Americorp*VISTA Member

AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more.

Lesley Chapman
Lesley was drawn to the Sailing Center by its positive, proactive approach to expanding access to Lake Champlain. After receiving her undergraduate degree in African American Studies and Feminist Studies, she was excited to work for organization that uses the sheer joy of playing on and learning from Lake Champlain as a way to bring people together across boundaries. As the AmeriCorps*VISTA, Lesley works towards the VISTA mission of ending poverty by increasing the capacity and impact of our mission programs within the community.

Seasonal Staff

A few grew up in the program. Several race competitively in the local high school and national collegiate circuits. Others are seasoned racers and cruisers who have sailed across the country and all over the world. Many are students, teachers and other professionals looking to take a breather from the real world and spend a summer outside, on the water, doing what they love. While each brings their own experiences and reasons for coming, what unites them is a shared a passion for the lake and a commitment to expanding the horizons of the kids they work with.

Tim Alvira, Waterfront Manager
There exists a man named Tim who loves to climb, bike and swim. He traveled to Vermont to find just this spot and is excited for summer to begin. From New York as a child where the weather is mild to Vermont in the winter where the storms can be bitter. Down south last summer, where the heat was a bummer. This one will be sweet blueberries are yummy and so is kale to fill up Tim’s tummy before he goes to sail he studied biology in college to fill his brain up with knowledge he’s no good with rhyming but much better with timing so it’s time for this poem to end.

Michelle Bennett, Waterfront Coordinator
Michelle is a student at McGill University in Montreal. She grew up in Warren, VT right near Sugarbush Resort. Michelle loves doing things outside, such as skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, hiking, running, and of course sailing. She grew up sailing a 33 foot sailboat all around Lake Champlain with her family. On the lake, she also enjoys water skiing, wake boarding and tubing. When Michelle is not on the water, she is usually at the barn riding and taking care of horses; another lifelong passion of hers. She also enjoys traveling and seeing live music. This is her first season at the Sailing Center and she can’t wait to spend the summer by the lake and spending lots of time on the water.

Duncan Berube, Waterfront Coordinator
Duncan joined the CSC staff this summer after completing his second year as a nuclear medicine technology student at UVM. Duncan started sailing as a camper at Sail Newport in his home town of Newport, Rhode Island. Upon moving to Vermont he took to rowing at UVM where he has had a good collegiate career thus far, including a New England Four championship. Duncan is happy to be on the CSC staff, enjoying Vermont’s best playground, Lake Champlain.

John Naumann, Waterfront Coordinator
I was born in Riverside CT and started sailing on my family’s J40 since I was born. When I was 7 years old I started sailing optimists. After a couple years in my opti I got too big and moved on to lasers. I raced lasers for a couple summers throughout all of Long Island Sound. I also skippered 420’s on my high school sailing team for four years. The last two summers I worked at Greenwich Community Sailing teaching sailing to both children and adults. I am attending Champlain College and majoring in hotel management. This is my first summer in Burlington and I am looking forward to a windy one.

Curtis Taylor, Waterfront Coordinator
Curtis grew up in New Jersey but has since called New York, California, Wyoming and, most recently, Vermont, home. He is currently an elementary school teacher in Vermont. He loves to be outdoors – hiking, biking, skiing, etc. with his dog and fiancé. This will be his first year working at the Community Sailing Center.

Dan Bernard, Sailing Instructor
Dan learned how to sail out of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, Rhode Island. He has raced 420s and J-24s, and has taught lessons in dinghies and keelboats both. He loves watching students progress on the water, and they get a feel for the wind and start gaining control of their boat. He lives in Burlington, and studies civil engineering and community development at the University of Vermont. When he’s not studying or working, you’re most likely to find him somewhere outside, staying active and pushing limits, or possibly at a live music event.

Pete Brewster, Sailing Instructor
Pete hails from Canton, CT but has made VT his home for the past 6 years. Growing up sailing throughout the northeast, Long Island Sound, and a few excursions in the Caribbean, Pete has mastered the art of cruising along the ever-changing waterways of the place we call Earth. Hoping to find some new challenges this summer, Pete is stoked for the upcoming sailing season and looks forward to seeing the old faces, and new ones, enjoying the beauty of Lake Champlain.

