Melanie Kessler Email & Phone Number

Moretown, Vt

Moahdim means the appointed times or seasons in Hebrew. In our great American freedom, I believe that spiritual health and in turn societal health can be cultivated from time spent together. Through the intentional sharing in seasonal and traditional times of rejoicing, we learn to again link our lives to the natural cycle of earth and stars and to the shared myth and story that give communal context to our spiritual journey as human beings. Moahdim’s programs bring leaders, students, educators and families to our 93 acre parcel of land for leadership training, land stewardship apprenticeships, and seasonal community-wide celebration. We offer secular and Jewish program that explore the connections between tradition, place- based education and the work we do together with our hands on the land.

Monkton, Vt

Direct weeklong youth leadership camp for 8th and 9th graders providing empowerment experiences through craft education, self reflection, physical challenge and community building. Creative director for multi-generational community events that encourage experiences of vitality, efficacy and joy.

Bristol, Vt

The Human Powered Parade is a community based festival in Bristol that engages schools and citizens of Addison County to celebrate both the freedom and joy of the bicycle and the power of voice and action. The parade provides people a place to create art and moving installation that celebrate the meaning and security arising from place, neighbors and human power!

Bristol, Vt

I train teachers, community organizers and students to promote safe and active transportation in their communities and schools. I customize a series of everyday bicycling workshops to meet the needs of businesses, schools and communities interested in the Addison Walk/Bike Council and train schools in the Bike Smart curriculum and present in classes and assemblies and events. I create new curriculum that enages families in sharing the joy and safety of biking for transportation.

Burlington, Vt

Created and piloted strategies to engage unaffiliated families and individuals in shared ritual of self reflection and community building. Launched transformative family based Youth middle school program exploring identity, spirituality, leadership, and efficacy. Led developmentally based ritual and engagement programs for families and children ages K- 8th grade. Launched community wide pilgrimage festival celebrations attracting over 200 families.

Monkton, Vt

Co Managed organic 1.25 acre farm providing programming and food for alternative high school program. Developed farm to school strategy and partnerships that provided educational opportunities for students to visit, harvest and cultivate food for the cafeteria. Facilitated community programming that engaged families in seasonal land- based community experiences.

Masters Degree, Elementary Education And Waldorf Teaching

I am certified in creating interdisciplinary and mixed grades curriculum that pulls from Piaget, Rudolf Steiner, service - learning.

Bachelor'S Degree Political Science, Political Economy