE
MEET BRYN
Bryn recently graduated from Albion College with a degree in Biology and Environmental Science. While there, she completed a research project involving cavity nesting birds and their nest boxes, a project she will be publishing the results of within the next year! Bryn was also a member of the western equestrian team and competed with her team around the country.
While Bryn is new to Vermont, she looks forward to spending her time hiking, exploring, and birdwatching. When not outdoors, she can be found reading and relaxing with her cat, Petri Dish.
Over the past several years, Bryn has worked as a TA for geology, a member of several barn staffs, a microbiology prep assistant, a greenhouse assistant, and as a part of the Whitehouse Nature Center in Albion, MI. She looks forward to working at VINS and sharing her love of nature and wildlife with campers.
TUCKER SANVILLE
MEET TUCKER
Tucker is from Wellesley, Massachusetts, and has summered in Quechee, his entire childhood. He has always enjoyed studying science and frequently visited VINS before joining VINS Nature Camp first as a Leader-In-Training and then as an Instructor in 2022.
Back home in his free time, Tucker plays club lacrosse, and he likes to ski and golf. Tucker will be a senior at Stonehill College this fall, where he is majoring in environmental studies and education studies.
Tucker is looking forward to returning to VINS to welcome everyone back from last summer and meet all the new campers.
ALETHEA BOUTON
MEET ALETHEA
Thea is completing her second year of college at Paul Smith’s College in NY, pursuing a degree in Fish and Wildlife Science, and minoring in Botany. She grew up in
Vermont, learning all there is to know about trees, bugs, and animals. She spends
her time drawing, birdwatching, and kayaking, and enjoying nature anywhere she
can.
Thea recently picked up cross-country skiing in the Adirondacks and loves to be outdoors in all seasons, whether that is skiing, hiking, or just walking the trails near her college campus. The bogs and swamps of the Adirondack region are her favorite places – just ask her about larches and sphagnum moss!
Thea has volunteered at VINS as a baby bird feeder every summer since she was
twelve. Joining the VINS Nature Camp staff five years ago allowed Thea to share what she loves with others. Thea has never looked forward to a summer at VINS Nature Camp more than this year. She can’t wait to greet new and returning campers and share in a summer of adventures!
ADAM KULAS KLOPCHIN
MEET ADAM
OLIVER JACKSON
MEET OLIVER
Oliver is from Lyme, and has lived in New Hampshire his entire life despite the fact that the rest of his family lives in the UK. Currently a senior at Hanover High school, Oliver will be entering UNH this fall as a chemistry major with his eyes set on research.
Oliver loves soccer, skiing, and karate. This past year, he started tutoring other students in math and science. This experience helped Oliver discover a desire to grow his teaching and communication skills.
VINS has been a big part of Oliver’s life, especially growing up. From attending summer camps, field trips, family visits, and volunteering as an L-I-T, VINS holds a special place in his heart. He is excited to work at VINS because of the community of people that surrounds it and the valuable learning and teaching opportunities it presents. Oliver looks forward to stepping into this new role this summer as an Instructor and being involved with the camp program.
WREN PARKER
MEET WREN
Wren grew up in North Andover, Massachusetts, and then moved to Quechee, Vermont. She just completed her first year at Mount Holyoke College, studying Politics and Gender Studies. She is a first-year fellow for the Weisman Leadership Center and will be an RA next year.
Wren is an avid snowboarder, plays tennis, loves Warhammer, and has 3 cats. She has a special place in her heart for Spain after spending her junior year studying in Zaragoza.
This summer, Wren is excited to return to the VINS community. She was a camper as a child and then an L-I-T for all four years of her high school career. Volunteering for Hoots and Howls is a favorite VINS memory of hers. In total, Wren has volunteered for over 300 hours at VINS. She looks forward to exploring and sharing the wonders of nature with campers this year as she steps into the new role of Camp Instructor.
MINJI MOEYKENS
MEET MINJI
Minji lives in Plainfield, NH, and is currently a Senior at Lebanon High School. Wildlife is Minji’s main passion; all her life, she has loved learning about the natural world. She is excited about everything that awaits her after graduation this spring.
In her free time, Minji enjoys wildlife photography, drawing, hiking, and camping. She is also on the cross-country ski team at her high school and picked up skijoring with her dog, Archer, recently. Minji loves spending time with all her pets as they are her pride and joy.
Minji began attending VINS Nature Camp in 2nd grade and has grown up in the VINS camp community, where she was able to pursue her passion for natural sciences. She was a Leader-In-Training for 3 years before joining the VINS team in an Instructor role in 2025.
