Aimee Gelinas (B.S. ’96, M.Ed ’09) is a naturalist, educator, musician and artisan who co-founded and directs the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center, an educational non-profit organization in Windsor, MA. She has been performing, teaching, developing curriculum and facilitating educational programs for over 25 years. Ms. Gelinas is a multi-faceted leader whose accomplishments and career paths include: ~Director & Co-Founder the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center, a tax exempt non-profit dedicated to conserving and educating about Boreal Spruce-Fir Forests. Visit www.tamarackhollownatureandculturalcenter.org ~Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences and Anthropology from UMASS, Amherst. ~M.Ed. from MCLA in Curriculum and Instruction development in Environmental and Cultural Education. Thesis topic: The importance of hands-on learning in drumming and nature experiences. ~Resides in the Berkshires where she professionally performs and instructs drumming and singing (West African, Afro-Caribbean and Latin genres), teaches place based environmental education programs and is a nature photographer and natural jewelry artisan. ~Co-founded and performs in the all women world music percussion and vocal performance ensemble Gaia Roots (CD “Mother Drum” available now), co-founded and lead sings in an original rock group Sifer (CD “Divinity or Demise” available now), co-founded sings and plays conga with the Latin group Trio Candela and performs with the Cuban ensemble Iroko Nuevo. ~Teaches and develops environmental and cultural classes, content and curriculums for all ages. ~See the contact page to arrange a program for your setting! Recent Accomplishments 2022 & 2023 ~Featured performance artist at Tanglewood for the Berkshire Community College Commencement ’22 & ’23 ~Level 1 Certified Track and Sign Certified by CyberTracker, an internationally renowned tracking certification program ~Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard and ACA Certified ~Completed two online certification programs with the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine: >Foraging, herbal medicine and botany >Herbal Medicine Making ~Assisted her non-profit in conserving an additional 56 acres of forest and receiving a $50,000 grant match from the Mass Cultural Council to build a sustainable nature center ~Featured performance artist at Jacob’s Pillow for the community day and dance/drum class accompaniment 2021 ~Featured presenter at the annual MEES (Massachusetts Environmental Education Conference) 2019 ~Featured presenter at the 5th annual Berkshire Natural History Conference at the Clark Art Institute ~Featured drum/artist presenter for SPIRITFEST at Kripalu Yoga Center & at Jacob’s Pillow 2018 ~Led a corporate drumming program for over 250 participants for SPOTIFY at One Hotel in Brooklyn for their America’s team training! 2016/2017: ~Led a drumming program at Bay Path University & Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Family Day (Performed at the In/Out Stage in 2015 with NYC Celtic Dancers) ~New World Music Faculty at CATA (Community Access to the Arts), Great Barrington, MA ~Led a spring forestry and land conservation program for women with the Franklin Land Trust at the Bidwell House, Tyringham, MA 2015: ~Musical study travel to Oaxaca, Mexico in March for West African drum intensive with master West African drummer Mamady Keita from Guinea, West Africa & for Tamarack Hollow Trading purchases ~Finalized architectural plans for the Tamarack Hollow Nature Center; held a successful Mountain Caribbean Fest Fundraiser in May for Tamarack Hollow. Visit www.tamarakhollownatureandculturalcenter.org for info about the non-profit project she directs. 2014: ~The Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center becomes a 501c3 not for profit entity in the State of MA on Valentine’s Day! ~Musical study travel to Tulum, Mexico in March for West African drum intensive with master West African drummer Mamady Keita from Guinea, West Africa ~Joined the 15 piece Cuban drum and dance ensemble Iroko Nuevo based in Northampton as a drummer & singer ~Invited to be a master folkloric West African/Caribbean drum instructor at the Rock On camp for youth at Berkshire Community College Summer 2014 2013: -Founder/Director of Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center, an educational non-profit organization formed in February of 2013 in Windsor, MA 2012: -Finalized purchase of Tamarack Hollow acreage in Windsor, MA. 32 acre Boreal forest nature and cultural center “Tamarack Hollow” begins breaking ground in 2012! -Featured Naturalist educator for the Berkshire Farm and Table foraging walk series in the Berkshires -Completed first semester as an Adjunct professor of World Music at Berkshire Community College -Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health staff member for the KDZ Drumming group 2011: -Performed at the Colonial Theater and the Lift Every Voice kick off event in Pittsfield with my Hillcrest teen drummers -Produced the Berkshire Drum and Percussion Expo at Berkshire Community College on April 2nd featuring over 15 drum and percussion acts from the Berkshires -Performed at the kick off event for Pittsfield’s 250th celebration 2010: -Grant recipient for the National Endowment for the Humanties studying the first peoples of the four corners region at the Crow Canyon Archeology Center in Cortez, Colorado -Performed at the Massachusetts State House in the great Hall and the Senate Chambers with my Hillcrest teen drum ensemble as well as on the award winning 4th of July parade float 2009: -Led a drum & dance celebration with MA Governor Deval Patrick while teaching a world music and storytelling residency at BART school in Adams, MA

Aimee Gelinas

Aimee Gelinas (B.S. ’96, M.Ed ’09) is a naturalist, educator, musician and artisan who co-founded and directs the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center, an educational non-profit organization in Windsor, MA. She has been performing, teaching, developing curriculum and facilitating educational programs for over 25 years. Ms. Gelinas is a multi-faceted leader whose accomplishments and career paths include:

~Director & Co-Founder the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center, a tax exempt non-profit dedicated to conserving and educating about Boreal Spruce-Fir Forests. Visit www.tamarackhollownatureandculturalcenter.org

~Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences and Anthropology from UMASS, Amherst.