Keith Brunner, Sailing Instructor
Keith is a recent graduate of UVM’s Environmental Program, where he focused on economics and movement-building around the climate crisis. From ski instructing to camping to lake ecology education, Keith loves working with people in the great outdoors, especially on the water. With experience sailing 420’s at the CSC and a recent sail on a 28′ sloop from Guatemala to Cancun, he’s thrilled to return to Burlington and begin work as an instructor at the sailing center! This summer Keith looks forward to growing corn, the return of the cormorants, and sunsets at Rock Point.

Catherine Carstens, Sailing Instructor
Catherine is a recent graduate from the University of Vermont with a major in Private Recreation and Tourism Management. She is from Lake Forest, Illinois and grew up racing Optis and 420s, both around the mid-west and around the country. Catherine’s very excited to spend her first full summer in Burlington working with the Sailing Center. Besides sailing, Catherine loves to be outside, ski, cook, and be with friends and family.

Peter Elliot, Sailing Instructor
Entering his third year at the University of Vermont, Peter Elliot is studying mechanical engineering. Originally from Swansea, MA, Peter has been sailing for fourteen years and has been teaching sailing for the past five summers in Fall River, MA. This is his first summer living up in Burlington and he’s looking forward to hiking, going to the beach, and barbequing. Peter also enjoys playing soccer, puzzles and games, and long boarding.

Peter Grunawalt, Sailing Instructor
Peter is from Russell, Ohio, but has spent six summers in the Great North Woods of Minnesota, canoeing, kayaking, and sailing around the border lakes. All of his experiences on the water has been based out of a camp called Camp Voyageur in Ely, Minnesota. This past summer, he was a counselor at this camp, helping to teach sailing. He feels more at home next to a lake than anywhere else. He loves any kind of camping, especially going on canoe trips. He’s currently a junior studying at the Universtiy of Vermont, majoring in Psychology and Global Studies. He hopes to do a lot of traveling in the near future, including study abroad in (hopefully) India.

Molly Kellogg, Sailing Instructor
Molly grew up in White Plains, New York and spent her summers sailing on Long Island Sound. She is entering her senior year at the University of Michigan in the department of history. After spending the past semester studying peace and conflict in northern Uganda, Molly is super excited to spend her summer in Burlington, sailing and playing outdoors! This is her fourth summer teaching sailing but her first summer away from salt water.

Wyn Maling, Sailing Instructor
Wyn grew up in Westwood MA and will be a senior at the University of Vermont, where she studies finance and political science. After growing up spending the summers sailing in Rockport MA, on 420’s and Opti’s she joined the UVM Sailing team. When she isn’t on the lake, she can be found at a local farm where she is an elite equestrian, and ranked top among her age group. She is looking forward to splitting her summer between her two loves of water and horses.

Craig Morrill, Sailing Instructor
Craig is from VERMONT, and has been there for a while (aka since birth). He grew up sailing at the community sailing center, back in the days when the hobbies were relatively new, classes were taught out of the Moran Plant, and the CSC was the LCCSC. He currently attends the University of Vermont where he is studying Ecological Agriculture. When not on the lake sailing or kayaking, Craig can be found at the various crags in Vermont and New Hampshire, awkwardly scrambling his way up our Beautiful New England Schist and Granite.

Sean Poulos, Sailing Instructor
Sean is a currently a senior studying psychology at the University of Vermont where he raced FJ’s on the sailing team. Originally from Lake Michigan’s north shore near Chicago, Sean is happy to be living in Burlington, one of few places with excellent sailing and skiing. In his free time he likes to see live music, swim, grill, watch hockey, and ride his bike around town.

Britt Wedenoja, Sailing Instructor
Britt grew up sailing with her Dad in Detroit,Michigan. She recently graduated from the University of Michigan where she studied Chemistry and Environmental Science. She sailed competitively for her college team and looks forward to a more relaxed summer of sailing. Britt is excited to be out in the sunshine and explore the hills of northern Vermont.When she’s not sailing, she enjoys making cookies and taking long naps.

Sarah Austin, Intern
Sarah grew up in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville North Carolina. After graduating from Appalachian State University in Outdoor Experiential Education, she is excited to share her passion for educating the community through the natural environment. Sarah has cultivated this passion through various roles from leading high adventure trips in India, completing a NOLS semester in the Pacific Northwest and as an Afterschool Director. This summer she is excited to share her knowledge and experience.

Eileen Mullowney, Intern
Born and raised in Burlington, I enjoy all things Vermont. I love Grace Potter, Ben & Jerry’s, and St. Mike’s, but the Lake is my absolute favorite! Nothing beats a sunny, breezy day out on the water. I can’t wait for the season to start and to meet all of the wonderful people involved with the Sailing Center!