Princeton-Blairstown Center Welcomes Two New Program Managers

Two new Program Managers, Makela Elvy and Travis Heilman, recently joined the staff of the Princeton-Blairstown Center (PBC). They bring a diverse set of skills and experience to the organization and will fill key roles on the Program team at the Blairstown Campus.

Makela is a recent graduate of Concordia University-Portland, where she earned a Master of Education degree in Environmental Education, Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to joining PBC, she worked with the New York City Park Department, serving first as an Urban Park Ranger in an enforcement capacity, and most recently working for two years as an Associate Environmental Educator in the Staten Island Greenbelt. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geoscience from DePauw University. Outside of her professional work, Makela is an avid hiker and enjoys spending time outdoors.

Travis joined the Princeton-Blairstown Center in 2015 as an Experiential Education Facilitator, advancing into subsequent roles as both Program Manager and Manager of Summer Programs. After a year away from PBC, Travis has returned as a Program Manager, and is currently enrolled at Northern Arizona University to complete a Bachelor of Science degree. He is a certified ACCT Level II practitioner, Wilderness First Responder, Lifeguard, and Lifeguard Instructor. In his free time, Travis enjoys playing many organized and team sports, and is an avid outdoorsman.

Both Travis and Makela will work to coordinate and facilitate visiting groups, supervise summer and seasonal staff, and contribute to the ongoing expansion and refinement of PBC’s experiential and environmental education curricula. Pam Gregory, President and CEO of the Center, said “We are so pleased to benefit from the experience and knowledge of these two accomplished individuals. I look forward to seeing how their contributions enhance and elevate our work with the thousands of participants who join us for programming at our Blairstown campus each year.”

ABOUT THE PRINCETON-BLAIRSTOWN CENTER:

PBC is a 112-year old independent 501c3 nonprofit organization with an administrative office located in Princeton, NJ and a 264-acre campus located in Blairstown, NJ. Our mission is to empower young people, primarily from under-resourced communities, to strengthen their social-emotional skills through experiential, environmental, and adventure-based programming.

PBC is emerging as a leader regarding social and emotional learning (SEL) programs in the outdoor experiential adventure-based setting. PBC’s experiential educational methodology is based on a holistic approach where carefully chosen experiences supported by reflection, critical analysis, and synthesis are structured to ensure that the students take initiative, make decisions, and are held accountable for results. PBC’s programs also promote environmental stewardship and complement students’ classroom education in science, technology, engineering, and math. Its programs now serve nearly 8,000 young people annually.