Our board includes neighbors, parents, growers and educators who share the lived experience of the communities we serve. Organizations are listed for identification only.
Officers: Kieron, President: Business strategy & operations ; Michael, Treasurer: Nonprofit finance & accounting; Natalia, Secretary: Education & teacher advocacy
Members: Valerie: Latinx outdoor leadership; Hassan: Zoology & conservation education; Sharon: Wildlife conservation; iya: Arts & law; Kristen: Parks access & community outdoors; Hyun: Public health & harm reduction; Peter: Community health
Leadership
Atiya Wells (She/Her)
Founder/Executive Director
Pediatric nurse and naturalist who founded Backyard Basecamp, and led the reclamation of BLISS Meadows.
Operations and Outreach
Avionna (They/She)
Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Operations Manager
Builds the systems that keep our growing organization running.
Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Anisah (She/They)
Engages visitors while guiding stewardship in ecological land management practices"
Farm and Land
Jordan (He/Him)
Jordan (He/Him)
Jordan (He/Him)
Production Manager
Leads farm production, soil health, and animal care; member of the Maryland Board of Soil Stewards.
Stella
Jordan (He/Him)
Jordan (He/Him)
Farmer
Grows the cut flowers of BLISS, from spring bouquets to fall arrangements.
Youth and Education
Asia (She/Her)
Kawther (She/Her)
Kawther (She/Her)
Youth Programs Director
Connects communities to nature while championing environmental education, youth development, and equitable outdoor access. Founder of Black Girls Hike.
Kawther (She/Her)
Kawther (She/Her)
Kawther (She/Her)
Lead Environmental Educator
Designs outdoor youth programs spanning from archery, botany, to cooking.
Ro (They/He)
Terrel (He/Him)
Terrel (He/Him)
Program Facilitator
Teaches earth-based technical skills and nature medicine. Loves cats.
Terrel (He/Him)
Terrel (He/Him)
Terrel (He/Him)
Program Facilitator
Living for the next big laugh exploring the pathways of nature! Look at us!
Outdoor Preschool
Brittany (She/Her)
Hannalore (She/Her)
Brittany (She/Her)
Early Childhood Director & Lead Teacher
17 years in early childhood education, including 3 leading a nature preschool.
Judi (She/Her)
Hannalore (She/Her)
Brittany (She/Her)
Co-Lead Teacher
Bilingual educator with 12 years of early childhood experience.
Hannalore (She/Her)
Hannalore (She/Her)
Hannalore (She/Her)
Child Care Apprentice
Started with us through our workforce development programs and has spent the past three summers as a camp educator. She brings years of babysitting experience to the Dragonflies.
Our youngest co-founders
Kori (She/Her)
"Meh"
The original BLISS explorers, and the reason it all began.
Kai (He/Him)
Kai (He/Him)
"Did somebody say trains?"