Our Experienced Staff:
Keith Archung
A 5th grade teacher at the Winthrop School since 1997, Mr. Archung has been involved in the field of outdoor education, leading groups of children up mountainsides, down rivers, over rock faces, through the woods and into the ocean, for over 20 years. In June of 1992, he got his start working alongside Bill Havey in the City of Peabody’s outdoor education program. Much of that summer was spent high in the treetops, guiding children through the program's two ropes courses, and helping them explore the diverse natural habitats of the woodlands and ponds surrounding Brooksby Farm. What began as a summer job quickly turned into a year-round passion, and after spending 13 years teaching kids to climb, hike, paddle, ski and sail with Peabody’s outdoor education program, he started up Ipswich Outdoor Adventures in the summer of 2006. Originally intended for elementary school students, the program has expanded to include offerings for middle school students as well. The idea behind the program is, and always has been, to get kids outdoors, exploring the incredible natural resources our area has to offer, while at the same time providing them with opportunities to challenge themselves in new and exciting ways.
Dawn Mesite
A fifth grade teacher in the Chelmsford Public School system, Dawn has been involved in the field of outdoor education since 2006, getting her start with Ipswich Outdoor Adventures as one of its original staff members. Since day one, Dawn's background in education, combined with her enthusiasm for teaching children and her love of the outdoors, have made her an invaluable member of the staff and a perfect fit for the program. Experienced in belaying, hiking, paddling and confounding kids with riddles, she'll be back this July for her tenth summer, looking forward to a few more leisurely canoe trips up and down the Ipswich River.
Ed Goss
Formerly the athletic director at Presentation of Mary Academy, in Hudson, NH, and a fourth grade teacher at the Winthrop Elementary School, Mr. Goss joined the staff of Ipswich Outdoor Adventures in June of 2007. After assisting Mr. Archung on several rock climbs with 5th graders earlier that spring (and not dropping a single one), Mr. Goss jumped on board to fill the void created when original staff member, Derek Chawalit, was lured away by a much more lucrative job in the real world. Bringing an impressive background in education and plenty of experience working with children in the classroom, as well as on the gymnastics floor, Mr. Goss has been an integral part of the program ever since. He returns this July for his tenth summer.