Meet our Staff - Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary

Ryan Harlow, Director of Youth Education

—

Ryan has deep roots in Vermont. Currently a Barre resident, he, like many of the students who attend Sage Mountain’s programs, spent his childhood wandering the fields, forests, mountains, ponds, and streams that patchwork and crisscross our beautiful state. Nor has this compulsion to wander dissipated over the years, and you shouldn’t be surprised if you spot him riding his bicycle in the Barre Cow Pasture, kayaking on Waterbury Reservoir, or hiking the 600 acres of wilderness that is Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary.

Ryan’s twin passions are pedagogy and outdoor education. Having held positions at various Vermont schools, child care programs, and state parks over the years, he brings to his work a wealth of knowledge gained through extensive experience. And whether sitting at a desk or at a campfire, he is committed to leveraging that experience in ways that foster a love for the outdoors in new generations of wilderness wanderers.

It is Ryan’s philosophy that children should generally be allowed to learn—not forced to learn—and that the child, the parent/guardian, and the educator are all equally important partners in that learning process. Whether families are longtime members of the Sage Mountain community or are exploring what our programs have to offer for the very first time, his hope is that parents and guardians will always feel welcome to give him a call, send him a text, or schedule a visit.

Kaleb Lemieux, Youth Program Facilitator + Transportation Director

—

Kaleb is a native Vermonter, and like many kids who walk through Sage Mountain’s doors, he grew up exploring the woods, waters, and back roads that make this state what it is. That connection to the outdoors has stayed with him. These days he’s just as likely to be found with a fishing rod in hand or out hunting as he is leading a group of kids on a trail.

Kaleb comes to Sage Mountain from a background working with youth with high needs in local school districts, and that experience shapes how he shows up for the kids in our Afterschool in Nature program, with patience, steadiness, and an eye for what each child needs to feel safe and ready to learn. As Youth Program Facilitator and Transportation Manager, he wears two hats: guiding programming in the field and making sure kids get safely to and from the program.

Whether he’s teaching a skill, sitting quietly by a stream, or just letting kids be kids in the woods, Kaleb believes that nature does a lot of the teaching itself, and his job is to help make space for that.

Kaz Jewett, Youth Program Facilitator

—

Kaz is a born-and-raised Vermonter and Barre native; having graduated Spaulding High School in 2025 alongside Central Vermont Career Center(DMA: Graphic Design), he has a deep passion for the community and its wellbeing. Currently attending VTSU Castleton for a Theatre Arts degree, Kaz is a thespian at heart. Recently realizing his affinity for childcare and afterschool services, he is also pursuing an Afterschool Education Certificate at CCV.

Having spent high school working in various senior living centers in Barre, Kaz is well versed on sensitive care. After being accepted into a Youth Leadership program with Outright VT, Kaz realized gentle and well-informed care applies to youth as well, especially those who already feel like outsiders. He believes every person, young or old, deserves care that will genuinely benefit their mental and physical well-being.

In his free time, Kaz prioritizes learning new crafty skills, and spending time with his loved ones. He loves to draw, sew, write, decorate, and especially to play DND! By learning new things and growing in his career at Sage, Kaz hopes to send your kiddos home with new skills that are applicable to their art, as well as their lives!

Return to Afterschool in Nature