RUTH BRIOR
MEET RUTH
Ruth is from Brant Lake, New York. She is a junior at Dartmouth College studying biology with a concentration in ecology. She has experience with many areas of ecology (including marine life and invasive species), but is working on a thesis about aquatic ecology. In her free time, she enjoys print-making, going on long walks in the forest, and birdwatching.
Ruth loves to share how cool nature is with others. Last fall, she led lessons about change in ecosystems and habitats at the Oakland Museum of California. Ruth is also active in the Dartmouth Flora and Fauna club, where she leads wildlife and plant identification trips for her fellow college students. One of her favorite Flora and Fauna trips was leading a group to watch American woodcocks, affectionately known as timberdoodles, perform the sky dance. Ruth served as the club's Stewardship Chair, so she knows how to keep natural spaces in good condition for years to come.
Ruth is looking forward to sharing her passion for learning about wildlife and cool nature facts. She is excited to go on adventures with campers this summer!
LIAM MANGIERI
MEET LIAM
Liam is completing their first year at Ithaca College in NY, studying biology and social justice. In high school, Liam was involved in several leadership roles, such as the student representative on the HHS district equity committee and assisting at the HACTC summer camp.
Art is an important part of Liam's life. They create in many forms, including music, poetry, physical art, animation, and much more.
Liam attended VINS summer camps throughout their childhood and learned so much about animals, enjoying the outdoors, and respecting nature. Liam hopes to make campers feel welcome and to create an environment at camp where everyone can learn about and love nature. Liam is excited to return to camp for their second summer as a Nature Camp Instructor to continue learning all they can from campers and peers alike.
SAM JACKSON
MEET SAM
Sam has lived in Lyme, New Hampshire for his whole life and enjoys living in a place where he has such easy access to the outdoors. Sam is a senior at Hanover High School, and plans on pursuing chemical engineering or other science related major in college at the University of Vermont, where he plans to attend.
As of now, Sam is a first-degree brown belt in karate and will be testing for his black belt soon. He loves to ski, play soccer, and hike. In his free time, Sam also likes to play video games and watch movies. Sam started attending VINS Nature Camp in first or second grade and loved his time there. Those summers at camp were when he developed an interest in birds of prey and other wildlife, owls in particular. While his interests are now more focused around other branches of science and engineering, Sam still has a special regard for raptors and nature in general.
Sam hopes to provide campers with the same kinds of memorable experiences he had when he was a camper at VINS. He was an L-I-T at VINS for three years and has enjoyed rising up through the program and seeing VINS camp from many different perspectives. This summer, as an Instructor, Sam will get a new lens from which to see VINS Nature Camp.
COLE COCHRANE
MEET COLE
Cole is currently a first-year student at Dickinson College in PA. He’s majoring in environmental science with a minor in music and is excited to work with the VINS crew and campers this summer.
Hailing from central NH, Cole enjoys spending his free time in the forests and on the water, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and camping. In high school, Cole performed in many plays and musicals but had the most fun putting on improv comedy shows, with his friends. He also served on the National Honor Society board as a TA for environmental science and tutored middle school students. Outside of school, Cole is a proud Eagle Scout, outdoorsmen, and singer.
Cole aspires both learn and teach about conservation and New England natural history and knows VINS Nature Camp is a perfect place to do that. As a child, Cole attended several outdoor camps that fostered his deep connection with the outdoors. He now looks forward to his turn to give children those same types of experiences that will spark their love for the natural world that will persist long after the summer is over.
JULIET SAUL
MEET JULIET
Juliet is a freshman at Bennington College studying environmental studies and policy. She is very passionate about environmental conservation and ecology, and loves sharing this passion with others. In high school, Juliet was the vice president of the Environmental Conservation Club.
Juliet worked with children at an early Montessori education center for two years, and she loves interacting with children and helping them learn. She also ran an animal science program for middle schoolers in her hometown. She loves animals, outdoor activities, and art, especially hiking, swimming, kayaking, skiing, dancing, drawing, and painting.
Juliet grew up in New England and would often visit VINS with her grandmother. VINS is a big part of what sparked her passion for ecology, and she is so excited to be on the VINS team and share her love of nature and art with children!
WILLA UPSHUR
MEET WILLA
Willa is originally from Santa Cruz, California, and is currently in her first year at Bennington College studying visual arts and environmental policy. She is very passionate about nature and can't wait to join the VINS team.
For three summers, Willa worked as a camp counselor first at the Museum School of Gloucester and then for Santa Cruz City Parks and Rec. Last summer she worked as nanny to a family in California. Through that work, she has discovered a love for bringing children outside and teaching them about their local ecosystems. In her free time, Willa enjoys hiking, printmaking, swimming, and painting.
Willa is excited to share her love of art and the outdoors with campers at VINS this summer.