Meet
Our
Team
Wilderness Kids Alexandria is a young organization and already we have assembled a team of talented educators. Read more about them below. If you are interested in joining our staff or serving on our board, please contact us today for more information.
Annie Jonas
Board Member
Annie Jonas (she/her) is Chair of the education department at Warren Wilson College. Annie's undergraduate courses feature experiential opportunities within local schools and non-profit organizations in the community. She worked previously as an instructor at Outward Bound, a director of a wilderness program for youth, and as a high school history teacher. Annie is an editor for the Journal of Experiential Education and in 2019 received the North Carolina Engaged Faculty Member award from NC Campus Compact. She holds and M. Ed. from Harvard University and an Ed.D. from Western Carolina University. She lives with her wife and son in Asheville, NC. In her spare time, Annie loves to trail run with friends, mountain bike and camp with her family, and skip river rocks for her dog Java.
Elizabeth Waugh
Program Director
Elizabeth Waugh (she/her) originally hails from the U.K. but grew up mostly in Alexandria, VA. She studied environmental studies and previously coordinated and created youth & family programs focusing on ecology, horticulture, natural and earth sciences, and conservation. Elizabeth travels as much as she can and spent her gap year in Bali, Indonesia teaching English to students from two villages. She is a lifelong environmental steward and loves to inspire her students to tackle pollution and climate change in creative and dynamic ways that encourage them to incorporate their own experiences and heritage. She is especially passionate about fostering her students' confidence in natural spaces. In her free time Elizabeth likes to play tennis, paint, explore new hiking trails and plan her next road trip with her boyfriend.
emily o'keefe
Outdoor Educator
Emily O’Keefe (she/her) is a junior in philosophy at the College of William & Mary. She has been an intern for the EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization, a farm assistant on a homestead in Vermont through the WWOOF program, an Outdoor Trip Leader at William & Mary, and a working guest at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Emily values presence, strong community, and time spent in nature, and she thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2022. In her free time, Emily loves reading books, especially nonfiction, going on barefoot walks, and beating opponents in board games.
Gerald Holden
Board Member
Gerald Holden (he/him) is a retired United States Air Force veteran with an extensive background in Information Management, Computer Support and Knowledge Operations Management. During his 20-year career, he deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His military assignments included bases in Alabama, Okinawa Japan, Utah and Washington D.C., where he served as Superintendent, White House Military Office Headquarters Knowledge Operations Management. Born and raised in Elton, Louisiana, he attended and graduated from Elton High School. While on active duty, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland Asian Division, Okinawa, Japan. Additionally he received an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Information Management from the United States Air Force Community College. Gerald and his family enjoy outdoor activities.
Jasper downey
Outdoor Educator - Summer Trip Leader
Jasper Downey (They/them) is a psychology major currently attending George Mason University. They are also currently working for George Mason University as an Outdoor Adventure Trip Leader and enjoy leading groups of students on backpacking, rock climbing, rafting, and many other types of trips. They reside in DC, but spent the majority of their childhood in Accokeek, MD. As a child they went along on many camping, backpacking, and other adventures with their family and it quickly became a huge passion for them. During their middle and high school years they volunteered at a local church's summer camp and led kids through activities and educated them about different plants and animals that they could find in their communities. They are thrilled to be a part of the team and are always looking forward to new adventures!
Jerry Casagrande
Founder, Executive Director, Board Member
Jerry Casagrande (he/him) is a 21 year resident of Alexandria. He was the Founder of 3D Life, a nationwide experiential learning organization that led teens of all backgrounds on multi-week expeditions through the Southeast and New England. Jerry has been a financial analyst at the World Bank, Assistant Field Director for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, a 6th grade teacher, Executive Producer and Co-Director of a feature film, and treasurer of a yoga studio. Throughout the pandemic, he was an active volunteer with the Alexandria Community Alliance, working to ensure that members of the Chirilagua Community had access to groceries, rental assistance, and mental health resources during COVID. Jerry lives in Del Ray with his wife and youngest son; his two older children have flown the coop. He is an avid hiker and backpacker; and a moderate sailer, paddler, and climber.
Joanna Bopp
Board Member
Joanna Bopp (she/her) has been an educator for over 30 years with experience as both teacher and an administrator. Currently, she is a reading specialist for grades K-5 and also a volunteer tutor in math. Joanna served on the board of Casa Chirilagua in Alexandria during the time Casa was growing its after school Kids Club for students to come and work on homework with volunteer tutors. She lives in Alexandria with her husband, three children, and two dogs who can can’t get enough of going for long walks. Joanna and her family also spend time in Maine where they love to hike the mountains and along the rocky coastline.
Linda Critchfield
Board Member
Linda Critchfield has lived in Alexandria for 34 years; 17 of which were spent combating water pollution, acid rain, and climate change while working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Senator Joe Lieberman. She was a policy analyst, communications director, and speechwriter at EPA. Since leaving EPA to raise her children, Linda has been a grant writer for Senior Services of Alexandria and the Jewish Council for Aging and a lead editor for the Federal Aviation Administration; she also started a walking to school program at George Mason Elementary. Linda’s love for the environment began very young with summers spent in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Linda also enjoys yoga, swimming, biking, and creating art.
maya Alexander
Board Member
Maya (she/her) was raised in Columbia, Maryland and attended Salisbury University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2016. Maya has worked as an environmental educator for various organizations including the National Aquarium and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, delivering meaningful watershed educational experiences to students throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. She currently shares her passion of preserving and conserving our beautiful natural landscapes for everyone to enjoy through her work as the Community Engagement Manager for Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley. While a native of Maryland, the mountains of Virginia have been calling her for a while and she is happy to call the Shenandoah Valley home. In her spare time, you can find her spending time with family, hiking, and camping.
