Nature & Me
4th - 5th Grade
In-Person at Powell House
June 13 - 15, 2025
A lot of people think of themselves as separate from nature. The truth is that we are as much a part of nature as any living being. Maybe you know this because some mornings you wake up and feel like a wild animal running through the house. Or maybe you feel connected to the slow and steady life of a plant, content to stay in one place as you are fed sunlight and water. Or maybe you just don’t feel like part of nature at all! At this conference we will explore what connects us to nature and how it feels to be in nature. You can expect games and plenty of time in the woods around Powell House.
Becks Anacheka-Nasemann, 23 (they/them). Becks grew up at Powell House as a 3rd generation attendee and as one of Chris and Mike’s kids. After graduating from the youth program in 2020, they have been working as an AP for all age groups and have loved seeing the ways that young people playfully build and uphold the community they hold so dear. Becks is a Mount Holyoke senior currently working towards a career in science education, and has worked as a babysitter, nanny, and tutor for children since age 13. When not at PoHo, Becks lives in Amherst, MA and enjoys hiking, watercolor art, cooking, and playing with their menagerie of pets (1 dog, 2 cats, and 2 pet rats).
Rosalie Presser, 21 (she/her). Rosalie has been attending Powell House since 7th grade, first with Chris and Mike, then Sarah and Marty. Since graduating from the youth program in 2022 she has been attending Young Adult conferences, APing, and working in the kitchen with Kim. She enjoys her work on a small farm in Cambridge, NY. In her free time she loves to garden, dance, hike, play, and read.
Jillian Smith Age 36: she/her or they/them: Poho youth alumni class of 2006! I identify as a feminist universalist Quaker who dabbles in Hinduism & I’m a member of NYYM. I was a JC back in the day and a co-facilitator with Mike. I served on the board of Poho for 9 years. I obtained my American Montessori Society certification in ages 3-6 during the pandemic. I’ve worked in a variety of industries.
Lucas Quintana, 23 (he/him). Lucas has been attending the Powell House Youth Program since 5th grade. He has become more involved in the last year working in the kitchen with Kim, attending committee meetings, volunteering and being an AP. Outside of Powell House Lucas works seasonally in the ski industry (as a slopes groomer) in Wyoming and in the Capital Region during the summer. He loves to spend his free time outdoors, skiing, backpacking, swimming, and enjoying sunlight whenever possible.