People

Our team of talented wilderness instructors works behind the scenes all year round to bring our programming to life.

Year-Round Staff

Jed Jordan

Founding Director
Aspiring tracker, devoted farmer, and fearless wrangler of details

Rachel Bortin

Year-Round Camp Director
Hiker, biker, birder, and tireless outdoor adventurer

Melissa Blake

Lead Instructor
Melissa is one of the founders of our preschool program and a long-time Primitive Pursuits staff member.

Program Coordinator | Lead Instructor
Heroic homesteader, humble herbalist, and wild food enthusiast, Danielle is a full time staffer who serves as an inspiration to campers and summer staff alike.

Sean Cornell

Program Coordinator | Lead Instructor
Fire wizard, primitive bow hunter, wilderness chef, and keeper of legends, Sean is a year round staffer who sets the bar and inspires our summer staff.

Lyla White

Ithaca Forest Preschool Coordinator | Lead Instructor
Barefoot explorer, silliness seeker, and master multitasker. Lyla run Ithaca Forest Preschool during the school year and Growing Wild during the summer.

Megan Pugh

Director of Marketing
Passionate designer, strategist, vegan chef, and aspiring yogi

Monica Bosworth

Lead Instructor
Alternative educator, bird lover and friend to native plants

Ian Statema

Lead Instructor
Ian’s work with nature connection began in his youth with his extensive backpacking.

Liz Jesch

Lead Instructor
Creative kid whisperer, community advocate, and singer of songs, Liz is looking forward to another summer in the fields and streams.

Fionna McSweeney

Summer Day Camp Director | Lead Instructor
Fionna is a year-round lead instructor and our summer Day Camp Director

Rey O’Rourke

Lead Instructor
Rey is thankful for the environmental education and outdoor exploration time she received as a child that shaped who she is today.

Sara Pruce

After working for Primitive Pursuits as an educator, I am excited to return in a new capacity. As a Registered Nurse I have worked in both behavioral health and primary care settings and I feel passionately about taking a holistic approach to healthcare. I consider it...

Sienna Berkheiser

Sienna grew up in Buffalo, NY, and is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology and Counseling at Ithaca College. She is currently a rising senior and also works at the Mental Health Association of Tompkins County connecting people in need with resources. In her free...

Alana Eckardt

Alana has been part of the Primitive Pursuits community since 2017. Some of their favorite skills to share are basketry, hide tanning, bow drill, and primitive cooking. They are always up for a game of capture the flag, a stalk through the woods, or a wade in the creek.

Abby Coakley

Abby is a homeschooler who lives in the woods in West Danby. She loves weaving, foraging, and singing. She has been involved with Primitive Pursuits since 2016.

Sophia Mitchell

Hello! My name is Sophia! I have recently returned to the Central New York area after traveling and working in other states for the past couple years. Most recently I was working in Vermont on an organic farm leading a crew of 8 high schoolers through a farm work-day....

Joey Kwasnicki

Hi there! I am a recent IC grad who loves being outdoors! Whether it's swimming in a gorge, helping amphibians cross a road or harvesting maple syrup, Ithaca is truly full of gorges experiences and I'm so very excited to be helping kids explore and appreciate the...

Kat Molina

My name is Katherine Molina, and I am a first generation Art Teacher from the Elmira City School District! I am fluent in Spanish and English, and while I am an Art Teacher, I have a passion to teach science as well. I illustrate mostly bugs, birds, and plants when I...

Laura Mead

I grew up on a farm in Ithaca, learning about local plants and animals and playing in the mud. Now I'm studying music at SUNY Purchase, but for summer break, I'm looking forward to spending lots of time in the woods! I like learning and teaching others about nature...

Jay Comstock

My name is Jay and I enjoy deepening my understanding of the natural world. I'm particularly fond of tracking.

Nathan Fromme

Nathan has been exploring with Primitive Pursuits since he was in kindergarten. Now, he brings his energy and enthusiasm to leading games like camouflage, capture the flag, and fox tail. He loves how Primitive Pursuits honors nature, and he’s looking forward to...

Maxwell Eller

Maxwell is thrilled to be back at Primitive Pursuits after many years of being a camper. Though he was born in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated from the University of Arizona, he spent much of his childhood in Ithaca. Out of gratitude for having received the gift of...

Duffy Berkowitz

Back in the day, people used to call me Duffy, because it was my name. It still is, and they still call me Duffy. I love wordplay, romping in the woods, teaching about the natural world, and answering questions in ways that leave people with more questions than they...

Zack Johnson

I'm a 32 year old student who has worked in accounting and administrative positions around the for the last 10 years. I'm an Ithaca native who loves the natural beauty of the area. I have participated in a variety of CCE programs throughout Elementary and Middle...

Kate Nelson

I'm Kate, been working in outdoor education with youth for 10 years and childcare for 14. I'm so excited to be a part of Primitive Pursuits team. I love to read and make art using mostly natural.items and my favorite kid game to play is Oh deer and I love to teach...

Louis Scholl

I'm a senior at SUNY Cortland majoring in Business Economics with a concentration in Finance. Beyond academics, I serve on the E-board of the SUNY Cortland Recreation Association and as a member of the general Student Activity Board. Passionate about fostering...

Rowan Hartley

This year will be my fourth summer at Primitive Pursuits as an instructor. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my dog, canoeing/kayaking, and other outdoor activities.

Sophie Reed

Hi everyone ! My name is Sophie Reed. I am a junior at Cornell University studying mathematics. I play ultimate frisbee, love to exercise, and spend time outside with my friends. I also teach backpacking courses for Cornell Outdoor Education! I am so excited to be...

Hallie Allport

Hallie grew up surrounded by nature in the Catskill Mountains before moving to Dryden, NY. She is very excited to be back at Primitive Pursuits for her second summer as a photojournalist. She is currently pursuing a Film Production degree at the Rochester Institute of...

Pax Hayman

Pax was a camper at Primitive Pursuits a long time ago before becoming an MIT and then a Teen Assist! They are so excited to be returning as a counselor to spend their summer out in the woods. During the rest of the year they love making art, crafting, and playing...

Tenzo Lydick

David is an experienced outdoor guide, seasoned chef, and passionate wilderness instructor who grew up and raised his family in the nearby Catskills. As a boy he loved lighting fires the hard way, cooking in smoke, sleeping out under the stars, and he still does....

Rachel Newman

Rachel is an avid naturalist and woods explorer who has a particular love for plant identification and foraging. She also enjoys birding, tracking, friction fire, crafting with natural materials, and sharing awesome sit spot stories! Rachel has always been happiest...

David Couper

I grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota and enlisted in the Navy after high school. I was stationed in San Diego, CA on board the USS Scranton for five years before moving home to go to college. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science from Hamline University this...

Catherine Charnoky

I'm thrilled to be returning to Primitive Pursuits this summer as an instructor! Growing up in Ithaca and attending Primitive Pursuits as a camper, this organization has been a meaningful part of my life and in part spark in my passion for environmentalism and outdoor...

Astrid Kalas Braddock

Astrid grew up running around the woods of Ithaca with Primitive Pursuits, and is excited to be back for her 6th year as an instructor! She recently graduated from Ithaca High School and is headed to McGill University in the fall, likely to study anthropology and...

Calendula Dulle

Calendula was born in a barn and lives in one currently. For as long as she can remember she has been living in a co creative relationship with the natural world. She loves the outdoors and her favorite activities are birdwatching, looking for amphibians, swimming in...

People

Year-Round Staff

2025 Summer Staff