Nikolas Katrick, Executive Director
Nikolas’ work as an educator and non-profit leader is rooted in his life-long passion for wild canids. With a background in wolf biology and fiction writing, he weaves science, story, and spirituality to draw people into the mystery of the natural world. During his studies at the Marlboro College Graduate Program (MS Management ‘16), he founded the small Vermont non-profit Wolfgard Northeast, whose mission is to help wild canids thrive in Vermont.
He also served as the Director of Outdoor Programs at Marlboro College where he taught leadership and outdoor technical skills, helped students navigate personal and group transitions through nature exploration, and ran expeditionary trips to national parks. When the college closed in 2020, he joined the staff team at The Nature Museum as an educator and project leader for the Magic Forest Playscape.
When not at the museum, he is an active volunteer with earth-centric spiritual communities and the Marlboro Volunteer Fire Company. He loves to explore cold climate landscapes and mountains, wander around the forest with his husband, build things, and write contemporary fiction about werewolves.
Jay DeGregorio, Senior Educator
Jay is a passionate environmental educator who loves teaching all people, but most enjoys teaching young students in the outdoors. Jay believes all people can discover wonder and joy in learning, and that environmental education is one of the best platforms to foster these experiences. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA but now lives in Brattleboro, VT. Jay enjoys teaching about forestry, wildlife, geography, and ecology. Jay received his B.S. in geography with minors in natural science and geographic information science from Penn State University. He received his M.S in environmental studies with a concentration in environmental education from Antioch University New England. Jay is a weather buff, enjoys amateur photography, loves to snowboard whenever possible, finds joy in any time outdoors, and is big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sam McGonigle, Environmental Educator
“Sam is an environmental educator who encourages learners of all ages to engage their curiosity about the natural world using play, imagination and scientific inquiry. She believes the wonder of discovery and positive social change are fostered through exploration of the ecological, social and spiritual connections between all things. Sam is a student at Antioch University New England earning her M.S. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Education. She graduated with distinction from the University of Delaware with a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and a minor in Animal Science. Sam loves drawing, cats both big and small, exploring worlds known and imagined through fiction, and soaking up the sun on the shores of her home state of New Jersey.
Jocelyn Saltzman, Seasonal Environmental Educator
Jocelyn's roots in outdoor environmental education stemmed from a love of working with students of all ages in their local outdoors. She has a degree in Psychology from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, is a Wilderness First Responder, and enjoys ski instructing through the winters. Jocelyn loves to explore with students outside and to see the connections form both within the groups and to the surrounding natural world. Her dance moves have been heavily inspired by racoons.
Jessica Jones, Assistant Educator
Jess has long believed that fostering connections with the natural world is the key to leading a
happier and healthier life. It is this belief that has driven her to seek out an education in the
natural sciences, find careers in ecological research and environmental education, and live a life in the mountains of Vermont with her husband and son. Jess has lived in Vermont for most of her life and received her B.S. in Biology, with a minor in chemistry and concentration in
ecological and evolutionary studies, from Castleton University. Since then, she has worked as a
research technician in the Biological Science department at Dartmouth College, conducting
bioacoustic research on birds, bats, and bugs. Jess is now a graduate student at Dartmouth
College pursuing her PhD in the Ecology, Evolution, Environment & Society (EEES) program. When she is not here or there, she is enjoying raising her son and doing anything to get outside – hiking, fishing, and gardening, nature photography, and drawing. As a member of The Nature Museum, Jess hopes to share her love of the earth and inspire others of all ages to enjoy and appreciate nature in any and every way possible.
Kate Witte, Assistant Educator
Kate is a graduate student at Antioch University New England studying environmental education. She has a passion for connecting people with their natural places and getting folks outside!
Barbara Carey, Assistant Educator
Barbara spent her childhood in the city punctuated by frequent daylong and weeklong family trips to the Pennsylvania State Parks where she learned to love creek stomping and swimming, and generally roaming in the woods. Barbara studied natural sciences in college and later went on to a career in nursing. She worked as medical support staff at Trailblazer Camps in New Jersey, and camp nurse at Farm and Wilderness here in Vermont. Her primary career is now homecare nursing. However, Barbara is still roaming the woods and snooping around streams for the sheer joy of it. She joined the staff at the Nature Museum to be among like-minded people bringing the gifts of our natural world to others. You will find her on the occasional weekend day staffing the front desk of The Nature Museum.
Jordan Cummings, Assistant Educator
Jordan is from the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Formerly a classroom teacher for 8 years, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies as well as her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from University of San Diego and taught Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade. She just recently received her masters in Environmental Education from Antioch University New England where she wanted to blend her two passions: education and the environment. She thinks environmental education is essential for all ages and is so excited to explore that with folks at The Nature Museum!