A Note on the founder and director of La Plata Field School
Laurel B. Barton
Laurel holds an MA in Peace Education from the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica and a BA in Humanities from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
Her educational philosophy is built on and influenced by her Waldorf education and her graduate experience in Peace Education, which explicitly aims to inspire students to work for peace and justice in their communities and abroad. Laurel has worked for a college prep high school, a charter school, and for the past twelve years in the outdoor education field and for international service learning organizations in Latin America, West and East Africa and the United States. Laurel views education as a lifelong process and believes that young people benefit when they are given opportunities to reinvent themselves in new social climates. Born and raised in the southwest US, she is thrilled to be working on her lifelong dream of creating the La Plata Field School.
La Plata Field School Educators have a combination of expertise in the field in which they teach, are skilled outdoor educators and also possess an in-depth understanding, and love for working with high school students.
Educators
Laurel Barton, MA is an educator in the arts, social studies, history, communications, river rafting and kayaking. She holds a BA in Art from Fort Lewis College and an MA in Peace Education from the United Nations University for Peace, Costa Rica.
Rodrick Kaskalla BA Fort Lewis College
Rod joined Laurel in designing the first LPFS program in 2010. Rod is a member of the Zuni tribe and married into the Nambe tribe of New Mexico. Rod has decades of experience working with young people in leadership development and is currently the director of the Nambe tribes office of domestic violence and substance abuse prevention programs.
Nicholas Foster
Field Instructor/Drumming and Music Instructor
Nicholas joined LPFS in 2011 as a leader for our Nambe Community Service Program. Nicholas comes to us with 5 plus years as a Wilderness Therapy Guide, and has worked with many populations of people especially in the "at-risk"and mental health world. Nicholas posseses unique abilities and skills in working with young people, he is an accomplished musician and a student/teacher of West African drumming and dance.
Michael Barton
Michael Barton, Laurel's big brother, is a skilled science educator, backcountry ski instructor and river leader. Michael is a refined role model and adventurer of the outdoors, he has worked for Deer Hill Expeditions and Silverton Mountain Ski area for the past decade and has been a leader in Wilderness education in the San Juans and Four Corners with his own company Mountain Goat Ski Guides and also the
Snow and Avalanche Center in Silverton, CO. He is currently studying at Fort Lewis College, CO.
Snow and Avalanche Center in Silverton, CO. He is currently studying at Fort Lewis College, CO.