Gwen Merkin
MA City Planning, LEED AP, Wild Earth Teacher Training, Certificate in Ecopsychology
Gwen is a climate and cultural repair activist. In addition to Wayfinders, Gwen consults with individuals and families working to reduce their carbon footprint, and to inspire and transform neighborhoods and communities.
She spent 11 years managing Corporate Sustainability and ESG programs at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) working with REITs on strategic sustainability and culture change. She worked at Cushman & Wakefield as a Sustainability Strategist, Steven Winter Associates as a Sustainability Consultant, and at the New York City Department of City Planning in Environmental Review.
Gwen's experience completing the Wild Earth Apprenticeship & Teacher Training - an in-depth experiential training on nature mentoring, wilderness living skills, & creating connective nature experiences - motivated her to fulfill her long-standing dream of developing Wayfinders.
Gwen was Chair of the Aligned Center Mentorship Program, life cycles teacher at Slide Ranch, K-12 curriculum developer for the Service-Learning Waste Management Program, Training Director for Amigos volunteers in community organizing & Spanish, conference and protest organizer for the Native Forest Network, City Repair community organizer in Portland, OR, and developer and teacher of a UVM course on Ecopsychology.
She completed her BA in Environmental Studies and Sociology from UVM and received her MA in Urban and Region Planning from PSU.
Gwen strongly believes in Wayfinders mission to provide youth with the tools to prepare for and become leaders of their generation.