Our Educators

Ana Ciarlo joined the team in September 2014, working as an instructor for 11 seasons and a Program Coordinator for 7 seasons before becoming the Program Director. Ana worked as a teacher and director in several school and camp settings before discovering her passion for outdoor education. She loves being part of a program that teaches students how to connect with and take care of the natural world. When not at Outdoor Classroom, you can probably find her cooking, reading, playing outside, or having game nights with friends!

Nicholas Dahinden joined Outdoor Classroom in 2004. He’d never been to New England but quickly fell in love with the ocean and the mountains and the people. He spent many years as a teacher and a program coordinator. Before that, he was a Peace Corps volunteer and studied wildlife biology at the University of Montana. Somewhere along the way he hiked the Appalachian trail, swam in the Indian Ocean, and learned how to juggle. Oh, by the way, most people call him NickyD and you can too!

Rachel D’Angio has been working in the fields of environmental and outdoor education for over a decade. She’s worked at centers in New York, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. She graduated with her Masters in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England in 2016, and she joined the Outdoor Classroom team in 2021. Rachel loves that Outdoor Classroom provides programs that help students connect to nature and to each other!

Nora Hill joined the team as a teacher in 2019, and became our Curriculum Coordinator in the fall of 2024 after working as Program Coordinator at both our Ivoryton and Great Barrington sites. She learned the value of hands-on outdoor experiences for children through her own childhood camping trips and attending a 4H summer camp; prior to joining OC, she facilitated those experiences as a staff member at that same camp since 2014 and as a teacher at an outdoor preschool. She has integrated her work at OC with her learning as a graduate student at Antioch University New England, where she will complete a Master’s in Place-Based Education in fall of 2025. Nora loves how our program helps students learn about themselves and their peers just as much as they’re learning about nature and science!

John has worked for Outdoor Classroom since 2018 as an instructor at both the Freedom and Yarmouth Port locations before becoming a part of the Outreach Team in 2021. He loves being able to talk to schools every day about the wonderful experiences that Outdoor Classroom can bring to their students.

Ellis Boettger has been with the team since August 2022. He has worked in the youth development field for the last 10 years. As a former counselor, camp coordinator, and American Camp Association member, he loves all things camp and outdoor related. When not at Outdoor Classroom, you can typically find him near a stream or disc golf course.

James first joined the team in 2018. Since then, he has worked as an instructor, a middle-school special education teacher, and as a Outdoor Classroom program coordinator. James loves being part of a program that encourages students to step out of their comfort zones and develop self-reliance in the natural world. When not at Outdoor Classroom, James can be found wandering the Maine coast or exploring in the woods of Western Massachusetts. Those who know James best call him “Drain Goblin” and you should too!

Rachael “Thumper” Devaughn joined the team in 2019. As a Californian, she fell in love with New England and hasn’t looked back since. She’s put in a few years as a teacher, an Assistant Program Coordinator, and now as our Program Coordinator in Ivoryton, CT. A graduate of the Biological Science department at CSU Stanislaus, she has also spent time as a wildlife biologist, a residential counselor, and an enthusiastic amateur geologist.

Briar Harrison has over 10 years of experience creating unforgettable STEM education experiences for youth. A previous Outdoor Classroom student, they know first-hand the impact of inclusive learning spaces that center collaboration, student curiosity, and social-emotional growth. Briar graduated from Mount Holyoke College and now lives in Western Massachusetts outside of the program season. They are very excited to be joining the Outdoor Classroom team as the Program Coordinator at Yarmouth Port.

Robin originally joined Outdoor Classroom in Fall 2022, as an instructor for 2 seasons, and then has helped to run numerous locations as a Program Coordinator for the past 3 seasons. Originally from Texas, Robin has worked in other outdoor education positions out in Texas, California, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. During her free time, Robin loves to be out hiking on local trails, reading books, and spending as much time outside as possible.