The Team

While we love getting to know people face to face, meet our passionate crew in the meantime!

Emily Blau, Director

Emily has the distinct honor to be Nurture Through Nature’s next guardian and she humbly bows to NTN roots and the community that has gathered on the mountain. NTN is the culmination of all of Emily’s personal, professional, and academic interests and this is absolutely a dream come true for her. Emily is an avid traveler and hit all seven continents before her 20th birthday.

She has a master’s degree in Sustainable Development where she spent time studying a matriarchal indigenous community in Costa Rica. She has been a yoga teacher for many years, clocking in over 500 hours of teacher training and has taught hundreds of classes.

Emily is a proud breast cancer survivor and will continue to make sure that NTN can be a healing respite for all those who are touched by chronic illness. When Emily is not with NTN, she is exploring the many hidden gems of Maine, tinkering in her metalsmith studio, and snuggling with her four-legged puppy shadow, Sesame. The two of them are so excited to see you on the mountain and the mat.

Believe it or not, this Los Angeles native loves Maine winters! Everything glistens and adventures are endless.
Sesame always manages to find turkeys on the land. Did you know that turkeys symbolize strength, courage and abundance? Now you do! Emily could spend hours chasing the sounds of a woodpecker, especially a pileated one. A woodpecker symbolizes creativity and optimism. How fitting!
While there are so many amazing activities to chose from, Emily loves getting to know the guests that come from all over. Nature truly is a great equalizer.
You have to drag Emily out of the yoga room where she spends hours planning classes, warming her feet by the wood-fired stove, and if there are crystal bowls being played nearby, good luck getting her out of there! She is eager to see what NTN becomes in the coming years and is looking forward to collaborating with the community.

Ask Emily…

Mer Deraspe, Booking Manager

Working in the financial industry for 30+ years, all the while wishing and dreaming of being self-employed–not a dream Mer could undertake with the responsibility of caring for three children, a mortgage, health insurance, dogs, cats, hamsters, and a goldfish.

Well, children grow and leave the nest and with the loss of her Mom and best friend, self-employment was the next phase for her, finally! Nurture Through Nature turned a dream into reality. Freedom. Nurture Through Nature keeps Mer busy and fulfilled as the booking reservationist and manager of staff. Mer’s children have brought forth 4 gorgeous, lively children that make her heart explode! As Mer so beautifully says “Life is full, life is good…”

Living and working in the Lakes & Mountains Region of Maine is the coolest place to be. The crystal clear Lakes for swimming/boating are plentiful, the spectacular mountains revealing a rainbow of brilliant colors in Autumn, just everything!
Mer has come across deer, fox, owls and love watching the birds & squirrels get along taking turns in the bird feeders-working it out.
Mer loves working with the guests in booking their private sauna or overnight stays in a Yurt or off-grid cabin experience. Folks love the land; 33 private, forested acres on Pleasant Mountain - what's not to love?

Ask Mer…

Jay Lagasse, Program Manager

Jay is a native Mainer who has a deep passion for nature and an insatiable curiosity about the mysteries of life. He has a positive and upbeat demeanor, and has a knack for finding humor in most situations. Jay finds great fulfillment in cultivating food and fostering meaningful relationships, valuing the connections he forms with others. His trustworthy nature has led him to becoming the support system for retreats and workshops at NTN.

In his leisure time, Jay can be found enjoying the company of his beloved dog, Boopie. He also indulges in outdoor activities such as skiing, mountain biking, and fishing. These pursuits allow him to further connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of the world around him. With his enthusiasm for life and his love for laughter, Jay embraces every opportunity to make the most of each moment.

Jay’s favorite season at NTN is winter! Everything looks beautiful covered in snow, and using the sauna pairs well with snow Angels.
Jay has had some incredible run in’s with fireflies and owls at NTN and each run-in is more special than the last!
Jay loves using the sauna and dipping in the creek. What do you call two people arguing in a sauna? A heated debate!

Ask Jay…

Jeanine Webber, Sauna Lighter and Land Keeper

Jeanine is a steward of NTN’s land and a sauna curator. When not on the mountain she is frolicking with her dog at the river to reflect and connect or tending to her gardens and plant collection. Jeanine has a nomadic soul with an affinity for stones, crystals, and unique sticks and observing weird anomalies of the natural world. Following remarkable years in the hospitality industry, Jeanine relocated to care for her mother in her final stage of life. Although the drastic change of pace initially intimidated Jeanine, she has enthusiastically traded her martini shaker for hiking boots.

Midwinter! It is quiet and offers infinite stillness.
Being greeted by a deer while leaving the sauna. They stared at each other for a solid 30 seconds.
Oh the sauna!

Ask Jeanine…

Dawn Crowe, Sauna Lighter and Land Keeper

Hey! Have you met Dawn? Dawn Crowe? If you haven't yet she may be down at the sauna lighting fires and splitting wood. Or maybe making the cabins and yurts nice for visitors to the mountain. Most of the time she's in Lovell with her family, playing games, hiking Sabattus Mountain, swimming in Kezar Lake, making a snowman or walking the dog, depending on the weather. Of course there are always great books to read too, her favorite book is "Little, Big" by John Crowley. She said rereading that book is like putting on the comfiest sweater, whatever that means. Her black cat Bonnie thinks it's pretty darn comfy when Dawn decides to take a break and sit in bed to read during the day ~ extravagant isn't it? They do say it's important to rest. She practices martial arts (mostly Karate with some Tai Chi mixed in) and that can make your brain and body tired. In a good way, a very good way. Coffee and snacks help with that too. She's all about self-care and hopes that you give yourself the attention you need and deserve. “Are you sure,” she said, looking within, “that this is where I’m spose to be?” “Oh, it certainly is.” “Boy. It’s real little in here.” “Oh, yes it is. Won’t you please step right on in.”
― John Crowley, Little, Big

Autumn! There's nothing like breathing in that crisp, cool mountain air and sensing nature settling in for the winter. So cozy to have a nice fire and listen to the brook.
The coolest animal Dawn has seen is non-scary bobcat. Also, slithery snakes and cool spotted salamanders. To be honest though, NTN’s resident dog is the highlight of a trip to NTN.
Hiking and sitting by the brook are my favorite activities, oh, and playing with the dog.