Scott Brinton
Co-founder/Executive Director

Scott has over two decades of nature education experience. He has mentored hundreds of students in practical wilderness skills and nature awareness. He co-founded the Riekes Nature Studies Department in California, has taught Environmental Science for Peninsula College, and taught Islandwood’s graduate students in the Natural History and Ecology program. Most recently, Scott founded CedarRoot to help continue natural history and rural skills education. 

Scott is passionate about applying ecological lessons discovered in nature to areas of regenerative design, sustainable development and agroecology. Education: B.A. in Agriculture and Alternative Energy, The Evergreen State College; M.A. in Natural History and Education, Prescott College. Certifications: Current Wilderness First Responder and Level 3 Track and Sign certificate trackercertification.com

Tim Lawson
Board President

Tim moved to Port Townsend in 2004 and set up shop as a furniture maker. In 2007 he co-founded the Port Townsend School of Woodworking and in 2011 became the Executive Director. Since retiring in 2017, Tim continues to teach at the school and helps organize the annual Port Townsend Woodworkers Show.

In prior lives Tim worked as a field geologist in the UK, has done mineral exploration in NW Queensland and led software engineering teams in the UK, Japan, and the U.S.

Beverly Schaaf
Board Treasurer

Bev Schaaf serves as Treasurer of CedarRoot School. Now retired, she worked for many years alongside accounting professionals in the non-profit sector, gaining an understanding of nonprofit accounting practices. Besides supporting CedarRoot, she is an avid gardener, a music lover, and a devoted grandmother.

Rachael Van Laanen
Board Member

Rachel runs Mystery Bay Farm, a micro-goat dairy on Marrowstone Island. She received a BA in Ecology and Education which led her to teach environmental and garden based education for 10 years. She then followed her passions to the world of farming and co-ran a diversified organic vegetable farm for three years. While working on her dairy business plan she worked with Mt Townsend Creamery during their first two years in operation and helped nurture a school garden at Islandwood. She is kept on her toes by her two growing children and over 25 goats!

Michelle Fox
Program Coordinator

Michelle recently moved here from SW Washington and is thrilled to live on the Olympic Peninsula. She is most at home in the forest and is finding a deep love for the Salish Sea. For the last ten years, Michelle was the founding director of a non-profit nature awareness organization very much like CedarRoot, work that prepared her well for her new position as Program Coordinator. Michelle also led the youth nature immersion programs during those ten years and looks forward to getting involved in CedarRoot’s work with children.

Jadyne Reichner
Superstar Volunteer!

Jadyne has a long history with CedarRoot:  founding board member, instructor and advocate for a strong educational program that mentors adults and children in life skills that embrace their local biome. She is continuing her support of CedarRoot as an outreach volunteer… always ready to spread the good news about our school.   

Jadyne followed 25 years of teaching Biology and Science in Washington with several other careers.