Our Community
Zach (Maui) Jones
Founder & Managing Director
Zach (Maui) Jones, 33, has been passionate about the natural world since childhood, participating in various outdoor education programs. Experiences with organizations like Deep Wild, 7-Arrows, Rites of Passage like solos and Sacred Fire, guided by an elder of the Ottawa tribe, along with explorations of the forests in the Hudson Valley, nurtured that passion. From a young age, Zach recognized that not everyone has the same opportunity to engage with the wonders of nature. Moving between different cultures, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds, Zach has always aimed to help individuals, whether peers, participants, or students, see themselves in and find connections to the natural world, however that may manifest. All of this led Zach to create his outdoor education company, Our Elements, with the mission “Community supporting community, cultivating unity as we deepen our connection with the natural world.”
Previously, Zach served as an Associate Director at Wild Earth, where he led the WE Middle School initiative in collaboration with the New York School System in the Kingston, NY area, making the natural world more accessible to students. His work focused on supporting BIPOC students and marginalized communities, with an emphasis on social-emotional learning and nature-based skills. Over his career, Zach has worked with approximately 4,000 to 5,000 students from Kindergarten to 8th grade. He also oversaw the WE Summer Camp Program, providing a more immersive experience in nature.
When he is not working with community groups, Zach dedicates time to self-growth. He has traveled to 34 countries, broadening his worldview while connecting with and learning from various cultures. Zach obtained his Bachelor's degree in Global Environmental Studies from Clark University and is committed to ongoing education, obtaining numerous certifications, including WFA, WFR, and New York Water Safety certification, with plans to become a NY state guide soon. Zach enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including traveling, cooking, photography, mountain biking, surfing, snowboarding, and scuba diving.
Caleb Mercado
Leadership Programs & Teen Consultant / Mentor
Caleb has dedicated over two decades of his career to non-profit work, with a steadfast focus on community advocacy for underserved youth. Early in his career, he served with the T.R.I.O. Program at SUNY Orange, where he worked to ensure that low-income students, students with disabilities, and first-generation college students had the resources and support they needed to succeed and graduate. Building on that foundation, in his last role, his deep commitment to empowering the next generation led him to develop an internship program for high school students designed to cultivate leadership skills while opening doors to college and career pathways. Through the program, students stepped into roles as mentors and educators within their own communities, while also gaining real-world experience navigating the job application process and what it means to work within a professional environment. Along the way, he discovered that some of the most meaningful moments of connection happen outside the classroom, whether that's guiding students through the art of maple tapping or simply sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world.
Now at Our Elements, Caleb brings that same passion and purpose to the outdoors, using nature as both a classroom and a teacher. Through hands-on experiences in outdoor spaces, he works to offer meaningful support, build lasting life skills, and nurture a sense of environmental awareness in every community he serves. For Caleb, the work has always been about more than programs; it's about showing young people that they belong in every space, including outdoors.
Leidy Flores
Bilingual Consultant & Instructor/ Mentor
Leidy is based out of Boulder, Colorado, where she has had the opportunity to serve the community as an environmental educator, naturalist and community connector. She is currently serving as a bilingual education and outreach senior representative for City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. Her experience in the outdoors growing up in Boulder has enabled her to address barriers and inequities to outdoor access. She is deeply passionate about co-creating relevant and meaningful experiences with underrepresented youth and families in outdoor spaces. During her time off, she enjoys hiking with family and friends as well as taking a lot of photos.
Alexander Jones
Conservation Education Specialist / Mentor
Alex is an experienced wildlife educator and conservation professional dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for wildlife, ecology, and conservation for the next generation. Their career includes hands-on conservation work with at-risk species, such as Spotted Turtles, Blanding’s Turtles, Bog Turtles and Timber Rattlesnakes, as well as extensive experience leading educational programs for students and the public.
They have worked in a variety of field-based roles, ranging from wildlife guiding to data collection. Alex served as Vice President of SUNY ESF’s Herpetology Club, where they helped organize educational events, field outings, and lectures focused on reptiles, amphibians, and habitat conservation.
Their expertise spans herpetology, ornithology, mycology, and also includes broader ecological systems. Outside of formal education work, Alex is an active herper, birdwatcher and wildlife photographer, using these pursuits to further connect people with the natural world. Through education, field experience, and community engagement, their goal is to inspire curiosity, respect, and stewardship for wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on.
Abby Schmeichel
Digital Consultant
Abby is an environmental scientist, educator, and communications specialist. She loves inspiring a passion for the natural world in others through outdoor, hands-on learning and storytelling. She is excited to work with Our Elements in the areas of website and graphic design, administrative process creation, and general organizational support. When Abby isn’t behind a computer she’s usually reading, making music, enjoying a bagel, or out on a walk in the woods. Want to work with Abby or see some of her other work? Visit www.abbyschmeichel.com