Two Coyotes Wilderness School has brought in Maggie Gotterer to be its new executive director as former executive director Justin Pegnataro stepped down in August to pursue a career in mental health counseling.

  At the end of September, the Two Coyotes community gathered for a potluck and contra dance at White Memorial in Litchfield for a celebration and honoring of Pegnataro’s contribution as executive director. His 11 years of leadership and service were pivotal in creating and spearheading long-term mentoring and transformational growth through intensive wilderness experiences at Two Coyotes.

  Incoming executive director Maggie Gotterer comes to Two Coyotes with eight years of experience in nonprofit management,
specializing in grant writing, strategic planning, collaborative partnerships and program development. She has worked to improve quality of life and access to opportunity for Bridgeport residents through her work as an independent consultant and serving on several boards, including the City of Bridgeport Food Policy Council, Green Village Initiative and others.

  Since Gotterer began in August, Two Coyotes has run a week-long, pro bono program with a public Montessori school in Hartford, and launched its newest initiative, Forest Learning Program. They also recently welcomed over 100 students to their Coyote Village Fall Homeschool programs in Newtown, Granby and Killingworth.

  “Taking on this leadership role at Two Coyotes is a true gift to me. My love for the outdoors was cultivated at an early age growing up in Redding, Connecticut, and summers in Maine. My husband and I met as outdoor adventure guides at Georgetown University. We are excited to be raising a family in the Two Coyotes community,” Gotterer says.

For more information about Two Coyotes Wilderness School, visit TwoCoyotes.org.