About Us - Staff
Susan Jennings, Oxford County Extension Educator
Susan Jennings has over 25 years of teaching and youth development experience with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and in the public school system. Susan has a Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration and A Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Susan’s current responsibilities include oversight for the Oxford County 4-H Youth Development program, including leadership for the University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond, 4-H clubs, community afterschool programs and school initiatives. Working in western Maine has provided the opportunity for Susan to initiate new youth development programs including afterschool enrichment non-profit sites, leadership and service learning programs, and career and aspiration projects. Susan has two teenage children and the entire family enjoys summer on the lake, the mountains in winter and traveling. Contact Susan at: susan.jennings@maine.edu
Ryder Scott, Program Director
Ryder has been teaching and leading groups of young people and adults in the outdoors for fifteen years. He studied Human Ecology at College of the Atlantic, and is earning a Masters degree in Experiential Education from Prescott College. Ryder represents Bryant Pond on the board of the Maine Environmental Education Association, where he is currently president-elect. With his wife, Amy and daughters Nyla (4) and Grace (6 months), Ryder lives in Greenwood in a passive solar house he designed and built in 2004. When not at Bryant Pond, the whole family can be found hiking, paddling, gardening, fishing, and skiing. Ryder welcomes input on programs at Bryant Pond. E-mail him at ryder.scott@maine.edu.
Scott Olsen, Marketing & Outreach Director and UMaine 4-H Shooting Sports Program Coordinator
Scott has been working with us since Earth Day 2003, as our Program and Facilities Director at the Greenland Point Center, and Operations Director and Executive Director at Bryant Pond. Scott now works with us part-time doing our Marketing, Outreach, Fundraising, and Development. Scott is also the Maine 4-H Shooting Sports Program Coordinator. Scott has a BS in Natural Resource Studies and a MS in Forestry and has a work background in sales, natural resource law enforcement and public outreach. Scott lives with his wife, Samantha and two sons in Readfield, where Scott also serves on the Recreation Board and the Conservation Commission. Scott can be reached at scott.olsen@maine.edu.
Bethany Pelletier, Manager of Funded Accounts
Bethany has been an employee of since the fall of 2000. As a part time year round employee, she works closely with the staff on many projects but her primary function is to insure that the finances are maintained accurately. When she is not on the clock for us you might find her splashing in a local pond with her two children. Bethany is a firm believer in conservation and greatly enjoys taking pictures of wildlife and flat-water paddling in a kayaking.
Ron Fournier, Summer Camp Director
Ron serves as Bryant Pond’s Summer Camp Director and Junior Maine Guide Program Director. He also leads our Hunter Safety Program and shooting sports. He is a Registered Maine Guide and Licensed New Hampshire Guide and has years of experience leading people into the forests and on the waters of New England. His background is in Operations Management with over 15 years experience, and has since followed his internal compass by finding the balance between work and play. His wife and four children live in the mountains of Western Maine where they practice sustainability and self reliance as a lifestyle. His belief in getting youth back outside and reconnecting with nature, and at the same time building self esteem and learning traditional outdoors skills is his passion. If you have questions about the Junior Maine Guide Program or the shooting sports contact him at 207-665-2068 or e-mail him at ronald.fournier@maine.edu.
Lyndsey Smith, Lakeside Classroom Director
Lyndsey is a graduate of Unity College with a Bachelors of Science in Adventure Education and Adventure Therapy. Lyndsey has worked over seven years as a wilderness guide, challenge course trainer and facilitator, and environmental educator. She enjoys working with kids, gardening, and spending time outside with her dog whenever possible. School programs can be scheduled through Lyndsey. For more information contact her at (207) 665-2507 or e-mail her at lyndsey.smith@maine.edu.
Ryan LeShane, Tech Wizards Project Coordinator.
Ryan is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelors of Science in Forestry. Ryan has been on the summer staff here since 1999 and serves as our assistant camp director during the summer months. This year Ryan is working full time for Bryant Pond coordinating the Tech Wizards Project. Ryan is trained as a Hunter safety and 4-H shooting sports instructor and has a strong background in the primitive skills programs at Bryant Pond. In his spare time you can find Ryan out skiing, backpacking, or mountain biking depending on the season. Contact Ryan at: ryan.leshane@maine.edu
Calvin Vaillancourt, AmeriCorps VISTA
Calvin started as an AmeriCorps Vista intern this November but has been working at Bryant Pond in various respects for two years now. Calvin earned a Bachelors of Science in Outdoor Education and a Bachelors of Art in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire in 2010. Calvin works primarily with Operation Military Kids and Military Adventure Camps but also occasionally leads trips or helps out in the health center. In his free time Calvin volunteers as a ski patroller at Sunday River and can often be found hiking in his home state of New Hampshire.