Gelsey Malferrari-co-founder, head instructor
Gelsey was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado on a community farm. Coming from a bilingual family, she spent many summers in Italy. Her passion for art was nurtured throughout her Waldorf education, and influences her to this very day. She graduated from Warren Wilson College in North Carolina and received a BA in Integrative Studies in 2006. At Laughing Coyote, Gelsey is the mistress of the garden, seed saving and all artistic endeavors. She is currently studying herbalism. Canning and preserving take up much of her time in the summer, and fiber arts in the winter. When not teaching she can found cooking, knitting, making baskets and experimenting with natural pigments.
Neal Ritter- co-founder, head instructor
Neal has been inspired by nature since childhood. He spent his wandering years hitchhiking through many foreign countries, and studying tracking and survival skills at the world-renowned Tracker School and Wilderness Awareness School. He is deeply passionate about the traditions of our ancestors, and seeks out anyone practicing skills to continue learning. He has a unique perspective of education, and he teaches with infectious enthusiasm through games, bird language, the skills of the ancient scouts, and storytelling. Neal spends his free time bowmaking, exploring the surrounding areas tracking and practicing parkour and martial arts.
Sam Ritter-assistant instructor
Sam is an enthusiastic musician, poet, blacksmith, outdoorsman and student. After thirteen years of Waldorf education, he is now a self-guided learner seeking out the mysteries of life. Sam has been helping at Laughing Coyote almost since its inception, and has studied the primitive arts at the Wilderness Awareness School and on his own with the instruction of his older brother Neal. In and around his other activities, Sam enjoys composing music, teaching violin, practicing martial arts, and eating really good food. He can often be spotted playing a game of volleyball or ultimate Frisbee, or else practicing the bowdrill, throwing stick, or knitting.
Claudia McLaren-Lainson, therapeutic mentor
Claudia is a teacher and therapeutic educator. She has been working therapeutically with children since 1980. Through her work it became clear that nature was what children needed as an antidote to all the emotional stresses the fast-paced culture was creating. In 2003 she and her husband founded Windrose Academy on their farm in Lafayette. The results of working with children in nature and with animals became immediately apparent. In the Fall of 2007 Gelsey and Neal entered into a collaboration with Windrose Academy to create the Laughing Coyote Project. Claudia serves as mentor and therapeutic advisor to the programs and meets regularly with the children.