Sean O’Brien
Chief Executive Officer
Sean has been involved in the non-profit and education fields for the past 30 years in various capacities. He specializes in Youth Leadership development; empowering youth to live and promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle; specifically in the training of student leaders to implement alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention strategies in their schools and communities as well as improving school climate through experiential activities and open dialogue.
As the CEO of Adapt, Inc. Sean has grown the program significantly thanks to funding from various sources including Federal, State, County, Town and foundation funds for age appropriate and developmentally based programs. These programs include:
Teaching students about the dangers of emerging drugs, provide family and community activities designed to set clear expectations against use of illegal substances and appropriate consequences for such behaviors.
Dissemination of drug prevention information to schools and communities throughout the North Country of New Hampshire.
Professional development and training for school personnel, parents, and/or community members in mentoring, prevention education, early identification, intervention.
Referral services as well as community-wide planning and activities to reduce substance use and abuse.
In the education field, for the past 20 years Sean implemented the evidence based Project SUCCESS and Project Venture curriculums at Lin-Wood and Profile Public School as well as in a number of other middle and high schools throughout the North Country of New Hampshire. He has consulted with North Country Education Services as well as North Country Health Consortium since ‘07 as the creator and Regional Coordinator of the Youth Leadership Through Adventure (YLTA) program, Project Venture, and Project SUCCESS and CMCA Evidence Based programs. In the summer of ‘11 he began the Youth Leadership Through Adventure (YLTA) Summer Leadership Institute. This course provides students with a comprehensive approach to the development of youth as leaders. This course has since been restructured under our Wilderness Youth Leadership Development (WYLD) program.
Sean is originally from Long Island, New York. He came to New Hampshire to attend Plymouth State College and immediately fell in love with the area. He enjoys hiking, biking, swimming, rock climbing, cooking and traveling. He's been married to his wife, Tanya, for twenty eight years and has two beautiful children. He and his wife adopted their daughter, Lily, from China and their son, Zeland, from Ethiopia.
Madeline
Director of Positive Youth Development
Growing up in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, Madeline holds a deep appreciation for the woods, water, and mountains that surround her home. Madeline holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science with a focus in Sustainable Agriculture from Northern Vermont University. Following graduation Madeline spent a year at NorthWoods Stewardship Center where she led outdoor adventure trips and delivered environmental education programs to students all across northern Vermont. It is during her time at NorthWoods, teaching kids about being stewards of our natural environment, which sparked her interest in being an educator. Moving back to the White Mountains Madeline began working at Mountain Village Charter School, a public nature-based Montessori school. For five years Madeline taught students in first through third grades in all subject areas. Using her knowledge of the natural world Madeline enjoyed teaching students in the outdoor classroom lessons of scientific observation, tree identification and animal tracking. When Madeline is not in the classroom she is often walking the banks of a river in search of wild trout, sliding on snow through the woods on her skis, or spending time with her husband Mackenzie and their dog Fern
Luke
Programs Facilitator
Luke grew up in Connecticut traveling north to the White Mountains regularly for backpacking, rock climbing and ice climbing. He has lived in the north country for nearly 10 years. He graduated from Vermont State University with a degree in Outdoor Education/Adventure Leadership and has been working with guide services and outdoor education companies for the last 6 years or so. With a huge passion for all things outdoors, you would most likely find Luke wandering around the rivers of Franconia Notch and rock climbing on the Eaglet; a local rock climbing favorite. He is excited to share his love for the outdoor world with the next generation.
Alyson
Programs Facilitator
Alyson was born and raised in New Hampshire. She studied at Plymouth State University and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Adventure Education. After graduating, she worked as a wilderness therapy guide for a year and a half doing backpacking, canoe trips, mindfulness and therapeutic activities with kids in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She has always strived to educate others on appreciation and knowledge for the outdoor world.
Alyson has always had a love for the natural world, she enjoys canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, birding, spending time with her cat Padfoot, and her dog Appa.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors consists of community members from the towns which we serve.
Heather Krill
Matt Saladino
Janet Peltier
Greg Williams
Teneil Tornino
Correy Hart