Jennifer Deraspe -- Founder and Director of Nurture Through Nature
 



 Jen has been featured in a several major publications:

"Portland Press Herald"
www.innertapestry.org/ -regular contributor and featured interview, April/May2007
Featured interview in "Maine Women's Journal", "Leaps of Faith, Spring 2007
www.classiccountrylife.com. published article

Jen's Educational and Experiential Background:


Certifications:
 Graduate: The School for The Work of Byron Katie, Facilitator of The Work, March 2006
 Registered Maine Guide: State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 1999-present
Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification: Aura Wellness Center, North Providence, RI, 2005- present
Behavioral Specialist~ Behavioral Sciences Institute~Therapeutic Mentor for youth at risk, 2003

Education:
M.S. Sports Medicine, 1989
Indiana State University

B.S. Physical Education/Sports Medicine, 1987
Plymouth State College, Plymouth, New Hampshire
K-12 Teacher Certification

Medical Training:
Emergency Medical Technician, 1993
Outdoor Emergency Care~National Ski Patrol, 1998-2001
First Aid/CPR- current

Staffing/Teaching/Presenting:
 Byron Katie's 9 Day School for The Work-Staff, June, 2007
University of Southern Maine, adjunct faculty in College of Nursing and Health Studies, 1999-present
University of Southern Maine, Center for Continuing Ed, 2004-present:
    Mindfulness and Meditation, spring 2004,
    Anatomy of the Spirit; the Chakra System, spring 2005
    Mindfulness and Meditation Retreat for Health Care Providers, spring 2006,
    Filling the Caregiver's Cup~Holistic Canoe Retreat for Nurses, Social Workers and Counselors, summer 2005, 2006
    Zen and the Art of Wellness for Health Care Providers, fall 2006, spring 2007
    Recharge, Regroup, Reflect: Preventing Burnout and Remembering Joy!, fall 2007

Women in God Conference, Presenter: Spirituality and Nature, Portland, Maine, fall 2004, fall 2007
University of Southern Maine, instructor and clinical supervisor in Sports Medicine, 1990-1999
Community Wellness Instructor: Augusta, Windham, Naples, Bridgton, 1999-present
Holistic Personal Training services for individual clients and groups, 1999-present
Maine Conservation School, Woods Survival program for teens, 2000, 2001
Common Ground Fair, Unity, Maine~workshop leader: Awareness and the Art of Seeing, 2000-present
Outdoor Association for Experiential Education's Northeast Region Conference; presenter, 2001
Kayak (inland) safety and skills instructor: 2001-present
Yoga teacher~1999-present

Outdoor Leadership Trainings:
Maine Canoe Symposium: Canoe Safety and Rescue, 2003, Canoe Poling Clinic, 2004
Maine Sport Outfitters: Level I Flat Water Sea Kayak Clinic,  2002
Level II Open Water Sea Kayak Clinic, 2002
H2Outfitters: Open water kayak clinic, 2006
Outdoor Leadership Courses:
University of Southern Maine, 1996, 1998 (Team building and  group initiatives)
University of Maine at Orono, 1999 (Map and compass skills, white water paddling safety and instruction)

Personal~Spiritual Journey:
Yoga Teacher Certification Training, Aura School of Yoga, 2004-05
Philosophy and Meditation Classes I-V, Earthways, Ray Reitze, 2000-2002
Coyote Teaching and Caretaker Philosophy, Maine Primitive Skills School, Michael Douglas, 1999
Women's meditation circle, Carrie Sewall, 1998-2000
Landmark Education~The Forum, The Advanced Course, various seminars, 1999-2004
Reiki attunement, 2000
Graduate of Byron Katie's 9 Day School for The Work, March 2006

Writing:
 Inner Tapestry;  Maine's Holistic Journal~regular columnist: www.innertapestry.org 
Maine Voices Project essayist; Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and the Wilderness Society:
 http://www.mainevoicesproject.org/  
Lewiston Sun Journal; contributor, www.sunjournal.com/
 Maine Women's Journal; contributor, www.mainewomensjournal.com
Natural New England; guest writer, www.naturalne.com/

Affiliations:
 Maine Wilderness Guides Organization-member
 Better Business Bureau-selected member
Maine Business Listing: selected for reliability, quality and customer service
 Maine Appalachian Trail Club-volunteer
Natural Resources Council of Maine
Aura Wellness Center~North Providence, RI~Yoga Teacher Training
Bridgton Community Education-instructor
South Portland Community Programs-instructor
True North-Community Faculty

Volunteerism and Community Service:
*Commissioner, Saco River Corridor Commission protects public health, safety & quality of life for the State of Maine
 through the regulation of land & water uses, protection & conservation
*Conservation Commissioner, Town of Denmark
*Canoe guide for Pine Tree Camp fundraiser, a camp for handicapped children in Maine, spring 2005
*Wild Herb Gathering-presenter for festival raising money for children's programs teaching caretaker philosophy for earth, summer 2005
*Lake's Region Trail Summit-steering committee to develop contingent network of trails and open, green spaces in region-current
*Town of Denmark~Conservation Committee~ to protect, enhance and monitor green space in Denmark-current
*Youth Alternatives~family advocacy organization for youth and families at risk~volunteer facilitator teaching self-care and wellness-current
*Meals on Wheels volunteer~delivering hot meals to those in need