Jeff A. Baierlein (he/him) has been working professionally since 1987 with outdoor education, environmental education, adventure education and experiential education organizations in the USA and around the world. He led remote wilderness expeditions, worked as a naturalist-educator, served as an Emergency Medical Technician with ambulance services, led search and rescue missions, and was appointed to the Washington State Governor’s Council on Environmental Education.

Prior to founding Viristar, Jeff served as Executive Director of both the Boojum Institute for Experiential Education and the Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound Center. His writing and lectures have been translated into Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, Marathi, and Chinese.

Kaelan Young (she/her) brings her passion for the outdoors and a rich background in outdoor and experiential education to her role as Communications Manager at Viristar. With a degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, Kaelan has woven her experiences as an elementary educator, outdoor educator, and her expertise in marketing and operations for outdoor education organizations into her professional journey.

She previously served as Marketing Manager for the largest forest school in the USA, where she led strategic communications, brand development, and community engagement initiatives. Prior to working with Viristar, she also served as Director of Operations for an outdoor learning nonprofit in Idaho, overseeing program development, staff coordination, and organizational strategy, ensuring high-quality and impactful experiences for learners of all ages.