Our Team

Alissa Altwies (she/her) is a junior in Conservation Biology at SUNY-ESF in Syracuse, NY. She grew up all over but has spent most of her life in Alexandria. She loves traveling and exploring outdoor environments all over the world. She enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, paddleboarding, and swimming. She is a member of her school climbing club as well. Alissa spent her childhood at various summer camps and working with kids in multiple settings. She volunteers at her college with environmental education programs and invasive species removal. She loves picking up new hobbies and trying new things that push her out of her comfort zone. She believes that the outdoors should be accessible to everyone and everyone should have the ability to step out of their comfort zones in natural spaces. 

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 (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.

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 (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 (he/him) is a 22 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 (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.

Lauren Walker (she/her) moved around a lot growing up, but calls Severna Park, MD home. She has been living in Arlington for 2 years now with her husband and their dog, Lucy. Lauren graduated from Eckerd College with a degree in Geosciences and Environmental Studies. She previously facilitated environmental education programs with students across the DMV, teaching about watersheds, macroinvertebrates, and the impact individuals have on their environment. She grew up loving nature and finds joy in spreading that love to future generations. Lauren is especially passionate about advocating for youth in the foster care system and volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate helping serve families in Alexandria and Arlington. In her free time Lauren likes to go hiking, swimming, and spending time with her family.

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.

Marc Grunberg (he/him) was raised in Olney, Maryland and is a graduate of Towson University (Bachelor of Arts, Electronic Media) and George Mason (Master’s in Business Administration). He is currently working for a global consulting firm with a focus on Talent Operations and HR Technology. Marc has been a resident of Virginia since 2012 and currently resides in Alexandria with his wife Rachael and old pup Lily. He has been part of the climbing community for several years and is serving as the Secretary for the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club – Mountaineering Section.  

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 (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. 

Dr. Michael McMillan (he/him) is an Associate Clinical Professor of Accounting at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Maryland, he served as the Director of Ethics Education and Professional Standards at CFA Institute where he was responsible for creating and providing Ethical Decision-Making Workshops to investment professionals, government regulators, and pension plan trustees. Dr. McMillan has a PhD in accounting and finance from George Washington University, an MBA from Stanford University, and BA from the University Pennsylvania. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP), a Chartered Investment Counselor (CIC), and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is also the Treasurer of the Alexandria Police Foundation.

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. 

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.

Shanna Samson (she/her) serves as the Supervisory Grant Management Specialist for the Office of Out School Time and Youth Outcomes for Washington D.C.’s Mayor Bowser. In this role, she leads a team that manages over $25 million in annual grant awards to nonprofit organizations serving youth across DC. Previously, Shanna served as an administrator for 11 years with Alexandria City Public Schools Office of Community Partnerships, and Engagement, where she developed multiple district-wide initiatives, including Family and Community Engagement and LINK Club after school programs. Shanna hails from St. Louis, where she worked in nonprofit management for civil rights organizations before relocating to Alexandria, VA. She has an M.A. in American Cultural Studies and an M.A. in Community-based Social Work from St. Louis University. She is a proud mom of one daughter, Indigo, will be graduated from Alexandria City High School in May, 2024.  She has passion about social justice and equity work, and hopes to leave the world a little better than she found it.

Teresa Padgett (she/her) just completed her Masters of Education in School Counseling at George Mason University (GMU). She is currently working with Fairfax County Public Schools as an Elementary School Counselor. Teresa recently worked with GMU as the Graduate Assistant for Outdoor Adventures where she enjoyed leading and planning outdoor trips for college students including rock climbing, rafting, hiking, and paddleboarding. She lives in Fairfax, VA now but grew up in Bedford, VA by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Teresa has always loved the outdoors and sharing that love with others, especially during her time as a camp counselor for kids ages 7 to 16 in West Virginia. She is so excited to be a part of the Wilderness Kids team and learn and grow alongside the students!