Bonna’s Professional Experience

PROFESSIONAL GOALS

To connect youth and adults with each other and with their environment, through activities that expand their horizons, their sense of self, and their connection with the community.

Methods: Environmental awareness through outdoor education including leadership skills; camping and primitive skills; experiential river and watershed studies; and the natural arts. Event coordination, networking and organizing efforts for sustainability and stewardship, consulting and management.

MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Connecticut RiverFest, Inc: Executive Director of Connecticut RiverFest, Inc (1998-present)
    • Chair of Education Committee––Connecticut RiverFest (1995-present)
    • Board of Directors––Connecticut RiverFest (1995- present)
    • Organize Big Splash River and Arts Festival (1999-2009)
    • Fundraise and manage grants for Connecticut RiverFest (1998-2009)
    • Coordinate winter programs with RiverFest, Upper Valley Trails Alliance, Hulbert Outdoor Center
    • Coordinate RiverDays educational programs (1997-present), Riverwork Project (1992–1996)
  • Director of Hanover After-School Program- 70 families, 15 staff -students and adults (1996-2011)
  • Program Specialist of Town of Hanover After School Programs (2011)
  • Camp Director:
    • Camp Hay Days, Hanover, NH 2000
    • VerShare Summer Camp, Vershire, VT: director 2005-08; outdoor program director (2005-present)
    • Touching the Earth and Arts Camp (1996-present) small private camp,
  • Revels North: Manage make up, production team (1997-present), theater make-up design 2007
  • Parish Players make up designer and manager, Thetford Hill, VT
  • Owner/manager/trip leader for Bold Paths Adventure Travel (2007-present) including kayak instruction.

bonna_ripple_2TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • After School Outdoor Education programming at 4 schools through 21st Century After School Programs, and Recreation Departments
  • 1984-2008  Curriculum design and teaching grades 1-12, science grades 6-8
  • 1995-present  Develop teacher education workshops/Environmental River Consultant for schools
  • 2011-12  Site Coordinator for Waits River Valley School STYLE after school program
  • 2008-present  Outdoor Adventure director for summer camps
  • 1996-2011  Director and program development for Hanover After School Program
  • 2000-present  Kayak Instructor, certified with American Canoe Association/tour guide
  • 1998-2003  Course development and Tutor for adult students for Johnson State College Science Dept
  • 1995-98  Vermont Technical College, Women in Technology project, course design and teach middle school girls surveying and orienteering courses
  • 1995-97  K-12 team for Math Across the Curriculum, NSF grant, Dartmouth College
  • 1995–96  5th/6th gr classroom teacher––math/science, language arts, Cornish Elem School, Cornish NH
  • 1995-present  Staff development, team building and leadership skills for Hanover After School Program, VerShare Camp, Bradford Recreation Department
  • 1994–95 Develop curricula for “Networking the Connecticut River”
  • 1994 Create ecology and wildlife habitat curricula for Connecticut River Watershed Council program for Silvio O. Conte Fish & Wildlife Refuge
  • 1993–95 Create ecology/river study/water quality programs in schools
  • 1990–95 Create environmental education activities
  • 1992 Direct nature program, Downer 4–H Camp
  • 1990–91 Lead Nature/Creative Arts program, Farm and Wilderness Camps
  • 1990 Design and teach pre–school nature program, Montshire Museum
  • 1990–present Teach outdoor, self–sufficiency, and environmental skills
  • 1990–98 Montshire Museum special programs instructor
  • 1990–2009 Substitute teacher K–12: music and sciences and elementary
  • 1995-present Teaching children gr 1-8 enrichment activities, after school program (director)

EDUCATION

  • Antioch New England Graduate School: Masters in Environmental Education Masters in General Science Teaching Certification for middle school science
  • Teacher training: Water Quality Monitoring (River Watch Network)
  • Bachelor of Science, Boston University, in Social Sciences
  • Workshops: self–esteem, Project Wild Wet, river studies math and science, VT Institute of Natural Science, Math and Technology, Child Care projects, Non-Violent Communication, Wild Edibles, Outdoor/Adventure Learning/Team building
  • Certifications: American Canoe Association Kayak instructor, CPR, Wilderness First Aid, First Aid

PROJECT MANAGER BIO for Connecticut RiverFest Inc

Connecticut RiverFest Inc, Executive Director, 1999-2010

  • Organize the 3 main components of RiverFest
    • RiverDays – Coordinate RiverDays program, oversee program with other coordinators, work with schools on curriculum and additional workshops through the year, organize and train lead teachers in watershed protection, arrange for additional schools to participate in program, write and oversee grants, fundraise in communities, oversee workshops, teach workshops to K-8 students.
    • Big Splash – Organize river festival, coordinate committees, chair for each Committee, produce festival, fundraise, pr, coordinate with volunteers and organizations, book musical artists, oversee exhibitors, develop programming for sustainability workshops and discussions, music jam sessions, local environmental science fair, flotilla and Contradance on the Connecticut River.
    • Voice of the River radio shows; River Minutes – Production Manager: Produce River Minutes, write grants, fundraise, coordinate interviews, produce shows, work with VPR and technical producer, pr with radio and newspapers, work with funder Silvio.O.Conte National Fish and Wildlife Service, arrange with radio stations to put shows on the air.
  • Develop and organize programs and events:
    • Lake Morey WinterFest, since 2000, in collaboration with 5 other organizations organize annual winter event with various outdoor and indoor activities for all ages
    • Silent Auction
    • Lake Morey Skate-athon, since 2004, skate the longest trail in the U.S., Fairlee, VT
    • Community RiverDay – expanded upon the initial RiverDay concept
    • High School RiverDay – create a new concept in RiverDay education 2001
    • River Celebration events-organization
    • Lead Canoe and Kayak Trips, since 1999, on the Connecticut River with education, paddling and overnight in collaboration with Upper Valley Trails Alliance – ACA certified kayak instructor
    • Fundraising – primary fundraiser for the organization
    • PR – develop tactics, oversee assistants, meet with new sources

ADDITIONAL WORK:

  • Hanover After School Program Director, 1997-2011
  • Outdoor Adventure Director and trip leader and coordinator
  • Owner/guide with Bold Paths Adventure Travel, 2007-present
  • Kayak Flatwater Tour guide independently and with Eastern Mountain Sports
  • Kayak instructor with ACA (American Canoe Association)
  • Camp director and counselor for small environmentally based summer camp. Sessions for grades 1-3, 4-6, middle school, and high school, 1998-present
  • VerShare Community Camp director, 2005-2007
  • VerShare Community Camp Outdoor Adventure director, 2008-present
  • Team member to develop after school programming for middle and high school students
  • Work with high school students to facilitate projects
  • Teach and facilitate Environmental Education with after school programs and summer camps
  • Mentor and teach college students with environmental focus, networking
  • Upper Valley Trails Alliance projects; Passport to Winter Fun
  • Revels North: Make up manager Christmas Revels
  • Production Manager Summer Revels, 2010-present

ADDITIONAL BIO:

Bonna Wieler was director of the Hanover After School Program for 16 years. During that time she built the program from 25 to 50 students, supervised teen and adult staff, ran staff trainings, developed programming with outdoor and environmental education and natural arts/crafts.

She is the owner/manager/outdoor adventure leader with Bold Paths L3C. Her specialties include outdoor and camping skills, kayak instruction, cross-country skiing, river curriculum, trip leading. In the arts she has worked with Revels North for 24 years as a morris dancer (a traditional English dance form) and as the make-up manager, and Summer Solstice production manager. She also plays in a traditional music band.