Melissa Rojas
Board Member
Melissa Rojas (she/they) is a rock climber with a passion for sharing the sport with others. As the child of Colombian immigrants, she often needed to translate or facilitate which allowed her to experience firsthand the linguistic and cultural barriers that impact newly arrived families. Additionally, she saw how these barriers along with financial hardship impact access to basic needs and make outdoor activities essentially inaccessible. Melissa believes that funding, fostering, and establishing strong culturally diverse and ability diverse groups within the climbing community is key to true accessibility within the sport. In 2021, she created ¡Escala DC!, a climbing group that seeks to make climbing linguistically and culturally accessible to Spanish-speakers in the Washington, D.C. area.
Paul hunt
Board Member
Paul Hunt (he/him) is a graduate of Bucknell University (1988, Bachelor of Arts, Economics) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1991, Juris Doctor). He is currently a project development and finance lawyer and partner at Latham & Watkins, LLP, a global law firm, where for almost 30 years he has been focused on domestic and international renewable energy, carbon capture and climate/sustainability projects and investment transactions. Paul has lived in Alexandria for over 25 years; he is married (Pamela) with three kids (Mae, Lily and Owen) and one dog (Bailey). Paul’s interests include hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, camping, cycling, skiing, soccer, golf, pickleball and basketball.
Nick Garnhart
Outdoor Educator
Nick Garnhart (they/them) is an illustrator and outdoor enthusiast. Nick’s favorite outdoor activities include birding, hiking, and white water rafting. They’re excited to explore the outdoors with others. They graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2022 after studying art and environmental studies. Nick’s goal is connecting people to the natural world who historically haven’t had the opportunity; and to get them interested in science. Nick enjoys illustration, painting, martial arts, fantasy novels, and biking.
Paul hunt
Board Member
Paul Hunt (he/him) is a graduate of Bucknell University (1988, Bachelor of Arts, Economics) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1991, Juris Doctor). He is currently a project development and finance lawyer and partner at Latham & Watkins, LLP, a global law firm, where for almost 30 years he has been focused on domestic and international renewable energy, carbon capture and climate/sustainability projects and investment transactions. Paul has lived in Alexandria for over 25 years; he is married (Pamela) with three kids (Mae, Lily and Owen) and one dog (Bailey). Paul’s interests include hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, camping, cycling, skiing, soccer, golf, pickleball and basketball.
Paul Hunt
Board Member
Paul Hunt (he/him) is a graduate of Bucknell University (1988, Bachelor of Arts, Economics) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1991, Juris Doctor). He is currently a project development and finance lawyer and partner at Latham & Watkins, LLP, a global law firm, where for almost 30 years he has been focused on domestic and international renewable energy, carbon capture and climate/sustainability projects and investment transactions. Paul has lived in Alexandria for over 25 years; he is married (Pamela) with three kids (Mae, Lily and Owen) and one dog (Bailey). Paul’s interests include hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, camping, cycling, skiing, soccer, golf, pickleball and basketball.
Paul hunt
Board Member
Paul Hunt (he/him) is a graduate of Bucknell University (1988, Bachelor of Arts, Economics) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1991, Juris Doctor). He is currently a project development and finance lawyer and partner at Latham & Watkins, LLP, a global law firm, where for almost 30 years he has been focused on domestic and international renewable energy, carbon capture and climate/sustainability projects and investment transactions. Paul has lived in Alexandria for over 25 years; he is married (Pamela) with three kids (Mae, Lily and Owen) and one dog (Bailey). Paul’s interests include hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, camping, cycling, skiing, soccer, golf, pickleball and basketball.
Scott Taylor
Board Member
Scott Taylor (he/him) has been in the learning and leadership development space for over 20 years. His clients have included Airbnb, UNICEF, Dropbox and the Native American Community Academy. He's a regular facilitator for the Gettysburg Leadership Experience and also runs retreats for men. He's held executive leadership roles at Higher Ground Education and Teach For America. In his younger days he led outdoor expeditions in North Carolina and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Slovakia. He holds a masters degree from Harvard, loves cycling trips in Europe, a smooth bourbon, the stillness of mornings and his golden retriever Weezie.
Sean Fredericks
Summer Trip Leader
Sean Fredericks (he/him) is an Arlington native, but has called Alexandria home for the last three years. He graduated from the University of Mary Washington in 2017 with a Masters in Education and a professional license in Secondary English. He has taught for over 5 years and currently teaches 9th grade English for ACPS. Sean loves forming supportive relationships with students from all backgrounds in and out of the classroom. He also enjoys all that the outdoors has to offer, from hiking trips with his dog, Jewelz, to kayaking local rivers. Sean’s outdoor goals are to section-hike the AT and visit all of the National Parks in the US. He lives with his brother in Del Ray and can occasionally be found throwing a frisbee or playing pickleball in the neighborhood.