Footpath is so lucky to have Melissa Vincel on our team as an instructor of the Footpath Nature Club. We wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to her and be inspired by what she is bringing to the table to enrich the lives of Footpath Kids! “We are excited for Melissa to be leading one of our Lorain Footpath Nature Clubs starting in April. She is an amazing woman!” says Foothpath Director of Education and Programs, Angela Yeager.
In 2017, Melissa moved north from an island off the coast of Georgia, where she spent most days exploring the creatures and wild areas with her two children. It was a small island though, so when she moved to Cleveland, she was overjoyed to find the Cleveland Metroparks with miles and miles of discovery just waiting around the next log.
Before she married and had kids, Melissa spent four years traveling through Central America, the US, and Europe. As a result, she loves to teach others how to stoke a fire, camp on a tarp, ride a horse through the jungle, and find the way through a forest. She has worked as a Montessori teaching assistant and a hospice aide. She currently runs workshops for writers and healers.
Education: Skidmore College, B.S. in Sociology
What excites you about working for Footpath?
Breathing fresh air and helping the kids notice the way we all fit into nature.
Why is working for Footpath important to you?
I believe the quick-thinking and peace that emerges in us when they are placed in the woods can help us realize those skills are in our minds and bodies already. Those skills only grow, and help us for the rest of their lives. Everyone deserves that.
What do you do when not working for Footpath?
I raise my children, and during naps and at night, I help run retreats for writers and healers.
Most memorable experience in nature?
A baby bear once stole my fish right from my pan over the fire. His Mama came around soon after, and I had to figure out how to look like a tree.
Favorite Quote: “Follow the child.” -Maria Montessori
Thank you Melissa, for joining the Footpath Team! We can’t wait to hear about your adventures with Footpath Kids!
