Gregg Wachtelhausen

Gregg Wachtelhausen is an earth science teacher on the south shore of Massachusetts, traveler, outdoorsman, and self-admitted “geo-nerd.” Gregg studied geosciences at the University of CT and has numerous earth science related field research experiences that span the globe from the deserts to the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. He is proud to have the most extensive rock and exotic sand collections of anyone he knows. At his school, Gregg is an advisor to an outdoor adventure club, which brings his middle schoolers on hiking, camping, kayaking, climbing, biking, skiing, and whitewater rafting trips throughout New England. He has been on both sides of the Grand Classroom experience as a teacher bringing his own students and as guide for others. Gregg is passionate about travel, exploration, adventure, and aloha shirts and finds great satisfaction in helping to instill this appreciation in others.

Grand Classroom Staff
J.T. Maxwell, Founder, Grand Classroom

J.T. Maxwell practically invented student travel to National Parks. He has been involved with student travel for twenty-two years and has a passion for the outdoors and for parks of the west.

...
John Raymond, Director of Sales and Marketing

John is in charge of the sales effort for Grand Classroom and has been in student travel for eighteen years. He is an avid sports fan whose humor and wit carries the day. A graduate o

...
Jon Taffe

Jon has spent his entire ten-year career in student travel, and is currently a full-time salesperson and seasonal guide. Jon is known as the medium sized “Jon” in the office. Jon is

...
Dave Henley

Dave has been with Grand Classroom since 2004 and has helped it grow into the company it is today. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Dave oversees operations and web development when not

...
Steve Raymond

Director of Customer Service and Account Management

Steve comes to Grand Classroom with fifteen years of experience in stu

...
Eric Scholz

Eric has been working with student groups and travel for most of his adult life and has loved every minute of it. Eric, affectionately nicknamed “Ewok” for his affinity for Star Wars as a yo

...
Courtney Taffe

Courtney joined Grand Classroom as an account manager in summer 2011 with 6 years of student travel experience. After moving to Charlottesville, VA from the Washington DC area, Courtney met her h

...
Greg Mondello

Greg started working with Grand Classroom shortly after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Environmental Science. He was exposed to many overnight wilderness camps

...
Sarah Perkinson

Sarah Perkinson graduated from James Madison University in 2009 where she studied political science and nonprofit studies. Born and raised in Virginia, Sarah has always enjoyed the outdoors, esp

...
Michael Barger

Michael Barger has shared the title “sons of nerds” with his brother since infancy, witnessed intense riots of jealousy over his locks of red hair from older women since birth, and found true

...
Matt Grady

Passionate enthusiast in almost everything he participates in, Matt joins Grand Classroom and our sales team with 13 years of experience. While in school and bartending at the MCI arena Matt deci

...
Jim Harshaw

Jim graduated from the University of Virginia in 1999 with his bachelors in environmental science and a Master of teaching. After graduation, he led educational travel tours where he met his

...
Eddie Jones

Eddie graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Archaeology. After shovelbuming around the country and being what most consider a super hero of history, he decided to return

...
Kelsey Vacco

Kelsey is a local girl. She grew up 15 miles north of Charlottesville, VA at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains where the most spectacular views could be seen just minutes from

...
Curt Power

Raised in wild and wonderful West Virginia, a love of the outdoors was instilled in Curt at an early age. After attending the prestigouis John Handley High School he traveled south to Bridge

...
Adrah Parafiniuk

Adrah was born the oldest of 8 children and knew he was born to lead but he didn't know where to lead; not then. When not working for non-profits or teaching, Adrah is found in the garden, in th

...
Gregg Wachtelhausen

Gregg Wachtelhausen is an earth science teacher on the south shore of Massachusetts, traveler, outdoorsman, and self-admitted “geo-nerd.” Gregg studied geosciences at the University of CT an

...
Ryanne Seibert

Ryanne grew up in a small town in the foothills of Colorado. Every day was spent outdoors fostering her love and appreciation for the environment. As a child Ryanne passed time on camping trips wit

...
Steven Williams

With his chiseled features, and great depth of character it’s no wonder Steven was drawn to the Grand Canyon. Brought up in the concrete jungle of Dallas, Texas, Steven found himself often maki

...
Eric Retterbush

Eric currently resides on planet Earth and doesn't plan on moving from here for a little while. Mostly because he has too much fun romping around and giggling in the many beautiful places Earth

...
Kris Dohse

Kris Dohse was born and raised on the Colorado Plateau in Flagstaff Arizona which means he is one of the few left, of a rare mysterious sub group of the species guidesapien. Kris spent most of hi

...
Bob Cheeseman

Bob started with an early passion for the great outdoors, reinforced by May trips and summers around New England's lakes and mountains. Several trips as young man to Colorado's Rocky Mountains ma

...
Lauren Neese

Lauren Neese grew up living next door to JT and Robin Maxwell, owners of Grand Classroom. She is a huge environmental enthusiast, and graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a degre

...
Kristen Miller

As a tiny girl in a bathing suit and towel cape, Kristen roamed her backyard as a kid: climbing trees, her swingset, and saving squirrels from evil forces. A corn-fed Indiana girl, but a westerne

...
Tom Cunnings

Teacher, student, acrobat, yogi, naturalist... Tom wears a lot of hats. Before romping through the southwest, Tom grew up in the Bay Area enjoying the beauty of its natural environments. Since t

...