Jake Hall, Board Chair, brings to the board a combination of marketing and analytic skills along with a love of nature and the power of connection fostered by Flying Deer’s mission. His relationship with Flying Deer began when he dropped his then second grader off in a field in the snow for a week of Snowshoe Hare Vacation Camp—and, at the end of the day, picked up a happy and tired child who was excited for another day of adventure to come! Since then, he and his family have participated in numerous programs, including Tracking Club, school programs, summer camps, and the Sacred Fire rites-of-passage program. Professionally, Jake is Vice President of Solutions Consulting for QuickPivot, a marketing software company in Boston, where he helps clients use data to understand their customers and build better relationships with them. In his free time, Jake enjoys flying small airplanes, cooking, and spending time in the woods with his family.
Sheela Clary, Board Treasurer, came to love Flying Deer through watching the impact its work had on her three children, who have participated in the homeschool, summer camp, after-school, and Moon Tribe programs. Sheela is a long-time foreign language and English teacher and writer. As a journalist, she is interested in stories about education, nonprofits, philanthropy, and inequality. She brings a grant writing and development background to the Board, as well as a commitment to seeing Flying Deer’s benefits spread to underserved populations. Sheela was born and raised in South Berkshire County and, after many years away—including two years in Papua New Guinea with the Peace Corps—returned to her beloved home region to marry and raise her family in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Rebecca Sadlon, Board Secretary, has felt a love for Flying Deer’s work since first hearing of Program Director Devin Franklin and Nur Tiven’s original Quest for the Medicine Tree children’s day camp in 2005. With more than 20 years’ experience in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors, primarily as an editor, Rebecca brings to the board a sense of partnership, balanced perspective, and steady clarity. A passionate supporter of the wisdom and inspiration Flying Deer brings to our communities, Rebecca also co-edited Devin’s Put On Your Owl Eyes (Storey Publishing, 2019), a unique and compelling book that guides 8- to 13-year-olds in exploring nature connection in their own backyards.
Julie Haagenson is a Montessori educator and adolescent coach in the Berkshires. Her work in the outdoors began at the Academy at Swift River, first as a wilderness counselor and later as co-director of their international service-learning program based in Costa Rica. The program combined many of her passions including travel, music, dance, teaching Spanish, hiking in the rainforest, kayaking, and connecting people from different cultures. Julie has worked for more than 10 years as Adolescent Program Director at the Montessori School of the Berkshires and as adjunct faculty for the Institute for Educational Studies at Union Institute and University. She has been involved with Flying Deer through her students and children for many years, and believes wholeheartedly in the importance of using the natural world as a guide for learning.
Will Harris-Braun has been involved in Flying Deer nearly from the beginning: first as a camper, then as an instructor, and now also as a Board member. They grew up in Columbia County, went away to college, studied computer science and linguistics and made sculptures, and have now moved back to the area. They currently steward a piece of land in Chatham, where they live. Will brings to the board perspective from memories of their not-so-distant past as a Flying Deer camper, as well as an excitement to care for Flying Deer as an organization and midwife its healthy growth. They spend their time fixing things, throwing parties, mowing the lawn, and being friends with people.
Wanonah Kosbab is an enrolled member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans and a direct descendant of the Oneida Nation. She has also served on the Band’s Language and Culture Committee. She is a mother, grandmother, teacher, craftswoman, and peacemaker. Wanonah and her brother, Shawn Stevens, lead Flying Deer–sponsored Mohican Children’s Ancestral Homeland trips to our region, including a week of camp at Flying Deer. Wanonhan visits from Wisconsin multiple times a year, sharing traditional skills and knowledge, and helping to guide Flying Deer’s work of deep nature connection, community building, and cultural change.
Dale Saylor came to the Flying Deer board as a parent whose son absolutely fell in love with the camp programs and the Flying Deer philosophy—and the whole family has come to embrace and learn from the grounding spirituality of nature and connection to the earth. The co-owner of a design/build studio specializing in residential and commercial interiors and production, Dale brings to the Board a background in design, planning, and fundraising. He and his family recently relocated to Columbia County full time.
Malene Waldron brings to the Board a background in design, marketing, and branding, including three years as Promotion Art Director for Vogue magazine, and eight years with the Arnell Group, as Creative Director and then Senior Vice President. She serves on the board because she believes that the way we walk on this earth is informed by our understanding of nature’s ways. She supports Flying Deer’s work for the great benefit it provides individuals, as well as the ripple effect this has on our planet and humankind. Malene has been instrumental in Flying Deer’s collaboration with the Fresh Air Fund, which brings children living in New York City to Flying Deer summer camp each year.
Bruce Weiner was a school psychologist for 35 years, working with kids and their families to help children develop a positive sense of self and a well-rounded character. As an adjunct professor at the College of Saint Rose for the past 17 years, Bruce has taught graduate-level classes in social emotional assessment and ethics. He also serves as a special education surrogate parent for children in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, through the Federation of Special Children and the Massachusetts Department of Education; and a board member of the Alternative Living Group, providing services to people with developmental disabilities; and was recently elected to the Hancock School Committee. He loves sailing, skiing, magic, travel, drumming, and kayaking. Bruce brings to Flying Deer his experience working with children, knowledge of nonprofit boards, and love of the outdoors.
Liz Young’s commitment to Flying Deer Nature Center began with Cottonwood Camp opening circles and has continued through her children’s experiences of Camp Sherwood, Adirondack Canoe Expedition, Moon Tribe, and Sacred Fire. FDNC has been an important part of her family life for more than 20 years. Liz brings to the board her experience as both a school counselor and a mental health counselor in private practice, specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and school adjustment. Flying Deer’s mission to foster deep connection to nature, self, and others deeply resonates with her work. Liz also has many years of service as an Adjunct Professor of Counseling at the College of Saint Rose, Sage Graduate School, and Hudson Valley Community College. She loves to spend time with her family and friends, enjoying her horses and dogs, competing at horse shows, and soaking up time in nature on long hikes and walks.