~M.Ed. from MCLA in Curriculum and Instruction development in Environmental and Cultural Education. Thesis topic: The importance of hands-on learning in drumming and nature experiences.

~Resides in the Berkshires where she professionally performs and instructs drumming and singing (West African, Afro-Caribbean and Latin genres), teaches place based environmental education programs and is a nature photographer and natural jewelry artisan.

~Co-founded and performs in the all women world music percussion and vocal performance ensemble Gaia Roots (CD “Mother Drum” available now), co-founded and lead sings in an original rock group Sifer (CD “Divinity or Demise” available now), co-founded sings and plays conga with the Latin group Trio Candela and performs with the Cuban ensemble Iroko Nuevo.

~Teaches and develops environmental and cultural classes, content and curriculums for all ages.

~See the contact page to arrange a program for your setting!

Recent Accomplishments

2022 & 2023

~Featured performance artist at Tanglewood for the Berkshire Community College Commencement ’22 & ’23

~Level 1 Certified Track and Sign Certified by CyberTracker, an internationally renowned tracking certification program

~Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard and ACA Certified

~Completed two online certification programs with the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine:

>Foraging, herbal medicine and botany

>Herbal Medicine Making

~Assisted her non-profit in conserving an additional 56 acres of forest and receiving a $50,000 grant match from the Mass Cultural Council to build a sustainable nature center

~Featured performance artist at Jacob’s Pillow for the community day and dance/drum class accompaniment

2021

~Featured presenter at the annual MEES (Massachusetts Environmental Education Conference)

2019

~Featured presenter at the 5th annual Berkshire Natural History Conference at the Clark Art Institute

~Featured drum/artist presenter for SPIRITFEST at Kripalu Yoga Center & at Jacob’s Pillow

2018

~Led a corporate drumming program for over 250 participants for SPOTIFY at One Hotel in Brooklyn for their America’s team training!

2016/2017:

~Led a drumming program at Bay Path University & Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Family Day (Performed at the In/Out Stage in 2015 with NYC Celtic Dancers)

~New World Music Faculty at CATA (Community Access to the Arts), Great Barrington, MA

~Led a spring forestry and land conservation program for women with the Franklin Land Trust at the Bidwell House, Tyringham, MA

2015:

~Musical study travel to Oaxaca, Mexico in March for West African drum intensive with master West African drummer Mamady Keita from Guinea, West Africa & for Tamarack Hollow Trading purchases

~Finalized architectural plans for the Tamarack Hollow Nature Center; held a successful Mountain Caribbean Fest Fundraiser in May for Tamarack Hollow. Visit www.tamarakhollownatureandculturalcenter.org for info about the non-profit project she directs.

2014:

~The Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center becomes a 501c3 not for profit entity in the State of MA on Valentine’s Day!

~Musical study travel to Tulum, Mexico in March for West African drum intensive with master West African drummer Mamady Keita from Guinea, West Africa

~Joined the 15 piece Cuban drum and dance ensemble Iroko Nuevo based in Northampton as a drummer & singer

~Invited to be a master folkloric West African/Caribbean drum instructor at the Rock On camp for youth at Berkshire Community College Summer 2014

2013:

-Founder/Director of Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center, an educational non-profit organization formed in February of 2013 in Windsor, MA

2012:

-Finalized purchase of Tamarack Hollow acreage in Windsor, MA. 32 acre Boreal forest nature and cultural center “Tamarack Hollow” begins breaking ground in 2012!

-Featured Naturalist educator for the Berkshire Farm and Table foraging walk series in the Berkshires

-Completed first semester as an Adjunct professor of World Music at Berkshire Community College

-Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health staff member for the KDZ Drumming group

2011:

-Performed at the Colonial Theater and the Lift Every Voice kick off event in Pittsfield with my Hillcrest teen drummers

-Produced the Berkshire Drum and Percussion Expo at Berkshire Community College on April 2nd featuring over 15 drum and percussion acts from the Berkshires

-Performed at the kick off event for Pittsfield’s 250th celebration

2010:

-Grant recipient for the National Endowment for the Humanties studying the first peoples of the four corners region at the Crow Canyon Archeology Center in Cortez, Colorado

-Performed at the Massachusetts State House in the great Hall and the Senate Chambers with my Hillcrest teen drum ensemble as well as on the award winning 4th of July parade float

2009:

-Led a drum & dance celebration with MA Governor Deval Patrick while teaching a world music and storytelling residency at BART school in Adams, MA