Nature Camp Staff

Sarah Strew

SARAH STREW

Director Nature Camp & Adult Programs

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.

Pic

KELLY MARQUA

Nature Camp & Family Programs Coordinator

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.

During Kelly's free time she can be found on a hiking trail with her dog Mick, gardening, snowshoeing, doing DIY woodworking projects, and practicing yoga, all while singing along (out of tune) to Motown classics. Kelly believes that being outside is good for our souls and overall wellbeing; it changes our brain chemistry, allows us to tune inward, and harvest gratitude for the beauty around us.
 
Kelly is looking forward to getting to know everyone in the VINS Nature Camp community and having the chance to play and discover the outside world together.
Madison pic

MADISON ALDERMAN

Lead Nature Camp Instructor
Raptor Specialist

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 fourth 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.

Screenshot

LIBBY WATERFALL

Lead Nature Camp Instructor
Libby is originally from Boston, Massachusets but grew up ski racing at S6 and now resides in Vermont. She graduated from Milton Academy in 2022 and is now a junior at Colorado College studying geology and environmental science. 
 
Libby grew up fascinated by the environment, especially wildlife, and the ocean, and is passionate about sharing her interest in nature with others.  She has backpacked the entire length of the Long Trail, which gave her a deep understanding and appreciation of the natural environment of Vermont.
 
In her free time, Libby enjoys skiing, playing hockey, drawing and painting, spending time with her pets, and creating projects for herself.  Last summer, she worked on an organic farm in Normandy, France, and learned about the process of growing, harvesting, and bringing produce to market.  Libby used to go to VINS with her mom as a child and is very excited to return to a favorite childhood place to work this summer!
profile pic2025

ALETHEA BOUTON

Nature Camp Instructor

Thea is completing her first 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.
This winter, Thea 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! She hasn’t seen a moose yet but hopes to catch a glimpse during her time in NY.
Thea has volunteered at VINS as a baby bird feeder every summer since she was
twelve.  Joining the VINS Nature Camp staff four 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!

Photo

ASHLEY CYBRUCH

Nature Camp Instructor
Born in Arizona, Ashley moved to New Hampshire at a young age and grew up here.  She is a rising sophomore at the University of Maine at Machias where she is majoring in Fine and Studio Art.  Ashley hopes to specialize in wildlife illustration or art gallery management.
 
Ashley has always had a passion for being outside and observing nature, whether she was looking for bugs under logs or observing birds in the sky.  She loves walking and hiking the trails of New England.  Over the years, Ashley has had experience working with all sorts of animals ranging from birds to rodents to amphibians and even insects.  However, she is particularly fond of reptiles and currently has a bearded dragon.
 
This year, Ashley picked up photography and has begun to learn how to take photos of wildlife and all the beautiful scenery she is surrounded by in New England. 
Brookes photo

BROOKES BRADSHAW

Nature Camp Instructor
Brookes is a Freshman at Central Michigan University for Astrophysics and Astronomy. This is their second year as a VINS Nature Camp Instructor and is excited to be back.
 
In their free time, Brookes enjoys birdwatching and hiking in the White Mountains. While not a native Vermonter, they are grateful to now call this state home.  
 
Brookes has always had a love of nature ever since they first saw Steve Irwin's crocodile shows. Brookes has a strong passion for reptile education and reducing the fear and stigma surrounding these often-misunderstood animals. They look forward to sharing their love of reptiles and the natural world in general with campers this summer.
Sanville_T

TUCKER SANVILLE

Nature Camp Instructor

Tucker is from Wellesley, Massachusetts, and has summered in Quechee, his entire childhood.  He has always enjoyed studying science and frequently visited VINS prior to 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 junior 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.