Staff

Dave Freeman, Executive Director, is the driving force behind the Wilderness Classroom’s programming. Dave does it all, from planning and executing expeditions to maintaining our website. Each year Dave conducts hundreds of school assemblies, introducing students to our online expeditions and familiarizing them with the wilderness locations we explore.

Dave graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder where he studied Biology and Anthropology. Dave is also a web master, programmer, and wilderness guide. He has worked as a dogsledding, sea kayaking, and canoeing instructor for 15 years, introducing hundreds of people to wilderness travel.

His first Wilderness Classroom expedition was solo. During the Border Country Adventure in 2001, Dave used a lap top computer and satellite phone to post journals, photos, and other educational resources to the internet to a handful of classrooms across the country. This has been the foundation from which the Wilderness Classroom has grown. During the last eight years he has played a vital role in the development and implementation of every online expedition.

Amy Voytilla, Director of Development, is always on the lookout for new sponsorship or grant opportunities. She also plays a role in PR/marketing and fundraising events.

Amy has a Masters Degree in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in addition to a BA from Macalester College in Studio Art and Psychology.

The Superior Waters Project (2006) was Amy’s first Wilderness Classroom expedition. She has spent six years guiding kayak and dogsledding trips in northern Minnesota, exposing people of all ages to the wild shores of Lake Superior and the beauty of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Amy also participated in the Trans-Amazon Expedition (2007-2008), which involved cycling and paddling 3,000 miles across South America from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

Eric Frost , Director of Education, develops, writes, and implements our online and printed curriculum. Eric is a founding member of Wilderness Classroom and he donates hundreds of hours each year to help reach out to students across the country.

Eric graduated from Ohio University where he studied Education and English. A public school teacher for several years, he has taught students from preschool to high school in a variety of subjects throughout the United States and Asia. Eric also spent eight summers introducing students and adults to the wonders of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness while working for Sawbill Canoe Outfitters in Northern Minnesota.

Eric’s first online expedition was the Big Muddy Adventure in the fall of 2001. Since then Eric has been instrumental in nine Wilderness Classroom expeditions. Eric is a strong advocate for wilderness preservation and education, believing that students can make a global impact through their actions.