The Land Lab Staff
The Land Lab has a staff of two full time educators and a summer camp director. We are busy planning engaging, inquiry-based lessons for visitors to the Land Lab. We also oversee the district science curriciulum and help coordinate high-quality professional development for local teachers. We also enjoy working on projects for the Land Lab, including hallway displays and the variety of webcams.
Jim Chandler
Director, Consulting Teacher in Science
Since 2003, the Land Lab has been directed by Jim Chandler, who also serves as Consulting Teacher in Science for the School Department. He resides in Bryant Pond and brings a wealth of knowledge to the Land Lab and its programs. His educational background includes a BS from Cornell University and an MA from Univ. of Rochester in New York with training in biology, adolescent social work and science education. He has worked on a variety of projects in Maine, including the Envirothon program, at the Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District, and as a classroom teacher. He is a member and past president of the Maine Environmental Education Association and the National Science Education Leadership Association. In 2007, he was recognized as a National Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator and Maine Science Educator of the Year. The Land Lab is lucky to have such a gifted educator. He can be found playing with microscopes or helping organize the district's science curriculum!
Cameron Sutton
Science Educator, Science Kit Materials Coordinator
AVEC Math/Science Facilitator
Cameron has taught environmental education for over eight years. She has a degree in Biology from Lewis & Clark College in Oregon and moved to Maine in 2001 to work at the Maine Conservation School as a field teacher. She discovered a love for New England and stayed to become an AmeriCorps watershed educator at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. She spent her second year of AmeriCorps at the Land Lab and was hired full time at the Land Lab in 2002. She also was summer camp director for five years. She is now a certified science teacher and hopes to continue to educate Auburn's youth about the natural world. Cameron is a board member of L/A Trails, the Maine Environmental Education Association and Maine Project Learning Tree. She appreciates all that Maine has to offer, including wonderful hiking, camping and snowshoeing, which she does often with her husband and dog, Indy.
Kelly Kelley
Summer Camp Director
Kelly is the new 2008 Land Lab Summer Camp Director. She brings new enthusiasm and experience to the camp this year. She graduated from the University of Maine, Orono with a BA in Anthropology and has had extensive management experience. In 2004, she started substitute teaching in the Lewiston school system grades K-8 and has been kept busy enough to teach throughout the entire school year - most often doing long term assignments. She is now in the process of obtaining her teaching certificate. She is the owner and director of Stretch-n-Grow of Maine - a branch of the world wide children's exercise and nutrition franchise and has been doing summer camps on her own since 2004. Kelly is a member of NAEYC and AEYC (National Association of the Education of Young Children & AEYC - Maine branch) and has been certified in Adult, Infant & Child First Aid and CPR.
Kelly has lived in Maine all of her life and loves nature. She and her family take full advantage of all of the wonderful things Maine is known for: camping, fishing, swimming, hiking, boating, skating,cross country skiing, etc. She lives in Leeds with her husband, 2 sons ages 8 & 11, her Labrador retriever, Bear, and several other pets. She and her husband assist each year in the coaching of one of the town baseball teams and she has coached soccer for the past 2 years.
Summer Camp Email:
summer@auburnschl.edu
Mailing and Delivery Address:
31 Holbrook Road
Auburn, ME 04210
Phone Number 207.783.4563
Fax Number 207.777.5239
