Meet Our Outdoor Education Family
Jason Marker - Outdoor Education Program Director
jmarker@ymcanyc.org
Joined our team: August 2008
Hometown: Delaware City, Delaware
Background: Jason hails from the 1st state of Delaware but has worked in MN, KY, NY, MA, OH and came back to NY to join our team. Previously he was the Outdoor Education Director at a YMCA facility in Massachusetts as well managing outdoor programs in other states. He has a degree in Outdoor Education with an emphasis on Ropes Course Management and a coaching certification for baseball/softball.
Interests: Jason is married to his wife Jennefer and they have a daughter Aderyn. He loves winter and all of the sports associated with it.
Rebecca Oyer - Program Coordinator
royer@ymcanyc.org
Joined our team: September 2007
Hometown: Rochester, New York
Background: Rebecca was born in California but raised in upstate New York. She holds a degree in Writing from SUNY Oswego and a master degree in Outdoor Education from SUNY Cortland.
Interests: Rebecca enjoys hiking, running outside, camping, knitting, eating cheese, playing scrabble, and watching her bird feeder, which seems to only attract squirrels.
Michelle Bakowski - Instructor
Joined our team: February 2010
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Background: Michelle studied Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida with a focus in Biology Education. Having a high interest in green living, she also minored in sustainability.
Interests: In her spare time, she likes to hike, mountain bike and go birding. She also enjoys cooking wonderfully delicious curry dishes, traveling and meeting new people.
Elyse Dull - Instructor
Joined our team: February 2010
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Background: Elyse attended the University of Dayton and earned her degree in International Business. She became a camper at YMCA Camp Ernst in 1998 and transitioned into staff in 2002. Elyse continued to work at YMCA Camp Ernst until 2008. She also served on the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Teen Board. She is committed to the outdoors, and she is passionate about the camp environment.
Interests: She is interested in travel and has spent time in India and visited Rome, Italy. She loves learning about new cultures, reading books, playing crosswords and listening to NPR.
Dani Ersalesi - Instructor / Summer Day Camp Director
Joined our team: February 2008
Hometown: Clifton, New Jersey
Background: Dani has a degree in Environmental Studies and minors in Environmental Science and Anthropology from Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Interests: In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping and exploring the great outdoors. She loves teaching at Greenkill and being able to experience nature with campers. During the summer, Dani is our Day Camp Director. When not working Dani can be found playing volleyball, knitting, cooking and caring for Greenkill's animals.
Kristen Jendras - Instructor
Joined our team: February 2010
Hometown: Garden City, New York Background: Kristen earned her B.A. from Fordham University. She is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts and has loved camping since she was little. Working at a sleepaway camp for the past seven years has inspired Kristen to seek full-time employment in Outdoor Education.
Interests: Kristen loves to travel and has lived in England, Germany and Italy. She loves playing in the snow, arts and crafts, board games and walking her dog Maddie.
Jen Landry - Instructor
Joined our team: June 2009
Hometown: Nampa, Indiana
Background: Jen was born in Ohio, but grew up in Idaho. She went to college at Mississippi State University where she received a degree in Communications (PR and Broadcasting) and a graduate degree in Exercise Physiology. MSU is also where she met her husband "Landry".
Interests: Jen enjoys running (a lot), reading, hiking and back packing, music and taking mid-morning drives on back-country roads.
Michael "Landry" - Instructor
Joined our team: June 2009
Hometown: Irondale, Alabama
Background: Landry has a B.S. in Secondary Education Math and a masters in Exercise Physiology from Mississippi State University. He has been involved with the YMCA since he went to YMCA Camp Cosby's Outdoor Education Program in 6th grade. He lives at Greenkill with his wife Jen and loves working at Talcott Village in the summer.
Interests: Some of Landry's favorite activities are backpacking, cooking, skiing and mountain biking.
Sara Petruzzi - Instructor
Joined our team: September 2008 Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Background: Sara grew up as a YMCA camper and loves what the YMCA does for children around the world.
Interests: On the weekends, Sara can be found flying kites, eating cake and pickles, thrift store shopping and riding jet skis.
April Sakowski - Adventure Coordinator
Joined our team: February 2010
Hometown: Mountaintop, PA
Background: April completed her undergraduate degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experimental Education and Ecology. She has enjoyed outdoor activities her entire life and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for environmental awareness.
Interests: When she isn't kayaking, caving, hiking to waterfalls or participating in snow sports, she enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering, organizing events and learning more about her interests in construction, gardening and cooking.
Eric Braxton Smith - Instructor
Joined our team: September 2008
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama Background: Eric Smith was born in Birmingham, AL, arguably the most beautiful city in the tri-county area. He went to school at the university of Alabama, arguably the most beautiful university in the tri-state area. This is his second year working at Greenkill and this past summer was a Waterfront Director at Talcott Village, arguably the most beautiful camp in the tri-continental area. Eric loves nature and found OE a great, satisfying combination of tangible education and the appreciation of nature.
Interests: Eric has taken an interest in building his own instruments such as a trombone, ukulele and bugle. He enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding, kayaking, music, books, movies and jokes, and he also abides.
Cale Stoker - Instructor
Joined our team: May 2008
Hometown: Adrian, Michigan
Background: Cale worked as a counselor at summer camp in 2004. During the summer, he idolized the OE staff and their impressive beards, and so, when the opportunity was given, Cale grew his beard and has loved OE ever since.
Interests: Cale enjoys fishing, hiking and playing fetch with the other directors' dogs.
Rebecca Strattan - Instructor
Joined our team: February 2010
Hometown: Jonestown, Pennsylvania
Background: Rebecca received her B.A. from Haverford College and her teaching certificate from Swarthmore College. A lifetime camper, Rebecca has worked as a summer camp Arts and Crafts Director, Counselor and Staff-in-Training Director. She recently returned from the Republic of Macedonia, where she spent three years teaching English and developing community programs as a Peace Corps volunteer.
Interests: Rebecca's interests include travel, the arts and of course the outdoors. She loves meeting and working with new people, whether at an art gallery, on a backpacking trip or learning to cross-country ski.
Jesse Wells - Instructor
Joined our team: January 2010
Hometown: Athens, Ohio
Background: Jesse is a senior at Ohio University and will graduate this spring with a major in Outdoor Education. He became interested in OE through his love for the outdoors and working with recreational programs for people with disabilities.
Interests: Jesse enjoys hanging out with friends around a fire, playing card games and Skyping.
